Were they to march into the sea holding their little ones, driving their cattle, and pushing their elderly? Egypt made his brother, Jehoiakim, the new king over the Jews. Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.. His words imply that all the torment will be tolerable. It can be fairly said that the common people by and large respected Jesus and responded positively to his message. Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. He sent His son to pay a most costly price for the sin of His people, for those who trust in Him. ", Writing & Teaching Inductive Bible Studies. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. At first he ordered the Israelite babies to be killed at birth by the midwives (Ex. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, gave the parable of the sheep and the goats. God can use even you even me. God Uses Many People to Accomplish His Purposes Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). 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. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. I dont have any letters after my name. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? The coming of Messiah was unexpected. Thus they plundered the Egyptians ( Exodus 12:36 ). by Bob Burridge 2013, 2015 When we do that we become His instruments to accomplish His sovereign will. And how will they hear without a preacher? How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who are grumbling against Me? God is not the author of sin, but He can use sinful men to attain an objective. Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.. He who rejects Me and does not receive My sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day. They do whatever they want. Jesus Sends Out the 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. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. Jump to Previous Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. 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. God Works His Will WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. 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. So He brought their days to an end in futility And their years in sudden terror. or will we in our rebellion demonstrate the just curse of His covenant warnings? But Moses said to the Lord, Then the Egyptians will hear of it, for by Your strength You brought up this people from their midst, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land. The Prophet was told to look around him and see what was going on among the nations, observe! The very first verse my daughter ever memorized was Isaiah 40:8, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. It seemed like an odd one to begin with, but now in retrospect it might have been the best one. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. Gods sign of judgment was that they would hear foreign language on the streets of Jerusalem, speaking in a language they did not understand. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. So continue to trust in Him and you wont be disappointed. Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. 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. C) We place our confidence in Gods ultimate purpose for us. Bible Hub The evil ones believe pridefully that their own imagined gods have blessed them. 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. He uses believers and unbelievers. Romans 8:28 says, For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. All things includes both good and bad things. Pentecost was a sign to the unbelieving of Israel that they had broken the covenant and stood deserving of Gods judgment and wrath. That is what moving forward would require, or so it seemed. He clings to his sin like a drowning man to an iron life preserver. Prayer is one of the means God uses to accomplish His sovereign will and get glory for himself. WebGod never does evil Himself. He has not brought us this far to cause us to fail. He does this for obvious reasons. Now if You slay this people as one man, then the nations who have heard of Your fame will say. Dont mistake temporary material victories for true success. Nothing will ever be able to affect Gods will. 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. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do not begrudge your weakness. God Uses God Can Use Unbelievers part 1: Cyrus God picks the scrawniest little girl to lead off on his kickball team. You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? God use unbelievers to accomplish his will Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our God The sheep representing believers who did Gods will and the goats representing unbelievers who do not do Gods will. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. Why does God allow deception Causing him to not let the people go. 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. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. WebGod never does evil Himself. 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. But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 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. As they plotted how to murder Jesus they had no idea they were accomplishing Gods will. 1:8). You have entered an incorrect email address! 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. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. Each time Moses would perform a mighty sign to convince Pharaoh of Gods power but each time God would harden his heart. And that is okay. Even his enemies played into Gods handthough they did not know it at the time. 16 But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. First, we see the faith of Moses. The glory of His nature and attributes will be made known in full. God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. Why tell Moses to lift up his staff and stretch out his hand over the see and be the instrument God would use to divide the sea? 4:5). Habakkuk 1:5, Look among the nations and watch Be utterly astounded! 1:21). WebJohn 3:16. Why did a holy God allow such evil to continue? Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. Solomon was DaVinci, Einstein, Bach, Jordan, Augustus, and Shakespeare rolled into one superior man. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. Then the Lord said to Moses, Why are you crying out to Me? He was a brilliant poet, a skillful songwriter, a genius botanist, and a first-class biologist. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk Rejoice that Christ is all-sufficient and always dependable. 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? Which is why they completely missed the Messiah when they stood right beside Him. Wisdom alone, though, is insufficient. 5:14). God use unbelievers to accomplish his will If we lack wisdom, we should ask God for it (James 1:5). That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. Habakkuk learned that the material success of the ungodly is not a reliable measure of their true success. I sit on no boards. He has but one endto make us like Jesus. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). 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.. Its something we can clearly see within the pages of our Bible. Now and then we advance to Easter morning where we discover Gods purpose in our pain. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk Yet He was still able to accomplish His will through them. but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Those who were rebelling against God had become apathetic. A man who lived in a time in which only Jews served the one true God. We might be a life-hacking, productivity guru. That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. Many that people can plan to do much but is God that will always have the final say. 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. He dealt with his doubts and confusion in the right way, he turned to God, not to his own understanding. Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 1 And Saul approved of his execution. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. God will surely judge all rebellion, secret and open. 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. But what they do is not going to bring them true blessing. God Will Use Even You Those who read my words are in many different situations: May I repeat what I just said: He has not brought us this far to cause us to fail. 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. 