God has the amazing ability to do things that simply do not make sense to mankind. 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. Remember my imprisonment. 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. But through the lens of the New Testament, he is seen as a wicked man. The story of Judas teaches us that nothing happens by accident. 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. At times, God enlisted non-believers to help His people through the ages. He fought against God and hoped to destroy the early church. Those who look to themselves, will eventually and always reap their just punishment. 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. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. These lessons simply teach us that God can take that which is evil and use it for his own good purposes. Why bother praying to a God who isnt? A most astonishing way of fulfilling that prophesy. So while many American Christians worry about what will take place in the coming years I find peace in knowing that God can use even the most unlikely candidates to accomplish His will. We pray because we believe God, because we want to trust in God, praise God, ask God for things we cant do ourselves. God wanted the people of Israel to look to Moses as their God appointed human leader and deliverer. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Although Judas appears to be acting solely on his own initiative, it is clear that his betrayal fits into a larger pattern of eventsone that is orchestrated by the unseen hand of the Living God. 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. God sovereignly saves sinners, yet, He often uses sinners to accomplish His sovereign will. He recognized what was evil because he believed Gods law. (Bible quotations are from the New King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.). 13:17). The new Pharaoh saw the Israelites as a plague in the land. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. In spite of all this they still sinnedAnd did not believe in His wonderful works. The people of Jacob were trapped. 46:10). Then we read this in Exodus 14:13-16: But Moses said to the people, Do not fear! Assyria had fallen when Nineveh, its capitol, was destroyed in 612 BC. Peter told the early Christians that the Scripture had to be fulfilled. He meant that the betrayal had to happen the way it did. Why would God allow his Son to suffer such indignity at the hands of one who claimed to be his friend? This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask 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. Anyone who resists God risks falling into spiritual deception (2 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). Finally, they suborned perjury by putting forward false witnesses who produced contradictory testimony. The trials that were meant to establish his guilt ended up establishing his innocence for all the world to see. He even turns wicked hearts to serve his Sovereign purpose. God 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. Get our Question of the Week delivered right to your inbox! Recent events may not have gone how you hoped and the signs may seem bleak. God Uses Many People to Accomplish His Purposes We return now to the original question: Why did God allow Judas to betray Jesus? That pagan nation was struggling against Egypt for dominance. 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. 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. 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.. But all of them come from the hand of the Lord. We see this all the way through the Bible. All of it happened according to Gods plan. Every evil in the world must somehow serve Gods purpose. In the eyes of the Jews, Saul would be seen as a warrior of the faith. The Lord can never be blamed for evil, but evil does not take p. God never does evil Himself. Nothing will ever be able to affect Gods will. Were on a mission to change that. 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? Though used by God for his purposes, the ungodly are still evil. 10:14-15). Moses give the Israelites specific instruction and visible representation from the invisible God. Understanding God in Troubled Times 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. Yet, Solomon turned away from God (1 Kings 11:4, 912). Israel as a nation had rejected the promises of Moses and the Prophets culminating in the demand for the death of Jesus, Gods Messiah. 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. The Neo-Babylonians were dominated by Chaldean kings. This could be the begging of a time of great growth for the church. by Bob Burridge 2013, 2015 One swing of his sword whacked off the ear of Malchus, servant to the High Priest. It is a mighty nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say. . 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?. 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. 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. Verse Concepts. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. It is only as we look back that we see clearly that God was there all along, working behind the scenes for our good and his glory. Jesus, in the Olivet Discourse, gave the parable of the sheep and the goats. 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. Does God Accomplish His Purpose in Our This brings us face to face with the doctrine of Gods providence, which means, A) God has a plan that includes everything that happens in the universe, and, B) Gods plan extends to the tiniest details of life, and. 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. He sent His son to pay a most costly price for the sin of His people, for those who trust in Him. So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. 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. Jesus is truly the lamb without blemish who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). In their very act of oppression, they unknowingly serve the glory of the Creator. Eternity will reveal how your faithful service was used by the Lord in amazing ways. I am not a rising star in any field, industry, or arena. 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. 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. Often in the confusion of life, we cant see the ends, much less the means God intends for us. 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. He uses believers and unbelievers. We see this all the way through the Bible. 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. WebThe Scripture teaches that God achieves His purpose in unbelievers. 