Who is God? In the very first verse of the Bible, God is introduced as Elohim (Genesis 1:1), an intensive plural, meaning mighty, or very great. Later, God introduces Himself to Abram with the words, “I am the Lord [Yahweh].” (Genesis 15:7) With the same words He introduces Himself to Moses (Exodus 6), and Israel (Leviticus 18) and reminds them of His law (Leviticus 19).
Later, through Isaiah (42:8), God introduces Himself with the same words again, literally “I am Yahweh” and adds “that is my name” (CEB, ESV, KJV, NASB, NIV, NLT, WEB). What does Yahweh mean? It is the proper name of the God of Israel, meaning “the one who is,” “I am who I am,” or “the self-existent one.” God introduces Himself in this manner over 160 times throughout the Old Testament.
Assignment: Take a Bible search program like biblegateway.com or biblehub.com and search the words “I am the Lord.” See how different translations handle the passage. Examine the context of each passage and make some personal notes.
The Bible is filled with descriptions of a self-existent God who has no beginning nor ending, knows everything, has power over everything, and is filled with love. Let’s look at a few of those passages.
“God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” (1 John 1:5 CEB)
In a world of dark politics, dark business practices, dark troubles and death, we are introduced to God in whom there is no darkness. Do we hear what He has to say?
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
Whether God speaks through an inspired message or the pages of the Bible, His words penetrate deeply, if we will listen. Do we prefer the empty words of politicians and unjust human legal systems?
“It is He who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless.” (Isaiah 40:23 NASB)
Who is this God who, compared to Him, all human ideologies and worldly power is revealed as empty and useless?
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17 KJV)
Politics changes. Scientific understanding changes. Society’s values change. The circumstances in which we live change. But God never changes. Absolute truth never changes. God’s love is constant.
“God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19 NIV)
The world is run by highly educated, very intelligent people who have failed us. They have proven themselves incapable of preventing wars, starvation, famines, injustice and creating a safe world with peace and prosperity for all. Yet, here is one who calls Himself God, who makes promises and claims that He will fulfill every one of them. How do we know that He loves us?
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)
As “God with us” (Matthew 1:23), Jesus voluntarily gave His body as a sacrifice to save the whole world, and God the Father willingly allowed His Son to do this for us. God chose to demonstrate His love, in the greatest way that humans could understand.
“The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them.” (John 15:13 CEV)
God’s love continues in His daily provision, even providing for those who hate Him.
“Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?” (Matthew 6:26 CEV)
It is great meditation to watch birds and marvel at God’s provision. He takes care of them, and He values you and me far more than they.
“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” (Psalm 147:5 ESV)
The words “beyond measure” can also be translated as “infinite.” The Hebrew wording is literally “without number.” This presents a God to us whose understanding is so far beyond anything that the most intelligent and highly educated among us can possibly fathom. Can there be such a God?
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” (Psalm 33:6 KJV)
This describes a being so all powerful, and intelligent, and all knowing that just His word created all that exists.
“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV)
Is God perfect, just, faithful and upright? That is good news. Will you have a change of heart and believe the good news? You decide!
