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Week II - Who is God as He says He is
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But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the water, I will be with you; in the rivers you shall not drown. When you walk through fire, you shall not be burned; the flames shall not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior (Isaiah 43: 1-3).”
UNDERSTANDING GOD THROUGH HIS WORKS:
St. Ignatius of Loyola hits the nail on the head when in his ‘Contemplation to attain the love of God’ in the Spiritual Exercises, he describes love as needing to manifest itself in deeds rather than in words. Secondly, the true nature of love consists in a mutual sharing. Thus one always gives to the other. According to this understanding of Ignatius, talking the talk makes sense only when one walks the talk. In Scripture God tells us in one way or another who He is by fulfilling His promises.
In the Scripture passage from Isaiah 43, the Lord is speaking to a beleaguered and defeated people. They are definitely going into exile. Yet God offers them a powerful message of hope and reassurance because, as He describes Himself “I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your savior.” This statement is like a reverberating “Amen” to God’s marvelous deeds among and for His people. This description reminds Israel of her history with God. In times past, especially during the Exodus and settlement of the Promised Land, God had been ‘holy,’ totally other than the other gods and their adherents whom He defeated resoundingly. God was also totally other than what the Israelites could ever have imagined or expected. As a result they adored, praised, and thanked the Living God for His mighty and marvelous deeds through which He expressed His love for them!
God reminds them that it is He who redeemed them from slavery in Egypt. Traditionally redemption from slavery occurred when a family member of a slave took his/her place, acting as the price which bought the slave’s freedom. This understanding of redemption was later fulfilled beyond measure by Jesus who bought with the price of his own life and blood, not only the salvation of Israel but that of the whole world. “Though he (Jesus) was in the form of God, he did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. He was known to be of human estate, and it was thus that he humbled himself, obediently accepting even death, death on a cross (Philippians 2: 6-8)!”
CALLED BY NAME:
Then God reminds them that it is He who called them by name and they are His. Naming a person in Scripture has particular relevance as it signifies a very special bond between the one naming and the named. In several places God changed the name of the individual as a way of signifying this special relationship of intimacy between God and the individual. Abram’s name was changed to Abraham as was Sarai’s to Sarah. In the New Testament, among others, Simon’s name was changed to Peter, and Saul’s name to Paul. As Christians we experience this special bond and intimacy on three levels in baptism. In giving us a name our parents were telling themselves and everyone concerned that we belonged to them in a very special way and they were forever committed to us as family. Similarly, the Church expressed her special connection with us by receiving and claiming us as children of the ecclesial community or the Body of Christ. And most importantly, through baptism God claimed us as His own. Jesus took upon himself our sins and therefore our slavery, so that He could present us to his Father as God’s sons and daughters and his own brothers and sisters.
GOD AS PROTECTOR:
Finally, God is reminding the Israelites that in the midst of their suffering and humiliation in their land of exile, He will be with them when they pass through the water and river. Clearly there are echoes here of the crossing of the Red Sea which was a mighty crossing over from danger at the hands of Pharaoh and his army to the security and power of God’s protection and sovereignty. This passage also echoes Daniel, Chapter 3 where God preserves Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace.
MOSES’ ENCOUNTER WITH “I AM”:
Both the Old and New Testaments are replete with special reference to God’s love for humans and faithfulness to his promises. Let us look at just a few references. In Exodus 3, Moses has a life-altering encounter with the Lord God. He is reluctant however to heed God’s instructions to go to Egypt as His messenger to bring the Hebrews to freedom and the Promised Land. Moses is obviously intimidated by God’s request and concerned about being prosecuted for murdering an Egyptian. So he tries to find every excuse to get out of obeying God. At one point Moses says to God, “when I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ if they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what am I to tell them?” God replied, “I am who am.” Then he added, “This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you.” Apparently this utterance is the source of the word Yahweh, the proper personal name of the God of Israel. It is commonly explained in reference to God as the absolute and necessary Being. It may be understood of God as the Source of all created beings. Out of reverence for this name, the term Adonai, “my Lord,” was later used as a substitute. If as the name suggests, God is the ultimate Power and Being, the Hebrews and we, the disciples of Jesus, need never fear for our ultimate security and destiny.
