christianitythoughtsonthenatureofgod
Christianity: Thoughts on the nature of God
Nature is the peculiar quality, or character or attributes or temperament of a person or thing. But, God is either a person or thing. So does God have any nature? If so what are they?
There is no way men can know God unless God reviews Himself to men. And He does so in many various ways of which one is His Holy names. Back in the human history, the Hebrew people thought highly of names. A name reflects the nature of a person or thing. By looking at the names used of God, we can learn the character of their God.
The Names of God present a wealth of information on the nature of God. These names are like windows which show us what the God whom we worship is like.
First, there is the descriptive word “God”. This is not really a name, but rather the word to describe what God is. The word which we translate God is most often the Hebrew word Elohim. This word is used of God some 2570 times in the Old Testament. The word is plural (from Eloha) but is most often used in singular. It is thought to be a “plural of majestic.”
Elohim is used in relation to God’s work as in Isa. 45:18, “God, former of the earth.” Elohim is also described in terms of sovereignty as in Deut. 10:17 “God of gods and Lord of lords”.
God is also as Judge. See Ps. 50:6 58:11 75:7
Another category focuses around God’s Majesty, (Isa. 40:28) God of Justice (Isa.
30:18), God of certainty (Isa. 65:16), God of Living (Jer. 10:10).
The most frequent category is that of God as Savior. 1 Chron. 16:35; Ps. 18:46
Elohim is the God of Israel. (1Sam. 17:45)
Elohim is spoken of as
- “The..living..God..speaker..from..the..midst..of..fire” (Deut. 5:23)
- “God..the..bringer.of..prisoners..into..prosperity” (Ps. 68:7)
- “God..the..bringer.. out..to..you..water..from..the..flinty..rock” (Deut 815)
- “Your..God..who..separated..you..from..the..people” (Lev. 20:24)
- “God..who..has.been..my..sheperd..all..my..life..to..this..day” (Gen. 48:15)
And still other titles such as “the God of Nearness (Jer. 23:23), “Your God in whom you trust” (2 Kings 19:10), “God your chastener” (Deut. 8:5), “God of my mercy” Ps. (59:17).
God is also named as to His so many other natures such as Ei (God), Ei Shaddai (God the abundant-from the word breast).
Then we have
Yahweh (God),
Yahweh jireh Gen. 22:14 (God provides),
Yahweh rophe Ex. 15:26 (God heals),
Yahweh nissi Ex. 17:15 (God my banner),
Yahweh M’kddesh Lev. 20:8 (God who sanctifies),
Yahweh shalom Judges 6:24 (God is peace),
Yahweh tsidkenu Jer. 23:5-6 (God our righteousness),
Yahweh rohi Ps. 23:1 (God is my shepherd),
Yahweh shammah Ezek. 48:35 (God is there)
Yahweh saboath (God of hosts).
This is only a glimpse of God’s name, there are plenty more. His name is also “I am”, “Jesus”, and “Holy spirit”. It is out of our scope here to discuss all. We have too to leave out many other factors that witness God’s nature. He is ubiquitous, omnipresence, and transcendent. But from what we have learned from His holy names, we can safely conclude that God does have a nature. All are awful and to be revered. We may not fully understand them but it does not amount to He does not have a nature. Or worse, He does not even exist.
Even pagan admits their supremacy has a nature for which they call Mother Nature.
Paul rebukes those who despise His Divine nature, “For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible quality – His eternal power and Divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse … not to glorify Him” – Rome 1:20.
So, take heed, God is Divine with a Divine Nature.