Understanding God

Here are my answers in response to Susan Tindal’s questions. Yes, I have read and continue to read both the Old and New Testaments.

Yes, God did use Israel to destroy Jericho. If I remember correctly, God told them to destroy all the people of the promised land. They did not carry through for God. Man seldom does. How is this related to the events of Sept. 11?

Yes, God allowed Satan to do anything to Job except kill him. Again I fail to tie the events of Sept. 11 to the story of Job.

The angel of death visited the firstborn of Egypt to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Did God cause Herod to kill all the young male Jewish children in Bethlehem just to cause Joseph to move his family to Egypt?

I wish I could answer the question  “What about the Book of Revelation?” I do not know anyone who can truthfully say they fully understand Revelation.

God did not change, but man’s understanding of His nature did. I know that the Baptist Faith and Message no longer states that Christ is the criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted, but Jesus and the New Testament certainly present a different nature of God than man had previously known. First John 4:16 says, “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in him.” A couple of verses later, John wrote that there is no fear in love.

We are to respect and live in awe of God. Fear of the Lord is not shaking and quaking fear. (That is until I appear before Him with all my sins showing!)

God is all powerful, but chose to limit Himself. He will not do anything that is outside His own nature. I do not believe God causes evil events to gain the attention of His people. I do believe God can and will work through any event with His people to make life more abundant for His own.

For example, we are trying to rid the world of terrorists. I think God would like that.

Why do you think God is demanding? God grants eternal life in His presence to anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. God only gave Moses 10 commandments, and they actually benefit mankind’s life when obeyed. That does not give us a picture of a demanding God.

Maybe you should ask the Taliban hiding in the caves of Afghanistan if America needs to wake up!

Charles McFatter
Semmes, Ala.