20 May. Continuing our study of the being we know as God. Today: God is Great. Just what does that mean, anyway? Great like a football victory? Great like the answer to 'How do you feel today?" Or what was dinner like last night at that 3 Hat restaurant?
In a way, they ARE the same. We use the word 'great' to be a superlative. Dinner wasn't only acceptable or pleasant. It was superb. The footy ended well and our team came out on top and the victory was magnificent. The concert, the play, the movie, the feelings we enjoy when things are beyond normal. That's 'great.'
In a way, they ARE the same. We use the word 'great' to be a superlative. Dinner wasn't only acceptable or pleasant. It was superb. The footy ended well and our team came out on top and the victory was magnificent. The concert, the play, the movie, the feelings we enjoy when things are beyond normal. That's 'great.'
Moses reported something about God to the Jewish people in Deuteronomy : “You shall not dread them, for the LORD your God is in your midst, a great and awesome God." ( Deut. 7.21 ) The word for 'great' there is 'gadol', often simply 'big' or 'large.' But the addition of the word 'Awesome" which means 'to be feared' adds weight to the argument.
What argument you wonder? The allegation that these slaves, recently freed from Egypt, who barely know anything about the international political scene, are about to go into a new territory, today called Israel, then the land of 7 nations, and the former-slaves are going to destroy the other guys.
“When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them." (verses 1-2)
“When the LORD your God brings you into the land where you are entering to possess it, and clears away many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and stronger than you, and when the LORD your God delivers them before you and you defeat them, then you shall utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them and show no favor to them." (verses 1-2)
No wonder the Almighty has Moses build up their confidence. He says the God who delivered you from Egypt and Pharaoh is the same God who will lead you into a new place. He was GREAT then; He will be GREAT again! And this time, don't fear the other gods of Egypt or the strong taskmasters there, but fear the God who is the Big one. The Great one.
Don't dread the 7 nations.
Don't dread the troubles you might have to suffer.
Fear God because He's #1.
Don't dread the troubles you might have to suffer.
Fear God because He's #1.
But if you've all been reading along with me this month, you know that fearing God is healthy and right, because HE IS GOOD, and compassionate and faithful and alive and ever was and is and will be. His nature is to be for us.
King David said it, "Great is the Lord."
Nahum the prophet said it.
Will you say it?
Nahum the prophet said it.
Will you say it?
God is great. Rest in His power and His being. Sing of His greatness today. Tell of His greatness to any and all. Don't be ashamed of Him. We are on His side. Hallellujah!
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