Wonderful

Judges 13:17-18 “Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?” And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”

Throughout history the name of God has been undervalued. People toss around God’s name like it means very little. The world uses the name of God like a swear word or a cursing when things don’t go well. Other’s attribute God’s name to an idol or false religion. Muslims will launch rockets or murder innocent people and then proclaim “Allah O Akbar”, proclaiming “god is great”, as if the Lord of all Creation approves of their atrocities.

Some people think that they are God. I recently met a couple men who proclaim themselves to be Luciferian, when I asked one of them what that means he responded by saying that it means he is God, that he holds the power of life and death in his hands. Others believe that God is found only in nature or that the universe is godlike and carries with it godlike attributes.

Who do you say that God is?

This question is one that Jesus posed to His disciples during one of His teaching moments.

Matthew 16:13. “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

The disciples responses reflected the culture of their day. People attributed Jesus to John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah the prophet. The confusion of that day reveals the darkness of mans heart. What seems obvious to God’s people leaves others in a state of bewilderment and confusion.

If people are only looking for God in what they want to see, they will never come to know who He really is.

Matthew 16:16-17 “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

As the Father revealed the Son to Peter, so does God reveal the Son to people today.

The Revelation of God

Why did the Son not reveal His name to Manoah?

When the Son spoke to Manoah and declared His name is wonderful, He was revealing to Manoah mankind’s limitations. The name of God in its fullness is beyond comprehension to those who lack understanding. All Manoah needed to know about God at the moment was what He witnessed God doing. Manoah could see that God was wonderful and it was that particular revelation of God that Manoah needed to understand for the moment.

The term ‘wonderful’ is the Hebrew word pala’, which means to perform a miracle, marvel, wonder, or supernatural deed. An act of God that is beyond the human ability to grasp, do, or achieve.

The prophecy of Christ was given in part to Isaiah. He was told of the Messiah and the way He would reveal His glory to the world.

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful (pala‘) Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

In like manner the psalmist prayed that God would reveal to him “wondrous things” from the law of the Lord.(Psalm 119:18); matters beyond normal human perception requiring supernatural insight to see them.

The Lord God proclaimed before Moses and Israel His covenant and the manner in which He would work before them, unique to God’s people inspiring awe and wonder.

Exodus 34:10 “And he said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels (pala’), 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.”

When the people see the wondrous works of God, they know that He alone is worthy of praise.

Psalm 107:8 “Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous (pala’) works to the children of man!”

There are hundreds of names attributed to God. All Pharaoh needed to know was that “I Am” had sent Moses to deliver Israel from captivity. Saul needed to know that it was Jesus whom He was persecuting. At Jesus’ birth He was called Immanuel, God with us. To the last days churches in Revelation Jesus declared Himself… “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Imagine the Lord revealing the fullness of His name to Manaoh, it would have been beyond comprehension. If it had been made evident to Manoah of all that God has been throughout history…it would have been overwhelming to him.

That was the question Manoah asked when he asked God to reveal His name, he wanted to know the fullness of who God is. The name of the Lord is more than just an identifier or a revelation given at a particular moment, He is more than a given title, or a statue that holds no value.

The glory of God and His goodness is revealed through His name, and only He can truly declare it.

God’s people bear His name by the attributes He has formed in them. As the Spirit of God transforms their lives, they bear a resemblance to His glory.

What does God need for you to know about Him today?

Sometimes what people need to understand is their position before a God who exceeds their understanding.

The Foolishness of Man

Pride is a commonality among people. Mankind has no lack of ability to exalt humankind, particularly as knowledge is increased. When knowledge increase, pride often increases, when money increases, so does the trust in riches. There are those who think they are holy because they observe certain practices or maintain a particular standard that they believe sets them apart.

Mankind’s foolishness is brought low when the Lord demonstrates His power before them.

Isaiah 29:13-14 “And the Lord said:
“Because this people draw near with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
while their hearts are far from me,
and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,
therefore, behold, I will again
do wonderful (pala’) things with this people,
with wonder upon wonder;
and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish,
and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.”

It is the wondrous things of God that confounds the wise. The scientist cannot explain away God’s work, the pride of man is reduced to ashes, and for those who think they are discerning, they are left in awe.

The Glory of God

Wonder upon wonder, it is not one element of God’s nature or work that confounds, He can bring it in wave after wave, stacking the splendor of His glory in one magnificent array after another. As the pride of man tries to explain away one element of God’s revelation, the Lord shows mankind that He could overwhelm him by the depth of His glory.

There is a point when the pride of man can only turn away, he realizes he is no match for God and so he must either accept God’s Word or reject the revelation of Glory.

Is mankind relegated to confusion for all time? Is the crushing weight of God’s glory meant to render people helpless and confused eternally?

Isaiah 29:23-24 “For when he sees his children,
the work of my hands, in his midst,
they will sanctify my name;
they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob
and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.
And those who go astray in spirit will come to understanding,
and those who murmur will accept instruction.”

The Lord reveals His glory to His people. Understanding is given to those who fear His name. For those who walk in obedience, the Lord makes known Himself….and His people rejoice and worship Him.

The Spirit of the living God anoints those who trust in Christ alone. The Spirit brings revelation of things too wonderful for others to see. The wonder of God’s glory shines in His people, beckoning the lost to come and see.

To know the wonder of God’s glory is to know Jesus. Place your trust in Him and your eyes will be opened, you will see and experience His glory, knowing there is much more to come.