MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
Imagine embarking on a road trip with a GPS that knows every shortcut, every hazard, and every scenic view, not just for the route ahead, but for one's entire life. That's a glimpse of discovering that God is with us on our spiritual journey. He is the infinite Creator, holy and transcendent, far beyond our limitations.
We must guard against remaking Him in our image, shaping Him to fit our desires or expectations. Instead, as we travel through life's twists and turns, we discover His true nature through Scripture and experience. Let's first look at some of God's unique attributes. Then we'll take a look at Jacob, as a sort of mirror of our journey. Finally, we will explore God's attributes in action.
God's exclusive attributes: omniscience (knowing everything) - omnipotence (the ability to do anything consistent with His character) - and omnipresence (being everywhere) emphasize His infinite essence. Unbound by time or space, He isn't just powerful; He's all-powerful. Not merely loving, He is perfect love.
Some may have difficulty viewing God through this lens, due to painful experiences or misleading teachings. Yet the Bible reveals His character vividly, and knowing Jesus helps. In John 14:8-9, Philip asked Jesus, "'Lord, show us the Father,'" and Jesus replied, "'He who has seen Me has seen the Father.'"
When we pray with limited knowledge, and don't know what's best, we can echo Jesus' prayer. "'Thy will be done'" God's plan turned the cross and death, seeming disaster, into triumph. Romans 8:28 assures, "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him."
Jacob in the Old Testament was a person who seemed central to the story of Israel. From his youth, Jacob was a schemer, tricking Esau for his birthright and Isaac for a fatherly blessing (Genesis 25:29-34; 27:1-40). Though the outcome aligned with God's plan, Jacob's methods were wrong, and the end never justifies sinful means. At least three times Jacob encountered God at Bethel, which means "dwelling of God". Once was when he fled his brother Esau (Genesis chapter 28). Another time, Jacob prayed for deliverance as he traveled to meet his estranged brother (Genesis chapter 32). Finally, he fled inhabitants after his sons had killed and looted the Hivites (Genesis chapter 35). On an earlier occasion, God identified Himself as the God of Bethel, and offered guidance to Jacob when he was fleeing his uncle Laban whom he'd outsmarted.
Stories in the Bible feature human beings, but they're really about God. From the beginning, God loved Jacob, yet He allowed him to make mistakes and face consequences. Our journeys mirror those of Jacob: facing our failures, we find God's redemption, and we emerge wiser and more reliant on Him. Through trials, God shaped this man from deceiver to patriarch, from Jacob the heel-grabber (Genesis 25:26) to Israel, father of a great nation.
Finding God's attributes in action - mercy, grace, love, holiness and justice, sovereignty and power - is an exciting part of the Christian life. Mercy and grace are probably the attributes we experience the most, yet we're often unaware. Psalm 145:8 declares, "The Lord is gracious and merciful; slow to anger and great in lovingkindness." Hebrews 4:16 invites us to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." When the prodigal son returned home, he received forgiveness, not condemnation (Luke 15:11-32). A.W. Tozer notes that mercy confronts human misery and sin with divine goodness.
Perfect love comes from God’s unmerited mercy. Paul wrote, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35). God's love hates sin because it harms us, just as parents when their child is endangered. He delivers us from temptation (Matthew 6:13) and works all for good (Romans 8:28).
God's love demands holiness, yet God administers justice fairly. 1 Peter 1:15-16 echoes Leviticus 11:44-45: "Be holy, for I am holy." His justice requires sin's penalty, paid by Jesus on the cross - perfect love meeting perfect justice. Without holiness, no one sees the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Because He loves us so intensely, He sacrificed His Son on the cross so that we can live in right relationship with Him.
God's sovereignty and power assure His promises. The prophet Jeremiah prayed, "O Sovereign Lord! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You!" (Jeremiah 32:17). God needs nothing, yet invites us into His work.
It was just a year ago this week that we woke up on an ordinary morning, then a few hours later received word that we'd lost our grandson Austin. The imaginary GPS hadn't showed us that; but God, our faithful, perfect Friend knew what was ahead. Each one of us is given the choice to embrace God's invitation to accept His authority, or to reject His blessings. Like Jacob, our journeys involve missteps, but God's faithfulness prevails. We can trust His promises because of who He is. David prayed, "Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths" (Psalm 25:4). He will guide us home.
