#2: The Godhead (Part 1 of 2)

God, being the theme of the Bible, will be spoken of the most, right?

This is an interesting topic because defining God is a difficult task. "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever..."_[1] God has not revealed to us everything about Himself. For us to attempt to analyze and dissect God is not only inappropriate, but dangerous. Easily, skeptics are made as people attempt to prove that which does not have "sufficient evidence" in the eyes of man. What we need to do is take God at His word; we ought to believe, for His Word is unfailing.

God has revealed Himself through His acts of creation, justice, mercy, and love. We may see God's character of the perfection outlined in the undeviating symmetry of a leaf of flower. His creativity and artistic expression may be marked in the various colors and textures that flood our earth. The mother's love displays the love and care of heaven_[2]. Within the moral laws of ancient Israel, it may be seen that justice is mandated for every wrong. Repudiation, redemption, restoration can and must be acquired_[3]. We see in the history of man how God shows love, mercy, justice, and order in the individual lives of His people. We see that He does not change -- He is the same yesterday, today, and forever_[4]. All these we can learn by observation. Jesus often pointed to things in nature and in everyday life to show His hearers who God is_[5].

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One of the most important revelations of God is His many names. In that part of the world -- The Middle East and Asia -- names carry significant meaning. So the names of the God must be important_[6]. They indicate His power, His status, His sovereignty, and His love.

Though He is all-powerful, God has allowed us to maintain freedom of choice. We as individuals may choose to rebel or to submit. God has a path outlined for us_[7]; but we still choose if we will take it.

So how do we account for His foreknowledge? Let's just say that He read the book before the movie came out. He read that He would plead with us, and He read whether or not we would listen. He knows the end from the beginning (which means that He knows everything from the beginning of the world to the end and eternity, and that He knew all of it at the beginning)_[8]; but He does not take the liberty of changing it to suit Him. He does not violate our free choice.


Scriptural References:

1. Deuteronomy 29:29
2. Isaiah 66:12-13
3. Leviticus 14 & 25
4. Hebrews 13:8
5. See Matthew 6:24-34; Mark 4:1-34; Luke 15; John 3:5-8
6. Psalm 148:13
7. Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 1:3-6; Jeremiah 1:5
8. Isaiah 46:9-11