I AM
Do you know the Creator YHWH?
This writer attempts the absolutely impossible task of explaining GOD to those who may wonder at the passion of some for someone they have never seen or who remains distant for many. But we will examine the Scriptures and what they reveal about this Most Amazing Personage, who although He sometimes seems elusive, desires each of us finding Him and becoming His personal friend.
In the manner of an introduction, let us look at the first time Moses met GOD: “Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of GOD. 2 There the messenger of GOD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” 4 When GOD saw that he had gone over to look, GOD called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!” “Here am I,” he answered. 5 “Do not come any closer,” GOD said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then He said, “I Am the GOD of your father, the GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at GOD…
(After receiving his commission from GOD for the deliverance of Israel) 13 Then Moses asked GOD, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The GOD of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ What should I tell them?” 14 GOD said to Moses, “I AM That I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 GOD also told Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘YHVH, the GOD of your fathers—the GOD of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is My name forever, and this is how I AM to be remembered in every generation” (EXD 3:1-6, 13-15). YHVH no doubt, desired His name be known because all the false gods of the nations had their own names.
“I AM WHO I AM” or “I AM That I AM” represents the English translation of the Hebrew meaning of the name of GOD (’eh·yeh ’ă·šer ’eh·yeh); He actually says His name is “YHVH” (Yah-whah). Although the LORD gave His name to Moses and commanded that people remember Him that way forever, eventually the Hebrew rabbis felt His name was SO holy, one should not use it and they resorted to calling Him, “The Name” or in Hebrew, “Hashem.” In this writer’s opinion, which no one has requested, YHVH is NOT pleased. His name was a gift to the people—a gift of power and protection and they have forsaken it.
Because the name has been out of use for a very long time, the proper pronunciation has been lost. In former days, an attempt of saying His name in disguise came about as “Jehovah” by inserting the assumed vowels in reverse between the consonants of His name. Of late, many say YAHWEH (YAH-WAY), but this writer feels the following pronunciation the most ancient and correct: YHVH (YAH-WHAH) with a deeply winded “WH.”
This writer, although NOT a Hebrew scholar, feels that the last syllable should also result in the sound of “YAH” and not WEH (WAY), an alternative translation. Consider the ancient Hebrew name endings such as Obadiah, “Obad-YAH” (servant of YAH), Jonah, “Yon-AH,” Micah, “Mik-AH” (Who is like YAH?), Zechariah, “Zekar-YAH” (Remembered of YAH), Jeremiah, “Yirme-YAH-U” (Exultation of YAH), or Isaiah, “Yesha-YAH-U” (salvation of YAH).
In addition, the names of GOD, usually translated in many translations as simply either GOD or LORD, and not as YHVH, appear from this point onward as properly translated from the Hebrew/Chaldean/Aramaic forms in quoted Scripture. This writer desires that the Name of YHVH no longer be hidden, but that we acknowledge this Most Important Personage as requested.
“Ĕl (singular) or Ĕlohim[i] (plural)” are generic Hebrew/Chaldean names meaning “GOD,” either the true GOD or pagan gods. This writer will continue in the use of “LORD” or “GOD” in place of Hebrew or other ethnic names for “master” or generic “GOD,” but will use the Name “YAH” or “YHVH” wherever they appear in the original text in hopes that the Reader will begin feeling the passion of YHVH in all that He says and does, developing a better understanding of His ways.
Now what does YHVH mean when He describes Himself as, “I AM That I AM”? In the book of Revelation, we read, “I AM the Alpha (Greek “A” or beginning of the alphabet, Hebrew, “Aleph,” the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet) and the Omega (Greek, last letter of the alphabet. In Hebrew, “Tav,” is the last letter of the alphabet)—the beginning and the end,” says YHVH. “I AM the One Who Is, Who always was, and Who is still to come—the Almighty One” (RVL 1:18).
In other words, YHVH has no beginning and no end; He simply IS and always WAS. He exists outside of time and eternity, because He created Time and all other dimensions. As it were, all creation, including Time and eternity, exists within YHVH. This differs from all other so-called gods who, initially created in form as angelic beings, eventually chose rebelling against YHVH and setting themselves up as “gods.”
