Our awesome God

Creation shows the power  of God and His glory all around. Our awesome God He's gloriously adorned, clothed with majesty, girded with strength and power (Psalm 93:1). He is the sovereign Lord who reigns and rules over all His creation (Psalm 104:1-2) even the kings of the earth fear Him (Psalm 76:12). The bible says, "The LORD has established His throne in heaven, And His kingdom rules over all" (Psalm 103:19, 99:1-3, 96:10, 66:7, 97:1). He laid the foundation of the earth and stretched out the heaven like a curtain (Psalm 102:25, 104:2b, 5-6). The splendor of His creation further reveals His almightiness (Genesis 1:1-16, Psalm 104:8-22, 24, 8:1&3). His faithfulness declared in the heavens (Genesis 9:13). Our awesome God is immortal; He is from generation to generation, He will exist even when the creation ceases to be (Psalm 102:26, 1 Timothy 1:17, 6:16). He is fearful in His places (Psalm 29:3, 77:18, 2 Samuel 22:14). When the children of Israel saw the God of glory thundered and saw the lightning, they trembled and pleaded with Moses to leave them out of the scene (Exodus 20:18-19), however, the bible had explicitly noted what the fear of the Lord is. Yet, this awesome God is loving, good, true and merciful. Exuding His divine love; He creates light in our darkened heart (2 Corinthians 4:6, Job 33:4).

Our awesome God! He is so pleasant, generous and kind. He is El-Shaddai-the strong breasted one who like mother's breast quiets, satisfies, nourishes, and gives peace and rest to a baby. God came to Abram by His name El-Shaddai (the Almighty God) when he was 99 years old. And to him all hope was lost that he could father a child by his wife Sarai who was then 89 years old. He had consented to wife's advice and both of them have limited God thinking they cannot have children. The bible says," When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, I am the Almighty God, walk before me and be blameless" (Genesis 17:1). Though you think that I cannot make good the least of my promises, and you have gone your way to get Ishmael who was never in my plan and programme for you, now walk before me and be perfect, for I will not condone any  nonsense any more from you. God needed to tell Abram to pause and carefully consider His name El-Shaddai (the Almighty God), ever faithful, consistent, not wanting nor lacking and full of pleasant surprises. Our awesome God-the Almighty made covenant with him, assured him and changed his name; He also changed his wife's name (Genesis 17:2-19). Though God had already promised to give Abraham children soon after Lot departed from him (Genesis 13:14-16), but because he had not known God by His name Almighty (El-Shaddai) that's why he could agree with his wife to have a child through Hagar. Our awesome God supplies every need and satisfies the longing of every creature (Psalm 107:35-38). When the children of Israel cried and craved for flesh, they insulted Moses because there was no meat for them in the wilderness (Numbers 11:4-6). Moses thought he knew God too well because of the wonders he saw in Egypt, so, he asked God how He would provide flesh (meat) for hundreds of thousands of His people and God replied him "And the LORD said to Moses, "Has the LORD's arm been shortened? Now you shall see whether what I say will happen to you or not (Numbers 11:18-23, 31-32). It was indeed a rightful thing for him to ask how God would supply them flesh (meat) for the people, because he needed to be sure that the desire of the people would be granted and that they would have the meat they are longing for to eat.

