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 didnt need to have Moses lift up his staff. shall by no means see the land which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who spurned Me see it. God chooses the custodian with a heavy accent to share the gospel and save lives. 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 used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. The sheep representing believers who did Gods will and the goats representing unbelievers who do not do Gods will. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). The way to heaven is only Jesus and Jesus only.. 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. . He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. However, he had Aaron and Hur hold up Moses arms and had Joshua lead the armies of Israel. 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. 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.. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. We need to be reminded again and again that we are like grass disposable, temporary, fleeting, momentary. Stating that the plans of men are many but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Prayer is one of the means God uses to accomplish His sovereign will and get glory for himself. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. I am not a rising star in any field, industry, or arena. Providence means that God is in charge of the entire universe at all times and nothing happens outside his control. This truth about Judas illustrates Gods control of every event in the universe. Summary The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. 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. 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. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. B) We entrust our lives to the God who cares for us. Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods power but each time God would harden his heart. Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.. Jesus is truly the lamb without blemish who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). Herod the Great tried to kill him in Bethlehem. 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. The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? Having all the wisdom in the world didnt guarantee fidelity. Pentecost was a sign to the unbelieving of Israel that they had broken the covenant and stood deserving of Gods judgment and wrath. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Here are some examples: In their very act of oppression, they unknowingly serve the glory of the Creator. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. When the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who destroyed the people, It is enough! They were afraid. Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. The Neo-Babylonians were dominated by Chaldean kings. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. Wisdom didnt guard him against a wandering heart. They do whatever they want. 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. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Paul also made this clear in Romans 9-11. At my own local church, and everywhere else I go, faithful men and women record my sermons in audio and sometimes video. He may for a time use the ungodly to bring deserved chastising upon the hypocrites among His own people, and to show his uncompromising wrath upon those left to what we all deserve aside from the work of his grace. 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 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. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say,read more.Because the Lord could not bring this people into the land which He promised them by oath, therefore He slaughtered them in the wilderness. But now, I pray, let the power of the Lord be great, just as You have declared, The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations. 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. So the Lord said, I have pardoned them according to your word; but indeed, as I live, all the earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord. Dont mistake temporary material victories for true success. God scoffs at any attempt by me or you to prove our worthiness. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. 1 John 5:14. 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. The way of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know over what they stumble. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. No buildings, streets, or hospitals have been named in honor of me. But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. 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. Jesus said the unbelievers failed to give him food, drink, nurse him in His sickness, or visit Him in prison. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. This shows the mercy and compassion of God to help the Israelites. God answered him. First, we see the faith of Moses. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their lives. 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. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Verse Concepts. God will deal with them according to his plan, but first, He will use them for His own covenant judgment. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. That leads me to ask a simple question: Are you a professor or a possessor? 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. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. 14:11). It doesnt mean everything will also go perfectly or the way we hope. Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. But God did just that and used a sinning Gentile to begin the process of restoring Israel. Do not begrudge your weakness. They had fast horses and were more fierce (more alert, fierce, and sharp) than the hungry wolves that come out to hunt in the evening. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. You are going to need it as we search the Scriptures to answer these two questions. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. We turn now to consider how the sin of Judas served many good purposesnone of which were seen that night and none of which diminish his true moral guilt. And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, gave the parable of the sheep and the goats. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. They make a joke out of those who dare to not submit to them. The Pharisees believed they were serving God but in reality, they didnt even know Him. He clings to his sin like a drowning man to an iron life preserver. In 609 Judahs King Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt. But our God is mightier than any office or country. Causing a sacrifice to take place that would open salvation up to all people. If your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. It only made sense on Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. This week were looking at the other side of the equation. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. It doesnt matter if you have theology degrees or mothered a dozen healthy, happy children or started several 501(c)3s to feed the poor and end trafficking. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. Steven Lee is the Pastor of Preaching & Vision at. We are saved by living faith in the Son of Godnot by outward religious observance. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. 4:5). He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. Our prayers aline us with Gods eternal decree. They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. International Standard Version. Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea. The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? Summary As a place to begin, consider three verses dealing with Judas. 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 will use it even if you do not understand how. I answer yes. He told Moses, Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. But how? Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. Now relax your hand! And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite. C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. Moses was an instrument, a tool, a vessel for Gods use, and so are we all. Those who turn in humble trust to the Lord, who rest in His work of redemption, who seek to walk in his ways, and who turn in humble repentance when they fail, will receive His righteousness, and blessing forever. Though there were still many who had remained faithful, others no longer followed the words of the Prophets. I have an unimpressive family background and do not come from a long line of important people. He reminded Peter that he could call for 12 legions of angels72,000 highly trained, heavily armed members of the Angelic Defense Leagueto come to his rescue at any moment. Through one mans treachery, Jesus proves himself a man of peacenot a man of war. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Literal Standard Version. Habakkuk 1:7-11, They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. How will they preach unless they are sent? Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. I have not been named most influential, listed as most attractive, or voted most likely to succeed. 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. When God desires to save someone, He raises up Christians to preach the gospel. When we reach a dead end in our own resources, God can part the sea of the impossible and get us through, but I digress. You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? That is what moving forward would require, or so it seemed. We see this clearly in the life of Christ. The Israelites and the church did face some tough times and we may too. 17:8-13). Although God was at work in the betrayal, you couldnt see it that night. His silence spoke more loudly than the foolish claims of his lying accusers. 1:8). While not all became believers, many felt a strong attraction to his message. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? During our conversationwhich lasted two hours and was both cordial and very frankI told him that his religion could not save him. Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. Here are some examples: He had great trust in the truth of God. God can use even you even me. WebGod never does evil Himself. They intend to be their own god. 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. They looked to themselves for their power. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? His plan in doing so was to bless all people. 12:35-36). Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. When God determines where we will end up, he also determines how we will get there. 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. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. Visit Justins personal website Here. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. Acts 2:23 tells us that Jesus was delivered up, by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. As for you, 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. Because God does miracles by His own power. God can use anyone and anything. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. And goes on to say, How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? The unbeliever has made an exchangethe truth for a lieand the devil is happy to facilitate the swap by presenting the sinner with a wide array of lies from which to choose. 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. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to Me? Embrace your weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you to reveal Gods surpassing greatness (2 Corinthians 12:9). They have no respect for the leaders of other nations. 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. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. 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?. God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. The unbeliever has made an exchangethe truth for a lieand the devil is happy to facilitate the swap by presenting the sinner with a wide array of lies from which to choose. But most of the time we wont see it fully until we finally arrive in heaven. So continue to trust in Him and you wont be disappointed. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. When we pray, we strive to pray according to Gods will (I Jn. God himself had foreordained every detail surrounding the death of his Son. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.read more.Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace. Why? For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. 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. It becomes all the more bold in lawlessness. He dealt with his doubts and confusion in the right way, he turned to God, not to his own understanding. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. But this much is clear: He never believed that Jesus was guilty of any crime. I find it remarkable how consistently the New Testament writers see the hand of God in the events surrounding the death of Christ. Moses was sent by the Lord multiple times to Pharaoh asking for the release of the Hebrews. Here are five specific prophecies that were fulfilled when Judas betrayed Jesus: Psalm 41:9Close friend will betray Christ (see John 13:18). No, its a mystery. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land. 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. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). They have heard that You, O. They had no weapons to fight Pharaohs army, no experience in war, no ability to defend themselves, and no way of escape. God blesses those in whom he stirs to obedience, and judges disobedience. Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. Matthew 26:3-5 informs us that the leaders of the Jews were looking for an opportunity to arrest Jesus and put him to death. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? God could have had the earth swallow up the Amalekites. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. And how will they hear without a preacher? Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say. Including those who dont believe He exists. As they plotted how to murder Jesus they had no idea they were accomplishing Gods will. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. Nothing is ever left to chance with God. Its okay to be a nobody, if in all you do, you serve Somebody. It was all the Lord. God will surely judge all rebellion, secret and open. So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. 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). 1:21). Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites live in the valleys; turn tomorrow and set out to the wilderness by the way of the Red Sea..