4:5). (see Matthew 27:5). Pentecost was a sign to the unbelieving of Israel that they had broken the covenant and stood deserving of Gods judgment and wrath. The Bible says, God was well pleased through the message preached to save those who believe (I Cor. God can use even you even me. Thats generally the way life is for all of us. Unbelievers Are blinded by the God of this world 2 Corinthians 4:4 Verse Concepts Lest he misunderstand, I also told him that going to Calvary Memorial Church cannot save anyoneor help save anyone. Suggestions? God was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Two questions stand out: 1) Did Jesus actually descend into hell? Covenant judgment was about to be poured out upon Israel. He chooses to use sinners to accomplish His sovereign will, often in ways we dont even understand. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask Summary Thanks for your interest! God calls the autistic man to give the most profound articulation of his simple faith. This doesnt erase tragedy or transform heartache, but it gives us a divine perspective on the hard times of life that enables us to keep on going when wed rather give up and quit. When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 1:15-16), later to be thrown in the Nile (Ex. 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. We know from the sowing and reaping principle that t here will be degrees of torment in the lake of fire. But our God is mightier than any office or country. Jesus point is clear, The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.. God is not finished with you yet, so dont give up on him. Now and then we advance to Easter morning where we discover Gods purpose in our pain. The people of Israel, were backed up against the Red Sea with Pharaohs army charging at them. Jesus Sends Out the Even today there are those who are arrogant and have no honor for God as He reveals Himself in Scripture. or will we in our rebellion demonstrate the just curse of His covenant warnings? That leads me to ask a simple question: Are you a professor or a possessor? Yet both declare His awesome glory. They post my sermons on the web and people listen to or watch me preach all over the world. Here are some examples: 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. There are so many amazing things in these few verses. How can I believe in the goodness of God when there is so much evil in the world? God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne ( Psalm 47:8 ). Nothing is ever left to chance with God. 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. Why does God allow deception I run into people in different countries or am contacted by those from different countries who have been blessed by my preaching. 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. The way of the wicked is like darkness;They do not know over what they stumble. Pharaohs heart was hardened again. 1:37). Our accolades cannot merit us any greatness. I think we can learn some great lessons by answering these questions. This week I ate lunch with a man who has recently become an acquaintance through an e-mail correspondence. Why does God allow deception Summary Gods plan included the time of Jesus deathPassover, the placeJerusalem, the opposition by the Jewish leaders, and the betrayal by Judas. 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.. I didnt attend an Ivy League school. Or see articles from other writers we feature Here. In 609 Judahs King Josiah was killed in battle against Egypt. 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. God asks us to do things we cant do, because it makes us trust IN HIM, not ourselves. 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. Though absolutely sovereign, all knowing, all wise, and everywhere present, God uses sinners to accomplish His will. 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. We pray because God is sovereign and all powerful. (1 Corinthians 1:2629). For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Many believed they were going to die and complained to Moses (Ex. 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. 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. God will bring ultimate and final judgment upon all ungodliness. WebGod never does evil Himself. In this period of Judahs last kings, the Prophets warned of the fulfillment of this covenant promise. WebGod was about to turn to the Gentiles as He judged Israel as a nation for her unbelief. Moses didnt have any power to bring the ten plagues upon Egypt either. 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. 14 But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Steven Lee is the Pastor of Preaching & Vision at. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. He told the people that Pharaohs army would be wiped out, though he did not know how. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. How does this truth apply to Judas? But before his salvation took place God was still using Him. How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? Do not begrudge your weakness. All of these people are unlikely choices to be used by God since they didnt truly know or believe in Him. He uses believers and unbelievers. If youd like an interesting Bible study, take a look at the trials of Jesus. The repentant show Gods unmerited grace to undeserving sinners, and reveal the merciful blessing and goodness of God. Including those who dont believe He exists. for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. WebJohn 3:16. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! 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. However, he had Aaron and Hur hold up Moses arms and had Joshua lead the armies of Israel. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. Anxiety, worry, anger, never help remedy the situation, they are emotions that compound our trials and betray that in our hearts we dont believe God, dont trust God, and dont think He is good. Then God, in His sovereign power and will, takes our weak and fallible service, and accomplishes His will, like parting the Red Sea. Even those who dont believe and even speak against. WebGod will never set man's will aside and use him for a good purpose without his being willing to be used. Wisdom alone, though, is insufficient. God Showing us that our God can and will use anyone even though they dont know Him. I have not written a New York Times Bestseller, and no one has publicly endorsed, recommended, or vouched for me. Although God was at work in the betrayal, you couldnt see it that night. God commissions the invalid retiree to uphold dozens, even hundreds of missionaries on the field. Judas didnt know it, and neither did the disciples, but Gods fingerprints were all over his act of betrayal. In the beginning Satan challenged Gods right to rule. God is unimpressed by our collection of readers, likes, retweets, friends, connections, or admirers. 