Post by Watchman on Sept 22, 2005 13:29:18 GMT -5
God Is in Control
So much seems out of control these days, and we may feel as though we are completely forgotten and totally inconsequential in the mighty flow of events. Hebrews 11:3 has encouraging and faith-building instruction for us in this critical time of mankind's history. "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."
We have generally understood this verse to mean that the material creation, which we can clearly see, was produced from invisible spirit. It is certainly a possible meaning, but it is probably not its primary one. In his book, Great Cloud of Witnesses (pp. 12-14), E. W. Bullinger provides an alternative that appears more accurate and fitting within the context of Hebrews 11.
The word "worlds" is translated from the Greek aion, meaning "age," in the sense of a period of time or a dispensation. It derives from a root that means "continued," and it is used as "world" only when "world" gives a better sense of a period of time, not the physical creation. It could be used if one said "the world that then was" or "the world to come."
"Framed" also appears in Hebrews 10:5, where it is more clearly and accurately translated "prepared." It means "to complete thoroughly," "to rule" (even "over-rule") or "to order" (by God in this case). "Word" is not logos, but rhema, meaning "revealed words." Finally, "made" is ginomai, which means "to generate," "to cause to be," "to happen or "to come to pass." It is not the word normally used to indicate God is creating.
Using these definitions, we could translate the verse as, "By faith we perceive by the revealed words of God that the ages were prepared, so that the things we see, come to pass not from things that appear." Those of us who walk by faith know that a great Unseen Hand guides, indeed overrules, events on this earth. This verse means that the historical events we read of in God's Word were not chance occurrences, but God was working behind the scenes to bring His purpose to the conclusion He has foreordained. In short, it says, "God controls the march of history." The great men and women listed in Hebrews 11 lived their lives firmly knowing this truth. That is why they could live in faith.
God did not forget Joseph, though at times his faith in God must have been stretched nearly to its breaking point. He was, after all, as human as we are and encompassed by the same nature. This should encourage us that God will not forget us either. We may seem like only a speck in the vastness of this universe, but we are the apple of His eye! And we know and are assured that He can bring His purpose in this age to its right conclusion.
We can be greatly encouraged by Hebrews 6:9-20:
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Meat in Due Season
As we approach the Feast of Trumpets, think about Joseph and how God miraculously trained him, preserved him and virtually resurrected him to be a savior to his world. I have not pursued several other parallels between Joseph and Trumpets—for example, his being cleaned up, appearing before the king, being given a change of clothing and marrying the daughter of a priest. They would make good study topics in this season.
God allowed Joseph to be seemingly forgotten, but the man's faith held fast. In time, God helped Joseph to "forget" (Manasseh) his hardship, and better still, even enabled him to be "fruitful" (Ephraim). Here is yet another parallel to us! From it, we can derive encouragement and vision for what we must continue to face until God resurrects us to serve under and with our Lord Christ.
So much seems out of control these days, and we may feel as though we are completely forgotten and totally inconsequential in the mighty flow of events. Hebrews 11:3 has encouraging and faith-building instruction for us in this critical time of mankind's history. "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible."
We have generally understood this verse to mean that the material creation, which we can clearly see, was produced from invisible spirit. It is certainly a possible meaning, but it is probably not its primary one. In his book, Great Cloud of Witnesses (pp. 12-14), E. W. Bullinger provides an alternative that appears more accurate and fitting within the context of Hebrews 11.
The word "worlds" is translated from the Greek aion, meaning "age," in the sense of a period of time or a dispensation. It derives from a root that means "continued," and it is used as "world" only when "world" gives a better sense of a period of time, not the physical creation. It could be used if one said "the world that then was" or "the world to come."
"Framed" also appears in Hebrews 10:5, where it is more clearly and accurately translated "prepared." It means "to complete thoroughly," "to rule" (even "over-rule") or "to order" (by God in this case). "Word" is not logos, but rhema, meaning "revealed words." Finally, "made" is ginomai, which means "to generate," "to cause to be," "to happen or "to come to pass." It is not the word normally used to indicate God is creating.
Using these definitions, we could translate the verse as, "By faith we perceive by the revealed words of God that the ages were prepared, so that the things we see, come to pass not from things that appear." Those of us who walk by faith know that a great Unseen Hand guides, indeed overrules, events on this earth. This verse means that the historical events we read of in God's Word were not chance occurrences, but God was working behind the scenes to bring His purpose to the conclusion He has foreordained. In short, it says, "God controls the march of history." The great men and women listed in Hebrews 11 lived their lives firmly knowing this truth. That is why they could live in faith.
God did not forget Joseph, though at times his faith in God must have been stretched nearly to its breaking point. He was, after all, as human as we are and encompassed by the same nature. This should encourage us that God will not forget us either. We may seem like only a speck in the vastness of this universe, but we are the apple of His eye! And we know and are assured that He can bring His purpose in this age to its right conclusion.
We can be greatly encouraged by Hebrews 6:9-20:
But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, "Surely blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you." And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Meat in Due Season
As we approach the Feast of Trumpets, think about Joseph and how God miraculously trained him, preserved him and virtually resurrected him to be a savior to his world. I have not pursued several other parallels between Joseph and Trumpets—for example, his being cleaned up, appearing before the king, being given a change of clothing and marrying the daughter of a priest. They would make good study topics in this season.
God allowed Joseph to be seemingly forgotten, but the man's faith held fast. In time, God helped Joseph to "forget" (Manasseh) his hardship, and better still, even enabled him to be "fruitful" (Ephraim). Here is yet another parallel to us! From it, we can derive encouragement and vision for what we must continue to face until God resurrects us to serve under and with our Lord Christ.