GOD AND HIS TEAMWORK
Have we asked ourselves why Jesus chose to work with the twelve apostles? From Genesis to Revelation, God has always worked with a team of men. Don’t forget that the Godhead(God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) always work together.
First and foremost, what is teamwork? Teamwork is the process of working collaboratively with a group of people to achieve a goal. In Genesis 1: 26 – 28, God said let Us, let me quote the whole verse then we interpret:
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heaven, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over everything that creepeth upon the earth. And God created man in his image, in the image of God created him; male and female created him. And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the heavens, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
According to James Burton Coffman’s Commentary, “And God said, Let us …” is the plural word [~’ Elohiym] is used here, and the most logical understanding of it is that of seeing in it a foreshadowing of the doctrine of the Trinity revealed ages afterward in the N.T. Such views as making it like an editorial “we,” or the majesterial plural, or as the inclusion of angelic hosts or other heavenly beings are inadequate. It cannot be believed that God discussed the creation with the angels and included them as participants in His decision to create man. John 1:1, which affirms that the Word was God, and at the beginning with God, and that without Him there was nothing made that hath been made, supports the thought that both Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit (revealed in Genesis 1:2 as active in the creation) should be understood as included in “us” and “our” here. Thus, it appears from the very beginning that God is represented as a compound unity.
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness …” It is the kinship of humanity to God Himself that shines in this, a conception that is launched here and is never diminished until the God-Man Himself, “The Lamb standing as though it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6), is seen in the very midst of the throne of God! The great Christian doctrines of the Incarnation and the Virgin Birth are part and parcel of this.
Various scriptures in the bible showing God’s teamwork will amaze you. God was always using the first person plural imperative” Let Us”. Sometimes I ask myself why God wouldn’t use “Let Me”, this shows the Plurality of God which is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit working together to save man. Below is scriptures describing God being a team worker. The Godheads work together.
When the whole world spoke one language and wanted to build a tower at Babel, God used the first person plural imperative let us in His statement. Let’s read the scripture to see indeed what God said in Genesis 11 beginning from verse 7.
Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech(Genesis 11: 7)
Bible history teaches that God teamed up with humans in some decisions and works. He hid nothing from anyone who kept company with Him. He discussed many things with the Patriarchs(Abraham and Moses). After all, He is God and has all authority to do what He wishes yet He team up with those He loved. God wanted to destroy Sodom, and He has authority over it, yet since he promised Abraham the father of all nations He did not hide it from him but revealed what He was going to do to Sodom, Abraham stood before the LORD and interceded for Sodom. God accepted Abraham’s plead and how he wanted God to do it, this is serious (Genesis 18: 16 – 33).
On the other side, Moses spoke with God as a friend speaks to his friend to discuss and do something together. So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face to discuss the survival syndrome and well fare of the Israelites but God can do all these things alone with His authority yet He teamed up with Moses. Read Exodus 33:12 – 23 below closely and you will see real teamwork between God and Moses.
12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.”18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”19 And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”21 Then the Lord said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back, but my face must not be seen.”
Sometimes I ask myself why will God, all-powerful and ever-living and creator of all things with authority allows a mere human nothing but dust to decide and tell Him(GOD) how he feels something must be done. Then all I tell myself is maybe God is teaching us to team up as brethren in our works, especially as Christians working tirelessly to win souls for God.
When our Lord and Savior Jesus came down to us and took the human form, He chose twelve men to work with. God could have done it alone because He is capable yet He worked with a team. He prayed in John 17 when He was ready to depart to His glory that His team and all those who will join them must be one. The Holy Spirit through Paul in 1 Corinthians 1: 10 advised Christians to be one by speaking the same thing without being divided.
Sometimes teamwork may go wrong because we are humans, and some team members may betray us like Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus in His team, yet we still have quality team members to work with. Remember the rest of the apostles after Judas died still worked together till they accomplished their goal.
Teamwork is the best because God has taught us to team up in his ways in the bible but we must make sure we team up with like-minded people to skip betrayal.
Countries united in the world like the United State of America, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, China, and others applying the principles of unity and teamwork are progressing. Teamwork is one the best.
God always has the best example for our life and he who uses His steps will always see progress. Thank you for reading.
