Three Facts About
The Purpose Of God
Isaiah 14:24-27
We know that the secret things belong to
the Lord. And we are content to leave them to him. We dare not pry into that
which God has not revealed. As curiosity killed the proverbial cat, religious
curiosity and speculation has killed the zeal and usefulness of many men. It is
not ours to speculate about what might be, or could have been. It is our
responsibility to bow to, believe, obey and proclaim what God has revealed. And
it is a fact most plainly revealed in the Scriptures that God has a glorious
and wise purpose of grace according to which he rules the world. Isaiah shows
us three facts about the purpose of God which are full of comfort to every
believer.
1. THE PURPOSE OF GOD IS IMMUTABLE.
"The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as
I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it
stand" (v. 24). I do not pretend to understand everything the Bible
teaches about God's purpose. But I do know that whatever God's purpose is, it
will stand forever. It is unchangeable, unalterable, immutable.
His counsel will stand. He will do all his pleasure (Job
2. THE PURPOSE OF GOD INCLUDES ALL THINGS.
Isaiah is talking about the salvation of God's elect when he says, "This
is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that
is stretched out upon all the nations" (v.26). God rules all the nations
of the world by the hand of his omnipotence, according to his blessed purpose
of grace (Psa.76:10; Rom. 8:28). God rules the universe, absolutely, for the
salvation of his people. Nothing happens by chance. Nothing is determined by
man. Nothing is controlled by satan. God rules
everywhere, in all things, at all times!
3. THE PURPOSE OF GOD IS EFFECTUAL AND
MUST BE ACCOMPLISHED. "For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall
disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?" (v. 27). The Lord our God is one whose purpose cannot be
thwarted, whose will cannot be resisted, whose power
cannot be defeated. He is God alone (Psa. 115:3; 135:6). He always does what he
wills. And this is what he wills - the salvation of his people! We worship a
God of purpose. The immutability, universality and efficacy of his purpose is the basis of our faith and confidence in him.
Don Fortner