Who do we say God is?
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But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
Point: Who do we say that God is?
Who do we say that God is? Is He someone we trust, love, and know to be a God of grace toward us? Or is God a hard “taskmaster” who can be counted upon to punish us if we make a mistake or fail in some way?
A man I know call my friend, used to view God as a God of punishment from childhood. If he stepped out of line, according to God’s soverignty, God was going to get him, like an ant under a magnifying glass in the blazing sun. This mindset affected his marriage to such an extent, that it ended in divorce because he was paralyzed with fear, to do anything that he feared was not of the will of God. He believed God was out to get him, just waiting for him to screw up. After walking with him for two years, he know views God as a God of love, grace, and mercy whom he can trust…and is remarried to a wonderful woman whom.
God is a God of love, grace, and mercy in whom we can place our trust to be for our good, in all things.
“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus asked him. “No one is good but One—God.
Every generous act and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights; with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!
For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord gives grace and glory; He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.
The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
So then, having established that God is good, loving, merciful, graceful, trustworthy, and kind; how is it that we come to the determination that God is a God of punishment? A God looking to get you if you step out of line? Do we believe that punishment is evil? Do we believe that correction is not good? What we believe about the motivation and actions of God, is what we believe about God. And for that matter Jesus and the Holy Spirit, being that both Jesus and Holy Spirit are God.
“Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works.
Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, because He will take from what is Mine and declare it to you.
Is God evil?
If, as the Bible proclaims, God is good, all good, then how can punishment be evil? How can correction be wrong? We have to come to some other conclusion and that being that God’s discipline, correction, and/or punishment is good.
But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Any good father or mother will discipline, correct, and punish their children in order that they may not be condemned with the world. The writer of Proverbs speaks constantly about the truth that one who loves their child will discipline their child.
Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in.
Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.
Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth; the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.
Keep in mind that the Lord your God has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.
Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?
So, we can conclude from Scripture, that when God disciplines, corrects, and punishes it is always for our good, not for evil, because God is not evil.
Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.
No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone.
For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.
When Moses rejected God’s calling for him to speak to Pharoah, telling Pharoah to let His people go, was God evil in seeking Moses’ life afterward?
By God’s own Word, He was being loving by not allowing Moses to be condemned along with the world of his day. He was being dealt with as a foolish son, whom his Father delights in. God would not allow Moses to entertain, nor dwell in evil, so that he might be condemned with the world in death. All of this highlights how significant the situation was when Moses questioned God’s trust, provision, and will.
When God gives us a charge, a responsibility, He means for us to take it seriously and fulfill it.
But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.
God gave Moses a command, a direct order, to bring Israel out of Egypt. Why would God give Moses a direct order only to have Moses fail? Why would Moses hesitate? According to our discovery last week, because Moses did not believe God was enough, that he, Moses was enough. Moses allowed his stubbornness to rule and disobedient heart. This would not be the last time either, as Moses lost the priviledge to bring the Israelites into the promised land because he stuck the rock when God instructed him to command the rock to release it’s water (Numbers 20:7-13).
But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust Me to show My holiness in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them.”
Where did this take place? At the waters of Meribah meaning Quarrel. Even though man quarrels with God, God will still show His holiness and be faithful.
These are the waters of Meribah, where the Israelites quarreled with the Lord, and He showed His holiness to them.
Moses did not dislay the holiness of God. He called the people ‘rebels’ and struck the rock twice in anger. ‘Rebels’ [4784] is the translated word for Marah meaning ‘rebels against God’ [4785]. Whenever we rebel against God, He will show us His holiness. What does that mean?
Light will shine in the darkness, good will overcome evil, the Holy exposes the corrupt, purity will strike fear in the hearts of the impure, and Moses lands short of the Promised Land. Moses was a stubborn rebel leading a band of stubborn rebels, who was shown, and overcome, by the holiness, and goodness of God. And we, humanity, interpret the goodness and holiness of God as punishment, as evil, as a hard taskmaster. Do we even know and understand God? Do we even love God?
How many afflictions, disease, disasters, and deaths are the result of God’s holiness? God’s goodness so that we might not be condemned with the world? Even though man continues to quarrel with God, yet we still experience the goodness and holiness of God; and yet we declare God is a taskmaster, evil, and untrustworthy. If God continues to be Holy, I will not follow Him.
As Moses condemned the Israelites as Marahs, he was the leader of the rebels, in the face of God’s goodness and holiness.
Man typically mistakes God’s holiness and goodness as being that of the demands of an unreasonable taskmaster. [Mt. 25:14-30]
“For it is just like a man going on a journey. He called his own slaves and turned over his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; and to another, one—to each according to his own ability. Then he went on a journey. Immediately
the man who had received five talents went, put them to work, and earned five more. In the same way the man with two earned two more.
But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.
The man who had received five talents approached, presented five more talents, and said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. Look, I’ve earned five more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’
“Then the man with two talents also approached. He said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. Look, I’ve earned two more talents.’ “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Share your master’s joy!’
“Then the man who had received one talent also approached and said, ‘Master, I know you. You’re a difficult man, reaping where you haven’t sown and gathering where you haven’t scattered seed. So I was afraid and went off and hid your talent in the ground. Look, you have what is yours.’
“But his master replied to him, ‘You evil, lazy slave! If you knew that I reap where I haven’t sown and gather where I haven’t scattered, then you should have deposited my money with the bankers. And when I returned I would have received my money back with interest.
“ ‘So take the talent from him and give it to the one who has 10 talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have more than enough. But from the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.