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. Things may seem impossible, and for men, they might be impossible, but nothing is impossible with God (Lk. We pray because God is sovereign and all powerful. 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. The Lord did it, but He did it through Moses. His betrayal proved that the Jewish leaders were far from innocent bystanders in the death of Christ. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. 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.. The fact that we cant conceive of free choice coexisting with Gods predestination simply reminds us once again that he is God and we are not. Gods covenant warned from the beginning that if Israel fell into sin God would use a foreign heathen nation to bring judgment upon them. Even those who have a very low view of Gods sovereignty, if they pray, pray because God is perfectly sovereign, otherwise prayer would be an exercise in futility. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Summary Zechariah 11:1230 pieces of silver (see Matthew 26:15). God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. He chooses to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will, often in ways we dont even understand. It doesnt mean everything will also go perfectly or the way we hope. WebGod never does evil Himself. God has sinners pray and answers the prayers of sinners that are according to His will, getting glory for himself. 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 they offered him 30 pieces of silver, he readily accepted even though that was the going price for a slave. Moses didnt have any power to bring the ten plagues upon Egypt either. His plan in doing so was to bless all people. 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. Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 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. 12:35-36). But we learn that over time a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph or respect what Joseph had done (Ex. God 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. Romans 8:28 says, For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. All things includes both good and bad things. But Habakkuks confusion was not doubt. If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience sake. Jump to Previous 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. International Standard Version. Jesus is truly the lamb without blemish who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). He told the people that Pharaohs army would be wiped out, though he did not know how. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. God scoffs at any attempt by me or you to prove our worthiness. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. The unbelievers, become confused, not remembering ever having the opportunity to serve Jesus. 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. 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. 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. Paul used this verse from Habakkuk to warn the foolish despisers of the gospel. B) We entrust our lives to the God who cares for us. Yet, Solomon turned away from God (1 Kings 11:4, 912). God His Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. 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. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! God uses pathetic people for his glorious purposes to show his superior power. Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Moses was an instrument, a tool, a vessel for Gods use, and so are we all. And goes on to say, How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? Finally, they suborned perjury by putting forward false witnesses who produced contradictory testimony. Your children, however, whom you said would become a preyI will bring them in, and they will know the land which you have rejected. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. 1:37). If so, did he have a choice? The fact that God ordains both the means and the ends should surely encourage us as we face our own trials. 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). Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 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. 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. But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. 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.. My ministry is small locally, but gigantic because of the faithful service of others. verses about Unbelievers Stating that the plans of men are many but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. Soon they will be raised up from that struggle to full power. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? 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. God was rejecting their national privilege, and turning to the Gentiles to populate his Covenant Nation on Earth. Literal Standard Version. Though there were still many who had remained faithful, others no longer followed the words of the Prophets. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. Although God was at work in the betrayal, you couldnt see it that night. Fit to be Used Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 They were evil cowards who hated the Son of God but feared a popular uprising if they tried to arrest him. His story is unique in that he claims to be a Christian even though he has chosen a way of life that God calls an abomination. We see this all the way through the Bible. A third reason God had Moses raise his staff and hands before dividing the Red Sea is that God delights to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Most people in the world have no experience of lasting joy in their 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. 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. 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. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. God use non-believers to help His people God Will Use Even You We when we dont know if something is Gods will, we pray, Yet not my will but yours be done (Mt. Later Pilate gave in to pressure and ordered Jesus crucified. verses about Unbelievers Though Israel was many, only the remnant will be saved (Romans 9:27). All of these people are unlikely choices to be used by God since they didnt truly know or believe in Him. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. But the fact of the matter is it wasnt me! 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. 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. Be encouraged, child of God. 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. International Standard Version. 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. It will be a most terrible judgment. Peter told the early Christians that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. He meant that the betrayal had to happen the way it did. A nation would come to judge them speaking in a language they did not understand (Deuteronomy 28:49). But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. It was their God, or at least the God of Moses, that just killed all the first born of Egypt. 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. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? First, the people of Israel were for the most part leaderless. This is the grace of God as revealed in His merciful covenant. 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. Here is my answer: He allowed Judas to betray Jesus so that Jesus could become the Savior of the world. Yet both declare His awesome glory. He recognized what was evil because he believed Gods law. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask Their end will be most awful. The manner of the judgment would be unexpected. If your rsum is sparse, your intellect feeble, your skills unimpressive, and your wisdom just average, fret not. 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.. 28:25, The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies; you shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them; and you shall become troublesome to all the kingdoms of the earth. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He *said, Why does this generation seek for a sign? This New-Babylon marched through Canaan and took hostages (one of them was Daniel). God uses all those who humble themselves before the cross, boasting only in him his strength, his wisdom, his righteousness, his accomplishment. I was not a cum laude graduate. 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.