LTRBE Seminar | Section 16: The Purpose of God Revealed
Section 16: The Purpose of God Revealed
WHY DID GOD CREATE MAN?
We often ask the question, "What was the divine motive? Why did God create the earth and its inhabitants?"
God revealed his purpose to Moses in Numbers 14:21
"But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord."
Creation was for God's glory and honor.
"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power: for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." (Rev. 4:11, NRSV)
The earth was created to be inhabited according to Isaiah 45:18,
"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."
From these few verses we learn:
- God created the earth to be inhabited
- Those inhabitants are created for the glory of God.
- His purpose involves filling the earth with His glory
WHAT IS GOD'S GLORY?
How does one define glory?
In the simplest but perhaps most complete terms:
God = glory = righteousness, love, truth, wisdom
Hence, to fill the earth with his glory is to fill it with his character, ways and thoughts. To manifest God is to show His glory.
Manifestation is defined as "to reveal or make known."
PURPOSE OF GOD REVEALED IN HIS MEMORIAL NAME
Note in Isaiah: 45:18 (above) "I am the LORD"
LORD, Capitalized in KJV, RSV, etc. Actually the word Yahweh. In the Hebrew meaning, "I will be who I will be."
The name of God was revealed to Moses in the incident of the burning bush:
Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'the God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name? ' Then what shall I tell them? " God said to Moses "I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites. I AM has sent me to you." (Exodus 3:13 14 NIV)
God was revealed in the burning bush.
Whose superscription?
We are in the image of God. (Gen. 1:26) As children reflect (or manifest) the qualities of their parents, so we must learn to reflect the glory of God by assuming His character. This was the case in Christ which is why he could say,
"He who hath seen me hath seen the Father." (John 14:9)
As you read the Scriptures, pay attention to how many times the "Name" is referred to. Consider the Lord's prayer,
"Our Father, Hallowed be thy Name." (Matthew 6:9)
Names are given great importance in scripture.
"Thou shalt call his name..." (Matt. 1:21)
They are to reveal the purpose of the person. So it is true with God.
SUMMARY
We are created in God's image and for His glory. His desire is satisfied in a creation who willingly chooses to manifest His own thoughts and ways. As of yet, this has only been perfectly accomplished in his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, but God's purpose to completely fill the earth with his glory cannot be thwarted.
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