“I AM” expresses His eternal existence and power, His unchangeable nature and why He sees the “end from the beginning” (ISH 46:10). “I AM” claims that He is everything and that everything proceeds from Him. All creation flows out of the effulgence of His GOODNESS and LOVE and POWER and therefore is made of His substance, although in a lower form. This differs from pantheism in that YHVH remains distinct from His creation.
“But YHVH is the only true ĔLOHIM. He is the living ĔLOHIM and the everlasting King!” according to the prophet Jeremiah (JRM 10:10). The name, YHVH, speaks volumes about GOD, and should not be dismissed. Consequently, GOD’s name is not “GOD,” but He possesses a familiar name of address just as we do, “YHVH”, the word “GOD” represents a title and expresses who and what He is to us.
Let’s go on then to the nature of GOD. Moses tells the people he leads in the wilderness, “For YHVH your ĔLOHIM is a consuming fire, a jealous ĔL” (DTR 4:24). That GOD is a consuming fire does not refer to His jealousy particularly, for by nature, the glory of YHVH is fire and light and energy pouring out continually. Imagine that man cannot look directly at the sun, but GOD made the sun and an unimaginable number of other stars like it and Himself is greater than all of them put together. In fact, the prophet Isaiah says that all of creation fits into the span of YHVH’s hand (PSM 40:12).
The Psalms describe GOD in His anger, “Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from Him. 9 He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under His feet. 10 He rose on a cherub and flew; He came swiftly on the wings of the wind. 11 He made darkness His covering, His canopy around Him, thick clouds dark with water. 12 Out of the brightness before Him, hailstones and coals of fire broke through His clouds. 13 YHVH also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire. 14 And He sent out His arrows and scattered them; He flashed forth lightnings and routed them. 15 Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at Your rebuke, O YHVH, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils” (PSM 18:8-15). This passage may represent a prophetic vision of GOD’s anger in the final judgment of the world against sinners.
Also, we read about an incident with Moses when the tabernacle in the wilderness was finished and consecrated before the LORD, “Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of YHVH appeared to all the people. 24 And fire came out from before YHVH and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces” (LVT 9:23-24). Although some translations say they “shouted with joy,” this writer feels that the text implies they screamed in terror and fell face down, either in panic or involuntarily.
Later, when King Solomon built a temple for worship in Jerusalem, “As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of YHVH filled the temple. 2 And the priests could not enter the House of YHVH, because the glory of YHVH filled the House of YHVH. 3 When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of YHVH on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground” (again in fear of the LORD, 2 CHR 7:1-3).
When the cherub[ii], Hellel, now known as “Satan,” sinned, the LORD expelled him from Heaven for two reasons: 1) the fallen angel, in his corrupted state, could no longer endure the great glory of the throne room; and 2) he could no longer perform the functions for which he was created. YHVH is called a consuming fire because the purity and holiness of His glory consumes all evil and sinful angel or sinful man cannot stand before Him.
Isaiah also writes, “Who among us can live with the Consuming Fire?” (ISH 33:14). That issue concerned YHVH from the beginning, for His very nature displays Himself in power, light and the fire of great glory beyond imagination. Neither man nor angel could look at or approach YHVH, unless He made provision for that occasion. But a most intriguing mystery of GOD remains that the heart of YHVH desires pouring out His love on His creation and that GOD enjoys fellowship with man and created him for that purpose, “What is man that Thou does take thought of him?” (PSM 8:4; HBR 2:6).
GOD devised a marvelous plan of reconciling the distance between Himself and man by speaking forth His WORD, Who manifested as the “Son of ĔLOHIM” (HBR 1:1-3); a GOD with Whom man might relate. The gospel of John describes Him, “In the beginning was the WORD (the Embodiment of the Spoken Creative Command of GOD), and the WORD was with ĔLOHIM, and the WORD was ĔLOHIM 2 He was in the beginning with ĔLOHIM. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men” (JHN 1:1-4).
We see by this Scripture that the WORD was GOD and with GOD; in other words, the two are part of the “One” GOD mentioned in the Schema (DTR 6:4). A third person of the Godhead resides in the Ruach or Holy Spirit (the Embodiment of the Creative Power of GOD). Another amazing mystery of YHVH to this writer, lies in His ability, not only as Omnipresent, meaning being in all places in every moment of time and eternity, but His remarkable power of appearing in multiple forms at the same time and multiplying those forms at will to infinitum.
