Do you believe in the selfishness of God? God has a right to be selfish for all glory and praise belong to Him. He has brought forth this creation for a purpose, and it is important for us to understand it.
The book of Ephesians explains God’s purpose in sending His Son, the second person of the Trinity, to the cross. He was brought down to the lowest humiliation that His fallen race could devise, in order that we might be redeemed to be the praise of God’s glory. Throughout eternity we are to be the exhibit of His great grace, mercy and forgiveness: praising and glorifying the Lord for all that He is. David had the right idea when he said, “Come, let us magnify the Lord together” (Psalms 34:3). It is not that man could make God greater than He is, but it is man’s function to magnify the Lord.
Selfishness in man is abhorrent, but God is entitled to it. With this in mind we can begin to realize what God was doing at the Passover. God did not free the children of Israel only because He was against slavery.
He brought the people out of Egypt for a greater purpose, but when they would not follow His plan and fulfill His purpose for them, He let many of them die. Their complaining provoked the Lord, and He said to Moses, “Let Me alone, that My anger may wax hot against these people. I will blot them out and take of you and fulfill all the promises.” But Moses declared, “If You won’t forgive them, blot my name out also.” Then he reminded God that the heathen would say He brought them out in the wilderness and was not able to deliver them (Exodus 32:10, 12, 32). God agreed to have mercy on the people because He has respect for His reputation.
God has integrity and a faithfulness we don’t comprehend. He did not deliver the children of Israel just to let them parade through the wilderness into Canaan and say, “Look what we did.” He was remembering what He told Abraham He would do through his children, and He was remembering what He wanted out of it. Don’t expect to bargain with God; He doesn’t make deals. You can’t use God to your own end. Don’t get the idea that the truths preached here are keys with which you may achieve your carnal lusts. God says, Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye might spend it in your pleasures. James 4:3.
We must see God’s intent and purpose in that Passover. God has been seeking for something for a long time. Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm, and with great judgments: and I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you in unto the land which I sware to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it to you for a heritage: I am the Lord. And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Exodus 6:6–9.
On the threshold of the first great plague of Egypt, the plague of the water turning to blood, the Lord spoke to Moses, Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning; lo, he goeth out unto the water; and thou shalt stand by the river’s brink to meet him; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thy hand. And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, hath sent me unto thee, saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness: and, behold, hitherto thou hast not hearkened. Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood. Exodus 7:15–17.
First God said to the Israelites, “You are going to be My people.” In the next passage to Pharaoh He said, “Let My people go, so they can worship Me in the wilderness, so they can serve Me.” A number of the plagues passed: And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh: and he said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God; but who are they that shall go? And Moses said, We will go with our young and with our old; with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord. Exodus 10:8, 9. Here was a different slant; they would hold a feast unto the Lord.
Finally, when the Passover was over, we read: And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victuals. Now the time that the children of Israel dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And it came to pass at the end of four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. It is a night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the Lord to be much observed of all of the children of Israel throughout their generations. Exodus 12:37–42.
These passages have been given so you might realize God had a timetable. All the delays of Pharaoh and the hardening of his heart did not interrupt it; they came out, right on the day. You may get the idea that God is delaying deliverances in your life, and you cry, “How long, Lord?” but something in your life must be dealt with before He can release you. Delivering you from circumstances is not an end in itself; He is concerned about what you are going to be and do.
God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt to give them an opportunity to be His people and to serve Him. That was God’s ultimate motive. Moses told Pharaoh that they would not leave even one sheep—one hoof would not be left behind—because they did not know what the Lord would require of them (Exodus 10:24–26). God was not simply turning some slaves loose; He was bringing to Himself a people that would be His worshipers.
In the nineteenth chapter of the Book of Exodus, we find a revelation of what God was really doing. In the third month after the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. And when they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the wilderness of Sinai, they encamped in the wilderness; and there Israel encamped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. Now, therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and will keep my covenant, then ye shall be mine own possession from among all peoples: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. Exodus 19:1–6. God’s intention was to prepare a kingdom of priests.
