Names of God the Spirit: Finger of God

"But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you" (Luke 11:20, NIV).

Jesus was accused casting out demons by the power of Satan. He challenged that notion by expressing the counter-productivity of such activity. A house divided cannot stand. He called his audience to recognize the role of the Holy Spirit in his ministry.

We know that Jesus meant "Spirit" when he said, "finger of God," because Matthew told us so in Matthew 12:28. Matthew most likely translates Jesus' words in order to help his readers. The reference to the "finger of God" is an obscure one. The expression only occurs 3 other times in the Bible.

It occurs first in Exodus 8:19. In this verse, the magicians of Pharaoh are warning him to let Israel go because God was at work against Egypt. The reference to the "finger of God" might have been meant to suggest that his judgment had been light up onto that point, and that Pharaoh should not provoke God to bring harsher judgment.

It occurs again in Exodus 31:18. This verse refers to the two stone tablets that were "inscribed by the finger of God." Deuteronomy 9:10 also references the finger of God.

So why does Jesus use the expression? His original audience would have understood his allusion. They would have likely connected his words with Exodus 8:19 or Exodus 31:18.

If Jesus was referring to Exodus 8:19, he was probably stressing the parallel between himself and the pharisees and Moses and Pharaoh. Pharaoh's magicians recognized that the power of God was at work in Moses, and encourage Pharaoh to respond appropriately. However, he only hardened his heart. The pharisees should have recognized the power of God in Jesus' life and responded accordingly, but they only hardened their hearts.

If Jesus was referring to Exodus 31:18, then he was comparing himself with the two stone tablets--the Spirit initiated revelation of God's will. It may have been that Jesus was encouraging them to understand that he spoke the very words of God.

Whatever, Jesus meant by using the term "finger of God," we can be certain he was speaking of the Spirit. We can also draw a couple of lessons from what he says.

1. Jesus was empowered by the Spirit, and it made him more powerful than his enemies. It is true that Jesus is fully divine and fully human, but his earthly ministry was performed in the Spirit's power not his own. Therefore, Jesus serves as an example to all those who are indwelt by the Spirit. We have power to do the will of God because the Holy Spirit lives in us.

2. The Spirit's presence is God's presence. We dwell in the presence of God because the Spirit dwells within us.

When we keep these truths in mind, they help us to keep on keeping on. The Spirit is power of God revealing God's will to his people. And he lives in and guides those who believe.

What's In a Name?

Shakespeare's Juliet once posed this question: "What is in a name?" She concludes, "That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Juliet's dilemma centered on dating a boy from the "wrong" family. It may be easy to cast aside a name for romance, but it is not always easy under other circumstances. Today, names are given as based on preference.

But in other times, and other cultures names were given to demonstrate the character of person or the hopes of the parents or the recognition of something significant. For example, as she lay dying, Rachel names her child, Ben-oni, son of my sorrow, but Jacob renames the boy Benjamin, son of my right hand.

What is in a name? It really depends on why the name was given in the first place and on who gave the name. A name may bear no significance at all. It may be devoid of all of its original meaning. A child may grow up wearing a label that was chosen simply for its pleasantness to the ears. Then again, it may tell you everything you need to know about a person.

For that reason, a study of the names of God is a fruitful study. God has revealed some of his invisible attributes through nature, such as, his omnipotence and eternality. However, if we are to truly know God he must reveal more of himself to us because it is beyond human ability to figure God out on our own. God has revealed himself to us through his Word. One of the ways that he reveals himself to mankind in his Word is through his names.

Each name or title reveals a facet of his character, nature, or being. The names help to illuminate our understanding of our Creator and Redeemer. As the various names of God were used for various circumstances, they serve to strength our faith that God is able to meet us in any situation.

More importantly, God reveals a concern for his name and his desire that his name should be treated as holy. The Third Commandment forbids the misuse of God's name. During the Exodus, the Lord told Pharaoh, "But I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth" (Ex. 9:16). Concerning his patience with Israel, the Lord states, "But I withheld my hand, and for the sake of my name I did what would keep it form being profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought them out" (Ezek. 20:22). Even Jesus stressed the importance of God's name when he taught his disciples to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" (Matt. 6:9).

God honors his name because it is synonymous with who he is. I invite you to join us on Wednesday nights (7:00 PM CST) at Monticello where we are studying the names of God. Each mediation is meant to draw us closer to the God who has revealed himself. He is great and greatly to be praised.