Text: Exodus 15:11
Theme: Who is like Yahweh in Holiness
THE LORD IS GOOD AND HIS LOVE ENDURES FOREVER.
Joke:
An old couple took their four-year-old grandson to church where the grandma was part of the choir. She gave the boy a 50 rupees to keep his grandpa awake during the sermon, but grandpa slept throughout the sermon. Grandma was so upset with the boy. After church service, she asked the boy why he had not followed her instructions ever after receiving 50 Rupees. He said, “Grandpa gave me 100 Rupees not to wake him up.”(Adopted).
Verse:
“Who is like unto Thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (KJV) Our Lord, no other gods compare with you— Majestic and holy! Fearsome and glorious! Miracle worker! (CEV).
This verse 11 has three emphasis such as,
1. God as incomparable God
2. God as incompatible God
3. God as incredible God
Glorious in holiness
Fearful in praises
Doing wonders
Or
Majestic and Holy
Fearsome and glorious
Miracle worker
Introduction:
This verse is part of the song of Moses. This song is recorded in Exodus 15:1-19. There are three songs of Moses which are found in Exodus 15:1-19, Deuteronomy 32:1-43, and Psalm 90. This song of Moses is the only Hymn will be sung by the entire saints in heaven. This song was the first composed hymn of the Hebrew poetry. This victory over Pharaoh is a foreshadow of the victory over Anti-Christ in future by the saints (Revelation 15:2-4; Isaiah14:4-17).
DAKES COMMENTS that this song has three stanzas, Exodus 15:1-5, 6-10, and 11-19. ‘Each begins with praise to God and increases in length and varies in imagery and ends with triumphant note that Yahweh reigns forever and ever.’ (Dakes Bible Commentator).
As we begin the year 2025, let us meditate this verse as the theme verse for the year and a promise of God to everyone who is present.
1. God is Majestic - incomparable God
2. He is fearsome and glorious - incompatible God
3. He is a miracle worker- incredible God
Let’s see one by one:
1. Incomparable God- in Majesty
It is the 39th question in the Bible. Who is like unto thee, O Yahweh, among the gods? He is eminent beyond comparison.
Collin’s Dictionary defines:“…incomparable, we used to emphasis that someone has a good quality to a great degree”
“To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.” (Isaiah 40:25). King David says in 2 Samuel 7:22 “Wherefore thou art great, O LORD God: for there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee, according to all that we have heard with our ears.”
He lives in an unapproachable light, he is alone, only one God, he doesn’t have wife or wives, he doesn’t have children and he doesn’t have enemies. He exists from everlasting to eternity. His name is all above other names.
Again we read, “Among the gods there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.” (Psalm 86:8).
The ten commandments, speaks of "gods" or "other gods". the "gods" are false gods or idols, and that their inanimate and powerless nature is being contrasted with the one true, living, omnipotent God.
Bible declares Satan as the god of this universe, demonic powers are described as gods. Because they were originally created by Yahweh as angelic beings, and subsequently became evil spirits by their rebellion against God's authority. The demon dwell in the man-made "gods".
Moses contrasted the power of the one true, living God with the false gods of surrounding nations over whom the God of Israel had triumphed.
The Israelites were celebrating God's superiority over all other gods and forces in the universe. In doing so, they acknowledged their dependence on God and expressed their awe and reverence for Yahveh. The Israelites declared that there is no one and nothing that can compare to God.
Of course, the ancient near eastern world believed in many gods, which influenced the Israelites. They had the idea that there was a national God. There were gods worshipped among all the nations during the time of Yahweh. There were gods of Egypt, gods of Canaan, gods of Moab, gods of Ammon, gods of Syria, gods of philistines, gods of Babylon and gods of all and every nation.
In that case, Moses says, Yahweh is above all other so called gods and goddesses. Moses sang that no god is comparable to Yahweh in holiness and majesty. Even today the presidents, prime ministers believe that there are national god and goddesses. India has so many gods and goddesses, a god for a village and a god for nation but none is comparable to Yahweh. Africa has so many gods and goddesses none are equal to Yahweh.
There is none like him "among the mighty ones", or among the gods, among the mighty angels, who are sometimes called gods; among the the sons of the mighty, kings, princes, judges, and civil magistrates of every rank and order. No one is like Yahweh. Fear not he is your God.
We can Sing the chorus: “Majesty worship his majesty”
2. Incompatible God - in Holiness
Moses says, who can be compared to Yahweh in majesty and holiness. He is glorious in holiness means essential character and perfect in holiness.
