One of the attributes of God that most clearly demonstrate His glory is His power. In His omnipotence we get a real, tangible vision of His glory. Imagine, for instance, actually being at some of the events of the Bible.
Israel has just experienced the faith-building experience of all times. Some lunatic named Moses came to them and said, "God said we're going." Very few believed him. Yet, event after event -- ten in all -- occurred that had no rational explanation. God was there and He was real and He was acting on their behalf. The whole thing culminated in the death of every firstborn ... except their own. They were protected. As a result, not only were they being released; they were enriched (Exo. 12:35-36). Now, on their way out, Pharaoh changed his mind and was in hot pursuit. Israel wasn't armed, and they stood trapped between the Red Sea and the army that would either enslave or kill them (Exo. 14). The army, however, was blocked ... by the angel of the Lord. And the sea was parted so that they crossed on dry land. Ultimately, God terminated the pursuit by ensuring that the pursuers died that day (Exo. 14:17, 24-28). Exodus 15 is the song that Moses and Israel sang on that event. In it we see, "I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea" (Exo. 15:1) and "Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy" (Exo. 15:6).
That's an event I would have liked to have seen. God's power marvelously displayed His glory. Another such event was Elijah's duel with the priests of Baal. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah throws down the gauntlet to Israel. "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him" (1 Kings 18:21). All day the prophets of Baal and Asherah danced around calling on their gods to bring them fire, cutting themselves and dancing and shouting, to no avail. Finally, at "the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice" (1 Kings 18:29), they gave up. It was Elijah's turn. He set himself up with an impossible task by dowsing everything in water (1 Kings 18:34-35). Then he made one, simple plea to God. "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again" (1 Kings 18:36-37). That was it. No shouting, preaching, or dancing. One simple prayer. "Show 'em, God." That was it. And "the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench" (1 Kings 18:38). What an event! The people repented en masse. The false prophets were executed. The rains fell for the first time in seven years. And dear, old Elijah ... he outran the king's chariot going to Jezreel.
That's an event I would have liked to have seen. That is a marvelous display of His glory. His glory is manifested in His power, and there are wonderful displays of power in the Bible. There is the Creation in which God speaks and all that is now comes into existence. That's power. There is the Flood where all life save eight souls is annihilated by God in response to the evil of mankind. That's power. There is the assault on Jericho where the walls fall down without the Israelites bringing them down or the ultimate "battle of the bands" where Jehoshaphat takes his people out to watch God defeat their enemies while the choir sang (2 Chron. 20). That's power. According to Paul, Pharaoh was raised up for the purpose of God displaying His power (Rom. 9:17). And in God's judgment of sinners His power is displayed and His glory is manifested (Rom. 9:23).
God is omnipotent. He possesses all power. In that, His glory is wondrously displayed for us all to see. Some argue that God is hard to find. But on any given starry night a simple look into the vastness of the heavens shows His handiwork and all creation declares the glory of God as His power puts Him on display. It should be the prayer of every believer "to see Your power and Your glory" (Psa. 63:2).
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