How Can I Know That My GOD IS GOD?; Or another great question is: What are the Rules for My GOD?
I have heard this all of my life:
Take it on faith! Just have faith! Don’t ask that? Do what you are told. If you ask, you are a non-believer!
Absolutely none of those statements are true about My GOD! Trust and Believe!
I have only addressed pieces of this in my life, mostly to myself. However, while in Jerusalem, August of 2015, I met and had an extended discussion with a Christian woman named Anna from France and was joined later by a Christian Palestinian Man in his twenties. The Discussion with Anna, ended on a bench at Jaffa St, and HaTsanhanim St, just outside the Wall of the Old City. There is a purpose to telling you about Anna and the young man(which joined wanting to listen), and that is her last question to me. Which was,” Can you describe GOD in one or two word descriptions like: loving; compassionate; caring; . . . . ?”
I could not answer that question, given those parameters. Because definitions of the one or two words kind must be declared prior to using those words. Words, any words, especially one and two word descriptions can mean almost anything. Taking a couple of words from a verse, has been used to change the meaning of GOD’S word to anything man desires it to be. Usually creating an outcome that is used for EVIL actions, and the act of changing the words is wrong.
Therefore a word or two really have no meaning, save what the hearer or the one sayer think they mean right then. While even between them they most likely do not agree on the meaning(if they bothered to check with the other person), creating He said She scenarios. Do you see that?
The sayer and the hearer will have different meanings to a word or two description. Without a dictionary of definitions for the words used there is no way to understand others.
That is one purposes of this writing. (Another side note: When was young (10 to 13 years of age) living in Illinois, I read books in the public library, which had a dictionary at the back of the book, giving the meaning of the words being used in the book. I have not thought of this information these many years, but it is relevant to this writing. )
I will write further about Anna later and our chance meeting and the more than three hours of conversation that followed are at least interesting if not important.
I am compelled to write these documents, which take time and research on my part. Therefore I ask that you donate to my work so that I may continue writing. And maybe get an editor to help with style.
Please Donate, if you Can, use the button in the Left Column. Thank you.
Onward, a definition of GOD in one or two or 10 word descriptions must be incomplete and inadequate for a definition of the LIVING GOD OF ISRAEL. Definitely insufficient to describe My GOD. There was one time that an appropriate few word definition was used by GOD HIMSELF.
***** Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses: ‘I AM THAT I AM’ ****
The Hebrew is this: “אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה” Direct translation not possible for there is no AM in Hebrew. In English this seems the Perfect Description in that we cannot grasp what HE IS and “Whatever HE IS HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE.” –That is my definition and My understanding. HE describes our thoughts thus:
Isaiah 55:
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
(This was difficult to understand 100 years ago, when we thought our galaxy was the heavens, but since then we have discovered that the Heavens are a billion billion galaxies. The complexity that make the Universe function are simple, elegant formulas, describing what could not have been an accident for the exactitude of the values required. So “I AM THAT I AM” now seems perfectly understandable description, given how much we Don’t KNOW!)
While the best memorial of the “GOD of Abraham, GOD of Isaac, GOD of Jacob”[Exodus 3:15 . . . .My memorial unto all generations . . .], is the whole Tanakh(Old Testament) where we can watch and learn the way a child learns from its Father, as a percentage of the people that have lived verses those expending enough effort to know this, is to small to print. So, a different process will be needed for this writing.
Here is an example of what I go through to define even one word that I use, but cannot use alone: TORAH. I define as the Written TORAH, by the Hand of Moses; The Writings of Moses, The First Five Books of the Tanakh(Old Testament), The LAWS and Teachings of the GOD OF ISRAEL by the Hand of Moses; . . . .
Dictionaries say:
“To·rah
ˈtōrə,ˈtô-,tôˈrä/
noun
(in Judaism) the law of God as revealed to Moses and recorded in the first five books of the Hebrew scriptures (the Pentateuch).
a scroll containing this.” An Online Dictionary;
Those I agree with, but look scope of official definitions of TORAH. These I do not accept.
Torah (TOH-ruh)In its narrowest sense, Torah the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, sometimes called the Pentateuch or the Five Books of Moses. In its broadest sense, Torah is the entire body of Jewish teachings. From http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/torah.htm
Torah | Define Torah at Dictionary.com
dictionary.reference.com/browse/torah
Dictionary.com
The law on which Judaism is founded (torah is Hebrew for “law”). This law is contained in the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). Torah can also refer to the entire body of Jewish law and wisdom, including what is contained in oral tradition.
