ONE GOD - 4

SOURCES CONFIRMING THE UNITY OF GOD

 

Supporting confirmation for the unity of God comes from a variety of sources in the Scriptures.

1.           The unique miraculous works of God argue eloquently in support of the doctrine of God's unity. On the plains of Moab during the course of the final message of Moses to the children of Israel, He challenges them: "For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it?" (Deut. 4:32). His first citation has to do with the voice of God speaking from the midst of fire and people still living (vs. 33). The second has to do with the deliverance of a whole nation from the midst of another by means of trials, signs, wonders, war, mighty hand, outstretched arm, and by terrors such as took place in Egypt (vs. 34). These things, Moses insists, demonstrate that "Jehovah He is God; there is none else besides Him" (vs. 35 ASV). But Moses continues: Out of heaven you heard His voice, His words, and saw His great fire (vs. 36). God brought you out of Egypt with His presence because He loved you (vs. 37), and in­tends to take you into a land inhabited by nations greater and mightier than you are to give you this land for an inheritance (vs. 38). Then again, Moses draws the conclusion proving the unity of God. "Know therefore this day, and lay it to thy heart, that Jehovah He is God in heaven above and upon the earth beneath; and there is none else" (vs. 39 ASV).

2.           While it is true that Satanic wonders were performed by magicians (Exod. 7:11-12, 22; 8:6-7), there was a limit beyond which the magicians could not go (Exod. 8:17-19). And even the character of their miracles possessed a qualitative difference from those performed by God through the hand of Moses (Exod. 7:12). This difference demonstrated that God was one who stood in a class all by Himself and there was no other quite like Him.

2.      The Scriptures point to predictive prophecy as another clear evi­dence of the uniqueness of the one true God. "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. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? And the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them. Fear not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any." (Isa. 44:6-8). This merely pinpoints the fact that the one true God is the only one who knows the future. Before things happen, even before the people exist to whom they shall happen, God predicts what will happen. Then in the unfold­ing of the future, the predictions come true. This is a clear evidence of the existence of one true God, who can also bring His predictions to pass (Isa. 46:9-11).

3.      The Scriptures also bring together both miracles and fulfilled prophecy to compound the evidence in confirmation of the uniqueness of the one true God. John the Baptist was that worthy forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ Himself paid tribute to him with a eulogy such as no other man ever received (Matt. 11:7-11). But early in Christ's public ministry, John the Baptist was thrown into prison. It was then that he reviewed all that he knew about Christ. In view of the fact that he was in prison, it made him wonder concerning the identity of the One whom he had been heralding. So he sent messengers to inquire of Christ (Matt. 11:2-3). In gracious response, Christ performed some miracles before these messengers and sent them back to wit­ness of what they had seen and heard (Matt. 11:4-5). Here was the evidence for the identity of this one unique God manifest in flesh.

Centuries before, however, prophecies were uttered describing actually what Christ would do when He appeared among men. He would perform miracles such as causing the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk (Isa. 35:5-6). And what was even greater, so far as its benefits to men, He would preach good tidings to the meek, bind up the broken hearted, and pro­claim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who were bound (Isa. 61:1). In the performance of Christ there was the Fulfillment of this predictive prophecy, so that there was a compounding of the evidence for the unity of God. Only the one true God can predict the future and then actually carry His prediction into performance.