Quick thought this morning.

I’m chewing on a reminder that some things are taken for granted. Some things are so familiar we fail to wonder at them as we should. What kind of things? Well, this morning the particular “thing” I’m chewing on is that God speaks. And it’s a verse in Jeremiah about Judah’s sin which reminds me that God speaks.

“Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster that I have pronounced against them, because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.”

(Jeremiah 35:17 ESV)

Wanna boil down the sin of God’s rebellious people to four words? Try they have not listened.

But there’s no sin of “not listening” if there’s nothing to be heard. Only if God has spoken can a man, or a woman, refuse to listen. And what kind of God condescends to speak to His creation? Our God.

Idols don’t speak. Pagan gods don’t speak. All other gods are pretty much stand-offish. But our God is inextricably linked to communication. From the beginning, God’s Word was God’s way. “The Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1b). He spoke things into being, for “God said . . . and there was” (Gen. 1:3); “God said . . . and it was so” (Gen. 1:9). What’s more, God communicated the way of flourishing (2:16). Even more, He called out to let us know that He was pursuing (Gen. 3:9).

He who is above desires with intense desire to be known below. And how’s that? God speaks. In the past, He spoke by the prophets. “But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son” (Heb. 1:2).

And isn’t that the essence of what we mean when we talk about having a “personal relationship” with God? It’s personal because He speaks so that we can hear. He communicates so that we can commune. He tells us about Himself so that we can testify from experience that He is known. Doesn’t get more “personal” than that.

Oh, the wonder of a God who has spoken, of a God who continues to speak. For, in His speaking, He is present. In His word, He is real.

Word of God speak.

By Your grace. For Your glory.