GOD’S MANIFESTATION AND DECLARATION OF HIS NAME AGAINST EVIL. PART I.

What does a Name mean? According to Webster, “a name is a word or phrase by which a person or a thing is designated.”  I would add on and say “it is the identity of the sum total everything that makes you who you are.”

When we say, “HOLLY WOOD”, our minds are turned to a place on the west coast of America. Also, everything that is done there comes to our mind at the mention of this name. When we say “HITLER”, our thoughts move to Germany and the things associated with the person who owns that name. When we say, “SHAKESPEARE”, we associate certain things connected with the bearer of that name, the country, language, poetry, books, plays etc. At the mention of “BEETHOVEN”, our thoughts are turned to music and a musician of great fame. The same thing applies to names such as “SOCRATES”; “MANDELA”; “IDI AMIN”; “HELL”; “PARADISE” etc. Something special about these people or places automatically comes to mind immediately.

 

Not many parents in this world would choose the name “JUDAS” for their sons. That name is associated with a personality with certain characteristics which only a few people would like. “JESUS” is a special name laden and characterized with such reverence, power and holiness that parents would not dare to give it to their sons either. So, there is much connected to a name. This is what I would like to share with you about: This GOD who is referred to in the Bible as: “THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, OF ISAAC AND OF JACOB”, what is His Name? I mean, what characterizes Him?

 

In [EXODUS 33:18],Moses, made this request to God: “I BESEECH THEE, SHOW ME THY GLORY”

This is God’s answer to Moses:[EXODUS 33:19]

 

“And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.”

Then in [EXODUS 34:5-7] He made this proclamation about Himself:

“And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].”

In a nutshell, this is a summary of who God says He is. Therefore, His Name spells Him as what He says He is.

From this summary, we see two aspects of God:

1     1. Abundant goodness and truth.

       2. Never clearing the guilty.

Paul reaffirms it in two scriptures: [Rom. 11:21-22]

“For if God spared not the natural branches, [take heed] lest he also spare not thee.

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.”

[Rom:2:2-11]

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

For there is no respect of persons with God.”

 

So God is good to them who believe and obey his word but severe and dispenses just punishment to the arrogant and disbelieving. Here are some examples:

 

GOD’S REVELATION OF HIS NAME TO STUBBORN RULERS

[EXODUS 9:16]

“And in very deed for this [cause] have I raised thee up, for to shew [in] thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.”

God has a way of making Himself be known on all the earth. What I am about to share with you is God’s way of declaring WHO HE IS and WHAT HE IS, and HOW HE DOES IT.

God is Holy, Loving, gracious and good. But He also is severe, and swift to execute just punishment. All of that together make up the nature of God. In this [Part 1], of this article we are going to see one aspect of His Name: How he declares his name to the stubborn, and stout-hearted or stiff-necked.

In [Exodus 9:16], God was speaking about Pharaoh in Egypt. How he raised him up to manifest what kind of power He has over any kingdom on earth, over the land, crops, livestock, the waters [Nile], and the subjects [ Egyptians]. Pharaoh was an example of a person, [Ruler] who draws the wrath of God because of disobedience and blindness by power.  By his word through His Prophet Moses, he turned the water of the Nile, of the streams, of the pond, of the pools, etc into blood. [EXODUS 7:19- 21]

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and [that] there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone.

And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood.

And the fish that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt.”

 

The Egyptian Magicians also came along to try to prove that ordinary men can also do what the God of Moses did. They impersonated Moses and did likewise, but they had no power to reverse the water back to clean water. That showed the difference between God and everybody else.

God hardened Pharaoh’s heart because he wants to show us that unbelief and stubbornness will be dealt with severely. In Pharaoh’s next act of stubbornness God instructed Moses to call forth lice upon man and upon every beast, and upon all the dust of Egypt. [EXODUS 8:16-18]. That was severe.

“And the LORD said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

And they did so; for Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.

And the magicians did so with their enchantments to bring forth lice, but they could not: so there were lice upon man, and upon beast.”

 

This was God’s way of declaring His power and His Name. He did what was peculiar only to Himself. Impersonators tried to imitate Him, but they could only go that far. Their folly was soon made manifest.

