Ep.200: Hebrews 1: God Speaks Again
Hello, I’m Daniel Westfall on the channel “Pray With Me”.
Today we look at the first verses of the book of Hebrews. They say:
In the past,
God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets. . .
but in these last days he has spoken by his son,
whom he appointed heir of all things,
through whom also he made the universe.
The son is the radiance of God’s glory,
the exact image of his being,
sustaining all things by his powerful word.
After he provided purification for sins,
he sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven (Heb. 1:1-3).
Physicist Stephen Hawking’s book, A Brief History of Time, gives his view on the big bang that created the universe fourteen billion years ago.
The author of Hebrews gives an alternative history of the universe. He doesn’t describe physical forces operating at the speed of light, he describes the word that God spoke into a void, creating the universe out of nothing.
God spoke this word through his son, who we know as Jesus. In Genesis, the six days of creation each begin with the phrase, “And God said.” On day one, God’s word was, “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3). On day six it was, “Let us make humans in our image” (Gen 1:26).
Having created humans, God spoke to them at many times and in various ways during the Old Testament. He sent prophets to rebuke and correct and teach. He spoke through dreams and revelations, through miracles and historical events, through violent storms and a still small voice.
When this approach didn’t work, God spoke a new word. This time, he didn’t speak a universe-creating bang. He spoke through the person of his son who came into the world he created. The son’s job was to provide purification for sins–to clean up the mess humans had made, to refresh the polluted waters of humanity, to remove the garbage people collected in their lives and minds.
Let’s pray.
Our father, we’re not sure where Stephen Hawking and the dinosaurs fit into the history of creation.
But this is our statement of faith: We believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth (Apostles Creed). We believe in your son, Jesus christ, through whom you created the world. He walked, bearded and sandaled in a dusty land among a people confused by the politics and morality and culture of their time.
O Lord, we too are confused by world politics and modern morality and western culture and civilization. Walk among us, Jesus. Purify our sins. Give us a vision of God, for you are the radiance of God’s glory.
Jesus, you are the exact image of God’s being. We who are spoiled images of God need your vision of what we are meant to be, and your power to restore us into the image of God.
Ours is a world of violence and war. Our churches are threatened by moral pollution, compromise, and irrelevance. O you who sustain all things by your powerful word, send your word again into our world and into our churches.
Speak, Lord, for we are listening.
Amen.
I’m Daniel on the channel “Pray with Me”.
Pray with Me 