Words matter because they communicate meaning and intention. Have you ever found yourself trying to find the right words to say or express what you’re thinking or feeling? Then, perhaps in a conversation with someone who knows you well, they speak what you are trying to formulate in your mind. It feels like a relief, it may even feel therapeutic to be able to articulate what is going on in your mind. As a pastor, I often listen to people tell me about struggles, joys, painful memories, and the mundane details of life. Or sometimes I am the one asking questions to get to know others or understand more about them. A well thought out question can reveal a lot about someone. Every Sunday I speak or preach, using words, which takes time to formulate a coherent message. (Sometimes it’s not so coherent, but you all are very generous) All this is work is done with words. Words are one of the gifts we have as humans who use them to communicate what is good, true, and beautiful.

The people Moses was writing to just came from Egypt, where according to the theology of Memphis (Egypt), the god Ptah uttered magical words which energized life. This was a common theology of origin for ancient near eastern religions, i.e. Canaanite, Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian. The Jews had a different story, creation did not predate God but rather came from God, and it was constructed by His Word. Elohim spoke, evaluated, named, and therefore had dominion over all that is and all that has come about. Every Sunday when we gather, we proclaim with words the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14) The son god (Egyptian “Ra”) is not to be worshiped but rather the God who made the son, and who gave us His Son, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into this world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him…(John 1:9-10a) We know that God has remade us with a word, the word of grace, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people…and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16b,18) He has declared us His own, with a word, He has expressed His heart of love for us. Our Creator has evaluated us in the light of Jesus Christ, and He is remaking us into the image of His Son. (2 Corinthians 3:18) These are God’s words to us, words of meaning, intention, hope, grace, and life.

Ben Melli