Pharaoh was still too stubborn to accept God’s power demonstrated through the punishments he showed. So He commanded Moses to bring forth the next plague, which is; swarms of flies.         [EXODUS 8:21-25]

“Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms [of flies] upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms [of flies], and also the ground whereon they [are].

And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms [of flies] shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I AM THE LORD in the midst of the earth.

And I will put a division between my people and thy people: tomorrow shall this sign be.

And the LORD did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies] into the house of Pharaoh, and [into] his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm [of flies].

And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land.”

 

Pharaoh’s stubbornness was just beginning to abate slowly. God repeated the show of His power and Name through another plague, on Egyptian Cattle, horses, asses, camels, oxen and sheep. All the cattle died. But not one died in Goshen, where the children of Israel lived.

Pharaoh’s stubbornness persisted. God brought forth boils upon the Egyptians, their cattle, plus all their magicians. [EXODUS 9:11]

“And the magicians could not stand before Moses because of the boils; for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians.”

The level of human stubbornness was demonstrated upon Pharaoh of Egypt. God was showing us that when our stubbornness rise to such level as was shown by Pharaoh, he will not only deal with our health, but with our means of livelihood, and our environment too.

The next plague was a combination of rain, hail, thunder and fire with the rain. It destroyed all the herbs and the trees in the field. Pharaoh showed some humility for the first time. He finally confesses he and his subjects had sinned and were wicked: [EXODUS 9:27-28]

“And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD [is] righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

Intreat the LORD for it is enough that there be no more mighty thunderings and hail; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer.”

 

Pharaoh was a typical stubborn man of every age. He changed his mind as soon as God lifted off His hand of judgment. His magicians must have explained it all away and gave him the false comfort that after all it was just “MOTHER NATURE.” Man doesn’t want to accept the reality of God’s hand in the affairs of his daily life. God started to move closer to Pharaoh himself, than to the things he [Pharaoh] was depending on. But he had to show His power yet two more times.

God brought a thick darkness for three days; a darkness which was in Egypt but not in Goshen. They saw not one another for three days and they were not able to move. But Pharaoh’s stubbornness never abated. God finally decided to show that he is the owner of human life itself.  That woke up Pharaoh and his subjects. [EXODUS 12:29-33]

“And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that [was] in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for [there was] not a house where [there was] not one dead.

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, [and] get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.

Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.

And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, we be all dead men.”

 

God had to bring one more judgment upon Pharaoh’s army, because of his chronic stubbornness. This again was to do with human life.   Pharaoh knew the Red Sea was going to be in the way of the Children of Israel. He figured it out that he would avenge the death of all the first born of the Egyptians. So he gathered all of his army and pursued the Children of Israel. But God allowed him to do this because he wanted them to acknowledge what he said about himself; “I AM THE LORD” [EXODUS 14:4-7] A contest between God and the army of Pharaoh was set in array. Since he loved stubbornness, God allowed satan to increase his [Pharaoh’s] stubbornness.

 

“And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I AM THE LORD. And they did so.

And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. “

Those chariots and their riders never returned: [EXODUS 14:23-28]

“And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, [even] all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

And took off their chariot wheels, that they drave them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, [and] all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one” When God finally takes you off this world , through death [the only emigration channel to come and face Him], you are either destined to hell or to heaven. You can emigrate through illness, accident, natural calamities, or war.

 

“THE SIX-DAY WAR” of 1967; WAS THIS A REPEAT OF A SIMILAR CONTEST TO REMIND ISRAEL  & THE WORLD THAT THE GOD OF ABRAHAM OF ISAAC, AND OF JACOB STILL FIGHTS IN HUMAN BATTLES, AS HE DID AT THE RED SEA THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO IN THE DAYS OF MOSES AND PHARAOH? WAS THIS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF BETWEEN THE SAME NATIONS? SUIT YOURSELF WITH YOUR ANSWER.

