Topical Bible: The Power of God: Expressed by the Finger of God

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The concept of "the finger of God" is a vivid biblical metaphor that signifies the direct and powerful intervention of God in the world. This expression is used to illustrate God's supreme authority and His ability to accomplish His will with precision and might. The phrase appears in several key biblical passages, each highlighting different aspects of God's power and sovereignty.

Exodus 8:19
The first notable mention of "the finger of God" is found in the book of Exodus during the account of the plagues in Egypt. After the magicians of Pharaoh fail to replicate the plague of gnats, they declare to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God" (Exodus 8:19). This acknowledgment by the Egyptian magicians underscores the divine power behind the plagues, which they could not match or explain through their own arts. It serves as a testament to God's supremacy over the false gods of Egypt and His ability to execute judgment and deliver His people.

Exodus 31:18
Another significant reference is in Exodus 31:18, where it is written, "When He had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God" . Here, the "finger of God" symbolizes the divine authorship and authority of the Law given to Moses. The Ten Commandments, inscribed by God's own hand, represent His covenant with Israel and His moral and spiritual standards for His people. This act of writing the Law emphasizes the personal involvement of God in guiding and shaping the lives of His chosen nation.

Deuteronomy 9:10
In Deuteronomy 9:10, Moses recounts the giving of the Law, stating, "The LORD gave me the two stone tablets inscribed by the finger of God, and on them were all the words that the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain out of the fire on the day of the assembly" . This reiteration highlights the significance of the Law as a direct communication from God, reinforcing the idea that His commandments are not merely human constructs but divine decrees.

Luke 11:20
In the New Testament, Jesus uses the phrase "the finger of God" to describe His own miraculous works. In Luke 11:20, He says, "But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" . Here, Jesus asserts that His power to cast out demons is evidence of the inbreaking of God's kingdom. The use of this phrase connects Jesus' ministry to the divine authority and power of God, affirming His identity as the Messiah and the presence of God's reign through His actions.

Theological Implications
The expression "the finger of God" conveys the immediacy and effectiveness of God's power. It suggests that God's will is accomplished with ease and precision, much like the simple act of pointing or writing with a finger. This metaphor also emphasizes the personal nature of God's involvement in the world, as His "finger" directly interacts with creation to bring about His purposes.

In the broader biblical narrative, the "finger of God" serves as a reminder of God's unparalleled power and His active role in human history. Whether through acts of judgment, the giving of the Law, or the miracles of Jesus, this expression highlights the reality that God's power is both transcendent and immanent, capable of transforming the world and the lives of individuals.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 8:19
Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he listened not to them; as the LORD had said.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 8:3
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Blasphemous Accusations of the Jews.
... wakened the hope that Jesus might be the Messiah, the son of David, but their hope
is expressed in the ... The finger of God signifies the power of God (Exodus 8 ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xlviii blasphemous accusations of the.htm

Of Creation
... Then, fourthly, Look upon the power of God in making all of nothing, which is expressed
here in ... forming the world as it is, and that his power might be ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture xvii of creation.htm

Christ and Beelzebub
... it slowly in pursuit of wealth or honors, and the contempt expressed for those ... the
interference of a stronger power, which could only be the power of God. ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 3 20-27 christ and beelzebub.htm

The Existence of Moral Evil, or Sin, Reconciled with the Holiness ...
... not denied its fundamental principle, which is so well expressed in the ... his omnipotence."
We insist, on the contrary, that the power of God is absolutely ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter vi the existence of.htm

Psalm XCI.
... [4311] He loved the power of working ... therefore is in one stated clearly, is darkly
expressed in another. ... didst not know what was the finger of God, but another ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xci.htm

The Decalogue: I --Man and God
... The manifestation in act of His power and of His ... for religious people, which once
expressed deep convictions ... binding, which are written by God's finger, not on ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the decalogue iman and god.htm

The Sufferings of Christ Reconciled with the Goodness of God.
... not true according to one meaning of the terms in which it is expressed. ... The life
of the virtuous citizen is the gift of God, and no earthly power has the ...
/.../a theodicy or vindication of the divine glory/chapter iii the sufferings of.htm

The Spirit of Power
... thereof.' Elisha takes no notice of the grief and reverence expressed by the ... we look
at the Christian man as possessor of the communicated power of God. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the spirit of power.htm

The Doctrine of God
... to see not His hand and finger, denoting His power and skill ... while in Righteousness
and Justice that character is expressed in the dealings of God with men. ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of god.htm

The Flood-Tide of Power.
... God's highest ideal for men is frequently expressed under the figure of ... which passeth
all understanding filling the heart; and the power of God that passeth ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/the flood-tide of power.htm