That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. But Moses said to the Lord, Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. And how will they hear without a preacher? The fact that we cant conceive of free choice coexisting with Gods predestination simply reminds us once again that he is God and we are not. The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. 1 And Saul approved of his execution. Before the Apostle Paul wrote his letter he was known as Saul. But this much is clear: He never believed that Jesus was guilty of any crime. It forces us to live by faith, which is how He wants us to live all the time because it gives Him glory. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. During his ministry his greatest opposition came from the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the scribes and the teachers of the Law. In spite of our slownessand even sinGod will bless and use us to fulfill His purpose of blessing all nations through Christ, because of our relationship to the Father through the Son. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. The coming of Messiah was unexpected. Thats where the judgment will come from. and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. Here we see that when believers are doing the will of God, obeying the Word of God, and serving even the least of the Saints, they are Gods instruments, doing Jesus will, ministering to Jesus people, His body, His bride. But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). It can be fairly said that the common people by and large respected Jesus and responded positively to his message. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. And it is just like God to ask us to do hard things, things that seem impossible, that we know in our hearts we cant do. The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. Judas served Gods purposes even though what he did was wrong and he ended up in hell. They looked to themselves for their power. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ. Who would have had his own beliefs and gods that contradicted much of the Bible. 46:10). All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven, will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. God can use anyone and anything. I, the Lord, have spoken, surely this I will do to all this evil congregation who are gathered together against Me. When we pray, we strive to pray according to Gods will (I Jn. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. This doesnt erase tragedy or transform heartache, but it gives us a divine perspective on the hard times of life that enables us to keep on going when wed rather give up and quit. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. Literal Standard Version. Psalm 69:25Reputation destroyed forever. The people of Jacob were trapped. God commissions the invalid retiree to uphold dozens, even hundreds of missionaries on the field. We should never presume to say to an unbeliever, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We cant know that. I think we can learn some great lessons by answering these questions. A man who lived in a time in which only Jews served the one true God. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. What Jesus Wants Emphasized In His Church! So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. God knew that Pharaoh would change his mind about letting the people of Israel go and that he would pursue them to bring them back to Egypt. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. If youd like an interesting Bible study, take a look at the trials of Jesus. They make a joke out of those who dare to not submit to them. But He is unique and who can turn Him?And what His soul desires, that He does. Wisdom alone, though, is insufficient. Were they to voluntarily all drown? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, We see, your sin remains. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. God will bring ultimate and final judgment upon all ungodliness. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say. . WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. They were evil cowards who hated the Son of God but feared a popular uprising if they tried to arrest him. God used this unlikely group of people to accomplish His greatest work and they had no idea. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). God may ordain to use their wickedness, but this does not make it morally right. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. This shows the mercy and compassion of God to help the Israelites. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. When we dont see the ungodly punished immediately, or when they seem to be successful in their evil ways, we should not assume that God is beaten or is pleased to turn His head. Were they to march into the sea holding their little ones, driving their cattle, and pushing their elderly? Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; Immediately the boys father cried out and said, I do believe; help my unbelief.. For who resists His will?, For He says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. One of the most remarkable things about the Scriptures is how they preserve for us what we regard as our highest dignity, which is the right to exercise our own will. The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? One final point is in order. Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! (Rom. Gods plan included the time of Jesus deathPassover, the placeJerusalem, the opposition by the Jewish leaders, and the betrayal by Judas. Paul also made this clear in Romans 9-11. Even today there are those who are arrogant and have no honor for God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. Isaiah 28:11 warned, For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people. Jeremiah 5:15 said, Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel, says the LORD. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. The way of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know over what they stumble. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask That doesnt make us anything more in Gods eyes. Here are the two great texts to keep in mind regarding Gods providence and our own personal experience: The first is the famous statement by Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50:20, You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. The second comes from the familiar words of Romans 8:28, And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. These verses teach us that God is able to take the worst things that happen in life and turn them for our good and his glory. His silence spoke more loudly than the foolish claims of his lying accusers. His betrayal proved that the Jewish leaders were far from innocent bystanders in the death of Christ. Yet both declare His awesome glory. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. They move ahead as a determined army spreading violence. God was revealing that He was going to use this ungodly power for judgment upon his own straying people. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. Going to church wont make you a Christian any more than sleeping in a garage makes you a caror going to a donut shop makes you a cop. I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. Does God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk 1:5-11)? There are so many amazing things in these few verses. They have heard that You, O. And Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind. Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, We are not blind too, are we? Jesus said to them, If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, We see, your sin remains. But most of the time we wont see it fully until we finally arrive in heaven. In many cases without them even realizing that they were being used by God. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. WebGod also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. Embrace your weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you to reveal Gods surpassing greatness (2 Corinthians 12:9). Though there were still many who had remained faithful, others no longer followed the words of the Prophets. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? We see this all the way through the Bible. In the time of the New Testament after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we see the expansion of Gods Covenant to include Gentile believers drawn to the Savor by the Gospel. C) God uses all eventsgood and badto accomplish his purposes. We pray because we believe God, because we want to trust in God, praise God, ask God for things we cant do ourselves. Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice. We see this clearly in the life of Christ. God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Having all the wisdom in the world didnt guarantee fidelity. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Because God created all He can use anything in creation. He was ready to die for his Master and intended to take a few of the bad guys with him. It even included the price Judas would receive for his act of treachery30 pieces of silver. One of the most remarkable things about the Scriptures is how they preserve for us what we regard as our highest dignity, which is the right to exercise our own will. Which caused the church to grow rapidly. Peter told the early Christians that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. He meant that the betrayal had to happen the way it did. Surely all the men who have seen My glory and My signs which I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness, yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not listened to My voice, shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. Even those who dont believe and even speak against. But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. They will be held guilty. So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. The phrase all this refers to the betrayal, the circumstances surrounding it, and the circumstances flowing from it. Causing a sacrifice to take place that would open salvation up to all people. In this period of Judahs last kings, the Prophets warned of the fulfillment of this covenant promise. When you find yourself in a tight spot and you cant see any way of deliverance, have faith in God, obey His Word, and wait for the salvation of the Lord. He didnt accept evil apathetically, he was appalled by it. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. In the providence of God, the betrayal by Judas actually advanced Gods purpose in the world. We all understand that God intended that Jesus would die for the sins of the world. It was all the Lord. Summary Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. It appears that between 11 PM Thursday night and 7:30 AM Friday morning, Jesus underwent six different hearingsone before Annas, two before Caiaphas, one before the Sanhedrin, and two before Pontius Pilate. We see the same thing after the Israelites cross the Red Sea and are attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. A second reason, related to the first reason, is that God knew that by doing His miracles through Moses, Moses would then in turn give glory to God. The thing he values the most is dragging him down to eternal damnation. This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives. They thank me for posting my sermons on the internet. International Standard Version. Providence means that God is in charge of the entire universe at all times and nothing happens outside his control. Third, it is necessary for us to remain silent, to not fret, grumble, or complain, while we wait for the Lord to deliver us from whatever trial we are suffering. A lesson worth considering, but not the main lesson I want to focus on, is that God often put us into situations where only He can deliver us. We are here and gone again. According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition. Verse Concepts. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. As far as Pilate was concerned, he was ordering an innocent man put to deathwhich is why he tried to wash his hands of the whole affair. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. The evil ones believe pridefully that their own imagined gods have blessed them. In Acts 2 God poured out His Holy Spirit on the disciples who spoke on the streets of Jerusalem in the languages of the Gentiles who were present. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you., Jeremiah also spoke of the same thing about which God warned Habakkuk. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. 1:21). Just as He did with Pharaoh who placed no faith in the God of Israel. The book of proverbs also gives us insight into this. This week were looking at the other side of the equation. Stating that the plans of men are many but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. When God desires to save someone, He raises up Christians to preach the gospel. The articles posted on this website are here to provide information about the Bible and specific topics related to the Reformed Faith along with it's application in our daily thoughts and activities. Grace be with you. They mock authority and law, and believe that might makes right. They still look to their own strength and ability as if they were divine and answer to no authority above their own. I believe that t he Lord is here suggesting that the eternal torment that unbelievers will experience will be on a scale from more tolerable to less tolerable. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! Many that people can plan to do much but is God that will always have the final say. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. God was rejecting their national privilege, and turning to the Gentiles to populate his Covenant Nation on Earth. ", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. Its okay to be a nobody, if in all you do, you serve Somebody. It only made sense on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. God uses the overwhelmed and disheveled mother to nurture her children into spiritual giants. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. God has already determined the end from the beginning (Isa. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Two verses later, in Rom. Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. Verse Concepts. A third reason God had Moses raise his staff and hands before dividing the Red Sea is that God delights to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. Visit Justins personal website Here. Why bother praying to a God who isnt? We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? His story is unique in that he claims to be a Christian even though he has chosen a way of life that God calls an abomination. Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone, the suffering messiah (Romans 9:31-33). 1 John 5:14. Summary God didnt need to have Moses lift up his staff. Literal Standard Version. God is unimpressed by our collection of readers, likes, retweets, friends, connections, or admirers. The new king was deposed after three months. When Judas kissed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter impulsively grabbed his sword and started swinging. WebGod also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will. God picks the scrawniest little girl to lead off on his kickball team. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. But God gave the command, Moses obeyed the command, and in a sense Moses divided the Sea, as the Lord commanded, and in a more ultimate sense God did the miracle and divided the Red Sea. This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. Do not lament your insufficiency. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. B) We entrust our lives to the God who cares for us. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. In those moments we often feel alone in the chaos of circumstances as life tumbles in around us. To say it another way, there is a man in hell today who has been there for 2000 years even though what he did advanced Gods plan to save the world. 10:17 Paul writes, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ. When we preach the gospel to someone and they come to saving faith, we dont boast that we have saved them but that God has saved them, though we were the instruments of Gods saving work. A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. A prophecy we can imagine would have seemed quite improbable to those who heard. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. Judas professed Christ but he did not possess him, which is why he is in hell today. Surely you shall not come into the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1.
Upside Down Butterfly Symbolism, Travel Softball Teams Roanoke Va, Articles G