IF IT IS, WHY DON’T LEADERS LEARN FROM HISTORY? GOD IS TRYING TO MAKE MAN UNDERSTAND WHO HIS CREATOR IS. HE DOES IT THROUGH DECLARATION OF HIS ATTRIBUTES. THAT IS WHAT “MAKING HIS NAME KNOWN” MEANS. HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS. AND HE SAYS WHAT HE MEANS. HE DEALS SEVERELY WITH STUBBORNESS. HE IS GRACEOUS TO THE HUMBLE. HE IS MERCIFUL TO THE PENITENT. WE GET FROM HIM WHAT WE PROVOKE HIM TO RELEASE ON US. DON’T BLAME HIM FOR WHO HE SAYS HE IS. [ISAIAH 46:8-13]

“Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring [it] again to mind, O ye transgressors.

Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

Declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted that are far from righteousness:

I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.”

 

God did, and still does today, supernatural acts which identify who He is and what He does. The Bible says he is not accountable to anybody. No man can charge him for any crime against humanity. No man has that ability to taken him to any court of man on earth. And which court would that be? Which Judge would read out the charge against him? Where on earth will that ever take place?

1.The oldest prophet and scribe of God’s word, Job said: “Why dost thou strive against him? For He giveth not account of any of His matters” [Job 33: 13]

2.Pilate said: “I find no fault in this man” [Lk. 23:4]

3.Pilate’s wife had this to say to her husband: “Have thou nothing to do with that just man” [Mt.27:19]

4.One of the thieves on the cross had his verdict; “We indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss”

5.Judas, his betrayer said: “ I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood”

6.The centurion that was watching Jesus said: “Truly this was the Son of God.”

This was the verdict of the earthly Jury 2000 years ago upon Him. They found Him faultless. God had already given his counsel to KINGS and JUDGES of the earth. He spoke through a God fearing King, David many years ago by this scripture: [PSALMS 2:10-12]

“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.”

God wants all the rulers to have this understanding, that God rules in the kingdom of men and gives it [that rulership] to whomsoever he wills:  [DANIEL 4:17]

“This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”

Here is a record in the bible of examples of rulers who were so disrespectful to God’s Word and God’s Servants, that God had to remove them from power in some of the most unpleasant ways ever:

Belshazzar: [Dan. 5:23] lifted himself up against the Lord of heaven, showing great disrespect to God. He                         was slain while partying and drinking and dancing.

Zedekiah: [Jer. 52:10-11] He commanded the Scrolls of Jeremiah to be burnt twice because God                    prophesied calamities upon the king and the kingdom.  He imprisoned Jeremiah in most                    horrible dungeons.  He was deposed, had his two eyes gauged off. His 10 sons were slain                    before his eyes were gauged off. He was taken into exile blind, and then finally killed.

Haman: [Esther 7:9-10] [9:7-10]. He hated the Jews and wanted them to be wiped out in Persia,                  [SHUSHAN]. He Loved power, praises, bribery and boasting. He plotted to hang Mordecai on a 50 Cubits high                  gallows. But it turned out that he himself, and his 10 sons were hanged on it.

King Herod: [Acts12:21-23] He loved to be praised like God. He hated the Christians. He was eaten by                        worms while still alive.

Captain Sisera. [Judges 4:21], He was the Captain of Jabin’s army. Through his temple, and while he was                              fast asleep, he was nailed to the ground by Jael, Heber’s wife.

Ahab: [1Kings 22:34-35]; The king of Israel who became a worshiper of idols. God allowed him to die in battle by a stray arrow. His blood was slicked by dogs[1Kings 22:38]

 

Do we see rulers today, taken out of power in ways similar to those? He is the same yesterday and today and forever. The same God promised to repeat what he did as a way of declaring his name to the nations of the world: [EZEKIEL 38:19-23]

“19    For in my jealousy [and] in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

20    So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

21    And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother.

22    And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

23    Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] the LORD.”

Isn’t that what he told Pharaoh in Egypt? Did he fail to do it? Did it cost Pharaoh and his nation a high price? Will he deal differently with any stubbornness anybody will manifest? Suit yourself with what you think. But remember, “He is the same yesterday and today and forever”

Nobody will stop God from bringing to pass what he has purposed to accomplish. It will happen as he has spoken. Only one thing can change it: “REPENTANCE!” If you ever live to see this prophecy fulfilled, then better fear God and obey his word. [Continue at [Part 2].

“God bless you” is my prayer for you. I hope you learnt something about God.

Brother Martin Tombe. [Pastor Restored Bible Truth Assembly]