Divine Goodwill

God’s posture toward humanity is not one of anger, but one of love. He is divinely good. In fact, he sent his own Son as a token of his love toward us.

Luke 2:14 KJV 1900

Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, Good will toward men.

God’s posture toward his people, his plan for us, has always been one of goodwill, and everyone has experienced it: he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good. He sends rain to water the crops to provide food for the wicked and for the law-abiding. But for those who draw close to the Lord, those whose lives are transformed according to his ways, there is a special abiding of the presence of God that brings blessing and favor.

Main Idea:

He brought you out that you might be brought in.

Our series is titled “Changing Times and Our Unchanging God”. God’s divine goodwill toward you is the same offer as it was to the people of Israel: to be brought out of sin and to be called forth to live holy lives before the Father.

But first, we see the display of the Lord’s love for his people Israel, how he saved them from Egypt and brought them out of idolatry but also how he brought them in, called them a holy people, one dedicated for his own name. He gave them a new life and a new identity. They were no longer to be worshippers of idols or depend on the Nile river or a strong army. Rather, they were to depend on the Lord and trust in him through faith for their lives.

And of course this paves the way for a parallel for us: the Egypt, the slavery that we have been brought out of was our own sin. The Red Sea which was parted for us was the waters of death. The dry land by which we walked was the cross of Christ. And now we live as a holy people, a chosen nation, a people set aside to display God’s glory to the earth. That holiness is only possible by being close to God. He brought you out that you might be brought in.

Jesus Christ accomplished more than you know on the cross. Not only did he remove the sin that was separating you from God, but he paved the way that allowed you to be brought close. Now, those in Christ are welcomed with open arms.

If you have your Bibles, please turn with me to Deuteronomy 6:20-25. It’s a small section, but it’s packed with a lot.

Again, that’s Deuteronomy 6:20-25. Let’s read, pray, and then we’ll dig into the text.

Deuteronomy 6:20–25 ESV

“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’

Let’s pray.

What is the meaning of God’s law? (v.6)

Deuteronomy 6:20 ESV

“When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’

If you remember, this portion of Deuteronomy is part of the giving of God’s law, and the law is framed according to the ten commandments. This portion is framed under the first commandment: You shall have no other Gods before me. As a people who are now dedicated to the Lord, the same love would need to be transferred generation to generation. It makes sense that God would anticipate the need for parents to communicate to their children regarding the meaning behind God’s law. In all fairness, this question from the son is a good one. If there’s no reason to following God’s law, if we’re just doing it because our parents did it or out of blind obedience, then what’s the use of putting further restrictions on ourselves? It would be better to live freely according to our own passions than to restrict them. But what is the reply from the parent? This is God putting his own words into the parent’s mouth: we don’t follow God blindly. Instead, we live holy lives according to a different set of rules that is different than what the world is used to seeing. We are not unthinking creatures, but in fact, he has given us more evidence and has done more for us than we will ever need. And not only does he give us evidence, but he manifests his love toward us.

And specifically, God’s love for the Israelites was manifested, was displayed and shown, in three ways:

God

Showed Up

Brought Out

Brought In

Showed Up

Deuteronomy 6:21–22 ESV

then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.

The Lord showed up. He rolled up with his car, and when he stepped out onto that red carpet he made quite the entrance. What other God literally goes to war with the strongest nation on earth and remains untouched? This is the God who sent the plagues on Egypt. He destroyed the palace of Pharaoh. We have archaeological evidence of this. We know who the pharaoh was: Thutmose II. We know which palace he used. And we also know that the palace was destroyed, so they had to build a new one after the time of his reign.

When it seemed like it was impossible to escape, the Lord, the hero, arrived.

God showed up with his sleeves rolled up. And he displayed his great power to all present: to Egypt, to the nations, and to Israel. He showed signs and wonders … before our eyes. It was real. We have accounts of what occurred in Egypt from historians outside of the Biblical account.

In the midst of the desperation, in the midst of the slavery and oppression, God showed up.

And that should remind us as Christians about something: Even when we were dead in our trespasses, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 2:1–4 ESV

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

showed up. He came in the form of a baby. He entered into humanity, took on flesh, and showed us how to live righteously. Jesus lived the life we should have been living in order to pay the due payment to the Lord on our behalf. And though he came humbly he still came with his sleeves rolled up, to defeat the enemies of God. He crushed sin on our behalf on the cross. He trampled death by rising victoriously from the grave.

God showed up. For you, for me. For anyone who would believe on him and be saved.

And salvation is part of our second part: Not only did God show up for Israel, but he brought them out of Egypt:

Brought Out

Deuteronomy 6:23 ESV

And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers.

The Lord brought Israel out of Egypt. He allowed them to take riches and livestock and to plunder goods. And he led Israel by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. He kept them safe. He protected them from Pharaoh and his army by bringing them across the Red Sea on dry land. They were rescued from their captivity, their dependency, upon Egypt.

Just as we were rescued from our own captivity, dependency, upon sin and the things of this world.

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

God’s desire for you is not that you remain in slavery. It’s that you be brought out from it. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve spoken to who think God is an evil baddie for pointing out the truth of sin. And moreover, that he is harsh and cruel. God speaks the truth to us in love. He shows us our real issue. And not only has he shown us the depth of our sin, but he has made a way to bring us out from that. He sent his only begotten son, Jesus. The one closest to the Father came to us. Died for us. By grace, not by anything you’ve done or earned, you have been brought out from sin.

Part of being brought out is that you have put behind the former things.

Galatians 5:1 ESV

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

The Lord’s instruction for the Israelites was that they wouldn’t return to Egypt. To those who wanted to go back and to return to idolatry and their slavery rather than following a holy God, the Lord removed them from the midst of his people. And the Lord is careful to discipline his people still. I think of Ananias and Sapphira, two believers in Christ but whose life and ministry was cut short because of their sin. The call is to live holy lives, obedient to the Lord, putting to death the flesh and its desires.

