The God of The God of Israel:Israel:

The Image of God The Image of God in the Old in the Old TestamentTestament

Why Start with the God Why Start with the God of Israel?of Israel?

The God of Israel is the same God The God of Israel is the same God that we Christians believe in that we Christians believe in

The Christian concept of God is not a The Christian concept of God is not a totally new beginning; it has a pre-totally new beginning; it has a pre-history in the faith of Israel.history in the faith of Israel.

To understand Christianity's concept To understand Christianity's concept of God as Triune, one must begin of God as Triune, one must begin with the understanding of God in the with the understanding of God in the faith of Israel.faith of Israel.

ExodusExodus

The Exodus-experience as The Exodus-experience as primordial event of Israel primordial event of Israel where God revealed himself where God revealed himself through his saving deedsthrough his saving deeds

Yahweh the God of IsraelYahweh the God of Israel Yahweh is based on the Tetragrammeton - Yahweh is based on the Tetragrammeton -

YHWH. As it is written in the Hebrew YHWH. As it is written in the Hebrew Scriptures there are no vowels, the reader Scriptures there are no vowels, the reader was expected to supply the vowels. was expected to supply the vowels.

It has mistakenly been interpreted as It has mistakenly been interpreted as YeHoWaH (Jehovah) YeHoWaH (Jehovah)

YaHWeHYaHWeH Yahweh is often translated as I AM WHO Yahweh is often translated as I AM WHO

AM. This may also be interpreted as: I AM AM. This may also be interpreted as: I AM THE ONE WHO WILL BE THERE WITH THE ONE WHO WILL BE THERE WITH YOU ... IN THE WAY I WILL BE THERE.YOU ... IN THE WAY I WILL BE THERE.

God as LiberatorGod as Liberator God liberated his people from God liberated his people from

oppression and slavery in oppression and slavery in Egypt. Egypt.

He entered into a covenant-He entered into a covenant-relationship with them: "relationship with them: "I will I will be your God, you will be my be your God, you will be my peoplepeople." ."

This covenant stipulates that This covenant stipulates that they honor and worship only they honor and worship only one God. (God as a jealous one God. (God as a jealous God who cannot tolerate the God who cannot tolerate the worship of other gods). worship of other gods).

God promised to give them a God promised to give them a land they can call their ownland they can call their own

Thus, from polytheism, Israel turned to Thus, from polytheism, Israel turned to henotheismhenotheism. They still believed in the . They still believed in the existence of other gods, but they existence of other gods, but they worshipped only one God - Yahweh worshipped only one God - Yahweh

There was a gradual development from There was a gradual development from henotheism to absolute henotheism to absolute monotheismmonotheism. The . The prophets (especially during the post-exilic prophets (especially during the post-exilic period) were the ones that promoted period) were the ones that promoted monotheism. For the prophets there is monotheism. For the prophets there is only one true God - Yahweh. All the rest only one true God - Yahweh. All the rest were false gods or idols.were false gods or idols.

You yourselves are my witnesses, declares You yourselves are my witnesses, declares YahwehYahweh

and the servant whom I have chosenand the servant whom I have chosenso that you may know and believe meso that you may know and believe meand understand that it is I.and understand that it is I.No God was formed before meNo God was formed before me

nor will be after me.nor will be after me.I, I am Yahweh,I, I am Yahweh,there is no other Savior but me... (Isaiah there is no other Savior but me... (Isaiah

43:10-14)43:10-14)

The Israelites gradually come to a realization The Israelites gradually come to a realization that there is only one God, there is no other that there is only one God, there is no other God but Yahweh. Yahweh is not only the God God but Yahweh. Yahweh is not only the God of a tribe or a nation but of all the nations of a tribe or a nation but of all the nations and peoples.and peoples.

The faith of God as liberator of Israel The faith of God as liberator of Israel emphasized the notion of God as the God of emphasized the notion of God as the God of Israel. It was the gradual realization that the Israel. It was the gradual realization that the God who liberated Israel is the same God God who liberated Israel is the same God who created the world -- that opened the way who created the world -- that opened the way for an absolute monotheism. If God is the for an absolute monotheism. If God is the creator of all things and of all humans, then creator of all things and of all humans, then God is the God of all.God is the God of all.

God as FatherGod as Father Although the image of God as father is not Although the image of God as father is not

central in the faith of Israel, it is not altogether central in the faith of Israel, it is not altogether absent.absent.

The fatherhood of God is not based primarily on The fatherhood of God is not based primarily on the idea of God as creator but on God as the idea of God as creator but on God as liberator who entered into a covenant liberator who entered into a covenant relationship with Israel.relationship with Israel.

