God the Father

June 5, 2025

By: Ruby Chisholm

To learn about God, we must study the Scriptures.  It is there and only there that God reveals Himself to us.  We won't, nor cannot find God in a laboratory or a test tube; the Bible is the infallible source of His revelation.  The Holy Scriptures make no attempt to explain His existence.  From the very first verse of the Bible, His existence is declared.  Genesis 1:1 simply says “In the beginning God....”

The Old Testament offers several names for God.  One such name is El, which carries the thought of strength or might.  It is repeatedly used in connection with other expressions such as El-Shaddai, meaning “God Almighty “or “All-sufficient.”  Another name commonly found in the Old Testament is Yahweh—the personal name of the God of Israel—and is often rendered “Jehovah,” or simply “Lord.”  Another name for God found in the Old Testament is Elohim.  This is the plural form and may be a representation of the Trinity.  A name that God gives Himself is “I AM THAT I AM.”  This name speaks to us of the faithfulness and unchangeableness of God—meaning God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Our God, the God we find in the Bible, is a personal being.  He is also presented as the Creator of the universe, and the Fountain of Life and blessedness.  He does not stand aloft from His creation.  His presence and power are felt everywhere.  Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”

There is NO other God, big “G”.  We should stand in awe of Him.  He deserves our highest praise and our worthiest worship that we can possibly render unto Him.

1. THE CREATOR  (Gen. 1:1; Ps. 121:2; Rom. 1:20, 25)

   A.  God the Initiator (Gen 1:1) – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Moses believed in the world's beginning, he expressed it in Gen. 1:1.  The writer of Hebrews (Paul) declared “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3).  God does not need to explain this fact, but simply to state it and, by faith, we accept it.

Likewise, the Holy Spirit felt no need to prove the existence of God, but simply to declare that God is.

This great truth that God is, we accept by faith.  The writer of Hebrews said, (Heb.11:6) “Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”

   B.  God Our Helper – (Ps. 121:2) – My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.     

Psalm 121 has been called the “Travelers' Psalm.”  The psalmist knew there was only one source to whom he could look for help: God.

Biologists tell us there are twenty-eight muscles with which we can move our head.  Twelve of those muscles lift the head up from behind; only two muscles in front move the head downward.  Biologists also tell us there is a fifth muscle in the human eye, while other creatures have only four.  One of those muscles enables us to look downward; a second one, to look forward; a third one to look to the right; and the fourth one, to look to the left.  Only humans have a fifth muscle that enables us to look upward, so shouldn't we look to God?

The remainder of this psalm assures us that while we are looking up to God, His eye is upon us to keep us safe at all times during this earthly walk.  We should be like Alexander the Great who said he could sleep soundly, even though he knew he was surrounded by personal danger.  He said he had a personal guard who was faithful and who was watching over him.  What peace it should bring to you and me to know that God, the Maker of heaven and earth, who never slumbers nor sleeps, is watching us each step of the way.  His eyes are on us day and night.  His power and goodness are always present to help us.

II.  God Ignored - (Romans 1:20) – For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.

Knowledge of God is available to everyone.  The created world is a witness to everyone that God does exists.  Creation teaches us about God's eternal power and divine nature.  The psalmist declared in Psalm 19:1-4  The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.  2. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. 3. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.  4. Their line has gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.  

How could anyone observe the majesty of the heavens and deny the existence of its Maker?  Through creation, God has given such clear evidence of His existence that humanity is left without excuse for denying Him.

Starting in Romans 1:21 the apostle Paul paints one of the bleakest pictures of humanity to be found anywhere.  He tells us about a people who have turned from the Creator and are worshiping the creation.  Romans 1:25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie.  That is, they abandoned the true God to worship false gods.  They were guilty of two great errors; one was in their minds, the other in their wills.

III. ALL-POWERFUL GOD (Isaiah 40:12-15; Jeremiah 32:17-23)

       A. The Incomparable God – Isaiah 40:12-15 – Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His Hand, Measured heaven with a span and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?  Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance? 13 – Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has taught Him?  v.14 – With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice?  Who taught Him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?  v. 15 – Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, And are counted as the small dust on the scales; Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.

Isaiah pictures a God who can hold all the seas, lakes, and rivers in the whole world “in the hollow of His hand” – as it is closed, forming a cavity by which water can be held.  Almighty God can take up all the water of all the various bodies of water in the palm of His hand like we can take up the smallest quantity in ours.   Who can be compared to Him?

