The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Romans 11:11b-12,
"Because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!"
Paul speaks of a strategy God uses to draw Israel to himself. While acknowledging that his own people, the Israelites, had rejected God's Son, Paul points to how God uses one group of mankind, the Gentiles, to draw another group to him, the Israelites. This is but one application of God's purpose in dividing mankind into various nations. In Acts 17:26-27 Paul told his listeners, "From one man he [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us."
God is pursuing us.
Here we find the purpose in God's action at the Tower of Babel. We read in Genesis 11:1-9 where mankind lived in the so-called "global community" so many pursue in our day. They purposed to construct a society, a city for themselves represented in the edifice of a tower to establish themselves apart from God, the very same motivation we see of those today who pursue such a community. God crushed the efforts of mankind in that day and established the various nations across the face of earth to pursue his purposes in redemption.
God is pursuing us.
The efforts of those who pursue a "global community" in our day will never come to fruition. By design, it is an effort that runs contrary to the purposes of God who has his own designs for mankind. Paul says in another place, "God our Savior... wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 1 Timothy 2:3-4. While it is his will all people be saved, he only accepts those who embrace him in faith. To that end, he has done everything anyone could ever expect and hope for short of removing the opportunity for faith to exist (as in showing up and unveiling himself, for instance).
God is pursuing us.
God's intention toward mankind could not be any clearer than what Jesus told Nicodemus, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18.
God is pursuing us.
Peter tells us the reason the Lord is taking so long to come back to planet earth is that he wants us all, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.
God is pursuing us.
How fascinating it is that our Creator who brought us into existence is now pursuing the very creation that has turned against him in defiance and rebellion. It certainly tells us much about the heart of our God who is pursuing us!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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