"THE HIDING OF HIS POWER"

 

Habakkuk 3:4

 

     God's omnipotence is infinitely beyond the reach of our puny brains. There is infinitely more power in God than he has ever displayed, even in all his wondrous works (Job 26:5-14; 38:4-6). In fact, the prophet Habakkuk plainly tells us that all the stunning works of God's power, by which we are astonished, are "the hiding of his power," rather than the displaying of his power. In other words, the power of God is so great ,so inconceivable, so immense, so uncontrollable that his great and mighty works conceal far more than they reveal of his omnipotence! How great our God is in power! He is omnipotent, the Almighty!

     God created the world by the power of his word (Gen. 1:1-3; Psa. 89:11-13; 33:9; John 1:1-3; Heb. 11:3; Acts 4:24). Creation is easier for God than breathing is for us! God upholds and preserves the universe by the word of his omnipotence (Psa. 75:3; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:3). In providence God rules all things, absolutely, by his omnipotence, for the eternal, spiritual good of his elect (Psa. 107; Rom. 8:28; Psa. 93:1-5). Satan is a roaring lion who would devour us. But God controls him by omnipotence. All men are cruel, murderous beasts by nature, who would destroy one another. But omnipotence restrains them. The incarnation of Christ, to redeem his people from their sins, was accomplished by God's omnipotence (Lk. 1:35, 37). The death he accomplished was an act of omnipotence (John 19:30). His resurrection was an act of omnipotence (Rom. 1:4). And he has been exalted to the throne of omnipotence for the salvation of God's elect (Matt. 28:18; John 17:2). The salvation of sinners is the work of God's omnipotence (Psa. 110:3; Eph. 1:19). Our preservation in grace is a work of omnipotence (John 10:27-30; I Pet. 1:5). And our resurrection at the last day shall be the work of God's omnipotent word (John 5:28-29). If all this is "the hiding of his power," what must his power be?

     God is omnipotent. Well may his enemies tremble! Who dares to oppose him? Well may his saints adore him! Well may his people trust him! No prayer is too hard for God to answer. No need is too great for God to supply. No passion is too strong for God to subdue. No temptation is too powerful for God to overcome. No misery is too deep for God to relieve. "Is anything too hard for the Lord?" No, nothing, can even test his power!