" And He changeth the times and the seasons; He removeth kings, and setteth up kings; He giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding, " Daniel 2:21
" And He doeth according to His will, in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand or say unto Him, ' What doest Thou?' " Daniel 4:35
INTRODUCTION
A. God has moved in " international affairs" across the centuries in the past, Psalm 22:28
1. But does God do such action until today?
2. Let us know the TRUTH as Jesus stated in John 8:32
B. This lesson will focus on the following points:
1. God Used Egypt To Raise and Preserve Israel
2. God's Providential Use of Wicked Nations
3. Does God's Providence Still Exist Today?
4.Does God Providentially Use Nations Today?
DISCUSSION
A. God Used Egypt To Raise and Preserve Israel
1. Though Egypt enslaved Israel for 430 years, God did use Egypt to raise and preserve Israel as a NATION!
2. Joseph's slavery and imprisonment led to his becoming second only to Pharoah, Genesis 45:5-9; 50:20
3. As such, Egypt and the whole known world were saved from the seven-year famine, Genesis 41:46-57
4. At Goshen, Jacob's descendants grew rapidly into becoming a great NATION, Genesis 47:27; Exodus 1:7-10
5. Egypt was alarmed and she started her cruel treatment of the Hebrews, Exodus 3:8-11
6. It was then that God raised Moses, a Hebrew prince of Egypt to become the Deliverer of Israel, Acts 7:24-25
7. An estimated 2.4 million Hebrews left Egypt towards the wilderness where they became a NATION!
8. Israel's army alone was 603,550 composed of males, 20 years old and above, Numbers 1:46.
B. God's Providential Use of Wicked Nations
1. God made use of " evil nations" to chastise the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
2. Assyria and Babylon were more wicked than Israel and Judah yet the Lord employed these "pagan nations"
to punish His people who drifted to apostasy.
3. The Assyrians were used by God " to discipline " the Northern Kingdom of Israel.
a. Tiglath- Pileser ( 2 Kings 15:29;
16:7-9 )
b. Shalmaneser and Sargon came after 12 years later
c. Samaria was besieged for three years
d. Over 27,000 Jews were taken captives to Assyria
e. All of this was because " they obeyed NOT the voice of Jehovah, their God," ( 2 Kings 18:9-12 )
4. After more than one century later, the Southern Kingdom (Judah) fell at the hands of Babylon.
a. God pledged that He would send His servant Nebuchadnezzar against Judah ( Southern Kingdom )
b. " bringing desolation upon the land and making most of the people captive into Babylon.
5. The punishment was "because you have not heard MY words, " Jeremiah 25:8ff
a. About 70,000 Hebrews were transported into the pagan kings' land
b. Habakkuk disputed with God about using a heathen king to chastise Judah
c. God said " such was necessary" but Nebuchadnezzar would be dealt in due time, Habakkuk 1:5-11 cf Jeremiah 25:12ff )
d. When the Jews rejected the Messiah and rebelled against Rome, the Lord sent Titus in AD 70 to destroy Jerusalem and the Temple
e. According to Josephus, the Jewish historian, more than 1 million Jews were slain and thousands were sold into slavery, Matthew 22:7
f.Christians were saved from destruction as they heeeded Jesus' warning stated in Matthew 24:15ff "flee the city."
C. Does God's Providence Still Exist Today?
1. Is God still working worldwide- raising up and overthrowing global powers?
2. Paul affirmed that God " made of one blood all nations of men to dwell on all the face of the earth and determined the times before apppointed and the bounds of their habitation," Acts 17:26
3. The purpose of this providential care is for man " to seek God and find Him," Acts 17:27
4. Which nation does God favor or condemn today? We cannot surely know and understand God's purpose and sovereignty, Daniel 4:35
5. Paul wrote in Romans 11:33--34 " O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God, "
" For who hath known the mind of the Lord?"
6. Clearly, God's providence is still at work today for He wants to save all men through His chosen people today.
a. " ..God who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, " I Timothy 2:3-4
b. " Through the CHURCH the manifold wisdom of God might be known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places," Ephesians 3:10
D. Does God Providentially Use Nations Today?
1. Some believe that God is still providentially using Israel today.
a. Paul wrote, " As far as the gospel is concerned, they are ENEMIES for your sake; but as far as ELECTION is concerned, they are LOVED on account of the patriarchs
.. for God's gifts and His call ( to ethnic Israel ) are irrevocable " Romans 11:28-29
b. Paul marvelled at how God could use Israel's disobedience as an " opportunity to bring salvation to the Gentiles."
Romans 11:11.." But by their transgression, salvation has COME to the Gentiles, to make them jealous
- if their transgression is riches for the WORLD and their failure is riches for the GENTILES, how much more will their fulfillment be!" v.12
2. Today, Christians are God's favored people.
a. " But you are a CHOSEN people, a royal priesthood, a HOLY nation, God's special possession, that you may DECLARE the praises of HIM who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light," I Peter 2:9-12
b. "We are God's children when we are saved because we are ADOPTED into God's family through out relationship with Jesus Christ, Galatians 4;5-6; Ephesians 1:15
3. Romans 13:1-6 tell us that " secular goverments " have purposes that God designed for them
a Roman Emperors ruled the world then and they were called God's ministers.
b. So this truth is still applicable today..any nation, oppressive or God-fearing, are still God's servants to do His will on earth.
CONCLUSION
A. Quezon wrote, " Have faith in the Divine Providence WHO guides the destinies of men and nations."
1." Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people," Proverbs 14:34
2. Jesus Christ provides the remedy for all men and nations. He said, " I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE, no one comes to the Father except through ME, " John 14:6
B. To be at peace with God, He must do the following steps:
1.Believe and Be Baptized to be saved, Mark 16:16
2. Repent and Be Baptized in the name of Jesus to be forgiven of sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38
3.Now is the acceptable time. Today is the Day of Salvation, 2 Corinthians 6:2
4. Christ is inviting everyone to come to HIM for spiritual rest, Matthew 11:28-30