THE CUP

The use of a “cup” in Scripture helps to throw light on God’s dealings with individuals and nations, giving us insights into both His sovereignty and human responsibility.

Some time ago, I asked the Lord why He has not stopped the war in Ukraine in response to the prayers of many people around the world. His answer shocked and surprised me, because it is in the Bible, because it makes sense to me, because it takes the long look at the present situation, and because it throws light on God’s sovereignty and the absolute justice of His justice.

The Holy Spirit, the supreme Teacher, took me to Genesis 15:16, where God told Abraham about the future of his descendants and the fate of the Amorites who occupied the land God would give to the descendants of Abraham.

“In the fourth generation, your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”

Genesis 15:16 NIV

God would not destroy the Amorites until their cup of God’s wrath against their idolatry and wickedness was full. In the fourth generation, Abraham’s descendants would go back to Canaan, wipe out the Amorites (Canaanites) because of their wickedness, and take possession of the land. God fulfilled this prophecy under the leadership of Joshua.

It seems to me, then, that the Bible is telling us, from the many references to a cup, that God has a cup of destiny for every individual and nation. The cup is simply His way of saying that He has determined a destiny for every individual and every nation for either mercy or judgment but…

It is the responsibility of every person and nation, through its leaders, to fill that cup by living in a way that confirms that destiny. In the end, they will drink the “wine” of God’s wrath or mercy when their cup is full.

If I understand God’s Word correctly, God has given the nation of Russia a cup of wrath, but also the opportunity to change its destiny by turning to the Lord in repentance, as Assyria did for a time through the preaching of Jonah. However, Russia, through its leaders, has chosen to fill up the cup of God’s wrath by its indescribable wickedness to the people of Ukraine in particular and the world in general by it policy of socialism and its accompanying cruelty. When that cup is full, He will cause Russia to drink it to the dregs…. and so with every nation that defies God’s Word and harms other nations.

Take Egypt, for example. God chose Pharaoh for wrath but gave him the opportunity to change his destiny and that of Egypt by treating the Israelites kindly, but Pharaoh chose to fill up God’s cup with wrath…and paid for it.

“For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen.”

Romans 9:17-18 NLT

Paul explains this aspect of God’s dealings with people that we often question because we think that God is being unfair by choosing some for wrath and others for mercy.

“Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.

Romans 9:19-24 NLT

What Paul is saying is this: we look at election from a human perspective. We think God is being unfair by arbitrarily choosing some for wrath and others for mercy. However, from God’s perspective, all are under wrath. When God pours out wrath in individuals and nations, He is being perfectly just because, as Paul said, “There are none righteous, not even one.”

God also has a purpose even for those whom He has destined for judgment. In the end, both His wrath and His mercy reveal His true nature and bring glory to Him.

When God chose Pharaoh for wrath and poured out judgment on Egypt and Egypt’s gods, He was bringing glory to His name because it was the destiny Pharaoh chose for Egypt, confirming God’s “cup” for that nation. So, God’s wrath brings Him glory by justifying His righteous judgment on ungodliness.

Likewise, God shows mercy to others to reveal an aspect of His nature which we could otherwise never know. Only through the sin of mankind and the sacrifice of Jesus can we know the mercy of God.

As our Creator, He has the right to do as He chooses with the clay. The clay cannot decide what it wants to become. Whether He chooses some for wrath and others for mercy, He is glorified in the outcome of His dealings with both people and nations.

In the end, the revelation is about who is Lord. Those who are destined for wrath are those who reject God for some other false deity they choose to worship. Those who receive mercy do so only because they obey the gospel and bow to Jesus as Lord.

“And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people—praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him.”

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10 NLT

This is a huge subject. This password, “cup” opens a treasure chamber of revelation about the nature and ways of God, too big to write about here.

The little prophecy of Habakkuk, which is often just read for its titbits of truth, gives us some insights into the ways of God and what our response should be to what He is doing in the world today.

Habakkuk also asked God a question. “Why are you not doing something about the wickedness of your own people?” God’s answer shocked and surprised him. “I am,” God said, “and if I tell you what I am doing, you will not believe me. I am raising up the Babylonians!” 

Wow! It’s as if God were saying to us, in answer to our question in the past, “God, why are you not doing something about apartheid?” “I am. I’m raising up the ANC!”

The Babylonians were a cruel and vicious nation that would destroy Judah (Israel had already been conquered by the Assyrians) and take its people captive to Babylon as punishment for their stubborn disobedience and idolatry. Why did God do that?

God allowed Babylon to fill up its own cup of wrath so that He could destroy it for its wickedness for conquering Judah. Babylon was eventually wiped out by the Medes and Persians.

What about God’s people who suffered at the hands of the Babylonians army? Once again, what God revealed to the prophet shows us how He deals with every individual in every nation, no matter what choices the leader makes for each nation.

God not only raised up a wicked nation to inflict punishment on His people for their wickedness, but he judged that nation for doing to Judah what they did. However, there is another side to what God told Habakkuk. He also deals with individuals in wrath or mercy. Every person will stand before Hin to answer for their response to the gospel.

“For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.”

2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT

“And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds…. And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Revelation 20:11-13, 15 NLT

For those within the wicked nation that is under God’s wrath, who are destined for mercy, there is a way to deal with the revelation God gave to Habakkuk.

WONDER

“I have heard all about you, Lord. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.”

Habakkuk 3:2 NLT

Habakkuk recalled God’s works in history. The prophet was overwhelmed with awe and amazement at the things God revealed to him. He responded with a wild song and dance of worship, recalling, in extravagant language, what God did to Egypt.

WORSHIP

Habakkuk was not only filled with wonder as he recalled and reflected on the way God rescued his people from Egyptian tyranny, but he also declared his absolute confidence in God no matter what His punishment of His own people would bring. Babylonian invasion might mean great suffering for the people of Judah, but he would rejoice in God anyway.

WAIT

“I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.”

Habakkuk 3:16 NLT

Habakkuk was reassured that God would act to revenge those who destroyed his people. He would wait for God to do as He promised.

WALK

“The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”

Habakkuk 3:19 NLT

Finally, as the prophet affirms his trust in God, no matter what, he also expresses his confidence in God’s grace to enable him to navigate the steep and rocky places that God’s judgment would bring.

In all this startling and shocking revelation, the prophet has only one request… “In wrath, remember mercy.”

Perhaps we should take a leaf from Habakkuk’s book. Instead of praying long prayers, giving God advice, and telling Him what to do, as we contemplate the disasters that are happening all around us, we should WONDER at what God has already done in His sovereignty to deal with sin in the world, culminating in the death of His Son.

We should WORSHIP Him for who He is despite the terrible things that are happening and WAIT for Him to act for His own glory. Then we will WALK in His grace, no matter what, because He is God and worthy of our love, trust, and praise.

Our response should be David’s response when he considered all God’s goodness to him…

What shall I return to the LORD
for all his goodness to me?
¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD. Psalms 116:12-13