The Attributes of God and His Character
“... always active, always in repose, ... searching even though to you nothing is lacking: ... you are jealous in a way that is free from anxiety, you ‘repent’ (Gen 6:6) without the pain of regret, you are wrathful and remain tranquil. You will a change without any change in your design." – Augustine: Confessions
Exactly, he captures the nature of God exactly. As contradictory as these things are in human eyes, this is the way things are, and there’s no contradiction to God, who sees all things rightly. But I’m human, so I want to understand.
It makes sense to me that God would be happy, even with all the shit he has to see and go through, but how can this be? I'll call this "composure", but I don't see how this is possible, much less, how I can attain it, even though I believe God wants this virtue for everybody.
What does it mean "Christ is all, and in all"? (Col 3:11)
What’s the significance of God making himself known as YHWH, when previously he hadn’t, though he spoke directly with Abraham and Abraham was his friend, and though he spoke with Isaac and Jacob? And why did God not reveal himself as YHWH until he did so with Moses? (Ex 6:3 & ESV note for 3:15)
Moses had seen God’s glory and his back, and spoke to him as a man speaking to his friend. Then how come when the tabernacle was erected, and whenever the clouds of pillar and fire were on it, Moses could not enter it? Why the difference? (Ex 40:34-35, 33:18-23, 11)
Why is Jesus called the Word? (Jn 1:1)
How is it that God can regret doing something if all his ways are perfect? (Gn 6:6-7, I Sm 15:11, 35, 29) God had just told Samuel that he regretted making Saul king, so how come Samuel turned to Saul and said that God did not regret as a man regrets? (I Sm 15:11, 29)
How could God be sorry that he had ever created humans if humans are the center point of his divine plan? (Gn 6:7)
How can God promise something and then take it back? (I Sm 2:30, 35)
And why would he make such a promise when he knew ahead of time that he would take it back one day? (see also Jer 18:9-10)
Isn't it strange that Jesus said his Father could send him more than 12 legions of angels to protect him from the mob that had come to condemn him to death, when Jesus could certainly under his own power do the same (that is, take care of the problem without having to resort to angels at all)? (Mt 26:53) It's similar to when the angel comforted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Couldn't he have comforted himself under his own power? Or why even be in need of comfort? Even better is to not need to be comforted in the first place. But then why does God use angels at all? Perhaps there's a reason why we're physical (certainly there must), but God, being spiritual, why would he need or want to make other spiritual beings (angels) to help him out, he who needs no help? (You can go to the Angel page for more on this.)
Exactly, he captures the nature of God exactly. As contradictory as these things are in human eyes, this is the way things are, and there’s no contradiction to God, who sees all things rightly. But I’m human, so I want to understand.
It makes sense to me that God would be happy, even with all the shit he has to see and go through, but how can this be? I'll call this "composure", but I don't see how this is possible, much less, how I can attain it, even though I believe God wants this virtue for everybody.
What does it mean "Christ is all, and in all"? (Col 3:11)
What’s the significance of God making himself known as YHWH, when previously he hadn’t, though he spoke directly with Abraham and Abraham was his friend, and though he spoke with Isaac and Jacob? And why did God not reveal himself as YHWH until he did so with Moses? (Ex 6:3 & ESV note for 3:15)
Moses had seen God’s glory and his back, and spoke to him as a man speaking to his friend. Then how come when the tabernacle was erected, and whenever the clouds of pillar and fire were on it, Moses could not enter it? Why the difference? (Ex 40:34-35, 33:18-23, 11)
Why is Jesus called the Word? (Jn 1:1)
How is it that God can regret doing something if all his ways are perfect? (Gn 6:6-7, I Sm 15:11, 35, 29) God had just told Samuel that he regretted making Saul king, so how come Samuel turned to Saul and said that God did not regret as a man regrets? (I Sm 15:11, 29)
How could God be sorry that he had ever created humans if humans are the center point of his divine plan? (Gn 6:7)
How can God promise something and then take it back? (I Sm 2:30, 35)
And why would he make such a promise when he knew ahead of time that he would take it back one day? (see also Jer 18:9-10)
Isn't it strange that Jesus said his Father could send him more than 12 legions of angels to protect him from the mob that had come to condemn him to death, when Jesus could certainly under his own power do the same (that is, take care of the problem without having to resort to angels at all)? (Mt 26:53) It's similar to when the angel comforted Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Couldn't he have comforted himself under his own power? Or why even be in need of comfort? Even better is to not need to be comforted in the first place. But then why does God use angels at all? Perhaps there's a reason why we're physical (certainly there must), but God, being spiritual, why would he need or want to make other spiritual beings (angels) to help him out, he who needs no help? (You can go to the Angel page for more on this.)
