Who Is God?

Chronicles of A Saint

Who is God?
Arrogantly, Pharaoh said to Moses, “And who is God that I should listen to him and send Israel off? I know nothing of this so-called ‘God ’ and I’m certainly not going to send Israel off.” 1
Moses had been sent on a mission, to lead the Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land. However, God had forewarned him it would not be a walk in the park. Pharaoh, Egypt’s ruler, would harden his heart. But through his arrogance, mighty deliverance would be wrought. ‘’Pharaoh is not going to listen to you,’’ God told Moses, ‘’but I will have my way against Egypt and bring out my soldiers, my people the Israelites, from Egypt by mighty acts of judgment. The Egyptians will realize that I am God when I step in and take the Israelites out of their country.2 The Egyptians were accustomed to idol worship hence had no knowledge of the Creator God. Sacred history records that they worshiped the River Nile. They believed that the water body was the divine power that sustained them; by watering the lands and
making food to thrive.
Then it happened that when Pharaoh refused to allow the children of Israel to leave Egypt, God brought about strange disasters over the land. Pharaoh’s enchanters, magicians and sorcerers tried to challenge God when they mimicked plague like acts. They succeeded in a couple only for them to fail and exclaim, ‘This is the finger of God!’ 3 . They realized that their power was limited, that their wisdom had a rival.
Admittedly, they acknowledged that there was One greater than them, even God the Creator. Later on,sacred history records that when warning was given in regards to the plague of hailstones, all of Pharaoh’s servants who had respect for God ’s word got their workers and animals under cover as fast as they could, but those who didn’t take God ’s word seriously left their workers and animals out in the field. 4 Over a span of a few weeks, their ignorance had been diffused by the undeniable Power working behind the plagues. Their hard lined Pharaoh-like stances of, ‘Who is God that we may obey Him’, had changed to, ‘Who is like God that we should not obey Him’. O that Pharaoh had heeded to the impressions of the Holy Spirit; then his spirit would have been subdued and his mind enlightened with a knowledge of the true God.
As I consider the above, I am also reminded of King Nebuchadnezzar. He was the greatest King who ever lived in earth’;s story. Victories in His conquests, though unknown to him, were accorded by the God of Israel. By doing this, heaven purposed to reveal the character, majesty and power of God; that He is gracious and omnipotent, responsible for the rise and fall of kingdoms. Yet Nebuchadnezzar did not comprehend this. Rather his heart was lifted up. When he received an interpretation regarding a disturbing dream (Daniel 2) and was informed that his kingdom was represented by the head of gold, he went ahead and made the golden statue. Thereafter, he commanded that everyone should worship the gigantic image set up in the plains of Dura.
The account gets interesting when certain Jews are accused of disobeying the King’s orders. It is during this conversation that Nebuchadnezzar makes this daring remark, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you don’t respect my gods and refuse to worship the gold statue that I have set up? I’m giving you a second chance—but from now on, when the big band strikes up you must go to your knees and worship the statue I have made. If you don’t worship it, you will be pitched into a roaring furnace, no questions asked. Who is the god who can rescue you from my power? 5
Unflinchingly though, they are unwilling to compromise their beliefs just because of the incentive to live. Instead like the Apostle Paul, they moved forward saying, ‘I [We] know whom I [We] have believed and are persuaded that He is able to keep us.’ 6 Wroth by such uncalled for boldness, the King responds by heating up the furnace seven times more. Long story short, the young men were saved. Their God was able to rescue them from the King’s power, contrary to Nebuchadnezzar’s supposition.
The world today is full of people characterized with Pharaoh-like & Nebuchadnezzar-like attitudes. Some are innocently ignorant while others willfully resist any attempt bestowed upon their lives that could cause them to know about and believe in God. We cannot blame them. Even for us, the ability to believe is God-given. He causes us to love the truth that we might be saved, with His goodness leading us to repentance. As Ellen White notes, ‘‘Jesus had imparted a knowledge of God to patriarchs, prophets, and apostles.’’ Believing in God, His might and power to save is wrought in our lives as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us, revealing the identity of Jesus to us. We need to pray for such people. As God was able to save Nebuchadnezzar so can He transform their lives.
Next time your employer demands that you report to work on Sabbath with a consequence of losing the job if you don’t, harboring an attitude that seems to echo out, ‘’Who is the God that will save you?’’, move forward buoyed by faith claiming this promise: Even though I may lose my job, I know that ‘’my God shall supply all needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.’’ 7 Perhaps your parents and family members have disowned you saying, ‘’Let us see how your newfound God will save you,’’ all because you have begun following the Truth as it is in Jesus and His Word. You might be terrified and unsure of how life will be, yet find comfort in the words of the Psalmist: ‘’My father and mother may abandon me, but the Lord will take care of me’’ 8 Whatever your current circumstance, don’t give in to despondency. Move forward by faith saying, ‘’My Redeemer lives.’’ Amidst the storms of life, may the words of this hymn always be your source of comfort. When the world asks, ‘’Who is God,’’ reply by saying, ‘’The Lord is my Salvation.’’

The grace of God has reached for me
And pulled me from the raging sea
And I am safe on this solid ground
The Lord is my salvation
I will not fear when darkness falls
His strength will help me scale these walls
I’ll see the dawn of the rising sun
The Lord is my salvation
Who is like the Lord our God?
Strong to save, faithful in love
My debt is paid and the vict’ry won
The Lord is my salvation
My hope is hidden in the Lord
He flow’rs each promise of His Word

When winter fades I know spring will come
The Lord is my salvation
In times of waiting, times of need
When I know loss, when I am weak
I know His grace will renew these days
The Lord is my salvation 9

1 Exodus 5:2 MSG
2 Exodus 7:3-5 MSG
3 Exodus 8:19 NLT
4 Exodus 9:20-21
5 Daniel 3:14-15 MSG
6 2nd Timothy 1:12 NIV
7 Philippians 4:19 NIV
8 Psalms 27:10 GNT
9 Song by Keith and Kristyn Getty, The Lord is my Salvation