ROUGH DRAFT FOR BLOG
Dear friends,
Here is some research for the Lesson on "Life."
Why is the name of God so important to the Bible? In Scripture, God reveals Himself to us through His names. A name revealed important information about the individual or thing itself. A name often connotes purpose, authority, make up, and character . Because of the depth of God's character, He has various names that reflect the many ways He relates to humanity. For example, God is called Elohim (430 Elohiym in Hebrew) in Gen. 1, the supreme God. He's revealed to Abraham as El Shaddai (7706 Shadday in Hebrew) when revealing Himself as the all-powerful Creator, the Almighty. In Gen. 22:14 Jehovah Jireh (3070) -- God, the self existent one, the one true God, the one who sees, Jehovah will see. And in Ex. 3, God reveals Himself to Moses in one of the most profound statements in Scripture --"I AM THAT I AM." (1961 hayah in Hebrew -- to exist, that which is). No longer is God the "I Was" God, (the God of your fathers), no longer is He the "I will be God," but now He is to be understood as "the great I AM." (SH 587:5) I AM the one true, living God, NOW!
"When used of God, 'name' in the OT has a revelatory content. The name of God means primarily his revealed nature and character. . . As expressing His essential nature, it implies the most complete divine self-disclosure, while the identification of name and person safeguards the unity of God . . . To know the name of God is to know God himself as he is revealed" (Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible 1.714).
Research on "I AM that I AM" Ex. 3
Jacob wrestles with the angel: Gen. 32
Gen 33. 1.4.8 to 10Jacob and Esau 400 men
Elisha heals Naaman: II Kings 5
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“Face to Face” biblically means the relationship of ‘original’ to ‘image.’
Perfect God, perfect man.
Original = God, “I AM”
Image = man, “I am
Being in the presence of God is 'face to face.' Being in front of, from before His face.
Articles to read on this subject: (Both articles are very inspiring. I’ve just given you a bit from each).
“Face to Face” by Gladys A. M. O’Connor, CSJ, October 1931
“It is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew that after Jesus had gone up into a high mountain—an exalted state of spiritual thinking—he was transfigured before three of his disciples whom he had taken with him. They, too, then saw the spiritual identity as a son of God, whose face shone as the sun with his exalted understanding of Life and Love, and whose purity was as a white raiment about him.
This spotless purity, into which no shadow of animality had ever entered, enabled Jesus to come into radiant communion with his Father. He was so conscious of divine Love's omnipotence, perfection, and nearness that he, as it were, saw God "face to face," and reflected in his countenance the matchless holiness, purity, and love which dwell forever in the divine Mind, and which had always been his as a son of God.”
“Face to face with God,” Mary Bretz Reed, CSJ, March 1987
"I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." What a wonderful experience Jacob must have had to so glimpse what God is in His perfection, goodness, and omnipresence that he could see something of the unreality of the error he was struggling with—"a mortal sense," Mrs. Eddy explains, "of life, substance, and intelligence as existent in matter with its false pleasures and pains . . . ." He was so spiritually uplifted that he called the place "Peniel" or "Face of God."
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Here is a link to a excellent talk on this story of Jacob by Kristy Christian. From www.diggingdeepernow.org
71716-blog-audio-final.mp3
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THE IDEAS BELOW ARE FOR CHILDREN AT HOME OR IN SUNDAY SCHOOL:
Children's Ideas to teach Naaman: Copy and paste the URL into a browser.
http://www.concordianews.org/kids/2011/naaman/craft.htm
http://tractdepot.blogspot.com/2015/08/naaman-is-healed-craft-kit.html
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A chart to use in a discussion with children on the mental qualities of Jacob, whose name and character was changed to Israel. These are just to get you started on how to work with the attributes that Jacob was expressing. They are many more.
Qualities of Jacob blank for children
Qualities of Jacob answers for parents or teachers
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Moses' Chart: Purchase the book "Moses and the Law" by Kathy Merrill and Kristy Christian from www.biblosfoundation.org Chart for Moses' Life
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Crafts to teach Moses and the burning bush and "I Am that I AM"
Paste URL into your browser to teach Moses and the burning bush to children:
http://www.biblefunforkids.com/2013/09/moses-burning-bush.html
