August 23, 2021

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1

He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:13

The absolute power of Almighty God is shown to us in Jesus. His Word—whether spoken or written—cannot be broken (John 10 35b).

It is fascinating to think of Jesus calmly stooping down to write with His finger in the dust on the temple floor. In the scene of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11), we see the power of Jesus, and the power of His Word. Satan was ever about the business of securing the ruin of Jesus (and now, of course, His followers). This story shows the intent to get Him in trouble within the religious realm or with the Roman government by manipulating a scene leading up to a yes/no question to which either answer would be wrong: “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?” If Jesus were to acquit the woman, they would judge Him guilty of failing to uphold the law of Moses. If He pronounced the death sentence upon her, then He would be declared guilty of usurping the power and authority of the Roman government. But He just stooped down and wrote with His finger in the dust as though He had not heard. The scene fell silent as they read His writing in the dust. Then He stood and said: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Again, He stooped down to continue writing. Whatever He wrote there had the power to calm the storm, convict the religious leaders of their own guilt, and fend off the devil’s attack. Although the event was designed to bring Jesus under judgment, He turned it into an opportunity to redeem the woman from the future judgment which is set to come.

In the days of Daniel, before the judgment of ancient Babylon, there is another account of writing by the divine hand: In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. (Daniel 5:5) We know this writing to be the pronouncement of the fall of Babylon by the Lord, Himself. Today, the religious/political system of the world is compared to Babylon (see Revelation 17 & 18) because of the corruption, confusion, and deception that is the modus operandi of this illicit union. In spite of the pronounced destruction to come upon modern-day Babylon, the Word of God is the power that can rescue individuals out of the fallen system.  

Looking even farther back, we find two incidences of divine writing by the finger of God: the original tablets of stone, most likely sapphire (see Exodus 24:10,12), upon which He codified His eternal law for His people, followed by the second set because of the broken first set (Exodus 34:1). Beloved, let us never underestimate the power of God’s Word or the love in His law; instead, let us fully trust in His loving power for redemption and restoration of that which was lost because of sin.

He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God. . . . Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved upon the tablets. Exodus 31:18b; 32:16

I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Jeremiah 31:33b

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. Mark 4:39