How do you draw “invisible?” Well, it seems the best way is to make use of darkness as the Genesis account does. God created light out of darkness…out of nothing. So, I attempted to take a picture of darkness above.

I was almost finished reading my daily Bible reading plan when all of a sudden Hebrews 11:3 stopped me in my tracks. I had flown by this verse as I anticipated the great stories ahead of me. But not today.

Hebrews 11:3

[3] By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

First, what have you thought about this verse? It initially caught my attention because it sounds like it’s saying something different than Genesis 1 account where we conclude that God created the universe out of nothing.

I grabbed Peter O’Brien off the shelf after a quick look at the ESV study Bible note. He said this:

“‘What cannot be seen’ is parallel to ‘the word of God’ in the first half of the verse and regard the two halves as forming a chiasmus.”

1. Was formed……………………1’ Came into being
2. The universe…………………..2’ What is seen
3. By the word of God………….3’ by what cannot be seen

His conclusion is really good: “God’s word is an invisible power that produces visible results.”

Amazing! I needed to hear this as I prep to preach His word on Sunday. And in particular, this makes one of the verses even more powerful.

John 17:20

[20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word

The sharing of the gospel will result in more people believing. It’s not the disciples who cause them to believe, it’s that same conclusion stated above. Sow the word and God will cause some of it to sprout. That is, those who are His.

I had not connected this post to the name of this blog! Indeed, God’s word cannot be imprisoned!