GOD’S WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS:
There is a beautiful invitation to grace in Isaiah, Chapter 55. We will always be afraid of God’s justice if we do not appreciate deeply His mercy and compassion. Chapter 55 of Isaiah helps to give us such an appreciation. There are several images in this chapter that capture the wonderfully mysterious nature of God’s love and compassion for us. For instance, “all you who are thirsty come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk (Isaiah 55: 1)!” God will provide abundantly at no cost to us! Similarly, “let the scoundrel forsake his way, and the wicked man his thoughts; let him turn to the Lord for mercy; to our God who is generous in forgiving. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts (Isaiah 55: 7-9).” The depths of love contained in these words defy any verbal description. They are words that can only be pondered and appreciated in one’s heart where hopefully one day the mystery of God’s love will blossom into transformation of our lives!
CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS:
Finally, “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them, saying: Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth” (Genesis 1: 27-28). The first chapters of the Book of Genesis capture vividly the depths of God’s yearnings for us. God’s decision is to offer the human inhabitants of a new universe the privilege of participating in the divine life and heritage. This decision on God’s part can only be an act of pure love, as God doesn’t need humans to complete Himself. As God’s image and likeness we participate in the continuing act of creation by exercising authority over creatures the way God would.
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HELPFUL ATTITUDES FOR PRAYER:
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You will never become comfortable with God’s justice if you do not come to a deep appreciation of God’s overwhelming love and compassion for you.
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Your creation as God’s image and likeness is an unadulterated blessing and privilege you will never fully understand. However, your life will be profoundly transformed if you live in constant gratitude for this divine gift.
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There will be times when your heart will be racked with doubt and confusion. Your thoughts will be laced with anxiety and you might even wonder about God’s faithfulness to you. In those moments it helps to remember Isaiah 55: 9: “As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways and my thoughts above your thoughts.”
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The Christian learns to be patient and long-suffering in crisis and tribulation because of the conviction that God is faithful to His promises.
GUIDELINES FOR PRAYER:
- Begin every prayer session with an earnest prayer to the Holy Spirit like the one I have composed for you: Come, Holy Spirit, and overshadow me with your gentle wisdom and power as I endeavor to sit at the feet of Jesus during this period of prayer. Purify my mind and heart as I seek to make the teachings of Jesus my priority in life, thinking, speaking and doing as He desires. You are the keeper of my soul, leading me into God’s heart. May I be docile and submissive to your wisdom and guidance. And may my life be a pleasing offering in your sight. Amen.
- Take one of the passages suggested for the week for your prayer. During the week you might want to ponder the question, “Do I take seriously who God says He is?”
- Lastly, during your prayer make sure that along with reflection you also address God directly and listen for answers that you need.
- You can end your prayer with the following: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I thank you for your gracious companionship. I praise you for being my Creator, Savior and Lord. May I take your blessings to my day, and may your presence envelop and permeate all my thoughts and actions. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PASSAGES FOR PRAYER:
Genesis, Chapters 1 & 2: Our Creation as God’s image and likeness.
Psalm 8: The Psalmist reflects on our creation as God’s image and likeness.
Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
Isaiah 43: Promises of Redemption and Restoration
Isaiah 49: 1-7: The Servant of the Lord
John 13: 1-17: Jesus washes the feet of his disciples
Ephesians 1: 1-10: God’s Plan of Salvation
Philippians 2: 5-11: Imitating Christ’s Humility
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Some suggestions:
- It would be important for you to become very familiar with ‘The Imitation of Christ.’ After the Bible, this classic is the most widely read. During this year long retreat you can choose to read a few chapters on a daily basis, and/or the ones recommended during this week.
- It would be even more important for you to become familiar with the Bible, especially with the New Testament. Similarly, beginning with the New Testament you can choose to read a few chapters on a daily basis, and/or the ones recommended during this week.
- Try to do all your spiritual reading recommended for the week.
The Imitation of Christ:
Book Two: The Interior Life
Chapter 8: The Intimate friendship with Jesus
Book Three: Internal Consolation
Chapter 16: True Comfort is to be sought in God alone
Chapter 34: God is sweet above all things and in all things to those who love Him
Loving in the Master’s Footsteps
Chapter One: God’s Dream – Faithful to the End
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| Old Testament:
Exodus 3: The Call of Moses
Psalms 115: The Greatness and Goodness of the True God; 116: Thanksgiving to God for help in need; 118: Hymn of Thanksgiving to the Savior of Israel
Proverbs, Chapter 4: Wisdom: the Supreme Guide of Men & The Good and Evil Way.
Hosea 3: Triumph of Love
New Testament:
Luke 19: Zacchaeus the Tax Collector
John 8: 1-11: The Adulteress
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- Journal for a few minutes daily about your experience with God in prayer and during the day.
- Your journal will help you with your sharing in spiritual direction
- Gradually patterns of insights, themes, consolations, and resistance to God’s promptings will emerge.
- Your journal will help you appreciate the Holy Spirit’s action in your being.
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