Posted by JasonSC
on June 2, 2008, 11:09 pm
68.5.98.235
"But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16)
God raised up Pharaoh to show all people throughout history that He is singular, that He is sovereign. And to those who would protest that it was unfair for God to use Pharaoh in such a way, Paul would say, “Who are you to question God? Can the clay say to the potter, Why did you make me like this? The potter has the right to do whatever he chooses with the lump of clay. And God has the right to do whatever He wants with us.” (Romans 9:21)
How arrogantly foolish of us to think that we can figure out God! Truly our God is an awesome God. Yes, He’s a loving Father, our Abba, our Papa. But He is also the One who, without any explanation, told His friend to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:2); He is the One who struck a king with leprosy, a man who served Him well, for offering a sacrifice in the temple (2 Chronicles 26:20). I can’t read my Bible without realizing that my Father is loving and kind, compassionate and tender, but He is also awesome and huge, powerful and “other.” Yes, we rejoice in our Father. Yes, we understand His nature as we look at Jesus. But along with that, we must also understand that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). We think we have God all figured out. But one can’t read the Scriptures without coming to the conclusion that He doesn’t fit into any box very easily.
Stand in awe of God. Be amazed by His greatness, by His size, by His sovereignty. And then marvel that He has allowed us to be brought into His family, that He’s made Himself known to us through Jesus personally, that He placed us at the same time in history where the gospel message surrounds us constantly. Sometimes, I fall on my face on my living room floor, speechless in His presence. He raised up Pharaoh simply to show His power. And He stooped to save us, to do the same thing.
Amazing.
Yes, Solomon was correct in saying:
¶ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
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