Rockwall, TX (November 28, 2025) – A high-rise collapse after an earthquake across the globe is disconcerting news. But my young adult children wouldn’t know about it unless I happened to mention it. They’re concerned with their jobs and growing families, perhaps wisely bypassing news of world events that gain their parents’ attention.
Broadcasters often employ the bold headline, Breaking News! They might use it for unremarkable news briefs also—like the latest indictment of a politician. Viewers would take more notice if media outlets saved this phrase for more important events, like an actual signed peace agreement.
Newspeople aren’t the only ones who preface their comments and responses with attention getting words. Elected officials, for example, commonly answer those pesky questions from reporters by beginning with the imperative word, look.
The Official-in-Chief, God himself, desires the attention of all the inhabitants of the earth. The Bible includes everything he wants us to know concerning his ways, purposes, promises, and judgments. In nearly every Bible version, we can find one certain word God uses to preface his most significant announcements: behold.
We can’t get past the first chapter of Genesis without coming upon God’s breaking news from the dawn of time. After the six days of creation, God announces, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food” (Genesis 1:29*). Each day throughout the ages, this promise of God’s provision for all mankind has been thankfully received.
Old Testament history records peace and progress for God’s people during times of obedience, followed by regress in times of sin and disobedience. Nations rise in splendor but later fall into chaos, division, and unrest. However, from the beginning, God had a rescue plan.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining/Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.**
Hundreds of years before the earth-shaking event, God announced, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Immanuel means “God with us” (Matthew 1:23). Could any promise be more hopeful?
Reading further in Isaiah, we might view God as a parent who has wrapped the children’s gift for the big reveal day, and he wants them to anticipate their gift. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
When the time finally arrived, God’s best-ever breaking news was announced through an angel to shepherds, “Behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. … a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” An angelic host rejoiced, saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:10, 11, 14).
Jesus did not come to bring world peace. Instead, he has promised peace to those who believe in him: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives …” (John 14:27).
Behold! Through Christ, true peace has unpacked its bag and is here to stay. God’s peace can quiet our troubled heart in any circumstance.
It’s not exactly breaking news anymore, except for those who hear and understand it for the first time. Jesus himself is the Good News, God’s peace agreement with us that will not fail.
*Quoted scripture are English Standard Version; **“O Holy Night.”
Faith Columnist Patti Richter writes and edits Christian faith articles and has co-authored Signs of His Presence: Experiencing God’s Comfort in Times of Suffering.
Read more of her essays at BlueRibbonNews.com.
Patti Richter, On Faith: Breaking News from the Dawn of Time added by Melanie M on
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