45.e. “Wilderness” – 9.k. “And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD”

 

Exodus 34:10 And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the LORD, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

 Deuteronomy 4:33-37     Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?  Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?  To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.

 Psalms 77:14  You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

 Psalms 66:3     Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.

 Psalms 66:5    Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

 Psalms 68:35   Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

 Psalms 76:12    who cuts off the spirit of princes, who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

 Psalms 145:6    They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

God’s plan was to glorify Himself to all the nations (all the people) through Israel, and to show His glory through the great things He did among them.  Israel had a choice regarding those great things. Either the great things would be blessings so impressive that every nation would know that God alone had blessed Israel (as was the case with Solomon). Or, the great things would be curses so horrible that every nation would know God had chastised Israel and yet kept them a nation. Either way, God would glorify Himself through Israel among the nations.  For their own good it was essential that they obey God (Observe what I command you this day) and enjoy the blessings of covenant obedience. (Guzik)

When the covenant was broken, it was Israel that broke it; now it comes to be renewed, it is God that makes it; if there be quarrels, we must bear all the blame; if there be peace, God must have all the glory. (Benson)

And he said, behold, I will make a covenant,…. Or renew the covenant before made the people had broke; which on his part was, that he would, as Moses had entreated, forgive the sin of the people, go along with them, and introduce them into the land of Canaan, and drive out the inhabitants of it before them; and, on their part, that they should avoid idolatry, and everything that led unto it, particularly making covenants, and entering into alliances with the idolatrous nations cast out before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; both in their passage through the wilderness, and entrance into Canaan’s land, and the conquest of that; such as the earth opening its mouth and swallowing alive Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and was a new thing God created; the smiting of the rock at Kadesh, from whence flowed waters abundantly; the healing of such as were bit by fiery serpents through looking at a serpent of brass; Balaam’s ass speaking, and reproving the madness of the prophet; the division of the waters of Jordan; the fall of the walls of Jericho at the sound of rams’ horns; the sun and moon standing still, until the Lord had avenged himself of his enemies, and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord; for it should be visible, as the above things were, and plainly appear to be the Lord’s doing, and not man’s, being above the power of any created being to perform. (Gill)

Jehovah declares His purpose of concluding a covenant with His people, to be confirmed by wonders of a character to convince all of His power and greatness. (Cambridge)

Oh that our eyes would be open to see the wonders of God. Each day, every moment, there are wonders to be seen. None so great as the grace, mercy, and love of God. All praise, honor, and glory are His alone, for there is no other God.

19. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

Exodus 34:10   And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

Deuteronomy 4:32-37     “For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.  Did any people ever hear the voice of a god speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and still live?  Or has any god ever attempted to go and take a nation for himself from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, by wonders, and by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by great deeds of terror, all of which the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?  To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.  Out of heaven he let you hear his voice, that he might discipline you. And on earth he let you see his great fire, and you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.  And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power,

Deuteronomy 32:30    How could one have chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to flight, unless their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had given them up?

Joshua 10:12-13     At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”  And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.

Psalms 77:14    You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

Deuteronomy 10:21     He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.

Psalms 65:5    By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas;

Psalms 145:6     They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness.

We choose to serve, honor, worship, serve, follow, and obey God.  We choose in light of what He has done, what He is doing, and what He has promised.  To choose we must have a heart, mind, and soul desiring to intentionally commit to Him above self, above issue, above odds, above what we can see, above what others say, and above satan’s lies.

Our culture will blind us to Him and His awesomeness if our eyes are not on Him.  Our culture will steal our time away from Him.  Our culture will cater to our selfishness and steal our focus away from Him.  Our culture will shout loud and clear to deafen our ears to His leading.  Our culture is no different than any other culture in the past.  They have been the same in every sense.

There is only one way to shut down this influence and open up to God – It is by choice.  This choice is a life change commitment, a desire change commitment, a new way of thinking commitment, a new way of acting commitment, a new creation!!!!!  Born again!!!!

This commitment must start with turning to God, confessing sin, trusting in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross, clinging to Jesus, relying on Jesus, living for Jesus, desiring to honor and glorify Him, seeking to hear Him and a want to obey Him.

Stay in His Word.

Ponder what He has done

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”

“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

“Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

Psalms 64:9  Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous one rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult!

Psalms 40:3    He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.

Psalms 53:5  There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.

Psalms 119:20    My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Jeremiah 51:10     The LORD has brought about our vindication; come, let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.

Psalms 107:42  The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth.  Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

Isaiah 5:12   They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts, but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD, or see the work of his hands.

Proverbs 1:5  Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Proverbs 4:18    But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

Daniel 12:10   Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.

Have there been times in your life where the hand of God was so present and real that you just pondered what had just happened?  Where one step, one glance, one decision, or one word at the wrong time  would have changed your life in another direction completely.  How many times have you said “I was very lucky”?  People of God ponder these acts of God and give Him praise. They do not say it was luck or chance but by the sovereign hand of God working in their life.  How do they know this is the work of God?  Because they know Him.  They know His promises.  He is their rock, refuge, hope, faith, love, joy, power and they rely on His steadfast love.  The Holy Spirit within them confirms to their spirit it was the work of God.  They absolutely know.  His hand, power, love, joy, peace, kindness, strength, might, forgiveness, hope, mercy and grace is known to them.  They find anchor to these in His word.  They cling to, rely on, and trust in Him.  To the world and those who know Him not this all seems foolish, but to those who have put their hope and trust in Him it is the purpose and meaning for life this side of eternity.  Desire and seek to know Him and to be able to hear His whispers into your life.  Humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him.  Believe in His promises.  Trust in Him.  Cling to Him.  Rely on Him.  And you will see His hand at work in your life.