“And God said ……and it was so.” (Genesis 1:6-7, 9, 11, 14-15, 24, 29-30, KJV)
How many times have you read the first Chapter of the Book of Genesis? I have to admit that I have read it several times and have been for some inexplicable reason, always inwardly awed at the first four words, “In the beginning God …”. As I reread this chapter several months ago it was not the first verse that captured my attention but another gem of a revelation that, because of its veiled repetition throughout the chapter, was easy to overlook and that revelation was the ultimate authority of our God.
Of the book of Genesis, renowned Bible Commentator Matthew Henry said “Genesis is a name taken from the Greek, and signifies “the book of generation or production;” it is properly so called, as containing an account of the origin of all things. There is no other history so old. There is nothing in the most ancient book which exists that contradicts it; while many things recorded by the oldest heathen writers, or to be traced in the customs of different nations, confirm what is related in the book of Genesis.” Personally, I do not think it is coincidental that verse 1 begins with the words “In the beginning God…” as it implies who is in control from the start. At the beginning of creation, the origin of all things, God was in control; He was the ultimate authority. Everything started and stopped with Him as there were no boundaries or other authorities to restrain the execution of His power. John the Beloved disciple captured this authority, reflected in the person of Jesus Christ, most profoundly when he said “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:1-3).
The words in our reference text are recorded six times in Genesis 1 and covered all aspects of creation. I invite readers to read the entire chapter and note the power and effectiveness behind the words “And God said … … and it was so”. It is important to note also that whatever God wanted was executed through the spoken Word, exactly the way He wanted it! Centuries later Matthew recorded an astounding conversation between Jesus and a centurion, a heathen Roman soldier, in the words “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed … … And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.” (Matt. 8:8, 13). The very same hour the word was spoken, the servant who was “sick of the palsy and grievously tormented” was healed. Awesome!
It is not hard to imagine the world before God took control as in Genesis 1:2 we read “And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” Once God was through creating and executing His power and authority, we read in v. 31 “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” Shapelessness, emptiness, and darkness were replaced by a God who had the last word. This really excites me and should excite every believer because our faith is in a God whose words are final. In other words, no matter how shapeless, empty, and dark our respective lives and circumstances might be, nothing is final until our God says it is. I get excited at the knowledge that no matter what grim news the banker, the doctor, or the lawyer might give us, nothing is over until God says it is over.
Every Christian should recognize the power and intent of the enemy. He is the destroyer of our relationships, our families, and our nations. He is like a roaring lion walking about, seeing whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), he comes to steal, and to kill, and to destroy (John 10:10), but what is more important to recognize is that he is not the final authority; he does not have the last word. This enemy will ultimately be destroyed by Him who has the final say!
If you walk around feeling like things around you are falling apart and you have nowhere to turn, I encourage you to turn over those broken situations to Him who is more than capable of bringing light where there is darkness, clarity and peace where there is confusion, hope where there is despair. That wayward child can return home, that illness – terminal or otherwise – can be healed, that shattered relationship can be restored, that empty cupboard can be filled, that joblessness can be a thing of the past, because unless God allows it, He has the last word.
Great legal minds and average citizens look to the Supreme Court to clarify legal issues that are grey, confusing, or contradicting. These legal minds often sought references to previous decisions which serve as a guide in enhancing their respective cases. It is the beauty of democracy that ideally we can appeal to our nation’s Highest Court to protect our civil and constitutional rights knowing fully well that the ruling of that court is final. In the spiritual realm, the child of God can rest comfortably in the knowledge that their God has the final word and is the Ultimate Authority in the things that affects our lives. Though He does not need to be reminded, the child of God can explore the Word and be encouraged of instances where His ultimate authority was powerfully demonstrated.
During my reflection on the words of our reference text, I thought that the words must have been ringing in the heart of Jesus’ mother, Mary, when of Jesus she advised the servants at the wedding at Cana of Galilee, “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it” (John 2:5).
“And God said … … and it was so.” That really, really, excites me! What about you? Remember, it is not over until He says it is over. He has the last word; He is the Ultimate Authority.