In Exodus, Yahweh calls Israel as his first born In Exodus, Yahweh calls Israel as his first born son: "son: "So you shall say to Pharaoh: Thus says the So you shall say to Pharaoh: Thus says the Lord: Israel is my son, my first born. Hence I tell Lord: Israel is my son, my first born. Hence I tell you: Let my son go, that he may serve me."you: Let my son go, that he may serve me." (Ex (Ex 4:22-23).4:22-23).

If Israel is Yahweh's first-born son, then Yahweh If Israel is Yahweh's first-born son, then Yahweh is Israel's father.is Israel's father.

In Deutero-Isaiah, God is explicitly In Deutero-Isaiah, God is explicitly addressed as Father: "addressed as Father: "O Lord, hold not back, O Lord, hold not back, for you are our father. Were Abraham not to for you are our father. Were Abraham not to know us, nor Israel to acknowledge us, You know us, nor Israel to acknowledge us, You Lord are our father.Lord are our father." (Isaiah 63:15-16) " (Isaiah 63:15-16)

The few times Father is used of God, the The few times Father is used of God, the usage is clearly a metaphor, an image usage is clearly a metaphor, an image employed to express some aspect of God's employed to express some aspect of God's relationship with his people. The term relationship with his people. The term expressed the absolute authority of God over expressed the absolute authority of God over Israel and his saving concern and loving Israel and his saving concern and loving tenderness towards them.tenderness towards them.

God’s Transcendence & God’s Transcendence & ImmanenceImmanence

Israel believed in a God that is Israel believed in a God that is transcendent - totally above and transcendent - totally above and beyond the world, Wholly Other. beyond the world, Wholly Other.

Yet this transcendent God is also Yet this transcendent God is also present in the world and active in present in the world and active in history. This God is also immanent. history. This God is also immanent.

The problem: how to speak of the The problem: how to speak of the immanent features of the immanent features of the transcendent God?transcendent God?

The answer: The answer: anthropomorphismanthropomorphism - picturing - picturing God present and active on earth like a human God present and active on earth like a human being. being.

It also made use of metaphors: It also made use of metaphors: Dabar Yahweh Dabar Yahweh (the Word of God) and (the Word of God) and Ruah YahwehRuah Yahweh (the (the Spirit/breath of God). These concepts Spirit/breath of God). These concepts represent the POWER of the transcendent God represent the POWER of the transcendent God going forth and accomplishing in various ways going forth and accomplishing in various ways God's design on earth. God's design on earth.

Closely related to these concepts of Word and Closely related to these concepts of Word and Spirit is the theme of the Wisdom of God as Spirit is the theme of the Wisdom of God as developed and presented in the Wisdom developed and presented in the Wisdom literature. The concept of Wisdom here literature. The concept of Wisdom here describes God's immanence in creation and in describes God's immanence in creation and in human life.human life.

The concepts of Dabar (Word) and Ruah The concepts of Dabar (Word) and Ruah (Spirit) are literary devices to describe the (Spirit) are literary devices to describe the activity in history of the transcendent God activity in history of the transcendent God whereby he controls and directs the whereby he controls and directs the destiny of the Chosen People.destiny of the Chosen People.

The immanent activity of God expresses The immanent activity of God expresses his providence and guiding presence in his providence and guiding presence in history. It is by means of this liberating history. It is by means of this liberating providence that God is revealed. The providence that God is revealed. The history of salvation is also the history of history of salvation is also the history of God's self-revelation, his self-God's self-revelation, his self-communication.communication.

God's self-revelation is never immediate and God's self-revelation is never immediate and direct. It occurs by means of something other direct. It occurs by means of something other than God - thru a chosen medium of than God - thru a chosen medium of communication which becomes God's self-communication which becomes God's self-expression, sign, sacrament.expression, sign, sacrament.

God's Word and Spirit may be considered as God's Word and Spirit may be considered as God's media of communication and revelation.God's media of communication and revelation.

They go forth from God but in accomplishing They go forth from God but in accomplishing their purpose they represent the very their purpose they represent the very presence of God. These media may both be presence of God. These media may both be identical with God and at the same time also identical with God and at the same time also distinct.distinct.

Ruah Yahweh - the Spirit of Ruah Yahweh - the Spirit of GodGod

The concept of The concept of Ruah YahwehRuah Yahweh appears in appears in the literature of Israel in the context of the the literature of Israel in the context of the settlement in the land of Canaan. settlement in the land of Canaan.

The expression represents a symbol for The expression represents a symbol for transient manifestations of God's power transient manifestations of God's power breaking into history guiding the destiny breaking into history guiding the destiny of God's people.of God's people.

This power manifests itself in the This power manifests itself in the charismatic leaders of Israel called the charismatic leaders of Israel called the Judges, in warriors such as Samson, and Judges, in warriors such as Samson, and especially in the prophets - the especially in the prophets - the NebiimNebiim. .

