OT teachings, who is God

Created: 1999.10.10

OT teachings, who is God

Timeless/Preexistent

  • "I am" Exodus 3:14

  • Gen 1

  • Job 38:4 - "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation"

"The" creator and "our" creator

  • Job 38:4

  • "Our creator:" Deut 32:6 "Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?"

  • THE creator: Psalm 115:16, Genesis 1 & 2. Note though, in some ways Psalm 115:16 and other verses like it are more important because they tell us to read Genesis 1 & 2 literally, not figuratively as some would have us do.

Omnipotent: (All powerful)

  • Psalm 139

  • Job 38:2 - All mighty.

  • Job 38:4 - who laid the earth's foundation

  • Job 38:12 - is in control NOW too - he didn't just create & walk away. (Often the Creation-Evolutionist perspective)

  • Job 38:25

  • Job 38:31 (Stars)

  • Job 38:34

  • Job 40:8 Judge & Jury. (Prosecutor?)

  • Jonah 1 & 2

Omniscience (All knowing)

  • Present: Ezekiel 8:12

  • Future: Gen 15:13 - Slaves for 400 years.

  • Job 38:33

  • Job 38:36

  • Job 39 14-17 esp 17. Ostrich stupid (according to God) but well designed.

Man's Knowledge cf God's knowledge

  • Early in the book of Job, Job speaks LOTS.

  • Job 38:2 God: "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him?, Let him who accuses God answer him!"

  • Job 38:5 Job: "I spoke once, but I have no answer - twice, but I will say no more"

  • Job 40:7 God: Brace yourself like a man

  • Job 40:8 God: Would you discredit my justice?

  • Job 42:3 Job: I spoke of things I did not understand.

  • Job 42:7 I am angry with (Eliphaz & his 2 friends) you have not spoken of me what is right AS MY SERVANT JOB HAS!!!!!

  • Gen 3:22 Both God & Man know good and evil.

Omnipresent (Is everywhere)

  • Job 38:16-24

Majestic

  • Psalm 8:1 "how majestic is your name in all the earth"

Gracious, Compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, relents from sending calamity

  • Jonah 4:2

Gets Angry

  • Exodus 4:14 God got mad at Moses (and punished him by giving him Aaron.)

Is like us in the most important ways:

  • Gen 9:6 - Adam (& Eve) weren't the only ones in the image of God. All of us are.

Sense of Humor

  • Gen 4:14 "and he will be as a mouth for you and you will be as God to him." Think about it

  • Gen 2:7 1st pun ever: man (adam) sounds like the hebrew word "ground"

We have only covered major aspects (and one fun one) of God. Psalms is loaded with comments about God's character and person.