WHO IS THE LORD?

Exodus 5: 1 through 6:8

Introduction:

1. In a “letter to the editor” (Jan 16, 2010 – HT) a person wrote denying the authenticity of the Bible, and certainly the authenticity of God! Among his atheistic statements is this: “If the Bible is true, Jehovah is the worst tyrant in history. He’s ordered countless genocidal massacres (Ex. 32:26 – 29; 1 Sam. 15: 2 – 3; Ezek. 9: 5 – 7; etc.) and once destroyed nearly all humans on Earth for religious reasons. Hitler was a choirboy by comparison.”

2. Unfortunately, this man is not alone in his thoughts. More to the point, THERE ARE SOME AMONG THE CHILDREN OF GOD who fail to realize the full identity of Jehovah. One member once said to me, “Your God and my God are different. Mine is one of love, yours is one of hate.” Such a statement is contrary to the scriptures for a variety of reasons; not the least of which is a failure to realize the very essence of Jehovah God: (Rom 11:22) Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

3. Though this lesson will but scratch the surface of all the biblical proofs of Jehovah’s LOVE for obedience and WRATH upon disobedience, it is our intention to answer to the question, “Who is the Lord, that WE should obey His voice?”

I. THE VALIDITY OF PHARAOH’S STATEMENT

A. “Deity” to one is not always “deity” to another. Egypt had its “gods.” Yet, as is the case with every false god, these beliefs were within the complete control of MAN. Should man determine to change “gods” he needed only to conjure one in his mind and be powerful enough to convince others this “god” exists!

1. Tower of Babel was AFTER God’s power had been expressed –

a. Genesis 6:5 – 7 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

b. Genesis 11: 1- 9

c. Genesis 8:20 - 22

4. Baal worship and all other idolatry was of MAN’S design. Compare even what Aaron did!

a. Israel had witnessed the MIGHTY HAND OF GOD in their deliverance from Egypt. They had seen the pillar of fire by night, the cloud by day, the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of their enemies – ALL BY THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD. Still …

b. Exodus 32: 1 – 14

B. This was a Pharaoh who likewise “knew not the Lord.”

1. Exodus 1:8 (Exo 1:8) Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

2. After time, even the cries of Israel began to “doubt” the power of the Almighty!

a. Exodus 6:1 – 9

b. 1 Corinthians 15:22

c. TIME, WITHOUT ATTENTION TO GOD, increases man’s conviction that he (man himself) is god – And who power is limited only by the number who will submit to his (man’s) power.

d. Romans 1:18 - 32

e. 2 Thessalonians 2:1 - 12

C. Thus, UNTIL MAN IS EXPOSED TO THE POWER OF GOD, man is often NOT prone to accept Him, nor admit to His LOVE; merely BLAME Him for what opposes man’s desires!

1. Romans 1:16 – 17

2. 1 Corinthians 1:18 - 29

II. GOD HAS TWO EXTREMES OF EMOTION

A. “Emotion” is our word – it is not an apt description of the eternal God, Jehovah!

1. OMNIPOTENCE means “all powerful.” If LOVE is powerful (and it is) and DISCIPLINE IS A PART OF LOVE (and it is) then GOD is in control of BOTH.

2. Heb. 12: 1 - 11

B. Romans 11:22 -- Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

C. His WRATH only comes upon disobedience

1. God is JEALOUS –

a. Exodus 20: 1 – 6

b. Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

2. Exodus 32:26 – 35 – punishment for IGNORING God’s mighty hand, and instead, worshipping what MAN IMAGED AS “GOD”.

3. 1 Samuel 15: 1- 3; 13 – 35 (Saul rejected the word of the Lord and did NOT what God had said!)

4. God’s WRATH only came upon those of DISOBEDIENCE – NEVER did He punish the righteous with the wicked!

a. Gen. 18:23 (Abraham pleading for Sodom) And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

b. God ALWAYS gave (and yet gives) opportunity for man to REPENT and serve the LIVING God!

D. His LOVE is more abundant than all the recorded incidents of His destruction of the wicked!

1. Destroying evil IS love!

2. We call it (in our own destruction of EVIL) REPENTANCE!!!!

3. 1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

4. Noah – SAVED THE PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS WITH HIS FAMILY – 2 Peter 2: 5 – 10

5. Brought Israel out of bondage by His might hand! – Deuteronomy 7:6 – 11

6. Throughout the Old Testament, God’s LOVE for the obedient is immense! Terms such as “delivered,” “redeemed,” “set at liberty,” “blessed,” are abundant in describing what God did for those who OBEYED HIS WORD!

E. Hebrews 12:18 – 29

III. THESE THINGS ARE FOR OUR LEARNING!

A. John 3:16

B. 1 Corinthians 1:18 – 31

C. Nothing of MAN’S design (physical or mental) excels God!

1. Man’s design (physical or mental, for the flesh or for the satisfaction of some “spiritual” desire other than RIGHTEOUS desire) is changeable – GOD IS NOT!

2. Hebrews 6:17 -20

3. Acts 13:16 – 44

IV. SO WHO IS THE LORD THAT WE SHOULD OBEY HIS VOICE?

A. Our Creator – and the Creator ALWAYS has power over the creation!

B. Our Father – for from Him we live and move and have our being.

C. The Giver of ever good and perfect gift – James 1:17

D. The greatest gift being Christ Jesus who …

1. Is the ONLY Saviour that gave Himself to save mankind!

2. Is the ONLY being approved of Jehovah God for such a purpose; thus prophesied and praised and desired by those of both Patriarchal and Mosaic dispensations!

3. He Head of the church, the KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS

E. Our Judge – Acts 17:31

1. For He holds us accountable for our deeds – BOTH good and evil! (2 Cor. 5:10 -- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

2. 1 Corinthians 15:24 – 28

Conclusion:

Every evidence of GOD shows He desires to SAVE and NOT destroy

1. Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

2. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.