Colossians 3:5–9 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices

This is what you were brought out from. If there are signs of these in your life: gossip, obscene talk, lying to each other, covetousness, anger … it shows that there’s still more work to do with your own soul. The Spirit will help lead you in that process and will help you put those things to rest. Let God lead you out of that. He showed up, let him bring you out.

Galatians 5:16 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Speak to him, “Lord, I don’t know how to quit being angry (or lying or whatever it is you’re facing). But Lord, I want it to be over. I confess my own wrongdoing. Show me how to live better. Fill me with your Spirit that I may follow you and not choose what my flesh wants. Lord, I want what you desire.” Pray to the Lord. And then equip yourself from his word.

When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he used the Lord’s word to defend against that temptation. The best way to defend against a spiritual attack is with a spiritual defense.

God has given you the tools, 1) reliance upon God’s power to save and 2) his word of truth. You just have to use them.

So, you have been brought out. But you aren’t brought out to some floating spot in space, into an empty void. No, you are brought in to a loving and kind God and the inheritance he has promised to you.

Brought In

Deuteronomy 6:23–25 ESV

And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’

The Lord was faithful to fulfill his promise to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. He delivered the land to the people and showed that he is divinely good. And his will for Israel was that they might rely upon him, call upon his name, and in turn experience the blessing which he also promised to Abraham. It was from Abraham’s offspring that all the nations of the earth would be blessed.

The meaning of the commands, the meaning of the statutes, the meaning behind God’s law, is to be this holy people, a people chosen and called by God to serve him, and to experience his divine blessing. Look at verse 24: For OUR GOOD ALWAYS. God’s will toward Israel was good! That he might preserve Israel. It is good for people to walk righteously in following after the Lord because righteousness leads to life, and sinfulness leads to death. We want to see people live long and live well. The only way to do that is through fear of the Lord.

Hopefully, you have come to know and fear the Lord also, that you may live long and see good days.

And let me preface that by saying this: God doesn’t lead you from one form of slavery into another. He’s not vying among any other sort of competition out there. He’s not one God of a myriad of Gods who will just accomplish the same thing for you in the end. It’s not a matter of every other religion which says, “If you do A, B, and C then you will earn eternal life.” No, God brings you out and lifts you up and pulls you close. He gives you a calling, to be holy as he is holy. Now you are not to live as the person you once were, in slavery, in Egypt. Rather, you are to be filled with the Spirit, showing the fruits of the Spirit (remember Galatians 5).

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

You are brought out and called upward, to now be dressed with graciousness and honored in righteousness, robed with compassion.

Righteousness and the fruits thereof are the result of being brought it.

God loves you. Like the Father in the story of the prodigal’s son, he runs to you with his arms open wide to welcome you home. He throws a feast for you. There is much rejoicing in heaven when one person turns away from sin and chooses to follow Christ. And through Jesus Christ he has given you every spiritual blessing in heaven. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you, to prepare a promised land for you. In Christ, you are united to a family … you have new fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers. You are given spiritual giftings, to help build and shape each other. You are established in peace. You are sanctified to be holy, righteous.

He brought you out that you might be brought in. That you might experience his divine goodness.

Ephesians 2:5–7 ESV

even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

God’s attitude toward you, his posture toward you, is one of kindness. Of goodwill. He wants to show you grace and kindness. This is the message we must carry to those who are perishing. God gives the law to show us our sin, but also to point us toward his love and great power in salvation. Yes, acknowledging our own faults is uncomfortable, and turning from them is difficult, but it’s necessary in order to accept the free gift of eternal life that God wants you to have.

He is divinely good.

Lastly, just a pastoral reflection here,

How can we be certain of God’s promise of blessing?

Well, He is faithful to his word. And his call for you is to walk after him in faith.

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

God is the same, yesterday, today, and tomorrow. His promise for Israel is the same as the promise for you: that if you follow the Lord and keep him number one in your life, then there will be protection and blessing for you, even if the fullness of it has not yet arrived. Perhaps he’s holding back from his blessing because he wants you to know how to love him first and foremost.

If we love the gifts of God more than God himself, isn’t that idolatry? Isn’t that what humanity did when they worshipped the created things over the creator?

Rather, God wants us to love him, and sometimes that means we will face hard things: suffering in health, finances, loss of loved ones.

But He has set the standard in love for us.

1 Corinthians 13:7 ESV

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

You shall have no other gods before me … do you trust God above all else? Do you love the Lord your God enough to endure all things, to hope in spite of not seeing the outcome?

The act of hoping in spite of not being able to see, the act of endurance despite not feeling like you have the strength to endure, belief in spite of the voices around you trying to pull you away … those acts are righteousness, and they will be credited to you as such. They are seen by your Father who is in heaven. And he will keep you and lead you to blessing.

Deuteronomy 6:25 ESV

And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’

God calls us forth toward righteousness. See the parallels with the Ephesians 2.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Part of that good works is endurance under suffering. Sometimes the only thing you might be able to do is pray and trust God. Those are acts of righteousness. Just because you are facing hard things doesn’t mean God isn’t divinely good or doesn’t have good planned for you.

He has brought you out that you might be brought in.

One day you will fully experience God’s glory and blessing and be united with him. But for now, you remain across the Jordan river in the wilderness where there are trials and testing. Hold on, keep the faith.

2 Timothy 2:21 ESV

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

May we be the holy people whom the Lord has called out and brought in. May our acts of righteousness be a sign to those who are perishing of the divine goodwill of our Lord. And may we rest securely in the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.