You will receive greater blessing in your life if you learn to give God what He is seeking. The Father is concerned only about one thing: that His Son be glorified, honored, and exalted.
Dedicate yourself to exalting Jesus Christ, and the Father will be pleased. If you exalt yourself, the Lord will see you as a rival to His intended purpose. But whenever you are striving to exalt His Son, the Father will fill your life with immeasurable blessings. He will bless you exceedingly if you do what He wants done, and have the same intentions as He. Find out what He wants and give it to Him. Does He want your life? Don’t fight and wrestle with God like Jacob. He will bless you, but He might break your leg first, to bring you to the place of utter dependence and clinging to Him.
God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6b). God also resists the man who has his own ideas instead of God’s.
Have you ever wondered, “Lord, why are You fighting me? I’m on Your side? You are His own child, but you are still too ignorant to understand that you belong doubly to Him, for He created you and then redeemed you. You are bought with a price; you are not your own, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are the Lord’s (I Corinthians 6:19b, 20). If you do that, He will bless you.
When the Lord died on Calvary’s cross, He paid the price of your redemption. If you were a slave in a country acknowledging slavery, the title of your life would belong to the one who bought you.
Where do you get the idea that because you are a Christian you are now a special, privileged person who can use Jesus to work out your plans? You, who had been a sinner under the rule of the devil, were redeemed by Jesus so you might belong to Him. Your life is no longer your own. If you don’t believe it, read I Corinthians again.
A kingdom of priests is what God had in mind for the Israelites to be. Did it ever work out? No. He finally settled for just one tribe out of the twelve: the Levites. He desired a holy nation, a people for His own possession, but it never came forth. The Jews thought they were a chosen people, but they never acknowledged that He owned them. They missed it, but the Lord is still seeking that kingdom of priests.
Did God abandon the idea of the holy priesthood, the holy nation, or does He still desire a people to possess? But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. I Peter 2:9–10. This is not a quote from Exodus, nor is this speaking of Israel after the flesh. The Lord started something in which He has an objective: to possess you, and He knows what He must work in you to perfect you. God creates an infinite number of causes to reach a final effect, and shows you how to come into His will.
You were delivered to become a worshiper, not to become a law unto yourself. You were not delivered by the Passover blood of the Lamb to go out and live unto yourself. You are to accept the perfect will of God and walk in it. You are not going to use God, but God is going to use you.
When the magician came to Peter and said, “Here’s much money; give me this gift that anyone I lay my hands on will receive the Holy Spirit,” Peter answered, “I perceive you are in the gall of bitterness. Your heart isn’t right with God. Your money perish with you.” The magician repented. “Pray for me that the Lord forgive me” (Acts 8:18–24).
Don’t think for a minute that this walk with God is bringing enough of God so you can use Him to work out your life. It’s bringing enough of God so He can take hold of you and use you for His purpose in the end time. You are saved and delivered from what has oppressed you in order that you can become submissive to be a worshiper, a bond servant of the Lord.
What God would do for you is unlimited. He is giving you a power of attorney, but it isn’t to bankrupt heaven for your selfish desires. You are given it to do His will. You are God’s representative on earth. He has given you power to use His name, which is exalted above every name named in heaven above or on the earth beneath, to cast out devils and heal the sick (Mark 16:17, 18), but you cannot use His name to make yourself important. You are using it to do business in the Kingdom to win for the Lord the reward of His sufferings and to bring forth to the Lord a people who will be a praise to His name. You are not to serve yourself but the Lord. You will be His steward, using His name for His glory and praise. When you understand this, you will be on the verge of unlimited miracle power.
