God relates to man - Part 1

 

God relates to man – Part 1

God is a Spirit. (John 4:24). There is only one God. (Deuteronomy 6:4, Malachi 2:10, Mark 12:32, James 2:19).

God uses metaphors to describe His many aspects. Because we are human with a human body, God uses metaphors such as face, back, hand, finger, arm, eyes, ears, nose, and feet, so we can relate.

When God manifested Himself in flesh and blood as the man Christ Jesus, He was just like us, with eyes, ears, hands, and feet, looking like we look. 

As the Spirit of God that fills the universe, He does not have, for example, literal eyes traveling around the world in the sky watching everyone.

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." - 2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV

Rather, we understand from our own eyes that God as a Spirit 'sees' and is AWARE of everyone on the earth “whose heart is perfect toward Him.” As a Spirit, God is not limited to His human body.

When the Bible speaks of God’s ears, again, God as a Spirit does not have literal ears. Rather, ears are a metaphor of God ‘hearing,’ being aware of our voice.

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears." - 2 Samuel 22:7 KJV

When the Bible speaks of God’s nose or smelling, it is a metaphor for God being pleased or disgusted, as a good or bad smell is pleasing or disgusting.

"And I will make your cities waste, and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour of your sweet odours [I will take no pleasure in your offerings that should be a pleasing aroma to me]." - Leviticus 26:31 KJV

"But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." - Philippians 4:18 KJV

To be continued –