Torah – definition of Torah by The Free Dictionary
www.thefreedictionary.com/Torah
A scroll of parchment containing the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, used in a synagogue during services. … The entire body of religious law and learning including both sacred literature and oral tradition. … the entire body of Jewish religious literature, law, and teaching …
Torah | Definition of Torah by Merriam-Webster
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Torah
Merriam‑Webster
Definition of TORAH. 1. : the body of wisdom and law contained in Jewish Scripture and other sacred literature and oral tradition. 2. : the five books of Moses constituting the Pentateuch.
******** ********
I gave you a few sources, showing the variations of the definition of what is used in Jewish Services as: “A scroll of parchment containing the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures, used in a synagogue during services.”(from thefreedictionary above.) This last I left out of my definition, my mistake, for often refer to that Scroll as the “Torah between the Two Sticks”.
How is it possible that the word TORAH can be held to mean so many different things? This is only the word used for the “WORD OF GOD” written by the hand of Moses.
How important is it to know this definition? Crime and punishment, declared there in, here is a sample, on the witness of two or more.
Deuteronomy 28:
15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.
. . . . .
45 And all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou didst not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded thee.
46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder, and upon thy seed for ever;
Deuteronomy 30:
1 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt bethink thyself among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee,
2 and shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and hearken to His voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul;
. . . . .
9 And the LORD thy God will make thee over-abundant in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers;
10 if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.
Numbers 9:
23 At the commandment of the LORD they encamped, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed; they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
Malachi 3:
22 Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, even statutes and ordinances.
So what we have is Written Law at the Hand of Moses, THE ALMIGHTY commands and Moses Writes –TORAH of Moses, by which if we keep to that we are blessed, otherwise PUNISHED.
How can I know that my GOD is GOD? How does this Written TORAH help in this question?
The Written TORAH is not allowed to be changed and the LORD NEVER CHANGES.
Deuteronomy 13:
1 All this word which I command you, that shall ye observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
Malachi 3:
6 For I the LORD change not; and ye, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
Back to the original question: How can I know. . . . ?
In the TORAH (see my definition) we learn:
1) WHO is GOD
2) What HE wants from me
3) HE Defines how I am to treat others near me.
4) HE Defines how I am to treat those not near me.
5) HE declares how I am to protect everyone from my actions.
THE CREATOR of the Heavens and the Earth, tells the End at the Beginning, so that we will know when it happens that HE did it. He always declares it first then does it. HE even challenges those things which people serve to do the same. There is no response to the Challenge.
HIS Definition of GOOD and evil, does not change. HE wants us to Return.
HE never changes! Even in the Last Prophet – Malachi 3:6 above. What HE Wants does not change, The LAW does not change and the reward for you actions (Punished by Our Iniquities).
HE IS THE ONLY ONE.
Isaiah 44:
6 Thus saith the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer the LORD of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last, and beside Me there is no God.
Isaiah 45:
4 For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel Mine elect, I have called thee by thy name, I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.
5 I am the LORD, and there is none else, beside Me there is no God; I have girded thee, though thou hast not known Me;
6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside Me; I am the LORD; and there is none else;
7 I form the light, and create darkness; I make peace, and create evil; I am the LORD, that doeth all these things.
Note: “ I have called thee by thy name, I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known Me.” More than 100 years before he is born, THE LORD calls by name Cyrus, who will destroy Babylon and send those taken by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon back to Israel. For two chapters in Isaiah is Cyrus called by name, as in “Isaiah 45:1 Thus saith the LORD to His anointed, to Cyrus,”
Isaiah 46 / Hebrew – English Bible / Mechon-Mamre
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying: ‘My counsel shall stand, and all My pleasure will I do’;.”
Why is this such a powerful statement: “Declaring the end from the Beginning”?
I will make this very simple. For any GOD to declare five thousand years in advance, detailed events, choices and outcomes, there can be No Accidents; No changes to the Rules; NO BEING ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, as in Not Present in the WORLD HE CREATED; for if it does not happen as stated was it not just made up?
The GOD I Serve, is The ALMIGHTY, declares what is to be, before it is, as a PROOF that HE IS GOD. Worthy Of ALL HONOR AND GLORY from all of HIS CREATION. “If you are seeking to know the truth”.
So why did HE MAKE MAN? Why put up with a rebellious, defiant, mean hurtful creator that HE placed is Spirit In? The only being treated in this way? The Really Big WHY?
Please Donate, if you Can, use the button in the Left Column. Thank you.
Shalom,
Yaakov