WHAT ARE GOD’S PURPOSES IN MY LIFE?

Recently while I was reading the very familiar account of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, verse 46 stood out to me.

To set the scene, the Israelite and Philistine armies were facing each other on opposite hills, lined up tor battle. Each day Goliath, a Philistine champion, stepped forward and challenged the Israelites, mocking God as he did so.

David, the youngest son of the family, was normally at home, caring for the family’s sheep, while his three older brothers were serving in the Israelite army. One day David’s father sent him to take some food to his brothers and their captain, see how they were doing, and report back to him.

When David heard Goliath taunt the Israelites and their God, he asked why none of the Israelites had put an end to Goliath’s taunts by killing him. He then offered to fight Goliath himself.

As David walked across the valley toward Goliath, Goliath mocked him. David replied, in verses 45–47, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the LORD will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! And everyone assembled here will know that the LORD rescues his people, but not with sword and spear. This is the LORD’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (NLT)

Why was David upset with Goliath’s mocking? As verse 46 reveals, his concerns were not primarily for the Israelites’ well-being, nor for their victory over the Philistines (which were very serious matters), but for God’s honor. He wanted “all the world” to recognize who God was and give Him the honor that is rightfully due Him.

That reminded me of several other places in Scripture where God says the reason He acts is so others will know that He is God.

In Exodus, from Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush, through the plagues in Egypt and the Israelites’ deliverance at the Red Sea, God repeatedly says He’s acting so both the Israelites and the Egyptians will know that He is God. He continues to protect and provide for the Israelites during their journey to the Promised Land so they would know that He is God—and He is their God.

Later, as God speaks through the prophet Ezekiel, He repeatedly says the purpose of His actions is that people will know that He is God. And the same purpose appears in many other Scriptures.

With that in mind, I have to ask myself, “What are God’s purposes as He works in my life? Are they primarily for my benefit, or for His glory? Are His actions so I will know and recognize that He is God?

As we see, hear, and read the news, can we see God’s hand at work? Truly, as a finite human being I can’t know all God’s purposes, or what His plans are, but I can trust Him that His purposes are good, for His glory, and for my good.