Will God’s Word Return Void?

Growing up in the church I frequently heard the phrase “God’s Word won’t return void.” Although often met with hearty amens and an almost magical expectations by the congregation, I found myself pondering, why does it occasionally seem like I don’t see the results that the people invoke this phrase expected. I was forced to ask myself, “Does God’s Word Return Void?”

What I discovered was that my understanding was flawed. I never once considered my heavenly Father’s perspective on this matter. As a result, when He didn’t answer in accordance with how the masses thought He should answer, I feel betrayed! Through humility and investigation in the Scriptures, I realized this phrase was used more like an incantation and less as a prayer of faith. We need to examine both sides of the coin of the effects of the Word of God upon the hearers!

The Word Shall Not Return Empty

Let’s start with the oft ill-recited verse.

The word empty here is the commanding thought. Like a jar that needs to be filled, the Word of YHWH will either be a blessing or a judgment. What is often not taught is that the hearer is 100% responsible for what will be “filled-up”. The Father’s heart is that people who receive His Word with meekness and bear much fruit. But in the event that a nation or an individual refuses the Word, the Bible is clear that they are storing up for themselves judgment and wrath, not blessing.

Yeshua, while on earth, told His hearers that He didn’t come to judge and the reason is that they already had a judge! If the people received His Word, they received eternal life, but if they rejected His Word, they received judgment. Either way, the Word of God accomplished His purpose.

Prophetic Warnings Won’t Return Empty

We can look historically at the condition of Israel to gain insight into this reality. When the nation would sin, YHWH would send a prophet to turn them from their iniquity. You need to consider these prophetic warnings as His kindness, as Romans states. Yet in spite of YHWH’s kindness, Israel refused the words of the prophet Jeremiah for over two decades. As a result of the hearer’s hard-heartedness, God’s Word couldn’t return void, so instead of bringing the blessing of repentance and restoration to the covenant nation, the Word brought righteous judgment.

Let those words sink into your heart. Israel refused the kindness of God in the form of prophetic warnings. They did not repent. So YHWH did what He purposed and carried out His word by plucking up the entire nation and casting them into exile.

God’s Word does not return void, that is clear through the Scriptures. What is less clear amongst man is our willingness to accept that the outcome of what God’s Word brings is most often dependant upon the willingness of the hearers to listen and obey! May we have ears to hear and repent, for the kingdom of God is near!