We see from the Scriptures that YHVH in the Second Person of the Godhead appears not only as the Son of Man, known commonly as “Jesus or Jeshua or the more ancient form, Yahusha;” but also as the One in the burning bush, and the Rock which gave water in the wilderness (1 COR 10:4). Some of the other names for the Savior include, the “Messenger/Angel of YHVH (2 KNG 1:3, MLC 2:7) or Messenger of the Covenant (MLC 3:1; HBR 9:5),” the “Messiah” (DNL 9:6; JHN 4:25), the Great King” (PSM 47:2; 48:2; 95:3; MLC 1:14), the “Bread of Life” (JHN 6:48), the “Door/Gate of the Sheepfold” (JHN 10:9), the “Good Shepherd” (EZK 24:33; JHN 10:11, 14), the “Light of the World” (JHN 9:5).
GOD also represents Himself in the Third Person of the Godhead, Holy Spirit or “Breath,” as the “Living Water” (JHN 7:38) and the cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night, during the exodus of Israel (EXD 13:22), Who represents the tangible power of YHVH (JHN 14:26). Some of His other names include “the Comforter-Helper” (JHN 14:16, 25; 15:26, 16:7), “the Spirit of Truth” (JHN 16:13) and “the Spirit of Elohim” (2 CHR 24:20; MTH 12:28; 1 COR 2:12; 1 JHN 4:2).
Here, the writer, of course, refers to the teaching of the “Trinity,” that being YHVH in the forms of Father GOD, Who sits on the throne of Heaven and makes decisions for the Godhead, the Son of GOD (Jesus) or Hebrew Yahusha/Yeshua, the Redeemer and Advocate for man, Who, risen, sits at the right of Father GOD and Holy Spirit, the Power of YHVH, Who indwells and directs believers and performs signs, miracles and wonders on the earth. Even though these represent the three Personages of the Godhead, Who existed always in YHVH, but now manifest separately, each of these may appear in various forms and multiply as needed. That shows the wonder and power of our holy GOD, YHVH! There is no other god like Him!
The divine order presents itself as Firstly, Father GOD, the Most Majestic form of YHVH, “Who dwells in unapproachable light” (1 TIM 6:16); and Who establishes the WILL of YHVH and makes decisions for the Godhead. Secondly, the Son, “Whom He appointed the heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world. 3 He is the radiance of ĔLOHIM’s glory and the exact imprint of His nature and He upholds the universe by the WORD of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (HBR 1:3).
We also read about the Son in the prophet Isaiah who quotes Him as saying, “Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: YHVH called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me. 2 He made My mouth like a sharp sword; He hid Me in the shadow of His hand. He made Me like a polished arrow; He hid Me in His quiver. 3 He said to Me, ‘You are My Servant, Israel, in whom I will display My glory’… 5 And now says YHVH, Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, that Israel might be gathered to Him—for I AM honored in the sight of YHVH, and My ĔLOHIM is My strength—
6 He says: ‘It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ 7 Thus says YHVH, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him Who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: ‘Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of YHVH, Who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.’” (ISH 49:1-3, 4-7). Here, we see the Son of GOD recounting a conversation about Himself with Father GOD, describing the Son as the Messiah, Whom He designated for the redemption of not only Israel, but the whole world.
The prophet Micah also writes of the Messiah, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity” (MCH 5:2); signifying that the Messiah, the Son of GOD, is YHVH, as the second person of the Godhead. He became flesh so that He could die as the perfect sacrifice, but as John says in the former quote, “He was with GOD and was GOD.”
Also, let the reader remember Who walked in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve; not the consuming fire but the Messenger of the Covenant (Jesus), Who immediately re-established the covenant with blood when Adam fell. Whenever Abraham traveled to a new place, he built an altar and made sacrifices and then YHVH in the form of the Second Person of the Godhead always appeared to him. When He and two angels show up at Abraham’s tent on their way to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham quickly recognizes Him and fixes a meal for Him and makes an amazing deal with Him.
