Reading through the books of the prophets (Jeremiah, Ezekiel etc) recently, I was drawn to a phrase which was repeated so many times that it was impossible to ignore. Many of the writings in those books are the warning messages that God sent to Israel and the surroundings nations before He visited great judgement on them in the Old Testament. As God would narrate His plans for judgement to the prophets, every now and again He would throw in this phrase: "...Then they will know that I am the Lord"
After a while I started underlining this phrase whenever I came across it, pondering in my subconscious why God would say the same thing so many times. Then it hit me, GOD CARES ABOUT HIS REPUTATION!
Sometimes, it would seem like God isn't really bothered what people think about Him. I mean, if the number one question asked when people doubt He exists is really the "why is there so much suffering in the world if there is a God?" one, surely He should have put an end to that problem by now to defend Himself?
Then again why should He? - after all, He IS God; Whatever people think (or not) about Him does not subtract anything from who He is, right? The Bible says He is exalted above all nations... that He sits enthroned on high and stoops to look on the earth. The earth is His footstool and as the King of kings His rule is sovereign – basically whatever He says goes. So why would anyone entertain the thought that such a high God would concern Himself with something as subjective as reputation?