When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman, He said the Father has always been looking for those worshipers who would worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23). The Old Testament uses a phrase, “the fear of the Lord.” You cannot fear the Lord, yet attempt to use Him for your own ends. The fear of the Lord causes you to bow to His will and purpose. Not once in the New Testament was the power and glory resting upon the apostles turned for their own advantage. Always they gave glory and praise to the Lord. They were not once guilty of ambitiously drawing men unto themselves to build a kingdom. The Corinthian church became confused by preferring one above another, “I am of Apollos, I am of Cephas, I am of Paul,” but they were soundly rebuked (I Corinthians 1:12). Paul said, “One plants, one waters, but God gives the increase. So he that planteth and he that watereth are nothing, but God Who gives the increase” (I Corinthians 3:6, 7). He refused to have any exaltation of flesh, and so must you.
You may have very subtle motivations. You want to be loved and liked; you want things to work out in a fine little program until you have a neat little life and a pattern for it. Every time you look for that kind of security, God will take it away. Your only security is in becoming a people for God’s own possession. You are His; all your tomorrows are in His hand. If He wants to make you suffer or if He wants to make you sing, it’s all the same; you will please Him and glorify Him. That is the way it’s to be. When you say, “Not my will, but Thine be done,” you sense and acknowledge your relationship to the Lord. He is entitled to all the glory. “Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever” (Matthew 6:13). Say that in your heart, and it will happen.
The Israelites left Egypt with everything they had to make sacrifice to the Lord, to give Him anything He required. Doesn’t that give you a real sense of belonging to Jesus that you have never had before? Doesn’t it give you more of a sense of security? Since you’ve been bought by the blood and brought into this walk, don’t you find you are crying to do the will of God? If He wants to make you sit, you will sit until He tells you to get up and work, and then you will be so ready and anxious. God is bringing this in each of our lives. He seeks worshipers.
The book of Malachi, in my opinion, is one of the saddest books in the Bible. A son honoreth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honor? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord. Malachi 1:6a. God was tired of the people’s running through the motions of worship. The children of Israel had the idea that since they were God’s chosen people, God would condone everything.
For from the rising of the sun even to the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 1:11. If they would not praise and worship Him, the Gentiles would. All the ends of the world are to praise and worship His name.
But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap: and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto the Lord offerings in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in the ancient years. And I will come near to you in judgment.… Malachi 3:2–5a.
God is refining a people: His priesthood, that holy nation, spoken of in I Peter. They will offer to Him a pure sacrifice. When He has burned out the impurities, you will find your worship freer and higher. He is refining the old self and the self-seeking out of you and is bringing you into that surrender to the Lord. As a result, you can praise and worship Him more.
Then they that feared the Lord spake one with another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before him, for them that feared the Lord, and thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, even mine own possession, in the day that I make; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi 3:16, 17. The Lord will have a people for special treasure, and that treasure will not be the greatest preacher or the one who prophesies the best or has the most faith for miracles and signs. He who is precious is one who thinks continually on the name of the Lord and fears Him. In other words, he is a worshiper the Lord is seeking.
The Lord is keeping a book of remembrance. He is looking for people who love and worship Him. What do you talk about when you are working, visiting, or conversing? Do you talk about people? The Lord will remember all those conversations. Out of your last several conversations, how many were pure worship? “Oh, the Lord is good; let me tell you how good He is.” Those are the conversations which make you His jewel. The Lord is not desirous of informers to tell Him who to judge. You may get judged yourself because the Lord is putting your informing down in the book of remembrance as well. He wants only worshipers. Do you want to worship; do you want to love Him? That’s what He desires. You had better give Him what He is seeking.
The New Testament talks about a royal priesthood that offers to God continually that incense of worship, the fruit of their lips giving praise to God (Hebrews 13:15). Worship does not yet have the place that it must have in this walk. We are not given enough to it. You may say, “We’re working.” Fine, but our dedication to worship must be intensified.
You must give God what He wants, not because you feel blessed. Give to the Lord continually, the fruit of your lips; day and night, worship the Lord. When you do not feel good, and when you could be rebellious, bow down and proclaim His Lordship and seek His help. To be the real worshipers of the Lord, you must love Him with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all of your strength. It is the first commandment (Mark 12:30), and the law of life for a worshiper.