God of Power

Things do not always go smoothly in a believer's life. Situations don't always resolve themselves in the way that seems right. It may even seem that God has failed to act or that for some reason He was unable to achieve a more acceptable outcome. Human understanding is often incapable of knowing what God is doing, but one thing is certain: God's power is not in question.

By His great power, God created the world. God claimed, "I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm" (Jeremiah 27:5). This was no small feat. His power did not create mere sculptures of man and beast, but moving, breathing life. Some of those animals are large enough to crush a man or fierce enough to tear him to pieces. God formed the earth out of nothing, with all of its mountains and valleys. He forced each river to follow His designed channel and set boundaries that the oceans cannot pass. He took the sphere called earth, weighing an estimated 6,500,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons, and hung it in the vastness of space. Earth is just one of the myriad planets and stars that He created and placed. That is power!

By His great power, God has control over nature and the weather. Man cannot predict the weather, let alone change it. Man facing a drought cannot create a needed storm, nor can he supply water by corralling the rains falling on another part of the country. With His power, God causes storms. His thunder is beyond understanding (Job 26:12). His power directs the winds (Psalm 78:26). By His same power, He can stop any storm, quieting the seas (Job 26:12). His power can cause the seas and rivers to dry up, no matter their size (Isaiah 50:2). One of the most amazing and concentrated demonstrations of God's power over nature was His bringing of the people of Israel out of their captivity in Egypt. Moses reminded God of "Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand" (Exodus 32:11). Far from a single amazing act, this was a series of phenomenal events that destroyed a great nation. With His power, God brought and removed plagues of frogs, lice, flies, and locusts at will. He turned the river to blood, brought disease on man and beast, caused a terrific hail storm, and created darkness so thick it could be felt. The culmination of these mighty acts was to spread apart the waters of the Red Sea (at eight pounds per gallon) and hold it upright in walls till the entire nation passed through. That is power!

By His great power, God controls governors and nations. Jehoshaphat declared this truth: "Are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You" (II Chronicles 20:6). God's power can scatter and defeat His enemies (Psalm 59:11). His power causes His rule to extend over all people and to last for all time (Psalm 66:3&7). By His power God destroyed the nation of Egypt while strengthening the nation of Israel (Psalm 106:8). He then led His people on a treacherous wilderness journey and provided a great inheritance for them, carving out a land that had been occupied by other nations (Exodus 15:13, Psalm 116:1). The Bible is filled with records of specific events making up Israel's saga. He caused the walls of Jericho to fall down for no apparent reason. He caused armies to turn on themselves or to hear frightening noises that caused them to flee. He destroyed entire armies with only His word. He caused foreign leaders to restore the captive Israelites to their land, even contributing resources for the reconstruction. He even caused a foreign leader to issue a decree that would bring the promised Messiah to the right town in which to be born. That is power!

By His great power, God intervenes in the lives of individuals. "God has the power to help and to bring down" (II Chronicles 25:8). He protects His people in times of trouble (Psalm 59:16). He can save the lives of those seemingly condemned to die (Psalm 79:11). God has the power to deliver from evil spirits (Luke 4:36) and to give physical healing (Luke 5:17). Again, the Bible is filled with these stories. God has the power to begin life even when it seems unlikely - Joseph, Samuel, Isaac, John the Baptist, even Jesus Himself. God has the power to preserve life when the situation seems hopeless - Moses, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. That is power!

By His great power, God redeems and sanctifies His children. Mankind is weighted down and condemned by his inescapable load of sin, but God has the power to forgive sin (Matthew 9:6). He doesn't stop there. God also uses His power to provide Christians with all the knowledge they need for the Christian life. He supplies all the provision for living and pleasing Him (II Peter 1:3). This is still not the end. God also exercises His power in keeping and protecting His children until the day that their final salvation is revealed (I Peter 1:5). In this spiritual realm, the most important part of man, God uses His power to do everything necessary - from the moment of salvation to the final consummation in heaven. Those who are powerless to save themselves can rest in the sufficient power of God. Even if every person on earth received this gift, God's resources would still be enough. That is power!

In fact, there is no limit to God's power. Even by examining the vastness of God's creation, considering all the incidents of God's power revealed in the Bible, and seeing His mighty hand displayed throughout history, man cannot imagine the extent of God's power. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20). Nothing is too much for God. If God doesn't do something, it's never because He can't. It's because His love and wisdom have decided not to. God is able to accomplish everything that He determines to do, which is beyond human comprehension.

"O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours?" Deuteronomy 3:24 (NASB)