Later, when Jacob fled from his brother Esau and found himself at the place of one of his grandfather’s altars, Jesus looks down to him from the top of the heavenly ladder. Many years later, Jacob wrestles all night with a person Who will not reveal Himself but, in the dawning, gives Jacob the name Israel because he fought with GOD Himself and prevailed by not giving up. Even Samson’s parents, when his mother was told about their coming child, encountered a mysterious person, who accepted their worship and sacrifice and disappeared in its smoke. Jesus, the Second Person of the Godhead continually manifests and interacts with mankind on behalf of the Godhead. That is the reason He is called the Messenger of the Covenant.
GOD reconciled the distance between Himself and man by speaking forth His WORD, Who manifested as the Son of GOD (HBR 1:1-3); a GOD with Whom man might relate. The Son of GOD came as Savior necessary for man’s redemption, restoring the breach of sin, but most importantly, for fellowship, the ultimate destiny of man. The LORD’s character compels Him in love for man, but GOD created man with the ability of choosing or rejecting Himself as the object of his love.
Consider also the prophecy of Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Now, the man possesses “the seed” naturally, but here GOD refers to the “seed of the woman,” a hint of the supernatural overshadowing of the virgin Mary by Holy Spirit and the resulting seed, which was GOD as Man, born of a virgin (LUK 1:35).
With that said, we find man in the garden, walking with the LORD. He walked not with the Consuming Fire, but with One with Whom he could fellowship, GOD in the flesh. GOD made the first and only covenant with man, the bridal covenant. The terms of the covenant placed responsibility on both parties: The LORD gave man His beautiful supernatural garden (GNS 2:8) for his abode; dominion over all creation (GNS 1:26); and His personal fellowship and instruction. Man’s only responsibility consisted of his obedience in not consuming the fruit of one tree in the midst of the garden filled with many other beautiful trees full of delicious fruit.
When man failed in keeping his side of the covenant, GOD flinched not, but immediately amended the conditions for the maintenance of the covenant by adding blood sacrifice and removing Adam and Eve from the garden to protect them from eternal damnation. The covenant, amended many more times since then, eventually came to its final form in the Davidic Covenant (2 SML 7), where all responsibility falls to the LORD for keeping the covenant and man’s only requirement consists in believing GOD.
The third member of the Godhead, Holy Spirit, Who testifies to and glorifies the Son, Who testifies to and glorifies the Father (JHN 15:26), Whom the Savior/Messiah calls “the Comforter-Helper-Advocate” (JHN 15:26). The Savior also says, “But I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I AM leaving (after His crucifixion); for if I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. 8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment: 9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 and regarding righteousness, because I AM going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me; 11 and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world (Satan) has been judged…13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take from Mine and will disclose it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine; this is why I said that He takes from Mine and will disclose it to you” (JHN 16:7-15).
Before the coming of Messiah, during the Old or former Covenant days, Holy Spirit came upon people, but could not indwell them. At the fall of Adam, at which time GOD’s covenant was broken by Adam’s rebellion and Holy Spirit left from indwelling man. Since that time, Holy Spirit came and went (like the wind) as He had need of man, i.e., at Saul’s disobedience, He left. After the crucifixion, however, that condition was restored to all who believe in the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. Now, once a person receives Jesus as Savior, Holy Spirit never leaves; He is the promise of redemption to that person.
This writer acknowledges that among theologians there exist differences in opinion concerning the exact nature of the three Members of the Holy Godhead, but this writer attests to the revelation received of Holy Spirit, for whatever worth the Reader deems that; being that YHVH humbly manifests as Father, Son and Spirit in order that He might interact fully with His creation in all ways that His creation may experience Him and that He may enjoy His creation in all ways. YHVH became to man, GOD, Father, King, Husband, and Brother, El Shaddai, “all that man needs” and His different forms allow Him the ability of being all those to us.
YHVH, not only Omnipresent, but Omniscient says, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient time, what is still to come” (ISH 46:10). The Scriptures also record, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to ĔLOHIM” (1 COR 3:19). Because YHVH sees all things, in all places of creation, in every moment of time and eternity, He already knows and calculates every probable outcome of every situation so that He may redirect man as needful. One can never surprise YHVH! The devil has not yet come to the understanding that GOD runs lightyears before him and all his plans ultimately must fail.
King David wrote, “O YHVH, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O YHVH” and also, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be” (PSM 139:1-4, 16).
