But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.
Exodus 14:4 (NIV)
Have you ever prayed that God would be glorified through your life? Through the use of your gifts? Your work? Your platform? Glorified through your circumstances? I have. Plenty of times. And with sincerity of heart!
But what do we envision it will look like when God answers that prayer?
Perhaps we imagine including God in our speech when winning an industry award. Or pointing to God when the team lands a lucrative deal with a new client against the odds. Or we’ll include a mention about our faith in our LinkedIn post when we announce our promotion.
High achievement at work or in business can certainly be a vehicle for bringing glory to God. These are the straightforward ‘glory moments’ that many of us hope for, and it’s incredibly encouraging to see believers point to God publicly in these situations.
However, as I was reading Exodus 14 this week it shocked me to see God explain His plan for how He would gain glory for Himself. His version of being glorified through His people, Israel, was not what I would have expected…
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon. Pharaoh will think, ‘The Israelites are wandering around the land in confusion, hemmed in by the desert.’ And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them. But I will gain glory for myself through Pharaoh and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.” So the Israelites did this. (Exodus 14:1-4)
Read on and the story unfolds that Pharaoh does indeed pursue God’s people, with the mission of bringing them back into slavery. But by miraculous Divine intervention, his world class army is consumed by the waters of the Red Sea.
That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. (Exodus 14:30)
If I were writing this story, I would have penned Exodus 14:4 as God bringing glory to Himself through the mind-blowing miracle of parting a sea and creating dry land for His people to walk into their rescue. That’s surely the glory story!!
But God reveals to us in this passage that He would be glorified by defeating a powerful army of enemies that were set against Him and were intent on harming His people. His glory would be revealed not only in Israel’s miraculous escape, but in His decisive victory over the power that sought to enslave them again.
And this isn’t the last time we see God revealing His power through victory over His enemies. The New Testament tells us that through Jesus’ death and resurrection, God accomplished a far greater victory. In Colossians, Paul writes:
In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. (2:15 NLT)
God’s glory is on display when His enemies taste defeat.
Please know I’m not advocating a battle against ‘flesh and blood’ opposition, but ‘the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’ (Ephesians 6:12). THAT is the true enemy of God and His people.
Through Christ, God has defeated the enemy. That’s a finished work. However, we all face battles associated with the enemy’s attempts to keep us from walking in the freedom Christ has won for us. That includes his strategy of undermining God’s calling and purpose upon our lives, of which our work is fundamental. Similar to Pharaoh, the enemy still pursues God’s people in an attempt to enslave us once again!
So my reading of Exodus 14 got me thinking: What if one of the ways God wants to glorify Himself through my life is by empowering me to walk in victory over the enemy? What if breaking the hold of the lies, fears and sinful patterns that stop me from fulfilling my God-given purpose brings God more glory than the achievements and accolades?
Perhaps it’s the belief that your worth depends on your performance. The fear of failure that prevents you from stepping out in obedience. The need for approval that controls your decisions. Or the temptation to trust in your own strength rather than God’s.
If we want our lives to bring glory to God, then let’s start by remembering that His transforming work within us is utterly glorious. One of His beloved sons or daughters walking in freedom and empowered to serve God’s Kingdom in greater measure is a victory that heaven celebrates!
So here’s my encouragement to you this month: don’t only ask God to be glorified through what you achieve. Invite Him to be glorified through who you are becoming.
Take some time to ask the Holy Spirit where fear, unbelief or an unhealthy pattern of thinking might be holding you back in your work. Bring it before God, ask Him to renew your mind with His truth, and take one practical step of obedience in response.
And as you experience His transforming work in your life, tell someone! Glorify God through your testimony and help others grow in hope for how God wants to work in their life too.
Mel is Head of School for Worship.Works’ School of Work-Based Ministry – equipping believers to change their world through their work.