While I was in the Philippines, I had the pleasure to teach a Bible overview with some young girls.
I believe it was my favorite teaching I have gotten to do so far, so I thought I would share it with you. My focus was to show throughout the whole of the scriptures what the character of God is and how He relates to His people; it is also to show what relationship with God looks like.
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Who is God? What is His Character and Nature? I want you to think about these questions as you read; don’t just take my thoughts, but really think deeply about it.
Normally, one would probably start with Genesis 1:1, but I think it is fitting to start with the end (Hehe.)
In Revelations 1:8 it says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
God is without beginning and He is the Almighty. God told us this about Himself so we would not have to guess or assume. This is who OUR God is! Pretty cool, huh?
It makes sense then that He was the one that was able to create the universe and all that exists; but before that, it started with a thought. Scripture tells us in:
Ephesians 1:4-5
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.2 Timothy 1:9
For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
Even before the word was made, He chose and loved us and planned to send Jesus to make us Holy and part of His family. This gave Him GREAT PLEASURE!
Did you know, God was thinking about and loving you before even the world was created?
With all this in mind, God Almighty, Alpha, began. God created the world, speaking every part into existence — the heavens and earth, the stars, sun and moon, the plants and animals — and He said it was all good.
Then the Trinity said, “let us make man in our image.” (Gen.2:7)
He formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into Him the Breath of life. Later He created a woman to be man’s helper. They were named Adam and Eve. In the garden in which He placed them, God made two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. God told them not to eat of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil or they would die (Gen.2:16-17). This gave Humans the free will to choose to obey or not obey God.
Everything was beautiful, pure, and without shame; then something changed. (Gen 3) A snake (Satan) tempted Eve to question God and to not trust Him. He also tempted her to question her identity.
“Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”
“God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
What was her identity? What is our identity? ^ (Gen 2:7) MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE! She was already like God and already had access to everything she needed to know through God.
Adam and Eve both chose to sin and eat the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil that the serpent offered them. Once they did, shame entered God’s beautiful, pure world. As a consequence of their sin they would experience death, toil, and pain, and even the earth itself would experience the outcome of their sin, as the ground was cursed. (crazy thought, right, even the earth itself if affected by our sin). The serpent was also cursed. God then banished them from the garden so they would not eat from the tree of life.
Even in all of this, God’s love and mercy shone through. God covered their nakedness by killing an animal and clothing them in its skin. He also promised that from their kids one would come to strike the head of the snake. As He had planned before time began, He now promised them this, revealing to them His plan to send Jesus. He knew they would sin, yet He still made them… and us! He loved us enough to plan ahead to sacrifice Jesus. (^ Ephesians 1:4-5 & 2 Timothy 1:9) What an Amazing God!
So, what did you see through this about God’s character? How do you see God’s relationship with us as humans? What do you think our relationship with Him could or should look like from what this story shares?
Here are Characteristics I see in Him:
God is so loving. He is Creative. He is all-powerful. He is all-knowing. He is relational. He is a father and teacher. He is Just. He is merciful (Could it be possible that God was even showing Satan mercy when he removed the serpent’s legs instead of just killing Him? Random food for thought!) and gracious. He is sacrificial. He is a planner. He is outside of time.
One of my new friends named one I had never seen before: God is hospitable. She said God could have made Adam first before everything else, but He made a place for him first instead. He even made it all nice with all the plants and animals, then He made Adam. I thought that was quite a revelation.
Please tell us your thoughts in the comments. I love hearing new perspectives and the things you are learning. Have a great week everyone and Happy New Year!