Most men will balk at this concept, but man resides on earth for the purpose of testing his spirit and possesses NO original thought, but YHVH designed him for making decisions on the thoughts given to him, either from GOD or from the evil realm. Man’s business is choosing right over wrong; good over evil; and blessing over cursing. For that reason, the Apostle Paul writes, “Casting down vain imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of ĔLOHIM, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah/Christ” (2 COR 10:5).
In the book of Romans, we read, “Oh, the depth of the riches and knowledge of ĔLOHIM! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!” (RMN 111:33). The Apostle Paul again, “No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of ĔLOHIM—His plan that was previously hidden, even though He made it for our ultimate glory before the world began which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the ADONAI of Glory” (1 COR 2:7).
This verse speaks of the astonishing wisdom and plan of YHVH in becoming a Man, Who would satisfy all the requirements of a Perfect Sacrifice, which fallen man could not, and outwitting the devil in his attempt of destroying GOD’s destiny for Man and all YHVH’s beautiful creation.
The Apostle claims that if the devil had understood that the crucifixion was planned by YHVH as a way of recovering everything that the devil stole from man in the Garden, that he (the devil) would not have promoted it as he did. Satan, deceived into believing that he eliminated the purpose of YHVH in sending His Son by His Son’s death, instigated the wickedness against the Savior, not realizing that in doing so the will of GOD was accomplished for cancelling all the work of the devil from Day One, redeeming Man from sin and purchasing the Earth, returning it to Man’s dominion, fulfilling the prophecy of Genesis 3:15. What a Savior!
Not only Omniscient and Omnipresent, but YHVH also is Omnipotent or All Powerful. This quality, most necessary in the performance of GOD’s plans of wisdom, made it possible for YHVH’s execution of all His desires, “I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish’” and, “Truly I have spoken and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it” (ISH 46:10, 11 BSB).
The prophet Isaiah also comments with a rhetorical question, “YHVH of Hosts (Armies) has purposed and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?” (ISH 14:27) and again, he quotes YHVH, “Even from eternity I AM He; and there is none that can deliver out of My hand. When I act, who can reverse it?” (ISH 43:13 BSB). In fact, “The king’s heart is in the hand of YHVH, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes” (PRV 21:1).
In the Scriptures, we see King Jehoshaphat of Judah praying, “O YHVH, ĔLOHIM of our fathers, are You not ĔLOHIM in Heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In Your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand You” (2 CHR 20:6).
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of ĔLOHIM’s power for us who believe Him. 20 This is the same mighty power that He worked in Messiah/Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places. 21 Now He (Christ) is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else (above every name that is named-ESV)—not only in this world, but also in the world to come” (EPH 1:19-21). This verse shows that the Son also retains all power as He has conquered death for all humanity.
YHVH asks the prophet Isaiah, “Why didn’t anyone answer when I called? Is it because I have no power to rescue? No, that is not the reason! For I can speak to the sea and make it dry up! I can turn rivers into deserts covered with dying fish. 3 I dress the skies in darkness covering them with clothes of mourning” (ISH 50:2-3 NLT).
YHVH challenges Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?…5 Who appointed its measurements?…Who stretched the line upon it?…6 Who laid its cornerstone?…8 or enclosed the sea with doors, when it burst forth and came from the womb; 9 when I made the clouds its garment, and thick darkness its swaddling band; 10 and assigned for it My law, and put bars and doors; 11 and said, ‘This far you have come, but no farther, and here your proud waves stop? 12 Have you commanded the morning, and caused the dawn to know its place?…19 Where is the dwelling place of light? And darkness, where is its place?…24 Where is the way that Light is divided?…32 Do you bring out the constellations in its season?…33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Or do you apply their rule over the earth?…35 Do you send out lightnings, and they go and say to you, ‘Here we are!’?…40:9 “Do you have an arm like ĔL? Or do you thunder with a voice like His?” (JOB 38:4-35, 40:9 HS).
YHVH explains to Job a few of the things He does in upholding His creation and stresses to him the difference between GOD and man. In the end of the story Job repents for his complaint against YHVH and is very much blessed by Him with twice as much as he had before; a lesson for us and an example of YHVH’s character.
