Who is our God? What is He like?
He is a God of a grand design.
We often have a very limited view of our lives. We underestimate the influence we have on others. We downplay the impact that our lives have on future generations. I think this is the result of our diminished understanding of how God works in the big picture. We are self-consumed, and as a result, we give little thought to the lasting consequences of our lives, including how we fit into God’s plans.
In Genesis chapter twenty-five we have an interesting revelation unfold before us. As Isaac prays to God on behalf of his barren wife Rebekah, he not only gets his prayers answered for a child, but he gets two sons, and a whole lot more than he ever expected. Consider,
And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Genesis 25:23
“Two nations!” Wow! That’s a pretty big deal. And not just any two nations, but two nations that would be at the center of world politics and religion until the end of time. God would use these two nations and continues to use these two nations to orchestrate the fulfillment of His purpose. It would be through one of these two nations that the Messiah would come. It would be through one of these two nations that salvation would be offered to the whole world by the Lord Jesus Christ. It would be through the other of these two nations that God would lay the groundwork, by their fierce opposition, for His chosen people to ultimately be restored to their promised land. So much of our lives have been affected by these two nations.
What about you? Is your life an isolated experience with little to no effect on anyone else? Absolutely not! You have an opportunity to influence generations that follow after you with the most important truth ever made known. You have the opportunity, by the preaching of the Gospel to affect their eternity. Don’t discount your place in God’s plan. Don’t underestimate your influence in the lives of the next generation.
I am reminded of the mercy that came to Israel long after David was dead. God made it very clear that the reason he withheld judgment was because of David’s faithfulness.
Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant’s sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:
1 Kings 11:34
What an amazing God who would graciously use us to fulfill His purposes.
Behold our God!