Focus: God Keeps His Word

Text: Jer.1:12

"Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it."

Our God is a speaker and performer. Jeremiah had an encounter with the Lord - the speaker and performer. Jeremiah tells his story, "Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree" (Jer.1:11). The Hebrew words for 'almond tree' and 'hasten' are shâqêd and shâqad. You can see that both words are connected. They stem from the same root. The word shâqad (hasten) is translated as 'watching over' in Jer.5:6; 31:28; 44:27; as 'watch' in Ezr.8:29; as 'remain' in Jb.21:32; as 'watch' and 'waketh' in Ps.102:7 and 127:1; as 'watching' in Prov.8:34; as 'watch' in Isa.29:20; and as 'watched' in Dan.9:14. So the word is more about 'supervision' than it is about 'speed.' God will intensely, earnestly and diligently watch over His word to do it. God has capacity to do what He says. God will remain forever committed to doing His word. He will never relent. God is always where His word is.

Interestingly, in Romans 9:28, the Greek word 'logos' is translated as 'work,' not as 'word.' God's word is God's work. God is watching over His word to make it work. His word is His work. It is the same in 1Chron.16:37. The Hebrew word 'dabar' is translated as 'work,' not as 'word.' The word of God and the work of God are forever linked.

God asks Jeremiah, "What seest thou?" He replied, "I see a rod of an almond tree."

And God says to him, "Thou hast well seen: for I will HASTEN my word to perform it." There is a play on words here between the words 'almond tree' and 'hasten.' The almond tree was the earliest to bloom and blossom. It takes up to two years to grow and develop branches, getting ready to yield its fruits, but in just a moment, you begin to see a beautiful white flower manifesting. It blossoms quickly and suddenly. Sometimes the blossoms begin to form before the leaves appear. It happens overnight. Imagine after such a long wait, and suddenly you begin to see evidence of a ripe and ready harvest! The almond tree speaks of strength and endurance. The flowers look delicate and fragile, but they can withstand the harsh winter winds and rain.

So the picture God is painting here is that of victory at last. 

Regardless of all obstacles and delays that come against the spoken word of God, God will finally have His way and do as He had said.

In fact God is intensely and diligently watching over His word to make it happen. In the end He will be quick in performing His word. God's process may linger, but He will surely achieve the desired outcome. You will soon see the word of God becoming the work of God. The winter blossoms of God's word will introduce the spiritual spring of fair weather. You will move from winter to spring. The word of the Lord works like the almond tree. It will suddenly yield the almond blooms and blossoms into your life. Your field will be white for harvest.

God is looking out for and intensely watching over His word. He follows His word everywhere to ensure its fulfillment. God never speaks just for the sake of speaking; He speaks to make things happen. The psalmist says, "By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth" (Ps.33:6). What He says, He does. God never sleeps on His word. He remains awake till He has performed His word. It is announced to Mary that there shall be a performance of the word spoken to her by the Lord. No word from God shall be without power.

Trust God; your wait will soon be over! He will perform His oaths to you. Watch out for the performance and fulfillment of God's word in your life! His word will produce your miracle and testimony. You will live to harvest the fruits of God's spoken words. Amen!!!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter