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. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. Nothing is ever left to chance with God. 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. God didnt need to have Moses lift up his staff. We are called to be among his faithful people. 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. 10:14-15). God Uses He recognized what was evil because he believed Gods law. Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. If your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. 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. Email Jack. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk They probably said things like, See, God isnt doing anything no body ever gets punished, it cant be very serious. They had forgotten the longsuffering of the True God who made all things, and who rules as King over all kings. 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. 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? That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? 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. C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. 2) If Jesus did descend into hell, why? 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. Moses didnt have any power to bring the ten plagues upon Egypt either. His We see this all the way through the Bible. 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. Paul used this verse from Habakkuk to warn the foolish despisers of the gospel. And that is okay. 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. 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. But now, the grief of the Egyptians had subsided and was replaced with anger and regret. 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. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. I cant charge an exorbitant hourly fee for my time. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. God But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. In the healthiest churches, we find a holy conspiracy between pastors who gladly care for the sheep, and sheep who do what they can so that the pastors might serve joyfully. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. This was Moses advice to the people of Israel when facing the imminent threat of death, and it is true for us as well when facing any trial. God then raised up Moses and his brother Aaron as instruments to deliver the people of Israel from cruel bondage. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. We should never presume to say to an unbeliever, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. We cant know that. It was all the Lord. Be encouraged Christian, God intends to use you in all your multifaceted weakness and obscurity for his glory. There are so many amazing things in these few verses. God But we need to grow in faith and obedience. God ordains the means and the ends of life. 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. (1 Corinthians 1:2629). God Uses The Lord said to Moses, How long will this people spurn Me? They gather captives like sand. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts Are we becoming more like Jesus by the power of the Spirit? Do not lament your insufficiency. 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. All rights reserved. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. Habakkuk 1:5, Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! God Uses At my own local church, and everywhere else I go, faithful men and women record my sermons in audio and sometimes video. They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. As with the raising of Moses hands by Aaron and Hurt, sharing the gospel, or praying, God delights in and receives glory for himself, when we submit to His will, live by faith, and obey His Word. Fit to be Used Your sons shall be shepherds for forty years in the wilderness, and they will suffer for your unfaithfulness, until your corpses lie in the wilderness. Causing him to not let the people go. Embrace your weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon you to reveal Gods surpassing greatness (2 Corinthians 12:9). They do whatever they want. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 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. His They intend to be their own god. Gods Prophet Jeremiah warned of Gods judgment. Do not lament your insufficiency. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. If not, we have reason to question whether our faith is real. Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? Which caused the church to grow rapidly. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. Because they did not believe in GodAnd did not trust in His salvation. 1:37). Do not begrudge your weakness. But sometimes we forget that when God ordains a particular end, he also ordains the means to that end. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. Bible Hub But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. I have not been named most influential, listed as most attractive, or voted most likely to succeed. Everything fits into Gods plan. The evil nations God was raising up to judge his rebellious people were self-centered. Jesus waved him off by declaring, All this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled (Matthew 26:56). (see Matthew 27:5). It was their God, or at least the God of Moses, that just killed all the first born of Egypt. WebWhat if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. This seems to be one of the reasons God had Moses lift up his staff and hands to divide the Red Sea. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. 16:30), when he uses you or others, delivering you from your trials, be sure to praise, thank, and give Him all the glory for sovereignly using sinners. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife? Judas solved their problem by volunteering to betray the Lord. He does this for obvious reasons. 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. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. WebGod Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 1. 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. 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. Although God was at work in the betrayal, you couldnt see it that night. He wants us to trust in Him, to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, and then give Him glory for delivering us. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. How beautiful! Our accomplishments do not justify our existence. We pray because we believe God, because we want to trust in God, praise God, ask God for things we cant do ourselves. Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. In spite of all this they still sinned And did not believe in His wonderful works. 13:17). 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). 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. Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. In Acts 13:41 he said, Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. Israel stumbled at the stumbling stone, the suffering messiah (Romans 9:31-33). 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. 2:11). This is the attitude of the evil heart in all ages. 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. Habakkuk learned that the material success of the ungodly is not a reliable measure of their true success. I think we can learn some great lessons by answering these questions. This shows the mercy and compassion of God to help the Israelites. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. 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 Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;read more.the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. By his treachery he established the very cause he set out to destroy. Now and then we advance to Easter morning where we discover Gods purpose in our pain. Does God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk 1:5-11)? We pray because God is sovereign and all powerful. You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent. God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. Remember my imprisonment. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. They move ahead as a determined army spreading violence. WebWhat if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 1 Peter 2:8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land which I swore to give your fathers. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. God Will Use Even You I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. They live as if there was no Creator, no moral law, no accountability. But as for you, your corpses will fall in this wilderness. 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. so that they might escape from the devil's snare, even though they've been held captive by him to do his will. Egypt and the Neo-Babylonians were competing for world dominance. The coming of Messiah was unexpected. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? Jump to Previous His covenant is always enforced. But we can find hope in knowing that God is in control, He works all things for our God, and no suffering we face know will even be able to cast a shadow on the glory we will receive in Heaven. 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. 1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. But we learn that over time a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph or respect what Joseph had done (Ex. 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. Visit Justins personal website Here. WebJohn 3:16. But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive out of those men who went to spy out the land. But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. The phrase all this refers to the betrayal, the circumstances surrounding it, and the circumstances flowing from it. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. 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. In Jeremiah 13:20 it said, Lift up your eyes and see Those who come from the north . Jeremiah 25:32 says, Behold, disaster shall go forth From nation to nation, And a great whirlwind shall be raised up From the farthest parts of the earth., Habakkuk 1:6, For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.. 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. 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. The people of Israel, were backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaohs army charging at them. 5:14). Gods plan even extended to having Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb (see Isaiah 53:9). The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. 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. God Works His Will He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. Jesus immediately restored the ear and told Peter to put down his sword. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. 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. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. Really, its just fine. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? We might make Jim Collins proud, but God yawns at our leadership abilities. verses about Unbelievers Jesus says much the same thing in his famous prayer just before Judas arrives: None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that the Scripture would be fulfilled (John17:12b). 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.. God God Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus 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. But what they do is not going to bring them true blessing. He has but one endto make us like Jesus. God is still using unlikely people to accomplish His will on earth today. Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. God didnt want to lead the people around the Red Sea by the way of the Philistines knowing they might get scared and run back to Egypt (Ex. 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). God Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus Did Jesus Descend Into Hell? The sad story of Judas stands as a warning to religious people not to trust in their religion. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask Nothing will ever be able to affect Gods will. Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! They were in an impossible situation with no way out. I was not a cum laude graduate. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. Israel as a nation had rejected the promises of Moses and the Prophets culminating in the demand for the death of Jesus, Gods Messiah. God was revealing that He was going to use this ungodly power for judgment upon his own straying people. God even gave prophecy through Isaiah that this very thing would take place. He has many means to accomplish that holy purposeincluding some that are difficult to understand. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers. Two verses later, in Rom. 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. Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). The Prophet Habakkuk wrote during the troubled times before Judahs captivity. God strengthened Cyrus so that he could conquer nations and overcome opposition Thus says the Lord God to His 2. International Standard Version. Say to them, As I live, says the Lord, just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surely do to you; 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. Holman Old Testament Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah by Trent Butler. He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. If youd like an interesting Bible study, take a look at the trials of Jesus. In the words of a 19th century writer, hatred, treachery and deceit will not prevail against the church of God. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts Joseph made Egypt phenomenally wealthy during the years of the famine. His purpose in creation will stand. The gospel writers record many Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 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. God Uses 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. Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our He uses believers and unbelievers. God use unbelievers to accomplish his will But what a privilege it is to be used by God! The total number of prophecies is well over 100. They were evil cowards who hated the Son of God but feared a popular uprising if they tried to arrest him. 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. 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. God sees. Its something we can clearly see within the pages of our Bible. You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? Every evil in the world must somehow serve Gods purpose. Just as He did with Pharaoh who placed no faith in the God of Israel. So continue to trust in Him and you wont be disappointed. 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?