God's Purpose Will Stand
There are not many things we can lean on
in this chaotic world, but we can rest assured that God’s purpose will prevail
throughout eternity. God’s purpose was
devised before time began.
In this column the predominant Hebrew word
for purpose will be Etsah which
carries the additional meanings of ‘counsel’ and ‘plan.’
The wise King Solomon addressed the issue
of the immutability of God’s counsel, or purpose.
“There are
many plans (devices) in a man’s heart, nevertheless the LORD’s counsel – that
will stand.” Proverbs 19:21
The plans of a man include his thoughts,
imaginations, and intentions. They are
subsidiary to God’s counsel or purpose which will stand, be established, or
endure forever.
God’s purpose also applies to nations as
well as to individuals.
“The LORD
brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples
of no effect. The counsel of the LORD
stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.” Psalm 33:10-11
As we progress into the prophets the
immutability of God’s purpose is confirmed.
“The LORD
of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to
pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand.’” Isaiah 14:24
This Scripture applies to God’s dealing
with Assyria.
“For the
LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it?” Isaiah 14:27
The Hebrew for ‘purposed’ in the contexts
above similarly means ‘plan’ and/or ‘counsel.’
It is quite clear, no man or nation can
override the counsel or purpose of God.
Does that indicate that men and nations
are making plans and treaties in total naiveté?
Isaiah continues to reveal the sovereignty
of God and the immutability of His counsel and purpose.
“I am God,
and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning…saying, ‘My
counsel shall stand…Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass, I
have purposed it; I will also do it.’” Isaiah 46:9b, 10b, 11b
God confirms that He has not only devised
His purpose for mankind and the nations from the beginning, but He has revealed
it to man. And what He has spoken, He
will do.
The thoughts of the nations then and now
was/is to destroy God’s chosen nation of Israel.
“Now many nations have gathered against
you…but they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, nor do they understand His
counsel; for He will gather them like sheaves to the threshing floor.” Micah 4:11-12
In
this passage, both words ‘thoughts’ and ‘counsel’ can be used interchangeably
with ‘purpose.’
Israel was and always will be God’s
chosen nation to serve as the example for all other nations.
God will fulfill His purpose for Israel and all
nations through His Son.
“…Unto us a
Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful,
Counselor…” Isaiah 9:6
‘Counselor’ in this passage is the same
word we’ve been applying as the one to fulfill God’s purpose and plan.
The nations will attempt to foil God’s
plan in total vanity.
“Why do the
nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel
together…He who sits in the heavens shall laugh…” Psalm 2:1, 4a
God is wondering why the people and
nations would build foolish coalitions against His people. It is such folly that God is laughing at
them.
Let’s list several summary points in this
column.
·
Man’s plans are
foolishness and will pass away
·
God’s plans,
purpose, and counsel were established in eternity past and will endure
throughout eternity future
·
God is totally
transparent; He has revealed His purpose to man
·
What God says He
will do, He will do
·
God has provided
and appointed His Son to be the counselor for all nations
·
Any attempts to
annul God’s purpose will end in total disaster
·
God laughs at the
nations for being so foolish as to plot against His purpose
Is God’s purpose and counsel a top
priority with America
and her leaders?
Has America chosen life, or…
posted by Walt Thrun at
3:54 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home