God’s eternal Word never fails to accomplish its divine purpose ever, not one time (Isaiah 55:8-11). Jesus said that heaven and earth will pass away, but His Word will never pass away (Matthew 24:35). Paul said that the Word of God can never be chained (2 Timothy 2:9). It is guided by the Holy Spirit like a laser beam to the ears of those who are destined by God to hear it. God’s word never fails to accomplish His purpose – never.
Philip was in Samaria engaged in the joy of seeing the power of the gospel work (Acts 8:25; Romans 1:16). Evidently, many were coming to faith in Christ. But an angel of the Lord (I personally think that this was Jesus Christ in one of His many post resurrection appearances) spoke to Philip and told him to go to a specific place to a specific person – an Ethiopian. Again, like a laser beam Philip carried the word of God, caught up with him, and gave him the rest of the story. The Ethiopian just happened to be reading Isaiah. Amazing! The African was saved. God’s word never fails to accomplish His purpose – never.
At one point, the disciples were prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the Word in Asia. Prevented! After Paul and Silas had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them (Acts 16:5-7). God stopped them! Amazing! God’s word never fails to accomplish its purpose – never.
God spoke to Paul in a vision and told him that a man in Macedonia was saying, “Come, help us! Immediately Paul and Silas left for Macedonia. On the Sabbath day, they went down to the riverside to the place where the people customarily went to pray. A woman named Lydia heard Paul speaking and the Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. The word of God had once again found its mark. God’s word never fails to accomplish its purpose – never.
Remember, the living powerful Word of God (Hebrews 4:12) had taken on flesh (John 1:14) and was on the earth. Every step that the Living Word took was ordained by God. John said that Jesus left Judea and departed again to Galilee. Note carefully these next words. “But He needed to go through Samaria” (John 4:3-4). Why? He had a scheduled meeting with tremendous meaning with a certain woman at a certain well in the city of Sycar (John 4:5-10). Like a laser beam, He was on His way. God’s word never fails to accomplish its purpose – never!
Finally, God’s Living Word took a stroll through Jericho. He had an appointment with a tax collector named Zacchaeus. The tax collector had gotten the press report on this amazing man’s accomplishments and wanted desperately just to see Him as He passed through. Being a short man and standing behind a large crowd that had gathered by the roadside also to see this man from Galilee, he could not see. He had to think quickly. He noticed a nearby sycamore tree that would serve his purposes well. So up he went.
Now the amazing part which answers the question, “Why did Jesus go through Jericho?” At last the entourage accompanying Jesus was coming down the road. I imagine Zacchaeus was excited. When Jesus came under that special tree, that had no doubt been there for years, amazingly He stopped. Not only did He stop, but He looked up probably into the eyes of this now stunned tax collector, and He said, “Zacchaeus.” Had they ever been formally introduced? I don’t think so. He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Zac made haste and came down and received Him joyfully (John 19:1-6). Please note the little word “must.” I do not think there have been many in this world any more shocked and thrilled than this tax collector. Every word and every step by God’s living word was foreordained by God. There was never a surprise. There is never one wasted word. God’s word never fails to accomplish its purpose. Stay safe and stay tuned.