by Bob Davidson
We can know little about God unless He chooses to reveal Himself. Thankfully He has so chosen.
A search of the Scriptures will reveal many things about Him and we can piece together a very detailed description of those aspects which He has chosen to reveal. While some of these aspects are scattered here and there throughout the Bible and demand much searching to find them, there are some passages which pulsate with wonderful revelations one after another and give broad views of the wonder and power of God.
One God
One such passage runs from Isaiah 44 to 48. In these chapters we are told that Jehovah (Yahweh, YHWH) is exclusively God.
- “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: ……. That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else.” (Is. 45:5-6)
- “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.” (Is. 48:11.)
In the New Testament we find that Christ is God.
- “I and my Father are one.” (John 10:30)
- “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Col. 2:9.)
Creator
In Isaiah we are told that Jehovah (Yahweh, YHWH) is the creator of light, the creator of earth and heaven and the creator of people.
“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Is. 45:7.)
“I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. (Is. 45:12.)
- “For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God (Elohim) himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Is. 45:18.)
- “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself” (Is.44:24.)
In the New Testament we find that Christ is the creator.
- “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” (John 1:10.)
- “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:9)
- “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Col. 1:16.)
Redeemer
In Isaiah we are told that Jehovah (Yahweh, YHWH) is the redeemer.
- “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Is. 44:6.)
- “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” (Is. 48:17.)
In the New Testament we find that Christ is the redeemer.
- “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Rev. 5:9.)
- “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Eph.1:6-7.)
First and Last
In Isaiah we are told that Jehovah (Yahweh, YHWH) is the first and the last.
- “Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.” (Is.48:12.)
In the New Testament we find that Christ is the first and last.
- “And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive” (Rev. 2:8.)
- “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Rev. 22:13.)
Every Knee Shall Bow
In Isaiah we are told that Jehovah (Yahweh, YHWH) said every knee shall bow to Him.
- “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Is.45:23.)
In the New Testament we find that every knee shall bow to Christ.
- “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10-11.)
The Lord’s Name
So much of what has been said of Jehovah in the Old Testament is also said of the Lord Jesus Christ in the New Testament. They appear to be the same person. If this is true then they should share a name. In the Old Testament we find that God’s name is Jehovah.;
- “I am the LORD (Jehovah): that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” (Is.42:8.)
- “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD (Jehovah): And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty (El Shaddai), but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Ex. 6:2-3.)
But what of the name Jesus? It is in fact an Anglicised version of Joshua. But what does the name Joshua mean? Its origin is in the book of Numbers. When Moses was sending the men to spy out the land he asked for a man from each of the tribes of Israel. From one tribe we read in Num.13:8 “Of the tribe of Ephraim, Oshea the son of Nun”. The name Oshea means saviour. Moses changed his name by adding Ya, an abbreviated form of Jehovah, (Num.13:16) “And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua”, or Joshua, which means Jehovah Saviour.
Jesus means Jehovah Saviour. The God of the Old Testament, Jehovah, has the same name as the God of the New Testament, Jehovah Saviour. The hymn writer had it right when he said:
“The great Creator became my Saviour
And all God’s fulness dwelleth in Him.”