Let’s go on to a discussion of YHVH’s character. GOD is Perfect! Everything that YHVH does is Perfect! He always acts in perfect wisdom, perfect love and perfect justice. YHVH cannot change or depart from perfection ever or He cannot be Eternal GOD.
Man says but, “How can GOD be good? There is evil on the earth!” Man mostly says these things because he has not understood that the creation we currently experience drastically differs from the creation YHVH made. In the book of Genesis (the Beginning), we read that when GOD finished His creative work on the earth, that He pronounced everything “very good” and blessed everything (GNS 1:31). However, that quickly changed as the fallen cherub, Satan began his work.
The fallen cherub, in an attempt of countering YHVH’s threat, [“He (the Messiah) shall bruise your head, and (even though) you shall bruise His heel” (GNS 3:15)], GOD spoke this to the serpent because of Satan’s instigation in the fall of Adam and Eve. Since then, the devil and his fallen ones corrupted not only the seed of almost all of mankind before the flood, but tampered with all of nature, spoiling GOD’s good creation. That explains YHVH’s lament, “I will blot out man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth—every man and beast and crawling creature and bird of the air—for I AM grieved that I have made them” (GNS 6:7). It also shows why only one family in the whole earth (and two of each animal, seven pairs of clean animals), who had no demonic blood/DNA and served GOD not idols, received mercy and preservation through the worldwide catastrophic flood.
Even though YHVH removed the fallen angels to the Abyss until the day of final judgment and killed their giant offspring, after the flood, another set of fallen ones, once again introduced giants to the earth and again corrupted nature, altering many of GOD’s creatures into biting, stinging, blood sucking and venomous creatures and poisonous plants. This world in which we live reflects nothing of the beautiful and perfect creation which YHVH made for mankind.
But YHVH is a GOD of justice; His perfect love always balances against His perfect justice. Satan and his fallen comrades and their offspring thought to rule the earth and mankind, instead of the GOD-intended rule of man over the earth and all it contains. At the present, it seems that Satan rules, because the earth reeks with havoc.
However, YHVH holds a Day of Reckoning, a Day of Judgment in reserve, when the cup of evil runs over, ripe for justice. Every evil deed done from Day 1 on the earth MUST be requited before YHVH’s throne on earth will be established forever. Earth, also re-established and renewed as Eden, then beautifully supplies all the needs of mankind. Man and beast will thrive in perfect harmony once again under the rule of an eternally righteous, loving GOD-King as the Messiah sits on the throne of Zion.
One might say, why doesn’t YHVH judge evil now? The Apostle Peter comments, “YHVH isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 PTR 3:9). Moses reminds GOD of His words when He desires the destruction of the Israelites for their excessive wickedness, “YHVH is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but He will by no means clear the guilty” (NBR 14:18). Moses won his case!
We see in that situation, YHVH relented of His intention conditionally, “I have pardoned, according to your word…but none of the men who have seen My glory and My signs …and yet have put Me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed My voice, 23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised…No one who has treated Me with contempt will ever see it” (NBR 14:22-23 ESV).
YHVH loved us enough that He freely gave Himself to a cruel, tortuous death for our eternal redemption, but He also judges those who do not obey. Those who feel safe because they believe GOD overlooks their habitual sin, may be surprised when He says, “Enough!” and takes action. The Savior Himself admonishes us, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (MTH 5:48 BSB). YHVH loves completely and passionately, every one of His children, but He will not tolerate their sin and justice must in its proper time be administered.
GOD’s judgment, however, always works toward repentance; He only judges in hopes of inducing repentance or when repentance no longer remains possible, as after death. The prophet Isaiah writes, “For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” (ISH 26:9 ESV) and also, “But YHVH of Hosts is exalted in justice, and the Holy ĔLOHIM shows Himself holy in righteousness” (ISH 5:16).
YHVH also does not judge without mercy, whenever mercy may be applied to a situation, “For YHVH your ĔLOHIM is a merciful ĔL. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that He swore to them” (DTR 4:31). Also, “For ĔLOHIM has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all” (RMN 11:32) and the Apostle Paul also writes, “But YHVH, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Messiah/Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (EPH 2:4-7).