Thus, in Isaiah the Spirit is associated with Thus, in Isaiah the Spirit is associated with the prophetic/messianic mission:the prophetic/messianic mission:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon meThe Spirit of the Lord God is upon mebecause the Lord has anointed mebecause the Lord has anointed meHe has sent me to bring glad tidings to the He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the

lowlylowlyto heal the brokento heal the brokenTo proclaim liberty to the captivesTo proclaim liberty to the captivesand release to the prisonersand release to the prisonersTo announce a year of favor from the LordTo announce a year of favor from the Lordand a day of vindication by our Godand a day of vindication by our Godto comfort all who mourn.. to comfort all who mourn.. (Isaiah 61:1-3)(Isaiah 61:1-3)

The prophets proclaimed the coming of a The prophets proclaimed the coming of a messianic age when there will be a messianic age when there will be a universal and abiding outpouring of the universal and abiding outpouring of the Spirit of God. This will be one of the Spirit of God. This will be one of the messianic blessings. messianic blessings.

The Spirit of God not only manifests God's The Spirit of God not only manifests God's liberating presenceliberating presence in history, it also in history, it also expresses God's expresses God's powerful activitypowerful activity in in creation. Thus, in Genesis we have the creation. Thus, in Genesis we have the Spirit of God hovering over the mighty Spirit of God hovering over the mighty waters.waters. In the J creation account, we In the J creation account, we have Yahweh have Yahweh breathingbreathing on his creation - on his creation - thereby giving him life. The Spirit of God thereby giving him life. The Spirit of God therefore expresses Yahweh's creative therefore expresses Yahweh's creative and life-giving power. and life-giving power.

Dabar - the Word of GodDabar - the Word of God

The word The word DabarDabar refers to both refers to both word and word and deeddeed. Unlike the english equivalent - . Unlike the english equivalent - DabarDabar is not merely an expression of idea or is not merely an expression of idea or thought. It is much more powerful. It thought. It is much more powerful. It effects what is says. Thus, in Genesis, when effects what is says. Thus, in Genesis, when God says "God says "Let there be light" Let there be light" there was there was light. light.

For ancient Hebrew, when it was said it was For ancient Hebrew, when it was said it was done. Saying made a deed, formed a thing, done. Saying made a deed, formed a thing, caused an objective fact.caused an objective fact.

The meaning of The meaning of DabarDabar is best expressed in is best expressed in the passage from Isaiah:the passage from Isaiah:

For, as the rain and the snow come down For, as the rain and the snow come down from the ksy and do no returnfrom the ksy and do no return

before having watered the earth, fertilizing it before having watered the earth, fertilizing it and making it germinate to and making it germinate to

provide seed for the sower and food to eat, so provide seed for the sower and food to eat, so it is with the word that goesit is with the word that goes

from my mouth: it will not return to me from my mouth: it will not return to me unfulfilled, or before having carried outunfulfilled, or before having carried out

my good pleasure and having achieved what my good pleasure and having achieved what it was sent to do (Is 55:10-11)it was sent to do (Is 55:10-11)

Nearly half of the occurences of the "Word of Nearly half of the occurences of the "Word of God" are prophetic Word/event formula:God" are prophetic Word/event formula:

""The Word of God came to me...The Word of God came to me..." The call of " The call of Jeremiah is paradigmatic of the formula use:Jeremiah is paradigmatic of the formula use:

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;

before you came to birth I consecrated you;before you came to birth I consecrated you;

I appointed you as prophet to the nations." I appointed you as prophet to the nations." (Jer 1:4ff)(Jer 1:4ff)

God's Word tends to promote the God's Word tends to promote the historical transformation of a people by historical transformation of a people by "shaping them up" in quite particular "shaping them up" in quite particular ways. Yahweh's Word is a more ways. Yahweh's Word is a more programmatic effective presence of God.programmatic effective presence of God.

The Word of God takes people where The Word of God takes people where they are in their own lives, their own they are in their own lives, their own times, and their own histories. It then times, and their own histories. It then summons them on those ground to the summons them on those ground to the creative transformation that covenant creative transformation that covenant offers.offers.

There is an intimate connection between There is an intimate connection between Ruah Ruah and Dabarand Dabar. In the creation account, the Spirit . In the creation account, the Spirit of God and the Word of God are collaborative. of God and the Word of God are collaborative. There is the Spirit's role of disposing the There is the Spirit's role of disposing the chaos, and the Word's role in naming the chaos, and the Word's role in naming the particular configuration into which the chaos particular configuration into which the chaos is to be transformed. is to be transformed.

The fullness of God's immanence and The fullness of God's immanence and formative presence in covenant history are formative presence in covenant history are often experienced and described as Spirit and often experienced and described as Spirit and Word. These are metaphors that interpret and Word. These are metaphors that interpret and mediates God's effective presence. God makes mediates God's effective presence. God makes the world through them, and redeems history the world through them, and redeems history through them.through them.