But God

The word “but” is a conjunction, according to Oxford Language, used to introduce a phrase contrasting what has already been mentioned. But can also be a preposition meaning except or apart from. So, when there is a mention of “But God,” God is the contrast of what is mention. just before.  Or we can know that apart from God what follows would not have occurred.

But God means there is a sudden shift from what could happen, to a “God possibility,” something that apart from God would go a different way. Something terrible is about to happen but God sooths and calms. Something tragic could happen but God brings the blessing. Something meant to destroy a person or family, but God brings life. Something different than what one expects happens, but God makes it work.

There are forty-five but God moments mentioned in the NKJV of the Bible. Nineteen are from the Old Testament and twenty-six in the New Testament. Two chapters contain the majority of these But God moments, Genesis and 1 Corinthians. From these two chapters, we can see contrasting moments in the Old Testament saints and things in the life of New Testament believers that are different.

Contrasting Moments

Below are seven of the eight instances in Genesis of But God moments. Interestingly, God did not reserve those but God moments for just His chosen people. Two of the eight examples are God intervening with people outside the lineage of Abraham. The other examples from the lives of Abraham, Jacob (also known as Israel), Joseph and his brothers (that became the tribes of Israel) were part of the Abrahamic Covenant all encountered but God moments.

Abraham lied to King Abimelech about his wife being his sister. He allowed the king to take Sarah into his home when the king saw how beautiful she was. But God came to Abimelech in a dream and kept him from sin. He was not an Israelite, but God intervened to keep Sarah pure.

Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, “She is my sister.” And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is ^[a]a man’s wife.” But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, “Lord, will You slay a righteous nation also? Genesis 20:2-4

Abraham had two sons, one from a maidservant and another from his wife Sarah. Sarah demanded that Abraham send the maidservant and son away. This upset Abraham, but God told him to listen to his wife, Issac was the promised child, but God would also take care of Ishmael and make him a great nation also.

And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.^[c] Therefore she said to Abraham, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac.” And the matter was very ^[d]displeasing in Abraham’s sight because of his son.

But God said to Abraham, “Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called. Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman, because he is your ^[e]seed.” Genesis 21:9-13

Laban, Jacob’s father-in-law/uncle cheated him. Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, the older sister when Laban promised Rachel to be his wife. Laban had Jacob work fourteen years to be able to marry Rachel. Laban changed Jacob’s wages several times, but God protected him and gave Jacob favor.

So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my might I have served your father. Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. Genesis 31:4-7

When Jacob finally had enough, he, his wives, his children, and all his livestock left. Laban was mad and went to pursue Jacob in anger, but God warned Laban in a dream to not be harsh with Jacob. God kept Laban from doing something he would later regret.

 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”

So, Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead. Genesis 31:23-25

Joseph was the son born to Jacob and Rachel. Jacob favored Joseph above his other children and Joseph’s brothers resented him. His brothers sold Joseph into slavery and let their father believe Joseph was dead. Joseph’s brothers sold him into Egyptian slavery, ended up in prison, and then through prophetic dream interpretation became second in command in Egypt saving nations from starving to death, including his brothers. His brothers were concerned about retaliation; Joesph knew it was a but God moment. He saw the dream before his brother’s threw him in the pit and decided to sell him. Joseph reiterated it when he reunited with his brothers, when their father was dying and then upon his own death that they too would have a but God moment.

And God sent me before you to preserve a ^[a]posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: “God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not ^[b]tarry. Genesis 45:7-9

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. ²¹ Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke ^[a]kindly to them. Genesis 50:20-21

And Joseph said to his brethen, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely ^[a]visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.” Genesis 50:24-25

In the New Testament, the contrasting moments were linked to a change from the law given under the Mosaic Covenant given to the Israelites through Moses to the grace available under the New Covenant made available by the finished work of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection.

Under the Mosaic Covenant, there were strict dietary laws. Under grace, the Israelites were instructed not to eat food offered to idols. Sexual immorality was strictly forbidden, and that instruction stats at an even a higher level, because God wants His children to be holy for Him.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not ^[helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of ^[any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 1 Corinthians 6:12-13

Under the Mosaic Covenant there were strict rules about divorce, but God called His children to live in peace. As people converted to Christianity, He wanted them to know the contrast of living in peace if someone who is not a believe wanted out of the marriage.

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace. 1 Corinthians 7:15

Apart from conditions

Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth in this first letter of two letters he addressed to them. He was addressing different things that were going on amongst believers. He wanted to remind them apart from the work of God in their lives, they would not be where they were.

He pointed out that God did not choose the people for their wisdom or social standing, but God chose them to be His children anyway to show His wisdom through.

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 1 Corinthians 1:27

But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10

Paul pointed out that although different people ministered to the people of Corinth since they became believers, it was not the minister but God who was responsible for the growth in their personal lives but also in the Kingdom of God. Apart from God there would be no growth.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:6

So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:7

He also pointed out that apart from God’s faithfulness the people might face more temptation than they could manage, but God provides a way out of temptation.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Except God

Lastly, Paul explains to the people of Corinth that they are all part of the body of Christ. He shares they each have a different outward appearance, purpose, and role to play for the body but God created them to be one body. God created the unique needs of each part of the body. We cannot ignore the needs of any part of the body.

but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 1 Corinthians 12:24

But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body. 1 Corinthians 15:38

But God moments provide a contrast in circumstances, a turning point for a person, or a shift in the traditional Old Covenant way of doing things to the New Testament covenant. But God also describes things that apart from God would not happen or that except for God would be different.  As believers we can expect to have But God moments in our own lives, times where God intervenes and we find a renewed hope, a deeper level of faith in what God can do, or a story of redemption in what could destroy us.