GOD and US
Self-revelations of God
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A Reality Check
It's important for us to hear what God tells us about Himself.  We can know more deeply who and what God is if we look at His self-revelation -- Who He says He is.

IN TWO ENCOUNTERS WITH MOSES, GOD REVEALS ESSENTIAL FACETS ABOUT HIMSELF:

The first incident is in Exodus 3:14  "And God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM.'  And He said, 'Thus shall you say to the children of Israel, I AM has sent me to you.'"   He reveals Himself as the self-existent one free to be who He is.

The second account in Exodus 34:6 reads this way in the New Living Translation:  "I am the Lord, I am the Lord, the merciful and gracious God.  I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness.  I show this unfailing love to many thousands by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion.  Even so I do not leave sin unpunished, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations."  God is all of these at one and the same time.  He is the Lord, He is merciful, gracious, slow to anger, rich in unfailing love, rich in faithfulness, and just.  Part of God's justice is that though forgiven, sin has negative consequences -- natural results -- which affect succeeding generations.  This is born out in observations that, for a brief example, abused children are more likely to be abusers than others -- that children of alcoholics are more likely to have problems with alcohol.


THESE SAME FACETS OF GOD ARE REPEATED IN OTHER SCRIPTURES:

Numbers 14:17-18 records a prayer of intercession for the Israelites when Moses reminds God of His words, "...For you said, 'The Lord is slow to anger and rich in unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion.  Even so He does not leave sin unpunished, but He punishes the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations.'"

The leaders of the Israelites in Nehemiah 9:17 said, "...You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and full of unfailing love and mercy."

In Psalm 86:15, David prays, "...you, O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love and truth."

Psalm 103:8 tells us that, "The Lord is merciful and gracious; He is slow to get angry and full of unfailing love."

And Psalm 145:8-9 reads this way, "The Lord is kind and merciful, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love.  The Lord is good to everyone.  He showers compassion on all his creation."

The Prophet Joel said in Joel 2:13 "...Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful. He is not easily angered.  He is filled with kindness and is eager not to punish you."

In Jonah 4:2 Jonah complains to God because he didn't want to see God's wonderful aspects exercised towards the Ninevites, "...Didn't I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord?  That is why I ran away to Tarshish!  I knew that you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.  I knew how easily you could cancel your plans for destroying these people."


GOD'S SELF REVELATION IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and savior of the world in John 3:16.  Speaking of Himself as Son, Jesus said, "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

"I am the Light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."  These are Jesus' words in John 8:12.

In John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life."

Jesus says, "I am the bread of life" in several verses of John 6.  In verse 51 of the same chapter He says, "I am the living bread."  In verse 58 Jesus explains, "...the one who feeds on me will live because of me."  He is the source of life and more importantly of Eternal life.  That Eternal life will be given us if He is our source of spiritual food.

In the book of Revelation, chapter 1 verse 18 Jesus says, "I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!"

Revelation 1:8 has this self-revelation of God, "'I am the Alpha and the Omega (beginning and end),' says the Lord God, 'Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come, the Almighty.'"

The Holy Spirit is God, and in Galatians 5:22 we're told that "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."  It is not accidental that these duplicate or closely parallel God's self-revelation in the Old Testament.

In Revelation 21:1-5   As the New Jerusalem comes on the scene a voice from the heavenly throne says, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  (In his kindness, goodness, and compassion) He will wipe every tear from their eyes....these words are trustworthy and true."
WHO AND WHAT  DOES GOD REVEAL HIMSELF AS?
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