Yahweh demands holiness always, everywhere, in everything with everyone. He is not expecting us to be holy only on Sundays, on special days, during festivals, not only on special occasions and best vocations but always without compromise.
Holiness leads to honesty, sincerity, accountability, integrity, truthfulness and transparency with transformation in heart, behaviour, in words, and deeds. Holiness in our conversations.
The word "holy" appears in the Bible over 900 times, and the chanting phrase "holy, holy, holy" appears twice. The word "holy" translated 611 times in the King James Version. Bible calls a day as holy day, an element as holy, and a container as holy. We read ‘the holy sabbath; holy oil; holy vessels; a holy nation; the holy temple; and a holy priesthood.’
The KJV dictionary defines Holy as “Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense. Hence, pure in heart, temper or dispositions; free from sin and sinful affections. Applied to the Supreme Being, Holy signifies perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character” and “We call a man holy when his heart is conformed in some degree to the image of God, and his life is regulated by the divine precepts. Hence, holy is used as nearly synonymous with good, pious, godly.”
The Lord demands angels, and men to worship him alone with with fear, reverence, and with dignity. He can’t be cheated through emotional expressions, lip services and hypocritical statements in prayers and praises. He would be never pleased with the prayers of sinners, arrogant prayers like the Pharisee, only the Lord loves the prayers offered like tax collector.
The word "fearful" does not imply terror, but rather awesome and reverence. The Israelite acknowledge that God is deserving of the highest praise and worship. It is a declaration of the Israelites' faith in God and a recognition of His unmatched power and majesty and holiness.
He demands holiness in our dress codes, in our food habits, in our relationships, and in every dealing we make with one another. Holiness in dealing with opposite sex, holiness in our enterprise, holiness in our entertainment.
His incompatibility is seen throughout the Bible, first at destroying the entire world through flood, then at destroying the sodom and Gomorra, then destroying his own redeemed Israelites in the wilderness for their compromise life, then at denial of entry for Moses and Aaron for their displeasing behavioural attitude (Numbers 20:12), then at the time of judges, at the time of kings, even touching the ark of the covenant he killed the Uzzah.(1 chronicles 13:7-11).
Shall we sing this chorus before we move further: “you are holy holy…”.
3. Incredible God - in working Miracles
The song of Moses not only reveals the incomparable God, the incompatible God and also celebrates his incredible character of miracle working.
He is incredible because he does unbelievable things. The miracles of God are expressed in this song through beautiful experiences of Moses and the children of Israel. Moses sings by expressing Yahweh as his strength and song, as his salvation, as his God (v.2), he sings God is a man of war (v.3), God is Great in excellency in everything (v.7). Yahweh is a Merciful God, a redeemer, a leader and a guide into his holy places first on the earth, and then on his heavenly abode (v.13). Moses affirms that Yahweh had purchased his people (v.16). Yahweh brings them into the land of promise, Yahweh plants them on the holy mountains, and dwells with them and make Israelites to dwell with him (v.17), The Lord reigns forever and ever (v.19).
The Lord is a miracle worker from the time of creation. His very nature is holy, his very nature is true and his very nature is miracle worker. His creation out of nothing is a miracle, his redemption of his people in the Egypt through the plagues is a miracle, his providence in the wilderness journey is a miracle. He divided the sea, he brought down the Jericho walls, he rained the quails, he stood with them with the pillars of cloud and fire, His miracles are seen and experienced by his follower’s every day.
His miracles were seen in the calling of Abraham, and fulfilling the promise he made to him at the age of 100. He had provided the miraculous escape from the burning fire to Shadrack, Mesach, and Abednego, he saved Daniel from the den of the lions.
Every time the Lord asked one question is that is anything too hard for the Lord? Nothing is impossible with God. He made stand still of of the Sun and Moon. He made the sun to go back for ten degrees during the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:10).
2 Chronicles 14:11 says, 2 Chronicles 14:11 “And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.”
Luke 7:22
“Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”
He will perform miracles in your life out of nothing, nothing is impossible for God, is there anything too hard for Yahweh in your life. He can bring waters out wilderness, he can create rivers and streams in the wilderness, he can divide the sea, he can rain manna, he can walk with you in the fire. Nothing is impossible.
Shall we sing the chorus:
“You are here, moving in our midst…
You are
Way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are”
Conclusion: THE Lord reigns, the Lord reigns.
