Jesus in the Old Testament: Word of the Lord

Is Jesus the Word of the Lord?

In Genesis 15, we read how the Word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision.

Genesis 15 v1

After this, the Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.”

Abraham did not hear the Word of the Lord, but saw the Word of the Lord. This is a confusing verse. How can you see a message from God? Was it written down in somewhere? Was it an image imprinted in Abraham’s mind?

1 Samuel 3 v 1

The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the Word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

Again we see the idea that the Word of the Lord is not heard, but seen in a vision. In fact, the Hebrew word for vision comes from the word to see or behold. The Word of the Lord is not heard, but seen.

In Jeremiah 1, we read of another encounter where the prophet is visited by the Word of the Lord.

Jeremiah 1 v 2

The Word of the Lord came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah

In the verse below, is the ‘Word of the Lord’ touching the prophet’s mouth? What is the relationship between the Lord and the Word of the Lord? Is the ‘Word of the Lord’, in fact, a vision of the Lord?

Jeremiah 1 v 4 - 5

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Jeremiah 1 v 9

Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth.

All this seems confusing and makes no sense if we understand the ‘Word of the Lord’ as simply a message from God.

These Old Testament verses could give the impression the ‘Word of the Lord’ is not a message, but a messenger. He appears to be a person, who visits and tells people things from God.

Now, as we look at the New Testament, the Gospel according to John opens with this following verse:

John 1 v 1

In the beginning was the Word (Logos)

Some theologians think John is referring to the Greek philosophical concept of the Logos. But more recently, academics are suggesting John is implying Jesus is the ‘Word of the Lord’ in the Old Testament.

If this is correct, when we read the phrase ‘Word of the Lord’, we may recognise this as the pre-incarnate Jesus in the Old Testament, depending on the context.

So, when we look at the verses above, we could say that Jesus met with Abraham. He personally gave messages to Jeremiah and many other prophets too.

An extension to this idea is found in Genesis 1.

Genesis 1 v 3

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

When God speaks in Genesis, He is speaking the ‘Word of the Lord’. God speaks and Creation happens. God speaks and the pre-incarnate Jesus (Word of the Lord) works with the Holy Spirit to form Reality. [Incidentally, this shows the Trinity is in the first three verses of the Bible].

If we continue to explore this theological thread, we can understand that Jesus is not only the Word of the Lord, but also the Word of God.

The Book of Hebrews describes the Word of God.

Hebrews 4 v 13

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

When I grew up in the Protestant Church, this verse was assumed to relate to the Bible. Reflecting on how Jesus is the ‘Word of the Lord’ or the ‘Word of God’, suddenly, this verse takes on a profoundly different interpretation.

Christ is the Eternal Judge, who is alive and active. His judgements are incisive. They cut to the core. Because, He sees everything, knows everything and has perfect knowledge.

So when we see the Word of the Lord in the Old Testament or the Word of God in the New Testament, it is worth taking a brief moment to wonder whether the passage is actually talking about Jesus.