Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! Habakkuk 1:5, Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! Its something we can clearly see within the pages of our Bible. Until finally it came to the Red Sea where the Egyptian army was destroyed and the tale spread across the world to the glory of God. 28:49, The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand. Training for Preachers and Teachers of God's Word, Want to know what an RSS feed is and how it works? After God redeemed Israel from Egypt through a series of ten miraculous plagues, he had Moses lead the people of Israel out of Egypt near the shore of the Red Sea. WebAnd then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will. 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. It was the tech team, the web master, the secretary, or whoever posted my sermon on line. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. 28:36, The LORD will bring you and the king whom you set over you to a nation which neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods wood and stone. Judas didnt know itand doesnt get any credit for itbut his dastardly deed actually fulfilled predictions given by the Holy Spirit hundreds of years before he was born. Just as He did with Pharaoh who placed no faith in the God of Israel. 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. 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. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 An unlikely person to be used by God. God could have had the earth swallow up the Amalekites. 4:5). 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. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. Judas served Gods purposes even though what he did was wrong and he ended up in hell. They do whatever they want. Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation., Truth Of God Is denied by Unbelievers, the Truth of God Is denied by Unbelievers, Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world, Unbelievers Will be classed with outbreaking sinners in eternity, Unbelievers Their lifetime spent in vanity, Unbelievers Shall be judged by God's word in the last day, Will be classed with outbreaking sinners in eternity, Shall be judged by God's word in the last day. Pharaohs heart was hardened again. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Causing a sacrifice to take place that would open salvation up to all people. Literal Standard Version. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. Verse Concepts. 28 who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, saying of Jerusalem, She shall be built,, and of the temple, Your foundation shall be laid. . Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. 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. Thats where the judgment will come from. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Judas didnt know it, and neither did the disciples, but Gods fingerprints were all over his act of betrayal. 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. Prayer is one of the means God uses to accomplish His sovereign will and get glory for himself. God commissions the invalid retiree to uphold dozens, even hundreds of missionaries on the field. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. We return now to the original question: Why did God allow Judas to betray Jesus? He is working all things after the counsel of His will (Eph. All four gospel writers agree that three times Pilate rendered the same verdict regarding Jesus: I find no fault in him (John 19:6 NKJV). WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. 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. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. To put the matter that way raises several other questions: Was Judas predestined by God to betray Jesus? But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.. They sweep through like the strong winds from the East gathering up captives that number like the grains of sand. For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? The Lord even tells Moses to do it, divide it! God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. Suggestions? The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see this all the way through the Bible. He uses believers and unbelievers. 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. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. Lesson 7 The Interpretation of Scripture, Lesson 5a Boundaries of the Doctrine of Creation, Primeval Chronology by Dr. William Henry Green, Lesson 8 Gods Special Providence & Miracles, Lesson 10 Assurance of Grace and Salvation, Lesson 2 Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience, Lesson 3 The Regulative Principle of Worship, Lesson 4a The Elements of Regulated Worship, Lesson 4b The Elements of Regulated Worship, Lesson 1 An Overview of Special Eschatology, Lesson 2 -The Great Tribulation of Matthew 24, Lesson 3 The Millennium of Revelation 20, A Guide for Small Group Bible Study Leaders, Defending the Biblical Faith by what God Shows Us, Lessons in the Westminster Shorter Catechsim, The Inspiration of the Treasured Word of God, Summary of the 45th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, The Holy Spirit In the Ministry of the Word, The Necessity of Biblical Love in the Believers Life, Keep Your Bible Skills Sharp and Ready (part 2), Keep Your Bible Skills Sharp and Ready (Part 1). In 609 Judahs King Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt. even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. He clings to his sin like a drowning man to an iron life preserver. But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. God is still using unlikely people to accomplish His will on earth today. But before his salvation took place God was still using Him. "Equipping and encouraging people to keep believing in Jesus", Copyright 2020 Keep Believing Ministries. They move ahead as a determined army spreading violence. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. It becomes all the more bold in lawlessness. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. God wants to use those who look away from their self-sufficiency to his all-sufficiency. Then the Lord heard the sound of your words, and He was angry and took an oath, saying, Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. Strategically, this appeared to be a very unwise move, unless you are God. Rejoice that Christ is all-sufficient and always dependable. Why? WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. Understanding God in Troubled Times Impatience and failing to trust God is never helpful. Do you merely profess Christ and trust in your religious habits to save you, or do you possess Christ in your heart by faith? Summary All of our resources exist to guide you toward everlasting joy in Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:14. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods power but each time God would harden his heart. Thats generally the way life is for all of us. One swing of his sword whacked off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. Many that people can plan to do much but is God that will always have the final say. Fifth, and the point I want to focus on, is that the Lord tells Moses, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. I find this very interesting and encouraging. 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. WebAnd then they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the Devil, who had caught them and made them obey his will. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. 1:37). It forces us to live by faith, which is how He wants us to live all the time because it gives Him glory. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. 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 know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. We are called to be among his faithful people. We pray because God is sovereign and all powerful. But if anyone says to you, This is meat sacrificed to idols, do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake; I mean not your own conscience, but the other mans; for why is my freedom judged by anothers conscience? The sad story of Judas stands as a warning to religious people not to trust in their religion. And He *said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, Move from here to there, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you. (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). 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. They were the ones who asked for valuables from the people of Egypt, who were so fearful and stricken with grief that they gave the departing Israelites their riches, literally paying the Jews to leave Egypt (Ex. Eventually, Pharaoh decided to use the Jews for slave labor. This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. 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. We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. Literal Standard Version. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. 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 Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. A) We bow in submission before the mysterious ways of God. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Here are some examples: The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. I sit on no boards. If God did the miracles without Moses, amazing things would have happened, but the people would not have known what was going on or what to do. We see the same thing after the Israelites cross the Red Sea and are attacked by the Amalekites (Ex. What does it mean that God came from Teman (Habakkuk 3:3). WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Just as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things! (Rom. 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. How beautiful! Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? But My servant Caleb, because he has had a different spirit and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land which he entered, and his descendants shall take possession of it. WebThe one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. Remember my imprisonment. 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 himself had foreordained every detail surrounding the death of his Son. They had no weapons to fight Pharaohs army, no experience in war, no ability to defend themselves, and no way of escape. All of it happened according to Gods plan. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. So the emphasis of the chapter is on Gods working out His purpose through ordinary people who obey Him. 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. God Himself said that He used Pharaoh so that His name would be known on all the earth. The one who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son. I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. 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. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). Yet, Solomon turned away from God (1 Kings 11:4, 912). The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). When they offered him 30 pieces of silver, he readily accepted even though that was the going price for a slave. Zechariah 11:13Judas would give the money back. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. Other examples could be added to this list. For this reason God purposefully led the wondering multitude to a place where there was no possible way of escape from Pharaoh and his army, humanly speaking. Everyday Apostolic 2019 | All Rights Reserved, Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers, Canceling Church On Christmas Removes Christ From Christmas, Great Resources On Baptism In The Name Of Jesus, A Diluted Christianity: Oneness, Trinitarian, Or Is It All Just Irrelevant, Youre Not David Pastor Raymond Woodward, The Walking Bible Pastor Raymond Woodward, Wait On The Lord by James Wilson NAYC 2019, If I Shout/Lets Testify Medley FAC Sanctuary Choir. What Jesus Wants Emphasized In His Church! Do not lament your insufficiency. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. In this wilderness they shall be destroyed, and there they will die. As for the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land and who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing out a bad report concerning the land, even those men who brought out the very bad report of the land died by a plague before the Lord. Holman Old Testament Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah by Trent Butler. and be astounded! God is unimpressed. By his treachery he established the very cause he set out to destroy. God can use even you even me. And that is okay. 1:21). (see Acts 1:20). He betrayed the Lord but ended up vindicating him. Moses was sent by the Lord multiple times to Pharaoh asking for the release of the Hebrews. C) God uses all eventsgood and badto accomplish his purposes. When Judas actually betrayed Jesus in the Garden, Peter immediately sprang to his defense. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. 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 reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.. For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son for those who believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.. 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. 1 John 5:14. In Acts 1:16 Peter declared that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. He meant that the Old Testament predictions (he cites Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8) regarding Judas were bound to come true. 5:14). And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. 4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. He didnt accept evil apathetically, he was appalled by it. This is the grace of God as revealed in His merciful covenant. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. There he said in 1 Corinthians 14:21, With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me, says the Lord. He directly quoted the covenant warning of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Deuteronomy. I answer yes. We when we dont know if something is Gods will, we pray, Yet not my will but yours be done (Mt. Grace be with you. Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? God has already determined the end from the beginning (Isa. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). Paul, in writing to Corinth, corrected the Churchs misuse of speaking in foreign tongues. It even included the price Judas would receive for his act of treachery30 pieces of silver. Scripture even points to the fact that God used Cyrus even though he didnt know God. Get your Bible. He has many means to accomplish that holy purposeincluding some that are difficult to understand. Egypt made his brother, Jehoiakim, the new king over the Jews. Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. He uses believers and unbelievers. Recent events may not have gone how you hoped and the signs may seem bleak. But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. The way of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know over what they stumble. No, its a mystery. In the providence of God, the betrayal by Judas actually advanced Gods purpose in the world. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 12: 3). As the persecution he inflicted was just the jump-start the early church needed to start taking the Gospel to the rest of the world. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. Pastor, Expository Preacher, Author, Trainer of Preachers and Bible Teachers. Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? I also answer yes. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. 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. How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now., but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the. Able to do exceedingly and abundantly using unlikely people to further His plans. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. You are going to need it as we search the Scriptures to answer these two questions. The gospels writers emphasize that although the Jewish leaders earnestly sought for witnesses who could testify against Christ, they found no one willing to come forward. For he sees that even wise men die;The stupid and the senseless alike perishAnd leave their wealth to others. also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,But He does according to His will in the host of heavenAnd among the inhabitants of earth;And no one can ward off His handOr say to Him, What have You done?. 10 people that God used to accomplish his purposes I. Paul: The one with a shameful past and challenging present (4:18) Colossians 4:18 - I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numbered men, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against Me. Moses was an instrument, a tool, a vessel for Gods use, and so are we all. 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.