The Lord measures the heavens with “the span”-- the distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a spread hand. He can also measure all “the dust of the earth in a basket” (v.12).  He is so magnificent that He can take the mountains and hills and weigh them on scales.  What an awesome picture Isaiah paints of our Almighty God!

The nations of the world may conspire against Him, yet keeping His own counsel, He will confound them all.  Before Him, they “are like one small drop in a bucket” (v. 15).

  B.  The Just God – (Jer.   32:17-19)  v.17 – Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:  v.18 – Thou showiest loving kindness unto thousands and repay the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts. v.19 - Great in counsel, and mighty in work, for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

Jeremiah turns to the Lord in prayer, and Wow, what a prayer it was.  Jeremiah approached the throne of grace.  He opened his prayer by extolling the majesty and might of the Lord who made heaven and earth.  Nothing short of almighty power could have produced the complete work of creation.  All these works were wrought simply by speaking the word, and all were produced out of nothing.  The only logical conclusion one can reach is “there is nothing too hard for God” (v.17).

But not only is He a God of love, but He is also a God of justice.  If He rewards faithfulness, He also punishes sin (Jeremiah 32:18).  Exodus 20:5 says, “Thou shalt not bow down to them nor serve them.  For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those that hate Me.”

In His omniscience, God observes all the ways of all people (Jeremiah 32:19). Nothing is hidden from God.  He determines who will be rewarded for their actions and who will be punished.  We should walk carefully before Him and live each day with an awareness that His eyes are upon us because nothing escapes Him.

C. God the Deliverer – Jeremiah 32:20-23 - v.20  You have set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, to this day, and in Israel and among other men; and You have made Yourself a name, as it is this day. v.21 You have brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror. v.22 You have given them this land, of which You swore to their fathers to give them-- “a land flowing with milk and honey.” v.23 And they came in and took possession of it, but they have not obeyed Your voice or walked in Your law.  They have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have caused all this calamity to come upon them.

The Almighty made known His power and righteousness in leading the children of Israel out of Egypt.  One miracle after another occurred as He led them out of Egypt.  How could they forget the plagues He brought upon the Egyptians or His mercy in not allowing any of these plagues to touch them?  How could they forget the breath of God parting the waters of the Red Sea and their miraculous deliverance where Pharaoh's armies perished?

How could they forget manna and quails raining down from heaven, or water springing forth from a rock to quench their thirst?  v. 22 “flowing with milk and honey.”  These pictures are a land abounding with all necessary and pleasant things for their sustenance and comfort.  The Lord has continued to bless Israel, which was declared a nation again in 1948, and continues to survive despite being despised by neighboring nations.

How did the Israelites respond to the goodness of the Lord?  Were they grateful, did they serve Him faithfully?  No. They did not obey His voice or walk in His law. v.23 Instead, they did “nothing” He commanded of them.

IV.  MERCIFUL  FATHER – Ephesians. 2:4-7; 1 Peter 1:3-5

         A. Salvation by Grace (Ephesians 2:4-7) But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5. even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6. and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,7. that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

        This passage opens with a reference to two attributes of God: His mercy and love. God has shown mercy to us in time because He has loved us from all eternity.   Love is the fountain out of which mercy flows.  (v.4) The psalmist understood this: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and abundant in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” (86:5).

        (Ephesians 2:5) tells us our loving and merciful God has provided a way to salvation for us, even when we were “dead in sins” and void of all merit.  God extended His mercy and made us alive in Christ.  We should never lose sight that salvation is “by grace.”

       B. The Hope of Eternal Life (1 Peter 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

      God the Father deserves all the praise that we can give to Him.  He has provided redemption through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  We can understand what John meant when he said, “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.  (I John 3:3).

       C. The Heavenly Inheritance (I Peter 1:4-5) 4 – To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. 5 – Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Peter is speaking of our inheritance in Christ.  The inheritance given to saints is “incorruptible” v.4) it can never perish.  Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” Matthew 6:19-21.

Our inheritance is pure and holy and beyond the reach of any who would defile it. Our inheritance will never fade away.  This inheritance is provided by the redemptive work of our Lord.  Through faith in Him we receive and retain salvation.  In Christ, we have a living hope that will be fully realized at the end of this journey.  Then, we will fully understand what it means to be “heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).

The real focus of praise in the death and resurrection of Jesus is God the Father.  He has been shown as righteous, and as the God of love and holiness.  God's mercy has proved to be abundant.  He has birthed us to new life and hope through the resurrection of Jesus.