The power of Yahweh (Jer 10:12-10:13)

“It is he who made the earth

By his power.

He established the world

By his wisdom.

By his understanding,

He stretched out the heavens.

When he utters his voice

There is a tumult of waters

In the heavens.

He makes the mist rise

From the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain.

He brings forth the wind

From his storehouses.”

Jeremiah proclaims that Yahweh is all powerful. He made the earth by his power and thus established the world by his wisdom. He stretched out the heavens by his understanding, so that when he utters his voice, the waters in the heaven can create a mist from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning in the rain. He also brings wind from his various wind storehouses. Thus you can see this author’s cosmology about the powerful God, Yahweh, who has control of the world and its climate.

The Creator Yahweh (Isa 45:18-45:19)

“Thus says Yahweh.

He created the heavens!

He is God!

He formed the earth!

He made it!

He established it!

He did not create it as a chaos!

He formed it to be inhabited!

‘I am Yahweh!

There is no other!

I did not speak in secret.

I did not speak in a land of darkness.

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob.

‘Seek me in chaos.’

I Yahweh speak the truth,

I declare what is right.’”

Second Isaiah has Yahweh speak about his creative actions. However, before he utters his words, this author explains clearly who Yahweh is. He is God, who created the heavens and the earth. He created it out of the primal chaos so that people could inhabit it. Then Yahweh proclaimed that there is no person, god, or being like him. He did not speak in secret or darkness to the offspring of Jacob. He spoke only the truth and what is right, not chaos.