SO MY WONDERS MAY BE MULTIPLIED
What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. The chief end of man is to glorify God. That is why God created humankind. Our very purpose for existence is to bring glory to God. Is there any possibility that God’s purpose for man may not be fulfilled? What about the wicked? What about those who refuse to acknowledge that our Lord is God? Is God’s purpose frustrated in them?
In Exodus 9 God is in the midst of bringing a slew of plagues upon Egypt. Pharaoh alternately says the people can go and worship the Lord in the desert and then changes his mind and hardens his heart. Even the officials of Egypt say to Pharaoh, “Can’t you see that Egypt is ruined?” But what does God say? See Exodus 9:15, 16; For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. God was going to be glorified even through the wickedness of Pharaoh. What God does is not for the sake of Pharaoh or even for the sake of Israel. It was for his own name’s sake!
God wants Pharaoh to see his sovereignty. Before the last plague, the slaying of the firstborn sons, God instructs Moses to say to Pharaoh, Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. It is God who makes the distinction. The distinction is not found in the people of Egypt or the people of Israel. The distinction comes from the mind of God himself. It is a matter of his own choice. Israel could take no credit for being the chosen people. They didn’t choose themselves and they certainly didn’t deserve to be chosen. It is God who made the distinction. And so it is with us. We belong to God because God chose to make us his own. He is the one who makes the distinction between his children and those who are not.
One more evidence of this God-glorifying truth. Exodus 11:9, 10. God spoke to Moses saying, Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt. Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart… To demonstrate his sovereign power and the fact that he can do as he chooses to bring glory to himself, God ensures that all his power will be demonstrated to both Egypt and Israel by hardening Pharaoh’s heart.
How can we fail to recognize that the Bible is God’s story, not man’s? It is all about him and he created us to glorify his name. He will glorify himself through both the wicked and the righteous.
In Exodus 9 God is in the midst of bringing a slew of plagues upon Egypt. Pharaoh alternately says the people can go and worship the Lord in the desert and then changes his mind and hardens his heart. Even the officials of Egypt say to Pharaoh, “Can’t you see that Egypt is ruined?” But what does God say? See Exodus 9:15, 16; For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. God was going to be glorified even through the wickedness of Pharaoh. What God does is not for the sake of Pharaoh or even for the sake of Israel. It was for his own name’s sake!
God wants Pharaoh to see his sovereignty. Before the last plague, the slaying of the firstborn sons, God instructs Moses to say to Pharaoh, Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel. It is God who makes the distinction. The distinction is not found in the people of Egypt or the people of Israel. The distinction comes from the mind of God himself. It is a matter of his own choice. Israel could take no credit for being the chosen people. They didn’t choose themselves and they certainly didn’t deserve to be chosen. It is God who made the distinction. And so it is with us. We belong to God because God chose to make us his own. He is the one who makes the distinction between his children and those who are not.
One more evidence of this God-glorifying truth. Exodus 11:9, 10. God spoke to Moses saying, Pharaoh will refuse to listen to you—so that my wonders may be multiplied in Egypt. Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, but the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart… To demonstrate his sovereign power and the fact that he can do as he chooses to bring glory to himself, God ensures that all his power will be demonstrated to both Egypt and Israel by hardening Pharaoh’s heart.
How can we fail to recognize that the Bible is God’s story, not man’s? It is all about him and he created us to glorify his name. He will glorify himself through both the wicked and the righteous.
posted by Shiloh Guy @ Saturday, January 31, 2009
3 comments
3 Comments:
Amen. Physical Israel was a picture of those chosen and redeemed from the world. But all is Israel is not Israel and only the remnant were actually saved.
May God bless your ministry.
Wayne
Never thought of the idea that God would glorify Himself through the wicked as well although the scripture is full of examples of that! Thanks for reminding me that I am here to bring HIM glory--that should keep my focus right where it needs to be! Holly
Dave,
I am really enjoying the metanarrative theology in your posts. I love to see how the overarching story of scripture influences each section. You are really blessing me with your words. Keep them coming!
Post a Comment
<< Home