Who is God? The Bible gives us many descriptions and names of God. Genesis 1:1 says “In the Beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And it goes on to describe how He created man in his own image. So he is our creator. Genesis 2 gives more detail and says the LORD God created. LORD in all capital letters is Hebrew YHWH which is the personal name for God emphasizing His role as our Redeemer and Covenant God. I find it very interesting that before man fell into sin God already identifies himself as our Redeemer. And as our Redeemer he not only frees us from slavery, sin and suffering, but also delivers us to freedom and joy.
God is also identified as the I AM a name that expresses His character as the dependable and faithful God who desires the full trust of His people. He is totally dependable. God doesn’t change and has promised to never leave us or forsake us. Another name for God is God Almighty showing His invincible power and sovereignty. He is in control over all powers whether heavenly or earthly.
God is described as holy and calls His people to be holy. Hebrews 12:14 says “without holiness no one will see God.” He is described as compassionate. I John 4:8 and 16 say “God is Love.” Jesus describes Himself saying “ I AM the way, the truth and the life.” And He goes on to say no one comes to the Father except through Him. Jesus calls God the Father not only his Father but our Father. When we confess our sins and give our hearts to Him we become His children and He is our Father. As children of God how are we to live and especially when life falls apart and things go wrong, when it seems like He isn’t there and not in control?
I’m reminded of Habakkuk the prophet of God when Judah was sinning and not obeying God. Habakkuk was prophesying and trying to get Judah to change their ways and do right. He asked how can God let the evil in Judah go unpunished? God told him he was going to use the wicked Babylonians to punish Judah. Habakkuk said that doesn’t make any sense. How could God who is too pure to look on evil appoint a nation to execute judgement on a people more righteous than themselves? God’s answer was the Babylonians will also be punished and faith will be rewarded. The righteous are to wait patiently, live by faith and trust in their sovereign LORD. Habakkuk’s response was “The LORD is in His holy temple let all the earth keep silent before Him.” Habakkuk prayed to God and recalls God’s faithfulness and power and ends his prayer with one of the strongest affirmations of faith in all scripture.
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls yet I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be joyful in God my Savior. He makes my feet like the feet of the deer. He enables me to tread on the heights.”
So who is God? He is my creator. He is the LORD God Almighty, my Redeemer and Covenant God who is all powerful and is in total control over everything whether in heaven or on earth. He is the Great I AM who does not change but is totally trustworthy in every situation. I could go on and on in trying to describe God and say who He is. I have barely scratched the surface. But He will never leave us or forsake us. As Christians God is our Father. God is love and nothing can separate us from His love. He is Holy and wants us to be holy and live holy lives.
What is my response? To be holy I must see sin as grieving the heart of God. I must take sin seriously not thinking some sin is unacceptable and other sin may be tolerated a bit. I must live by faith taking responsibility for how I walk and how I live, the decisions I make and the things I do hour by hour and day by day. I can only do this with the help of God. My heart needs to be fully surrendered to Him and allow Him to teach me and help me to live as He lived and love as He loved so that Jesus is seen in me. I fall short so many times but He is always there to lift me up. He is faithful!