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 how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst? The total number of prophecies is well over 100. While not all became believers, many felt a strong attraction to his message. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. (Video #2), Lesson 2: Gods Use of the Ungodly Habakkuk 1:5-11. Bible Hub 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. Why? Remember my imprisonment. This is a true mystery, which we may explain in various ways but will never fully understand. 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? So through his death, he can have everlasting life on earth. Literal Standard Version. He uses believers and unbelievers. God The mind of evil changes from bad to worse being taken in by successes in conquest. 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. 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.. Because God is utterly unimpressed by my rsum. Psalm 109:8Replaced by another manMatthias (see Acts 1:20). Because God created all He can use anything in creation. That doesnt lessen his guilt, but it does increase our appreciation of Gods sovereignty over the affairs of men. The glory of His nature and attributes will be made known in full. God sometimes use evil to accomplish His plans (Habakkuk At first he ordered the Israelite babies to be killed at birth by the midwives (Ex. I have heard the complaints of the sons of Israel, which they are making against Me. You have entered an incorrect email address! That doesnt make us anything more in Gods eyes. God promised to precede Cyrus and destroy all opposition that Cyrus would face: 'I will go before you and make the 3. Gods Ability To Use Unlikely People Even Unbelievers. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. Gods sign of judgment was that they would hear foreign language on the streets of Jerusalem, speaking in a language they did not understand. This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask But he chose instead to allow himself to be arrested, knowing that this would fulfill Gods plan. 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. Another unlikely person used by God was King Cyrus of Persia. 2) If Jesus did descend into hell, why? Do not begrudge your weakness. They were evil cowards who hated the Son of God but feared a popular uprising if they tried to arrest him. The terms Neo-Babylons and Chaldeans are used interchangeably for the people of that Empire. Causing him to not let the people go. Philippians 3:4-7 - although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. They intend to be their own god. In those moments we often feel alone in the chaos of circumstances as life tumbles in around us. Holman Old Testament Commentary: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah by Trent Butler. God didnt need to have Moses lift up his staff. We see this clearly in the life of Christ. Judas professed Christ but he did not possess him, which is why he is in hell today. God 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. 10:17 Paul writes, So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ. When we preach the gospel to someone and they come to saving faith, we dont boast that we have saved them but that God has saved them, though we were the instruments of Gods saving work. 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. The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. We need to remember that God uses the foolish. But we need to grow in faith and obedience. What does it mean that the righteous will live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4)? He was ready to die for his Master and intended to take a few of the bad guys with him. 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. When he went before Pilate, the Roman governor received an urgent message from his wife: Dont have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him (Matthew 27:19). Here is my answer: He allowed Judas to betray Jesus so that Jesus could become the Savior of the world. 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. The sad story of Judas stands as a warning to religious people not to trust in their religion. In fact, in one place in scripture, God said that what He was doing could not be understood even if He explained it. He could have rained fire and brimstone down on them. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. 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. They looked to themselves for their power. 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. Because God created all He can use anything in creation. 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). Is it true that God cannot look upon sin? But what they do is not going to bring them true blessing. Summary At the beginning of their sojourn, Joseph was ruler of Egypt, a son of Jacob, and watched over his own. 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?. The evil nations God was raising up to judge his rebellious people were self-centered. 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. God doesnt need men, but God chooses to use men at times to accomplish His sovereign will. He stands behind it indirectly, but He directly stands behind good. International Standard Version. International Standard Version. Moses had great faith! God use unbelievers to accomplish his will As we saw in the first four verses of this book, Habakkuk was confused. Causing a sacrifice to take place that would open salvation up to all people. 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. Which is why they completely missed the Messiah when they stood right beside Him. But the fact of the matter is it wasnt me! When God desires to save someone, He raises up Christians to preach the gospel. International Standard Version. We live most of our days in Good Fridayenduring confusion, opposition, disappointment and the many tragedies of life. For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.. 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. The new king was deposed after three months. Sign up to join over 20,000 subscribers receiving our weekly sermon email. Solomon was given a mind like no one before and like none even after him (1 Kings 3:12). Other examples could be added to this list. We when we dont know if something is Gods will, we pray, Yet not my will but yours be done (Mt. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 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.