Our God is awesome in His doing towards the sons of men (Psalm 66:5), a mighty terrible one against flood like enemies and that's why the psalmist exclaimed: "The floods have lifted up O LORD, The flood have lifted up their voice; The flood lift up their waves. The LORD on high is  (our awesome God) is mightier than the noise of many waters, Than the mighty waves of the sea." When the psalmist recounted the His awesome acts, he urged the people of the earth to reference and fear Him. He wrought unforgettable signs and wonders in Egypt that none could deny (Psalm 78:43-51) and brought His people out with an outstretched arm; what an awesome God (Psalm 89:13). He hardened Pharaoh's heart to pursue them so as to make Himself known (Exodus 14:4,8). Then, a miracle happened, God parted the sea and created a solid concrete inside it for His people to pass over (Exodus 14:19-22). The same sea-a route for the Israelites deliverance became the burial ground for the Egyptians. The Egyptians became defenseless at the middle of the sea; they were greatly troubled, their chariots could no longer move till His people pass over, who can resist this awesome God. They eventually perished with their horses and chariots; they sank as lead in the waters. No wonder Miriam led the worship of His almightiness in Exodus 15:1-16. There is none like Him nor can deliver like Him. Countless deliverances and victories He wrought for those who hope in His mercies. He spoiled the spoiler (the Midianites) and delivered His people from devourers. Our awesome God discomfited the host of Midian through Gideon and his 300 army. Indeed, it was "the sword of the Lord" (Judges 7:20-25, 8:3) for how could they have captured and destroyed the enemies who once ravaged them. God also delivered Zebah and Zalmunnah into his hands, and the children of Israel who were once afraid are now emboldened and empowered against their destroyer (Judges 8:12,21, Psalm 83:11-12).

Our awesome God is righteous in judgment for He is a righteous judge (Psalm 9:4b, 7-8). The psalmist says "For You have maintained my right and my cause, You sat on the throne judging in righteousness." He executes righteousness and justice for the oppressed (Psalm 103:6). Creation groans but God is not mocked and were it not for the intervention of Jesus and intercession of saints many would have been consumed (Romans 8:22, Galatians 6:7). Aaron succumbed to the evil wish of the children of Israel since he cannot dissuade them (Exodus 32:15, 21-22). How can a molded calf made from the ear and nose rings be their LORD who brought them out of Egypt? They have made themselves a god of gold (Exodus 32:31) and their new god has placed no demand on them (Exodus 32:6). Moses was still with God receiving instruction for them when God asked him to go down to see the stiffnecked people he brought from Egypt (Exodus 32:7-9, 33:5). And their rebellion dramatically played out when Moses and Joshua approached the scene. But our awesome God cannot be co-worshipped with any other god (Psalm106:19-22, Exodus 32:10). And that's why God further instructed Moses concerning the children of Israel that they must destroy every altar raised to any other god (Exodus 34:12-15). When Aaron and Miriam spoke against  Moses, the Lord heard it; our awesome God righteous in judgment kept them there for seven days, they couldn't progress in their journey due to Miriam's leprosy (Numbers 12:2, 9-10, 13-15).

Is it possible for someone to die before the Lord? Yes, it is very much possible. Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire which the Lord did not command and they died  (Numbers 3:4, Leviticus 10:1). According to Leviticus 10 verse 2, another fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, "So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." Their carelessness and ignorance was not tenable enough an excuse to avert the wrath of God. They were not spared but paid dearly for taking God for granted and misapplying their Levitical duties. Even after the tragedy struck, Aaron their father was forbidden to mourn or weep for them (Leviticus 10:6-7). When he heard what God said, the bible remarked that he held his peace. Who is he to contend with God, can he query Him? Yet, hear God's response in Leviticus chapter 10 verse 3, He did not bulge that two sons of His high priest died in a day, it happened to Eli too (in the case of Hophni and Phineas). Who do we take God for? He is fearful in His places, awesome and terrible in His deeds and evil doers will not go unpunished. God has kindled His own fire and Aaron must not wail or lament for his sons. Our looseness with the things of God is an express indication of our lack of understanding of this dreaded awesome God. When men kindle evil fire they often forget that God also kindles fire (Leviticus 10:6b). In fact, our awesome God-the creator of fire, kindles fire and this is solidly backed up by scriptures (Numbers 11:1-3, 16:35, Ezekiel 20:45-48, 21:31-32). Judgment comes when sin is grave, God kindled fire, Sodom and Gomorrah was consumed by the fire that God kindled (Genesis 19:11-13, 24, Hebrews 2:2). Escape to the mountains! The angels warned as this is the only guarantee to be released from judgment, yet, Lot chose to stay in the plains where there were polluting and defiling powers, and he being caught up with the vileness and atrocities in the plain though not destroyed by fire was defiled (Genesis 19:17-18).