This is a continuation of the Post, which began October 10, 2006.

Now, to the study of God’s eternal nature, as he has revealed to us through the scriptures, we concluded with Genesis 18-19 yesterday.

^{(Summary) Abram sees “the Lord” in the 3 men at the Oaks of mamre. This enigma of 3 men being referred to as “the Lord” makes sense if you understand that these are angels who represent the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.}

Next, we go to Exodus 33:9ff. In this passage we find a very curious thing, it is either a direct contradiction of the immediate verses within the passage or we might understand that Moses is revealing the Trinity to us.

This is a long passage, but it is amazing, so stay with me, I will be using the old 1901ad version ASV, because it attempted to stay true to the personal name of God, although they mixed up the Yahweh with Jehovah the effort is important to follow what is happening between Yahweh and Moses.

^11And Jehovah spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his minister Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the Tent.

^12And Moses said unto Jehovah, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found favor in my sight. ^13Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thy sight, show me now thy ways, that I may know thee, to the end that I may find favor in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. ^14And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. ^15And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. ^16For wherein now shall it be known that I have found favor in thy sight, I and thy people? is it not in that thou goest with us, so that we are separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth? ^17And Jehovah said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found favor in my sight, and I know thee by name. ^18And he said, Show me, I pray thee, thy glory. ^19And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. ^20And he said, Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live. ^21and Jehovah said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon the rock: ^22and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a cleft of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand until I have passed by: ^23and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen.

It appears that the contradiction occurs between verse eleven and verses 20 and 23. Did you see it? Verse 11 states that Moses spoke to Yahweh “face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” But, verses 20 and 23 states “Thou canst not see my face; for man shall not see me and live” and “and I will take away my hand, and thou shalt see my back; but my face shall not be seen.”

Obviously, something very curious is going on. Is there a logical way to understand this and not understand a contradiction?

My answer is simple; When Yahweh descends upon the tabernacle and speaks to Moses face to face as a friend speaks to his friend, then we should understand that this is Yahweh the Son. Jesus the Son of God is called “the friend of sinners” in the gospels.

Next, Moses prays to Yahweh to go with him and the people of Israel, to which Yahweh, the friend of Moses, responds “My Presence” will go with you just as you’ve requested. We should understand this to be Yahweh the Holy Spirit. Moses emphasizes the point by saying if “Your Presence” doesn’t go with us, then do not tell us to leave.

Finally, Moses makes one last request of his “Friend”; in verse 18 Moses asks to be allowed to see Yahweh’s Glory.

Here is where Yahweh the Friend of Moses tells him that this request is more than can be granted, at least not without some special care that must be taken by both Moses and Yahweh the Friend. He reveals to Moses that no man may see Yahweh the Glory and live. This should be understood as God the Father.

This passage, when we take time to pray and study, can open the scriptures to us very clearly, concerning God’s nature and his persona.

We will continue this study latter. There are many other passages from the Old and New Covenant writings that speak to the Trinity of Yahweh our God.

However, in conclusion of today’s post, I want you to be able to place in proper perspective the reason it is so difficult for us to understand the concept of One God being made up of three persons or entities.

We might understand that USA is one nation, but is made up of many states. Or we might understand a Corporation is made up of many officers and employees. This all makes perfect sense to us in a concept of Union, Unity, and United. This is no different than our God Yahweh.

Our misunderstanding, I am persuaded, devolves from the various interpretations of the original text of the Scriptures. The ASV 1901 translation reads very differently than the KJV or NIV or NLT, on a pivotal passage from Deuteronomy 6:4-5. I am going to lay the KJV along side the ASV to see the difference. You should understand that the ASV gives the personal name for our God, just as the Hebrew text does, instead of changing God’s personal name to LORD.

ASV Deuteronomy 6:4-5

^4Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah: ^5and thou shalt love Jehovah thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

KJV Deuteronomy 6:4-5

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: ⁵ And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Did you notice the change? Does it make a difference? When I read the ASV it clarifies all the difficulties of One and Three for our God. “Yahweh (Jehovah) our God is one Yahweh: and you should love Yahweh your God with all of your heart, soul and strength.”

Until next time, God bless,

DSM