The Bible, at its base, is really a biography about God. Scholars and sages, rabbis and priests, the faithful and the skeptical, all have their opinions about God—who God is and what God wants from us. But what does the Bible tell us about God? We cannot generalize about the God of the Bible—for God, like the evolution of the Bible itself, changes over time. The biblical God is complicated, inscrutable, and mercurial. And this truth is just as apparent to the ancients as it is to us. Recall, for example, that it is God, the frenetic artist, who creates all forms of life in the first two chapters of Genesis, only to then destroy his flawed masterpiece in a catastrophic flood a few chapters later. This same God, in the Exodus tale, inflicts unimaginable horror on the Egyptians in the form of deadly plagues, but then parts the sea so the Israelites (his undisputed favored ones, at least in this story) can cross dry shod to escape Pharaoh’s pursuing army. And it is God who dictates the ruinous destruction of Jerusalem and the exaggerated punishment of the Exile—but then, in an about face, offers the hope of restoration to the demoralized exiles as they prepare to return to the Promised Land.
Though some, quite rightly, rationalize that the elusive nature of the biblical God is evidence of God’s grandeur, one thing is for certain: The God of the Bible is an enigma, impossible to pin down, and full of surprises. And, of all the characters in the Bible, God is perhaps the most tragic. Time and time again, God lays down the rules for humans, and they promise to be faithful; yet, time and time again, the rules are broken and Divine punishment follows. This unfortunate cycle repeats itself throughout the Bible and one cannot help but wonder why God does not simply give up on us.
The two most common names for God in the Hebrew Bible are Elohim and Yhwh. Elohim can mean either “God” or “gods,” depending on the context. Yhwh, the special name of the Deity who makes a covenant with the people of Israel, is usually pronounced “Yahweh” (though no one is certain that this is indeed the correct pronunciation). God reveals his name to Moses when he calls upon Moses to demand that Pharaoh release the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery. Moses is unsure that the slaves will follow him so he asks God, “If I come to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, “What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I am Who I am” (Ex 3:13-15). What does God mean by this expression? Karen Armstrong, the author of “The History of God” believes that “I am Who I am” is a Hebrew idiomatic expression used to denote deliberate vagueness. In other words, God will be whomever and whatever God chooses to be.
The Hebrew words might also mean, “I-will-be-who-I-will-be” or, “I-cause-to-be-what-I cause-to-be.” This phrase, “I-cause-to-be-what-I cause-to-be” (in other words, “I-make-everything-happen,” is as clear a statement of monotheism as you will find) gets formulated as a single word in Hebrew, Yhwh. Over time, God’s name is considered too sacred to enunciate so, instead, the Hebrew word adonay, “LORD,” is used. In English editions of the Bible, the form Yhwh is translated as “the LORD.”
The three great monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all profess belief in one God, and we tend to assume that monotheism happens all at once. But the Bible itself indicates that this is not the case. There are numerous references in the Bible to gods other than The One. Indeed, at least initially, the Lord of the universe faces some hefty competition; Yhwh is not always alone in the hearts and minds of the people. Rival gods and goddesses (Baal, Astarte, Molech, and many more) of neighboring peoples often prove irresistible to the Israelites, which results in Divine punishment and condemnation by the biblical authors.
The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, worshipping the Baals and the Astartes, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, the gods of the Philistines. Thus they abandoned the LORD and did not worship him (Judg 10:6).
. . . because of all the evil of the people of Israel and the people of Judah that they did to provoke me to anger . . . They set up their abominations in the house that bears my name, and defiled it. They built the high places of Baal in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to offer up their sons and daughters to Molech (Jer 32:32-35).
You shall tear down their altars, break their pillars, and cut down their sacred poles for you shall worship no other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God (Exod 34.13-14).
Over time, largely thanks to the prophetic movement in Israel, God secures his place as The One and Only. With the triumph of monotheism, God mellows, and, toward the end of the Hebrew Bible, God’s graciousness and love for his chosen people is emphasized.
In the New Testament, this love and concern is most manifest in Jesus, whom Christians believe to be the incarnation (God made flesh) of The One. According to Christians, human experience allows people to encounter God in the tangible daily tasks of living a life in Christ and in more transcendent way, for this new life offers the promise of redemption and salvation for humankind.
It is important to understand that different writers at different time periods understand God in different ways. The same can be said of us today. If you are with fifty other passengers on a bus in any major city in the United States and everyone is told to describe God, chances are, you will receive fifty different descriptions. If those fifty people are allowed to discuss their opinions about God, I can guarantee that more than a few arguments will ensue. This is because our life experiences help to shape our understanding of God. The biblical authors also have their own experience of God. As we enter their stories, we may encounter a variety of images of God, many of which seem to contradict each other. While this may initially confuse some readers, if you keep in mind the fact that the author is trying to explain his or her experience of God, you will be able to appreciate the important lessons or truths the writer is trying to convey. Over time, you will probably come to appreciate this varied portrait of God, perhaps viewing it as an intricate mosaic that speaks to you in a variety of different ways, depending upon your circumstances.