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Prophets and Kings
It was upon his knowledge of the long-sufferance of Jehovah and
of His infinite love and mercy, that Moses based his wonderful plea
for the life of Israel when, on the borders of the Promised Land, they
refused to advance in obedience to the command of God. At the height
of their rebellion the Lord had declared, “I will smite them with the
pestilence, and disinherit them;” and He had proposed to make of
the descendants of Moses “a greater nation and mightier than they.”
Numbers 14:12
. But the prophet pleaded the marvelous providences
and promises of God in behalf of the chosen nation. And then, as the
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strongest of all pleas, he urged the love of God for fallen man. See
verses 17-19
.
Graciously the Lord responded, “I have pardoned according to thy
word.” And then He imparted to Moses, in the form of a prophecy,
a knowledge of His purpose concerning the final triumph of Israel.
“As truly as I live,” He declared, “all the earth shall be filled with the
glory of the Lord.”
Verses 20, 21
. God’s glory, His character, His
merciful kindness and tender love—that which Moses had pleaded in
behalf of Israel—were to be revealed to all mankind. And this promise
of Jehovah was made doubly sure; it was confirmed by an oath. As
surely as God lives and reigns, His glory should be declared “among
the heathen, His wonders among all people.”
Psalm 96:3
.
It was concerning the future fulfillment of this prophecy that Isaiah
had heard the shining seraphim singing before the throne, “The whole
earth is full of His glory.”
Isaiah 6:3
. The prophet, confident of the
certainty of these words, himself afterward boldly declared of those
who were bowing down to the images of wood and stone, “They shall
see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.”
Isaiah 35:2
.
Today this prophecy is meeting rapid fulfillment. The missionary
activities of the church of God on earth are bearing rich fruitage, and
soon the gospel message will have been proclaimed to all nations.
“To the praise of the glory of His grace,” men and women from every
kindred, tongue, and people are being made “accepted in the Beloved,”
“that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His
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grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 1:6
;
2:7
. “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only doeth
wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name forever: and let
the whole earth be filled with His glory.”
Psalm 72:18, 19
.