This, again, is the continuation of the posts of October 10 & 11, which is an exploration of the scriptures from the beginning that reveals the Trinity of God.

We first explored the instances where God speaks of himself (“we”) in the plural and where he speaks to himself (“us”) in the plural. (Genesis 1:26; 3:2; 11:7)

We also reviewed Abraham and Sarah sharing a meal with Yahweh, the three men, the three Angels. All of whom are called Yahweh collectively, cumulatively, and individually in Genesis 18:1 through 19:1.

Then yesterday we considered Moses speaking with Yahweh face to face as a friend speaks to his friend (Exodus 33:11ff). While also being told by Yahweh the Friend that Moses may not see Yahweh’s Glory face to face and live, yet, Yahweh’s Presence would go with him and the people of Israel, each of these descriptions revealing one of the persons of Yahweh our God. The ‘Friend’ is Jesus the Son. The ‘Presence’ is the Holy Spirit. The ‘Glory’ is the Father.

Today we look at Elijah in the desert from 1Kings 19:9-14.

8And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of Jehovah came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? 10And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before Jehovah. And, behold, Jehovah passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before Jehovah; but Jehovah was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but Jehovah was not in the earthquake: 12and after the earthquake a fire; but Jehovah was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. 13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entrance of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

You should notice that verse nine tells us “the word of Yahweh (Jehovah) came to him.” Have you ever read John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”? If you have read this passage you will remember that John reveals to us the Jesus the Son is the “Word” of Yahweh. So, when we read that “the word of Yahweh came to” Elijah and spoke to him, we know who of the Godhead that came to Elijah.

You should notice also that the Word of Yahweh asks Elijah “What are you doing here?” to which Elijah gives the Word a sob story about how the whole nation of Israel had given up their faith and that he, Elijah, was the only one left who remained faithful the Yahweh. After the Word listens to Elijah’s explanation, He tells Elijah to go out and stand and prepare for a personal encounter with Yahweh.

When this encounter occurs, you can see some important things about the Father in this episode, Yahweh asks Elijah the very same question that the Word of Yahweh asked in verse nine.

Why did Yahweh ask the question a second time? Why didn’t Elijah say Lord I just told why I am here?

Well obviously, we would not likely make such an impertinent retort as that to our creator and Lord, but the point remains, Yahweh the Glory had arrived just as the Word of Yahweh and stated. Therefore, Yahweh the Glory is not the same person as the Word of Yahweh.

Thanks, again for your patience. I hope that you are beginning to understand that the answer to our atheist, agnostic and Muslim friends are not so difficult. God is one nature; he is perfectly unified in purpose. But, he is three.

The purpose of the Son is to convey glory to the Father. The purpose of the Father is to confer glory to Son. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to demonstrate glory of the Son. The purpose of mankind is to acknowledge glory of the Son.

The difficulty lay in our willingness to see and our willingness to reveal.

DSM

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