‌God Reveals Himself in the Bible

The opening verse of the Bible reads: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). From this very first verse we are introduced to God as the Creator.

• Before looking into the reasons why God created the world and man upon it we will consider some claims that God has made about Himself.

• He is eternal: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2)

• He is the source of immortality: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.” (1 Timothy 1:17; 6:14–16)

• He is the only true God: “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me” (Isaiah 45:5–7). Jesus confirmed this fact (Mark 12:29–32; compare Deuteronomy 6:4; John 17:3; Ephesians 4:6; 1 Corinthians 8:6)

• By His spirit power God knows all things that happen in His creation: “Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:24; Psalm 139:1–12)

• God has given life and breath to all living things: “He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things … in him we live, and move, and have our being.” (Acts17:25–28)

• God dwells in heaven: “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Isaiah 66:1); “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” (Matthew 6:9).

• Creation testifies to His wisdom: “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” (Psalm 104:24; Jeremiah 10:12; Proverbs 3:19–20)

• The intricate design of our body testifies to His great wisdom and power: “The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.” (Proverbs 20:12; Psalm 94:8–9)

God and His Purpose in Creation

God can foretell the future and bring it to pass exactly as He has said: “I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:9–10)

The Bible is God’s inspired word, given that we may know Him and His purpose: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21)

When we consider God’s greatness, His wisdom in creation and His ability to foretell the future and make it come to pass, we can only exclaim with the Psalmist: “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3); and again, “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5). His unsearchable greatness and infinite understanding tell us that it is humanly impossible for the finite mind of man to understand and answer such questions as, “Where did God come from?” or “Explain how He exists for ever”.

The Character of God

We have looked at the awesome power and greatness of God but it is His wonderful character that draws us to Him and compels us to praise Him and marvel at His ways. It is only by appreciating His revealed character that we are able to come to know and love Him.

The following are some of His characteristics:

• God has shown His love in sending His Son to provide a way of salvation from sin and death: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16; 1 John 4:8–10).

• God is caring to His children like a Father: “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13–14)

• God is morally holy and He desires to see holiness in His children: “As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation (or conduct); Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15–17)

• God is merciful and just and will forgive the sins of those who repent but will punish those who wilfully turn from His ways: “The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.” (Exodus 34:6–7; 20:5–6; Psalm 103:8–12)

• God is the Saviour of all who repent and turn to Him: “There is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:21–22)

• God is patient: He is “longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

The marvellous character and ways of God draw us to Him in loving thankfulness for His goodness and mercy. We often read in the Psalms expressions of praise like this: “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” (Psalm 106:1)

The Glory of God

When Moses asked God, “I beseech thee, shew me thy glory” God replied: “I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD (Hebrew Yahweh) before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy” (Exodus 33:18–19). God’s real glory is His wonderful character. He revealed Himself to Moses as “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6–7).

Jesus perfectly revealed that glorious character of his Father by his words and actions. The apostle John wrote of him: “We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Adapted from “The Exploring the Bible Course” by David Evans