“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)

The Fire And Hammer

When God spoke, the universe came into being. No words in the human language can explain the power of the word of God. Everything in creation was established through the spoken word of “God said!” Human wisdom can never match or come within a glimpse of the power of God to establish the world by the word. The revelation of the word of God has the power of dynamite to change the hearts of sinful, corrupt, and evil men. Jeremiah describes the word of God like as a fire and a hammer. God created fire for good and to destroy. A hammer can create masterpieces or tear them into pieces with its fierce blows. Jeremiah shows the power of God as something for good and a force to destroy those who trifle with its content. Like a hammer, the word of God can create a new heart from corruption, and it will destroy anything that resists it.

Fire has great value in warming a home, cooking food, and creating metal strengthened by the flame. The same flame can burn a house down, destroy lives, and devastate the land. When fire is controlled, it serves the purpose of a blessing but let a flame escape uncontrolled, and the results can be catastrophic. God’s word is given to show the heart of man God’s love, mercy, and grace. The character of man is strengthened by the flame of truth that burns from the word of God. When the heart is filled with the word of God, the soul solidifies into the mold of strength, courage, hope, and peace. Someone rightfully said the word of God is given to comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable. Great peace comes from spending time in the word, but there can be greater conflict when the heart of man seeks to rebel against God’s will.

A hammer is a tool designed to build and create. It is a simple design that is easy to use and effectively constructs what it is purposed to build. In the hands of a craftsman, a hammer can create great edifices that will last for many centuries. A hammer is also used to tear things down. It can be used as a tool to destroy. The word of God is a tool designed to build trust in God in the heart of man. It will create a soul confident in the grace of God to save. The same hammer will also resist those who try to change the word of God. As the anvil of truth, the Bible has stood the test of time against a world bent on its destruction. All arguments against the word of God have been destroyed by the hammer of God, which is truth.

The Bible is a book of controversy. One of the reasons most people reject the Bible is because it exposes their sinful life. God’s word reveals the conscience of evil that men enjoy. As Creator, God condemns all those who challenge His authority, declaring penalties for those who refuse to obey Him. Like a fire and hammer, the word of God convicts the soul of sin, crushing everything that is evil. Human wisdom cannot change the revelation of the mind of God because it is settled in heaven. False religions have created false doctrines to their own destruction, but the word of God remains the same. The Bible was first written down by Moses 3,500 years ago and has remained unchanged as it developed over the centuries. Only the power of the spoken word of God could produce the universal message of hope and salvation. Read the Bible to be wise, but do not challenge its content. The fire and hammer of God endure until the end.