LaVrai.COM - The Truth - GOD Is Not A Man, So Who Is Jesus?

I have heard the argument: GOD is not a man, i.e., human, so how can Jesus even claim to be GOD or even the Son of GOD?

Or, how about: GOD is Spirit, so all of those verses referring to HIS arm or face, or about HIM walking in the Garden of Eden, for example, are all allegorical.

If one truly examines the verses in the Bible that speak of GOD specifically, one can see quite clearly that some of these are misconceptions.

GOD Is Not Man

Numbers 23:19 reads “God is not man to be capricious, or mortal to change His mind.” If one puts this verse in context, the meaning becomes quite plain: Balak is asking Balaam, a servant of the LORD to inquire of the LORD about a certain thing. Balak doesn’t like the response the LORD gives him, so he asks Balaam to inquire of the LORD about the very same thing many times, hoping for a different answer. Finally, Balaam becomes exasperated and exclaims to Balak that “God is not man to be capricious, or mortal to change His mind.” Balaam says GOD is not ‘man’…he doesn’t say ‘a man.’ He says GOD is not ‘man,’ that is, HIS nature, personality, is not like our own — and that has nothing to do with physical appearance.

Man Made In GOD’s Image, Likeness

Although GOD is not human, as you and I are (imperfect, corruptible, powerless, etc.), HE must certainly be able to look something like a human for HE is the source of our creation. For doesn’t it say in Genesis 1:26-27 “And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… And God created man in His image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

‘Image’ and ‘likeness’ can only mean one thing, for mankind was definitely not made having the Spirit of GOD within him, else he would not have gone against GOD’s will. If it is not GOD’s Spirit that this ‘likeness’ and ‘image’ refer to, then it must be a physical reference. What other likeness shall we consider? When we say ‘image’ what else do we mean? Is it impossible that the children bare some physical resemblance to the Father?

The Marvel That Is Genesis 18

The Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the terebinths of Mamre… Looking up, he saw three men standing near him. As soon as he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, he said, “My lords, if it please you, do not go on past your servant.” …Then one said, “I will return to you next year, and your wife Sarah shall have a son!” Sarah was listening at the entrance of the tenet, which was behind him. …And Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “Now that I am withered, am I to have enjoyment–with my husband so old?” Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh…? Is anything too wondrous for the LORD?”

The men set out from there and looked down toward Sodom, Abraham walking with them to see them off. …Then the LORD said, “The outrage of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave! I will go down to see whether they have acted altogether according to the outcry that has reached Me; if not, I will take note.”

The men went on from there to Sodom, while Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Abraham came forward and said, “Will You sweep away the innocent along with the guilty?” …When the LORD had finished speaking to Abraham, He departed; and Abraham returned to his place.

Genesis 19:1 reads, “The two angels arrived in Sodom in the evening, as Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom.”

Let us consider some things about this passage. It says ‘the LORD appeared’ to Abraham…but Abraham ’saw three men.’ But they weren’t just men, for Abraham falls to the ground, bowing before them and beseeches them saying, “My lords…do not go on past your servant.” Would Abraham bow to the ground before three mortal ‘men’ and call himself their servant? Of course not! Abraham recognized that these were divine beings. However, one of these divine beings stands out from the other two.

One of these three guests speaks to Abraham specifically with authority, telling him that Sarah will get pregnant, and when Sarah disbelieves, this particular one says, “Is anything too wondrous for the LORD?”

Next, the guests leave and turn towards Sodom, with Abraham walking with them to see them off. The passage then says ‘the LORD said’ to Abraham that the atrocities of that city as well as Gomorrah’s has received His attention. This is THE LORD, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY speaking to Abraham. There is nothing in this passage to indicate that GOD is not standing before Abraham as a man would. For, doesn’t it state above, that ‘the LORD appeared’ to him, and that Abraham saw ‘three men?’ The LORD must have appeared to Abraham as a man. Consider the following verses to see and understand.

It says ‘Abraham remained standing before the LORD’ so the LORD (not a lord or some lord, but the LORD) must not have appeared to him in His Glory, that is, as a fire burning in a bush or as some other force that would have been overpowered or even killed those looking upon Him. The LORD appeared to Abraham as a man and walked and talked with him.

It says ‘when the LORD was finished speaking to Abraham, He departed; and Abraham returned to his place.’ If the LORD had appeared to Abraham in the form of something other than a man, the Bible would have most definitely made note of it. It would have said the Spirit of GOD or, as mentioned above, as a fire in a burning bush or some type of force. The Bible says nothing but that the LORD appeared to Abraham and that Abraham saw three men. Neither does it appear anywhere in this passage that it was ‘the angel of the LORD’ as the Bible often does when the LORD sends an angel to do something.

Then when the LORD and Abraham part ways, the very next passage reads ‘the two angels arrived in Sodom…’ What two angels? Does the Bible mean the two men that appeared with the LORD to Abraham? If these two ‘men’ are suddenly ‘angels,’ then who was that third person they were with? Does the passage not say ‘Abraham saw three men?’

If ‘the LORD’ appeared to Abraham, but Abraham saw ‘three men’ and one of these so-called men spoke to Abraham with much authority and even explained to him what He was considering with Sodom and Gomorrah, and two of these men are revealed to be angels… then who was that third ‘man’ of authority?

How about Exodus 33:17-23 -

And the LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing that you have asked; for you have truly gained My favor and I have singled you out by name.” He (Moses) said, “Oh, let me behold Your Presence!” And He answered, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim before you the name LORD… But,” He said, “you cannot see My face, for man may not see Me and live.” And the LORD said, “See, there is a place near Me. Station yourself on the rock and, as My Presence passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock and shield you with My hand until I have passed by. Then I will take My hand away and you will see My back; but My face must not be seen.“

Let’s suppose that when the LORD was speaking of HIMSELF thus to Moses, that when HE said ‘My face’ the LORD actually meant what would be the ‘front’ of HIS presence, as in the ‘face’ of a coin. The same can be assumed for HIS ‘back’ …but what of HIS ‘hand?’ Is it impossible that the LORD would and could actually extend a limb, a hand, with which to shield Moses?

Also, what do we make of the LORD’s throne? As I looked on, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days (GOD) took His seat. (Daniel 7:9) If the LORD GOD Almighty does not have a physical throne, then what is this verse (and more like it) referring to? Daniel writes that in this vision, he saw the LORD take ‘His seat’ …that means the LORD sat down. How is this allegorical or metaphysical?

GOD is definitely Spirit, but there is nothing too wondrous for the LORD. If HE wants to appear as a man, HE will appear as a man (in the physical sense). If HE wants to speak through a bush on fire that doesn’t burn, the LORD will speak through a bush on fire that doesn’t burn. If HE wants to appear as a cloud one day and then a pillar of fire one night, then the LORD will appear as a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night. As the Bible clearly shows, the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY has no bounds — HE can appear anyway HE wants to those who see HIM — and that includes in the likeness of a man.