God's Personality

Today’s post isn’t really difficult to write, but it’s definitely one that I wish could be a discussion as I know it will probably raise more questions than it will provide answers. However, I’m okay with anyone who wants to reach out and talk about it…I’m also okay with discussions that aren’t necessarily directed at providing concrete answers. All I’m going to do is present is an idea that may be bothersome, yet has more than enough support biblically.

God’s Personality.

I think the fact that we all have personalities at all, is a direct inheritance of “Imago Dei” – The image of God. He made us all so distinctly unique that even if it’s not unfathomable, it’s still downright impressive. Many people have similar personality types and if you’re interested enough to “Google it” you’ll see that the current measuring method says that there are 16 types. If you’ve ever taken a personality test, you realize that not everyone fits into a rigid definition of their type, some borderline others and still others are hybrids of two or more types.

So what about God’s personality – suffice it to say, He’s definitely the best of every good thing that exists in our own personalities. I think it’s difficult to discuss because while we easily recognize and confess the ‘good’ things about personality, we know that there are darker personality traits and it is a smart thing to know not to attribute those traits to the Almighty. We rob God of His right to be Himself when we begin to redefine what it means to have personality. God is not bi-polar or unsure of Himself, He doesn’t have anxiety issues and He doesn’t flip-flop – Everything He does is in His choosing according to His plan and pleasure. That’s the nature of expressed personality.

I think it does us well to see and embrace God in the totality in which He’s presented Himself. He’s not a computer that will always do what He’s done. Many times in Scripture we see God only do a thing once…just look at Gideon or Hezekiah. This is where the problem lies for quite a few people: Can I not rely on God to do what I expect? Well, as long as you expect Him to be Good according to His plans in His time, you most certainly CAN. If you expect Him to NOT visit your sin, shield you from the effects of a fallen world and bless you the way He blessed someone you know because you did what they did or prayed what they prayed…probably not so much. Ten “Amen”s, shares and likes on a Facebook post does not compel God to give you a HUGE financial blessing in a week’s time.

Here’s The Word;

Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Genesis 6:6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Psalm 95:10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:

Isaiah 1:15 When you spread out your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!

Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Zephania 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Romans 9:20 But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?

Often times we read Bible verses looking for promises. There are too many to list here but next time you’re searching the Scriptures – look intently at God’s personality.

Colossians 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,

We you look at Christ, you’re are indeed seeing THE PERSONALITY – the first personality contained in, and equally present in The Father, Christ Himself and The Holy Spirit. The world who neither understands nor knows God (because they don’t have His Spirit 1 Cor 2:14) says things against God’s personality like – He’s insecure and needs people to worship Him, He’s malicious for making people burn in Hell just for not worshipping Him, He’s outright mean for not saving everybody and He’s pompously arrogant; unconcerned about human suffering (human trafficking, atrocities against children, evil regimes, etc.)
These issues are hard but we must not blame God. Not just because it seems like a bad idea to blame an Omnipotent God, but really because the falleness of this world is not God’s blame to take. Nor is its immediate intervention or relief a responsibility that can be hung on some kind of ambivalence in God. His plan has already remedied our most crucial condition (separation, death and slavery under the power of sin) , He also has a plan to take care of the consequences that have grown and gotten worse because of it.

We don’t know what God will do or allow from one day to the next and this is not a reason to fear or have our trust affected – His promises are “Yea and amen” 2 Cor 1:20 and the generous and compassionate aspects of His merciful personality have been broadcasted louder and clearer than any other in the sacrifice of His son at our hands, for our deliverance.
So keep in mind, God IS trustworthy and longsuffering but not in ways that are under our control – in the same way that we choose to do or not do (conceptually) – He chooses according to His individual, Sovereign personality.


In Him, Cros