All these Scriptures show us that YHVH does not willingly judge His children, but desires blessing them instead, as the Most Loving Father. When He may no longer bless His children because of continued disobedience, He will in the end chastise them that they may repent. GOD also quickly administers mercy whenever possible. YHVH is thoroughly as GOOD, patient and as kind as we might desire.
People will say, “Population explosion endangers all.” This represents one of the fallacies of the wisdom of men. GOD always puts enough food and provision on the earth for every baby that is born. However, the real issue can be traced to those men who do not do well. That is, they do not freely share, they hoard or sell at too high prices or refuse using the blessings GOD gave for good. Farmers who can grow crops are paid NOT to grow crops because of market fluctuations, disregarding that there exist places in the world where those crops are needed. Sometimes we simply suffer because the wisdom of man is not true wisdom.
When famine truly exists, it represents disobedience to GOD or His Laws. Wherever in the world the gospel has flourished, even for a short time, the people prosper, women receive proper respect and government is well. Wherever the gospel has not gone, we see backwards development in society, people worshipping things and not GOD, and very much unwell in those lands, including famine and drought and other disaster. Those conditions exist because they ignore what should be obvious, “the heavens declare the glory of ĔLOHIM,” (PSM 19:1) and worship idols and do things contrary to the Law of GOD. All creation cries out so that all men should know, “there must be a Creator!” When missionaries come into an area or a nation and spread the gospel, everything begins changing for the better.
Whenever we see one born disabled in any way from birth, most think, “Why did GOD do that?” Some even believe GOD meant it for a purpose, such as the perfection of the ones who give that babe care or that they have deserved that burden in some way. It never occurs to them that YHVH set that spirit in a perfect body, which suffered corruption under the hand of evil. YHVH CANNOT create imperfection; that defies His character; ALL GOD’s work is PERFECT (DTR 32:4).
However we know the forces of evil maliciously hate man and their goal persists “to steal and kill and destroy,” but GOD says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (JHN 10:10). Now, violations of the law of GOD, bring curses upon man, which the demons eagerly fulfill, but that does not necessarily mean every birth defect or sickness or injury results from sin. Demons do whatever they believe they may get away with doing. GOD ultimately turns all the work of the devil to GOOD (RMN 8:28).
In the same way, GOD does not assign to us sickness, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares YHVH. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (JRM 29:11). Sickness is the curse for breaking the law of GOD (DTR 28:15-68), administered by the demons which remain on earth.
One may suffer with sickness if unconfessed sin or habitual sin persists in the life of a believer. In saying this, the writer implies not that if one remains afflicted with sickness, sin or unbelief must be the cause. Although some take that stance, we must remember that the forces of evil constantly strive in causing misery whenever they may get away with doing so. They have no sense of “fair play,” but in fact, promote and pride themselves in the opposite. GOD still heals, but at times, we must contend for our healing.
YHVH possesses the ability of ordering plagues as He did to Egypt when necessary, but the forces of evil willingly carry out those decrees because they hate mankind and enjoy his suffering (ZCH 1:15). We cannot claim ever that we have no sin, but the forces of evil do not always wait for permission in afflicting us; they do anything they believe they may get away with doing without necessarily having provocation. Inappropriately, YHVH gets the blame for many things not His work or His desire.
We read in the Scriptures that Jesus (YHVH in the flesh, carrying out the will of the Father), “Went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil” (ACT 10:38 ESV). Jesus healed and delivered, proving that those conditions were not of GOD. In one case, where sin was an issue, Jesus specified, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven!” (MTH 9:5; MRK 2:9; LUK 5:23) and in another warned, “See, you have been made well. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you” (JHN 5:14).
Mark, one of the twelve, records the LORD’s last words as He ascends, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well” (MRK 16:17-18). The issue here, obviously, is a matter of believing. Can the unrepentant heart really believe? Is there not that lurking doubt?
Healing may not happen for a variety of reasons, not always the believer’s fault; this booklet only touches the subject and deals not with all the issues blocking healing or why GOD seems unconcerned by not intervening. Believers may unknowingly have iniquity in their bloodline through the activities of their ancestors which the enemy uses as a basis for accusations or even find themselves under curses by local witches and never have any idea of it. The bottom line, GOD does not willingly put sickness on you!
