God’s Glory Will Be Manifested in His Church
➤Throughout Israel’s history, God remained engaged with His people (even though they constantly resisted Him) because He had determined to bring them to a glorious end. He would display His glory through them to the world exactly as He had purposed from the beginning, and neither the opposition of their enemies nor the weakness of their own hearts could prevent it.
I want to show you that, just as God patiently endured Israel throughout the Old Covenant until He brought them to a glorious end, so He is doing with His New Covenant Church.
Today, the overall landscape among those who call themselves by His name does not look so pretty, but He’s going to continue working with us until, together, we become glorious!
Notice the pattern:
- God gave birth to Israel, and so He did to the Church.
- Israel suffered every manner of persecution, and so has the Church.
- Israel had many self-inflicted wounds from infighting, and so has the Church.
- Israel’s faith was tested many times, and so has been the faith of the Church.
- Israel rebelled against God countless times, and so has the Church.
- Israel was divided due to compromised leadership, and so was the Church.
- Israel was renewed when God raised up new leadership, and so was the Church.
- Israel was sustained by the grace of God alone, and so was the Church.
- Israel’s promise to experience peace and glory was fulfilled, and so will be the Church.
- Israel was given the fathers, the law, the prophets, the priesthood, and more, and so has the Church.
Think about it.
There were times – many times – throughout Israel’s 2000-year history when it looked as though she was doomed, starting with Jacob wrestling with an angel (possibly, pre-incarnate Jesus). Jacob’s persistence with the angel in that match resulted in his name being changed to Israel, meaning “one who contends” or “wrestles” with God.
Israel’s name foretold its story, and the Church’s story too.
Did they not wrestle with God for nearly 2000 years (from Abraham to Jesus), and have we not also, for almost exactly 2000 years?
And did God not lead Israel out of the bondage to Egypt and into the Wilderness to test their faith? He has done the same for us, leading us out from under bondage to sin, but leaving us in the world as a Wilderness testing ground for our faith.
The similarities between God working with Israel and His working with the Church are too numerous to count, and far too numerous to be coincidental.Of Israel’s testing through the Wilderness, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11-13).
Despite their persistent stubbornness along the path of blessing He offered, He kept them moving forward, leading them step by step to the glorious end He had promised.
By His unwavering commitment, God demonstrated that His faithfulness would not fail, regardless of their hard-hearted disobedience.
I count at least seven major promises God gave to Israel that He also brought about despite their hard hearts:
- He promised peace and rest from their enemies (Deut. 12:10-11).
- He promised to plant them in a permanent home (Deut. 12:10).
- He promised security and protection from oppression (II Sam. 7:10).
- He promised prosperity and abundance (Deut. 28:11-13).
- He promised a city for His name (Deut. 12:5, 11, 13-14).
- He promised a house for His name (II Sam. 7:12-13).
- He promised an everlasting kingdom through King David (II Sam. 7:11-16).
For centuries, though, Israel’s name was tied to tents, sand, stubbornness, and stumbling. Even though God wanted to give them peace, security, and stability in their own land, they earned a reputation as nomads. They wandered the Wilderness for 40 long, hot years, then struggled in Canaan for some 400 more years, cycling through judges for about 3 centuries, barely surviving. While at times the God of the Hebrews was feared by surrounding nations, Israel’s story was defined more by disobedience to God, resulting in instability and all that goes with it.
Israel’s Promises Fulfilled
Then came the days of Solomon, through whom God lifted them from their dust and ashes to a people and place that all the world admired!
Suddenly, Jerusalem stood as their resident point for glory! In short order, they had a permanent temple blazing with gold, a king on a secure throne, borders at peace, and prosperity was everywhere!
Jerusalem’s glory was so great that the Queen of Sheba, who heard of Israel’s glory and the wisdom of Solomon, traveled possibly more than 1000 miles by camel to see for herself whether the things she had heard about were real. She soon realized that Israel’s transformation was true and undeniable! What had once been a nation defined by instability and hardship was now celebrated by the known world for its peace, wisdom, and abundance! Surely, she must have wondered how these people, once wandering and struggling, could ultimately have gained this remarkable level of glory.
Under Solomon, Israel’s testimony became a living testimony that the God who disciplines also restores and fulfills His promises. No amount of wandering or even backsliding could nullify His purpose.
The Queen described it this way:
“It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However, I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed, the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom! Blessed be the LORD your God, who delighted in you, setting you on His throne to be king for the LORD your God! Because your God has loved Israel, to establish them forever, therefore He made you king over them, to do justice and righteousness” (II Chronicles 9:5-8).
Although Israel’s 40 years of glory were but a moment in nearly 2,000 years of history, beginning with Abraham, it was sufficient; God had kept His word, fulfilling His promise regardless of their setbacks.
As Israel, Even So the Church
In like manner, God’s people on this side of the Cross have journeyed for two thousand years, often displaying the same waywardness as Old Covenant Israel. The spiritual battle has been relentless and continues to be. But God’s work with His Church is not finished!
There remains a moment of divine glory yet to be experienced in this world, before the fullness of heavenly glory is realized.
Our moment of glory will be just before He comes to call us up to Himself as His bride!
“…that He might present her to Himself a glorious church” (Eph. 5:27).
Every day that passes positions us one day closer!
Again, I count seven characteristics of His glory as a result of our being “washed by the water of His Word,” and by the continuing sanctifying work of His Spirit this side of heaven (this is practical sanctification):
- We will be glorious (Eph. 5:27).
- We will be without spot or wrinkle (pure and undefiled by the world) (Eph. 5:27).
- We will be without a single wrinkle (not old or decaying) (Eph. 5:27).
- We will be holy (set apart from the world in every way, and holy in word, thought, and deed) (Eph. 5:27).
- We will be without blemish (obeying God by walking in His Spirit) (Eph. 5:27).
- We will be perfectly one and will agree in our knowledge of God (Jesus prayed that we would be perfectly one, in John 17:20-23) (Eph. 4:13).
- We will be fully mature, measuring up to the full measure of Jesus’ stature (manifesting all the characteristics and spiritual gifts of God in Jesus) (Eph. 3:13).
Regarding “glory” in this life while we’re still in the flesh, recall what the writer of Hebrews said about our Lord: “…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…” (Hebrews 1:3a).
Our Lord was the brightness of the glory of His Father as manifested in the flesh of humanity. Even so, while we are in the flesh, we can show the brightness of our Father’s glory, walking as Jesus walked, in the Spirit.
By God’s grace and power, not by our own strength, we will show the 1st-century Jesus to the 21st-century world!
This is what God purposed for His Church all along, but in His sovereign plan, He has preserved His finished work till the very end!
God will fulfill His purpose in us, His Church (those who are truly His), and for the same reason that He has sustained us through all our stumbling, division, stubbornness, etc. He will finish us just like He did Israel!
May God be glorified!
“…to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him” (Eph. 3:10-12).
Watching His plan unfold,
Mark S. Case
