The Manifestation

UV 841/10,000 The Manifestation But the LORD is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten. Jeremiah 20 v 11 The Word as we read and hear it today was once spoken to real people in real situations. This is the reason the Word is real and practical, meant to work in the everyday situations the faithful find themselves in. When God told Moses that “ I am who I am”, it implies that He is God and Ruler in every situation. He is not dependent on anyone or anything for His power and sustenance. He is the original source and cause of all life and being. In this uni-verse, He is stating for all time that He is the defence of the seemingly defenceless, the weak, the vulnerable and the faithful. Jeremiah the young prophet was bemoaning the fact that he was surrounded by hostile people and forces who were waiting for him to be tempted and fall so that they can prevail against him. So great was the frustration of the prophet that he cursed the day he was born. He lamented the fact that his life was full of labour, sorrow and shame. He was persecuted and mocked on all sides. At this juncture, he remembers that yet the Lord is with him as a mighty terrible one. Jeremiah recognized the fact that the Lord is the Commander in Chief of the armies of Heaven. With God on his side, his persecutors would certainly stumble and fail. They would be greatly ashamed. They would not prosper in their plans against him. No weapon or word they spoke or wrote against him would develop any further. Instead, they would fall in the pit they had dug for him. The stone they were rolling against him would roll back on them. Their confusion and ignominy would not just be for this lifetime but forever. They would face everlasting judgement for their foul deeds and evil ways. The Lord knows our vulnerabilities. He knows the vultures that prey upon our vulnerabilities and He also knows how to drive away the vultures as Moses drove them away from the sacrifice. The new covenant of Jesus asks us to pray and bless our enemies. While we pray for their forgiveness, it is the Lord’s sovereign right and power to see if they truly repent and have changed their ways. When they do not show any sign of compunction or remorse and continue to attempt to oppress the faithful flock of Jesus, there will be a manifestation of the awesome power of God. The Word will be fulfilled that they will stumble and not prevail against the righteous by faith. We must always affirm that the Lord is with us as a terrific as well as a terrible person, terrific to those who fear, respect, revere and love Him and terrible to those who do not fear, respect or revere Him. Prateep V Philip