The problem, here, remains that the church and believers for the most part have little or no understanding of the very real and very dangerous spiritual battle surrounding us, nor have they been prepared for spiritual war. Nor do believers truly understand the deep passion of the LORD for His children and the great lengths in which He goes for our wellbeing. The LORD suffered an horrendous death for our purchase, will He not most willingly do anything else we need?
The failure of Man in not ruling wisely or well and the contributing evil work of the enemy, create the illusion that GOD is not Good or powerful or caring. None of that is true! YHVH hates evil and loves justice and in the Day of YHVH, the LORD requites all the wrongs done on Earth since the beginning of time, bringing judgment on all evildoers. With the Eternal Kingdom, established at the onset of the Millennium, Man sees the reversal of all the curse and in the end, the removal of even death itself.
When in Psalm 139 we read, “all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be,” the WORD says not that YHVH wrote about all our failures, etc. before we made them, for if He speaks anything evil, it MUST come about. “So shall My WORD be that goes out from My mouth; It shall not return to Me empty, but It shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent It” (ISH 55:11). GOD cannot speak evil even if He knows it will happen. Therefore, the books written by the LORD about us, reflect the good and desired Destiny designed for us, the works assigned to us, not what we will do or have done—those things exist in other books if we have not been saved.
We read further that, “the WORD of YHVH is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (HBR 4:12). Jesus is the WORD, as we have previously seen. John the Beloved also writes, “But Jesus, for His part, did not entrust Himself to them (to all who followed Him), because He knew all people [and understood the superficiality and fickleness of human nature]” (JHN 2:24 AMP). This was exemplified on Palm Sunday, when the crowds cheered His entrance into Jerusalem and yet, yelled to “crucify Him” a few days later.
Also, “But Jesus, aware of their thoughts, responded and said to them, ‘Why are you thinking this way in your hearts?’” (LUK 5:22 NASB). YHVH knows us better than we know ourselves; for that reason He desires that He may help us live our lives that we may overcome in all areas and do as well as we may in our time of testing on earth. In order that we may have that extra help, we must stay close to Him and listen for His voice.
YHVH desires intimate fellowship with us; He desires that we know Him as well as possible; it will take all of eternity for that. How do we become more intimate with this Most Amazing Personage? Firstly, the LORD tells us, “You must be born again” (JHN 3:5-8). YHVH speaks of the transformation or new birth that takes place in our spirits when we commit our lives to Jesus as LORD and Savior. “Savior,” meaning that His blood covers all our sin and that the blood He shed washes us clean from all guilt, changing our nature; therefore, He becomes our “LORD,” or master, enabling us to live a holy life submitted to Him, to the praise of GOD.
Salvation only begins the adventure in YHVH, as we study His WORD and obey it, as we spend time with Him in worship and prayer, as we acknowledge Him in all that we do, He will manifest Himself to us (JHN 14:21).
As we know Him more intimately, He trusts us more and entrusts to us wonderful spiritual gifts, so that we may walk in His power and glory, doing the things He did when He walked the earth. YHVH created us in His image (GNS 1:26-27) that we may become like Him, doing the things He would do if He were still on the earth; loving unconditionally as He loves; showing kindness to all; blessing those who hate us and despitefully use us (LUK 6:28). GOD desires that we change the world with His love.
The Kingdom of Heaven operates on the basis of LOVE, PEACE, and RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE. No one in Heaven ever does wrong or thinks wrong or desires anything outside of those perimeters. The Garden of Eden brought a dimension of Heaven to earth and man should have enjoyed and ruled the same kind of kingdom. YHVH has done everything possible for the restoration of the blessings He intended for man by His sacrifice on the cross. When Jesus comes in final judgment of the earth, He will rule on earth in LOVE and PEACE and JUSTICE and transform this fallen world into Eden once again.
For millennia, YHVH has spoken to man about Who He is and attempted convincing rebellious man that he belongs to GOD, his Creator and his Redeemer and that man owes Him service. Our GOD, YHVH is a GOOD GOD, Who only desires GOOD for mankind and desires to share the future in His magnificent kingdom with YOU!
Christian Stratiotes
[i] The Hebrew/Aramaic plural for “gods,” used in reference to the Hebrew GOD, YHVH and also as a generic term for multiple gods.
[ii] A special order of angels, particularly involved with shielding the glory of YHVH.
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