How God Prove Himself To Be God - 2

Indeed, ask now from one end of the heavens to the other about the days that long preceded you, from the day that God created man on earth: Has anything as great as this ever happened or been reported? Has a people ever heard the voice of God speaking out of the fire, as you have, and lived? Or has any god tried to take as his own a nation out of another nation - by trials, signs, wonders, and war, by a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and by great terrors - as the LORD your God did for you in Egypt, before your eyes? You were shown these things so that you would know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides Him. (Deuteronomy 4:32-35 BSB)

How does God prove Himself to be God? God proved that He is God by establishing the nation of Israel and foretelling their history in His revelation to His prophets. Anyone can write a book, but only God can create a nation and tell its history in advance.

It is impossible or difficult for men to prove God's existence. The finite cannot prove the infinite. The temporal cannot prove the eternal. The creature cannot prove the creator. Thus only God can provide His own proof that He is God.

Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and set it before me, since I appointed an ancient people. Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen. (Isaiah 44:7 ESV)

Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the future before it happens." (Isaiah 42:9 NLT)

Tell us the coming events, then we will know that you are gods. Indeed, do something good or bad, then we will be in awe when we see it. (Isaiah 41:23 CSB)

All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. (Isaiah 43:9 ESV)

Moving Mountains - Bible versus Chinese Idiom Story

Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. (Mark 11:23 ESV)

The Bible says that faith can move mountains (Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23).

Now there is also a Chinese idiom story called "A Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains (愚公移山)" taken from 《列子·湯問》.

Here is an English translation quoted from Chinese Idiom Story - 愚公移山:

QUOTE
Once upon a time, there were two large mountains - Taihang Mountain and Wangwu Mountain, which sat in front of an old man Yu's house. Because the mountains blocked the way, the Yu's families had to walk many extra miles in order to go out. One day, Yu called together the whole family to discuss removing the mountains. His wife shook her head and said, "Where are we going to put the earth and sand we dug out?" The others said, "We can dump it in the sea."

The next day in the early morning, Yu began digging the mountain with his families. An old man called Zhi Sou (智叟) saw them working and laughed: "Mr. Fool, you're so old and weak. Why do you want to remove the mountains? You won't be able to remove it even before you die!" Yu smiled and said, "Your mind is so stubborn and old. If I die, there will be my sons. Sons will have grandsons and grandsons will have sons. There will be no end, but the mountain will not grow. As time goes on, the mountains will be removed one day!" Zhi Sou said nothing and left.
UNQUOTE

Which way is more credible to you? The Bible's faith in God or the Chinese idiom story's faith in men?

Have you seen mountains jumping into the sea? I have never. The Bible's method seems incredible. At least the Chinese idiom story provide a practical method of digging the mountain bit by bit. Both are unlikely to succeed but there may be a fluke chance that the foolish old man's descendants may finish the job.

Then we look at history. We look at the Bible-based European civilization and the humanistic Chinese civilization. Science and all the benefits of modern civilisation came from Europe, not China. How do you explain that?

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12 ESV, BSB, HCSB)

God's Choice

And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." (Romans 9:10-13 NASB95)

Consider this, why does God choose Jacob over Esau, Judah over Joseph and David over Saul? Using our normal human common sense, morality, karma and justice, we would do it the other way.

Jacob and Esau
Why does God choose the one who cheat over the one who was cheated to be the ancestor of His chosen people Israel?

Judah and Joseph
Why does God choose the one who enslaved over the slave to be the ancestor of the tribe where the kings of Israel would come from? Wasn't Joseph exemplary his in conduct when he forgave his brothers who sold him into slavery? Why wasn't he chosen?

David and Saul
Why does God choose the one who committed adultery and murder over the one who did not to become the ancestor of the Messiah?

Me and many others better than me
While I was pondering over this, I remembered that God also choose me over many people who are probably a better person than me.

Meritocracy is not in the dictionary of God. Rather, God is merciful. In His mercy, He sent His only begotten Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we can be saved, even though we do not have many good works or worse, none at all. Theologians called this salvation by grace.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV)

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:30 ESV)

Rich Countries Poor Countries

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. (Psalm 33:12 NIV)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9 ESV)

Poor countries are generally socialist, communist or Islamic. Communists and socialists said that socialist or communist countries are poor because they did not practise true socialism or communism. Muslims said that Islamic countries are poor because they did not practise true Shariah law.

But Christian countries are equally imperfect. There is no Christian country that practise true Biblical Christianity. Christian countries also have their injustices and inequalities. Yet Christian countries are generally rich. When they believed in the Bible, they were able to create empires.

So why is it that when non-Christian ideologies are imperfect, the countries do not prosper? But why is Christianity, even when practised imperfectly, is able to make Christian countries are rich and powerful?

Firstly, the God of the Bible specializes in using imperfect sinners to achieve His aim. Imperfection in men glorifies God.

Secondly, the Bible is true. The God of the Bible is truth. Whoever that stands on the side of truth, no matter how imperfectly, is able to achieve something.

Muslims and communists can only prosper when they pretend to follow the teachings of the Koran or Karl Marx. Whenever they decide to follow the Koran or Karl Marx strictly, they will become poor. This was proven in modern history.

Nowadays, many Christian countries do not believe in the Bible anymore. They attribute their success to democracy. Actually, they are also correct. This is because the democracies that arose in Christian countries were Bible based and allowed truth to be expressed. Thus, many non-Christian countries that adopt Western democracies also prosper. Countries which have Islamic democracies or socialist democracies remain poor.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a ESV)

Self Praise

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they show their ignorance. (2 Corinthians 10:12 BSB)

Rather, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends. (2 Corinthians 10:17-18 BSB)

Zechariah Third Night Vision

Hear now, Jesus the high priest, thou, and thy neighbours that are sitting before thee: for they are diviners, for, behold, I bring forth my servant The Branch. (Zechariah 3:8 Brenton Septuagint Translation)

Imperfect But Still Salt And Light

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16 BSB)

Quoted from the following twit:
QUOTE
In debates and discussions with Muslims, you are enlightened with the following:
There is not a single 'true Muslim' even though there are 1.8 billion of them.
There is not a single 'pure' Islamic country.
A perfect Islamic state is yet to be founded.
Ayatollah Khomeini was an enemy of Islam.
Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria…these Islamic states do not follow 'real' Islam.
Saudi Arabian Islam is corrupted.
Not all Sahih hadiths are Sahih.
Non-Muslims quote out of context.
Tyrants and dictators rule Islamic countries; they have no idea about Islam.
The clergy/Mullahs do not know 'real Islam.'
You cannot practice 'real Islam' in Islamic Paradises like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Iran…etc. You must not use these countries as examples of Islamic practices.
Wahabism is not 'real Islam'.
Al Qaeda is not 'true' Muslims.
Talibans are not 'true' Muslims.
Shias are not 'true' Muslims.
Sunnis are not 'true' Muslims.
Ahmedia/Qadiani are not Muslims 
ISIS are not Muslims
Boko Haram are not Muslims
Islam is a Religion of Peace.
~ Sehr Umeed
5:28 AM · Dec 15, 2023
UNQUOTE

So the reason why Islam failed to achieve anything is because there is no perfect Muslim and there is no perfect Islamic country.

What a contrast it is with Christian and Jewish countries. Imperfect Christian and Jewish countries can still be the light of the world and the salt of the earth, bringing science and technology and progress to the world.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9a NIV)

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13 NIV)