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YHWH

God is the most God-centered being in the universe. - John Piper

People always asks, "If God created us so that we can glorify Him, doesn't this make Him pretty vain?" Well, I don't think that vain is the correct word for it, but it does make Him very God-centered.

Take the Exodus story for example, God appointed Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery from the hands of the Egyptians. There were ten deadly plagues and God hardens pharaoh's heart time and time again. So ... why did God do that?

Let's take a look at some scripture:
Exo 7:3,5 "But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt ... The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the songs of Israel from their midst. "

This theme repeats throughout the next few Chapters (7:17, 8:22, 9:14-16, 12:12, 14:4), God demonstrates His power through these plagues so that both the Israelites and Egyptians may know and believe that He is the Lord and be honored (14:18) through it.

When it was all over, The Israelites finally believed.
"When Israel saw the great power which the Lord had used against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord, and they believed in the Lord and His servant Moses" (Exo 14:31).

It may be hard to take in, but I believe that there are times God allows atrocities to come upon us so that we may be awoken from our disbelieve and acknowledge that He is indeed the Lord. Isn't it interesting that God tells the Israelites to turn back in their journey (14:2) to camp before the Red Sea so the He can show His power and thus casue the Israelites to put their trust in Him? All this makes me wonder just how much God will do to bring us to Himself ...

side note:
"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back by a strong east wind all night and turned the sea into dry land, so the waters were divided." (Exo14:21)
Why have I always thought that Moses just went up to the edge of the shore and shouted "PART THE SEA," and then the waters drew back within seconds?

Comments

Dorothy said…
it's interesting how God hardened pharaoh's heart even after the plagues in pursuing the israelites. it resulted in the demise of all those egyptian horsemen and troops yet ultimately brought glory to God...
11:54 AM
Anonymous said…
is this entry setting up the discussion? like, how God allows atrocities (aka, suffering) so that we may be awakened to who God is in order to trust in Him???

well, whatever it is, i guess the personalized ken-version is still in order.

oooh...do certain things need to die (or be brought to demise--note, d-chip's comment) in our own lives in order to bring God glory???
5:19 AM
Anonymous said…
regardin moses and the parting of the red sea: it's probably because of all the movies or perhaps because of the painting where he has is hands raised and in the background the water is being parted...

how much did you pay for the camera? i paid $600 for the kit and two batteries... not the BEST deal, but not bad right?
1:37 PM
Anonymous said…
by the way, are you gonna go to Rob's wedding in august?
1:37 PM
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