Our world is filled with two things talk and belief. Some maybe believe something will never happen while others believe it surely will. One person may say with certainty this is what will happen. While another says the opposite. The truth is that man can think and say a lot but man’s word is never final. However, the Bible teaches with absolute certainty that God always has the final word. We can believe and say what we will but it is only by God’s hand anything will come to be.
During the rain of King Hezekiah, Assyria invaded Judah. Assyria believed and proclaimed that the battle was theirs. Stating that nothing could save Judah not even the Lord. Holding to the fact that no other country’s god had been able to save them from the Assyrian army.
Isaiah 36:18–20 (ESV)
18 Beware lest Hezekiah mislead you by saying, “The Lord will deliver us.” Has any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? 20 Who among all the gods of these lands have delivered their lands out of my hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’ ”
Isaiah 37:9–13 (ESV)
9 Now the king heard concerning Tirhakah king of Cush, “He has set out to fight against you.” And when he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, the nations that my fathers destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the city of Sepharvaim, the king of Hena, or the king of Ivvah?’ ”
All their threats and taunts laid out a pretty compelling case. One that could have easily caused anyone to question if they could hope to withstand such a mighty army. Still, Hezekiah and the people of Judah sought the help of the Lord. Placing all their faith in trust in His ability to save them from the enemy. Because they knew that God always has the final word no matter what has been said or how bad things seem.
Isaiah 37:1–4 (ESV)
1 As soon as King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with sackcloth and went into the house of the Lord. 2 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the secretary, and the senior priests, covered with sackcloth, to the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, “Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of distress, of rebuke, and of disgrace; children have come to the point of birth, and there is no strength to bring them forth. 4 It may be that the Lord your God will hear the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to mock the living God, and will rebuke the words that the Lord your God has heard; therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”
Isaiah 37:14–20 (ESV)
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: 16 “O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 17 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear all the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God.
18 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste all the nations and their lands, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire. For they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 20 So now, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the Lord.”
God responded to the people in a mighty way causing every word of the Assyrians to be wiped away. God did what they said could not be done and fought for His people. Delivering them from their enemy without them even needing to raise a sword. The Assyrians believed they had the advantage over the people of Judah. That all they said would come to pass if Judah didn’t surrender but God proved that He always has the final word.
Isaiah 37:36–38 (ESV)
36 And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and returned home and lived at Nineveh. 38 And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword. And after they escaped into the land of Ararat, Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.
This account shows that much can be said, strongly believed, and even seem like the only option but that in the end God still has the final word. God will decide what takes place and even cause the impossible to happen for His will to be carried forth.
In Scripture we see many times and in many different ways that God always has the final say. Abraham believed he and his wife were far too old to be able to have a child. Sarah even laughed at the idea of getting pregnant at her age. But God had the final say, defied the odds and while well stricken in age they found themselves with child.
Genesis 18:10–12 (ESV)
10 The Lord said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years. The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”
Hebrews 11:11–12 (ESV)
11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
Genesis 21:1–2 (ESV)
1 The Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as he had promised. 2 And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age at the time of which God had spoken to him.
Jesus was laughed at when He said a dead young girl was only sleeping. At the tomb of Lazarus, even some of His closest followers believed Lazarus was long dead with no hope. Yet both lived again to the astonishment of all who saw them. The Pharisees believed killing Jesus would put an end to all He started. But on the third day, he rose again, and here we are today still following and proclaiming His word to the world.
Matthew 9:23–26 (ESV)
23 And when Jesus came to the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.
John 11:38 (ESV)
38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.
John 11:43–44 (ESV)
43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”
Mark 16:5–7 (ESV)
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
With God nothing is impossible and nothing is certain until God has had His say. Any circumstance can be changed. The mightiest army can be defeated without ever lifting a sword. Water can be turned to wine, blind eyes opened, deaf ears unstopped, the dead can live again. There is nothing that God cannot do no matter what anyone else says or believes. People can say this or that but God will always have the final word.
We are living in uncertain times especially for the church. Right now a lot is being said and many believe that change is coming. Rumors of all shapes and sizes are circulating around us. We truly do not know what tomorrow holds or what changes others will say are going to happen.
That being said what we do know is that no matter what God will have the final word. Even if it seems times are darkest or as though it is too late for things to change our God can still move on behalf of His people. All we need to do is keep seeking Him first and placing all our trust in Him. Following the example of those in scripture. He will not forsake us but will lead us and work all things for our good.
Psalm 9:10 (ESV)
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
Proverbs 3:6 (ESV)
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Don’t allow fear and worry to grip you. Don’t allow what is being said to seem like a certainty to you. Know that God is greater than what you hear. His word is mightier than their word. His will be done on earth as He sees fit. No matter where we end up or who it may seem like is winning we can trust that our God has a plan. That there is a purpose to where we are and that He is in control. He has changed even the most certain of circumstances before and He will do it again! So don’t be swayed by the voices of the word trust that God always has the final word.
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