April 23

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” Proverbs 18:21)

As we begin to study the importance of words, we must consider that we are created in the image of God, uniquely created to have the ability to communicate linguistically (except for angels). According to God’s Word and contrary to what is commonly taught in the science of evolution, we have not evolved from monkeys. The LORD Himself created us with the ability to learn many different languages, and to use language with excellence, for scholarship, and for a high level of communication with Him and our fellow human beings. Oral and written words are the primary means by which we educate our populations, inform communities, resolve conflicts, form partnerships to make discoveries, provide medical intervention, and conduct most of our daily activities for life. As we investigate the importance of the spoken word, we should remember that written texts have the same (and sometimes more) influence in our lives and conform to the same principles as oral communication.

Since we are created in God’s image, we should treasure God’s words above all others. His words played a major role in the milestones of history, as he sovereignly and omnipotently initiated events. God spoke the world and all creatures, including man into existence; He said it…and it was done (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 24, 26). The Lord also commissioned people to rule over creation as his designated stewards; “…let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” (Genesis 1:26). God walked and talked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, used his voice to rebuke and convict them for sinning against him, uttered a life-taking curse on them and the serpent, but verbally protected them from further harm by ordering them out of the Garden (Genesis 3).

When God delivered his people from slavery in Egypt, he spoke through Moses and Aaron, calling them to lead his people, confront Pharoah, and warn him about the plagues (Exodus 5:1-2; 6:2-13; 8:1-7; 11:1-10). Every plague was fulfilled as promised, in spite of Moses’ insecurity about his ability to speak on God’s behalf (Exodus 3:1-4:17).

Today we have God’s words preserved in Scripture, and they are no less effectual to accomplish his purposes. He is always faithful, and it is us who are not. Do we treasure God’s words as we ought? Our complacency for his wise utterances causes us to neglect or forget them. Let us be less like Moses and more like Aaron and the psalmist who wrote, “Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life! Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise…The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words…When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments” (Psalms 119:40-41,