And throw this good-for-nothing slave into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
What was it that Moses was put in charge of? God’s property…the Israelites. The Israelites were Moses’ responsibility…his talent. God called Moses and Aaron, and turned over His possessions to their care. He gave them a charge, a command, to deliever the Israelites out of Egypt and from Pharoah’s grasp. What responsibilites, what charge, what talents has God given to you, to manage on His behalf?
My responsibilites are you…the church.
Hebrews 13:17 (HCSB)
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,
not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy — one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity.
(If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap.
Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.
not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
My responsibilites as a father and husband are to love my wife as Jesus loves the church and bring my children up in the ways of the Lord, with love and discipline (as we have already discovered - Eph 5:25). Paul writes in the book of Ephesians that we are to be imitators of God - we have a responsibility to imitate Christ (Eph 5:1-2).
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
That imitation includes, and is not limited to, the Body of Christ, His church. Paul uses the word “call” or “calling” [2564] kaleo meaning to call into the Kingdom of God with the duties, priviledges, and joy of the Christian life today and tomorrow.
“Calling” [2821] Klesis means God’s invitation to man to accept the benefits of His salvation to the Kingdom of God. In our calling to imitate Christ we are called to be holy (1 Peter 1:15), to freedom (Gal 5:13), to serve one another (Gal 5:13), to love one another (Jn 13:34), to eternal life (1 Tim 6:12), to sanctification (1 Thess 4:7), to a heavenly calling (Heb 3:1) and to make sure of our calling and election in Christ (2 Peter 1:10).
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We have a responsibility to make sure that we take our seat at the banquet table with Christ! At the end of this age, will I sit at the final banqueting table with Christ? We are chosen because we are loved, we are loved because we are chosen. All are chosen because all are loved. Have we confirmed that call, that election, through Christ? That is our call, that is our responsibility. We are God’s property. We have been bought with a price, we are not our own, therefore we are to glorify God in our bodies (1 Cor 6:19-20).
For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold,
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.
We are not to bury our talents, our responsibilities in the ground, there is an expectation of productivity because:
We are entrusted with God’s property (Mt. 25:24). Responsibilites (talents) are given by God, from Himself, according to our ability (which have been given by God as well).
We are expected to fulfill our responsibilites (Mt. 25:16-18). The man with five talents, and the man with two talents, were expected produce more. We are expected, by the Lord God, to fulfill our responsibilites and take more responsibilites.
There will be an accounting before God for how responsible we have been with what He has given us (Mt. 25:19-30). How responsible are we? We have been given a charge, as Moses was. Are we fulfilling that charge? There is an expectation to be good and trustworthy with our responsibilites given our abilities.
Being found trustworthy equates to being put in charge of more of the Master’s property, more responsibility (Mt. 25:21-23). When is one ready for more responsibility? When one is faithful in a few things, one will be given more. Is it not a joyful thing when you have been found faithful and trustworthy? You get rewarded. I have been working in the Alliance for 20 years as of this past February. I have had one sabbatical during that time, and that was 17 years ago. In May, I will receive my second. Thank you. You do not know how appreciative and thankful I am for this time to re-energize, refresh, and rest.
He, and/or she, who is not productive with their responsibilities, are condemned as wicked and lazy (Mt. 25:26-30). The Master gives the ability to produce with one’s given responsibilities. God allows us no excuses for being worthless, when we have been given all power and authority to be useful. There are no excuses for burying our talents (our responsibilities) in the ground.
Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you.
Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
6. Broken trust results in responsibilites being withdrawn, taken away (Mt. 25:28-29).
So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
What does it mean to have less than nothing? To not expect anything. To be so stubborn and hard in heart in fulfilling our responsibilites to God, that God would remove all responsibilities, all talents, from our person, is to expect no opportunities to do so in the future. That means no future rewards, no enjoyment of God’s joy, but removal from His presence. Broken trust is a serious issue with God that results in...
7. A worthless servant will not enjoy the presense and joy of the LORD God (Mt. 25:30). Is salvation at stake here? Being in the presense of God and experiencing His joy is. According to James, one cannot merely proclaim one’s allegiance to God and not do anything. One’s faith will always result in loving works of the one who truly loves Christ.
For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
8. Fear is not an acceptable response to God’s call. Fear indicates that one does not know, nor love, God (Mt. 25:24-25). Is not the whole world God’s? Is not the world, including all power and principalities under His sovereignty, His rule? Does God not reap, does God not sow in this world? Is Jesus not the seed, the water, and the sicle? Is He not the planter and the harvester? So then, why should we be afraid of claiming our responsibilites and exercising our abilities? 1 Cor. 15:27
For God has put everything under His feet. But when it says “everything” is put under Him, it is obvious that He who puts everything under Him is the exception.
And when everything is subject to Christ, then the Son Himself will also be subject to the One who subjected everything to Him, so that God may be all in all.
I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Overiding Principle: It matters that we make much of what He gives to us for His good. It matters both for us and to Him. Those who trust in Jesus, work for Jesus (John 14:15). Those who work for Jesus are rewarded with more opportunities to serve Him and make good use of what they have been given. Those who refuse to work for Him, on the other hand, are just pretending to be His servants (Matthew 25:30).
Conclusion
Who do we say that God is? Who do you say that God is? Is He Master? Is He Provider? Is He Keeper? Is He Love? Is He a hard taskmaster or a loving God who corrects and disciplines so that we are not condemned, not lost, with the world? Who do we say that God is? All-loving, All-merciful, All-graceful, All-faithful, All-trustworthy, All-powerful, All-knowing, and All-in-all. Who do you say that God is?
Remember, as Moses found out, whenever we rebel against God, He will show us His holiness. Do we interpret the goodness and holiness of God as punishment, as evil, or as a hard taskmaster. Do we even know and understand God?
Amen.