Abraham's Encounter With The Trinitarian God Genesis 18

There are dimensions in the spiritual realm for which we have no parallel or concept in the physical. One of these is God’s capacity–as the sovereign, self-existent One–to reveal Himself singularly and/or in plurality at the same time. Observe the Scripture:

"Then the Lord appeared to Abraham by the terebinth trees of Mamre as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground ... Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way ... And the Lord said ... I will go down now and see whether they (men of Sodom) have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me ... Then the men (two of the three) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom."

In this Scripture, God reveals Himself to Abraham singularly as Lord, then as three men, and finally as two angels. In the limits of our present 3-dimensional realm, plurality and singularity are not possible at the same time. But our incapacity to conceive does not affect God’s capacity to be. To theologians–Jewish and Christian–the importance of Abraham’s encounter with God cannot be overemphasized. Observe the Genesis 18:1, 2, 22 account carefully:

1. The Lord (singular) appeared to Abraham.
2. But, He came in the appearance of three men (plural).
3. God said, "I (singular) will go down to Sodom.
4. Two of the three, as angels (plural), went to Sodom.
5. After the departure of the two, "Abraham still stood before the Lord" (singular).

God remains with Abraham at the same time He divides Himself and appears in Sodom as two angels. Observe this Abrahamic-introduction carefully: In God’s appearance to Abraham we have one of the most theologically challenging examples of deity sovereignly transition His nature between the Divine, the angelic, and human essence. This mystery–the Trinitarian appearance of a Unitarian God–was fully displayed to Abraham in harmony with the opening verse of the Bible, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth".

The Hebrew word used here for God, Genesis 1:1, "Elohim" is a plural noun. The "im" on the end of a Hebrew word corresponds to the "s" in English. For example in Hebrew, Cherub is singular; Cherubim is plural. In English we would say "angel" and "angels." This mystery is introduced in the opening chapter of Genesis where--in every instance and more than 30 times--the name of God appears only in the plural. Our chief problem in the "oneness/plurality" dispute is in trying to comprehend truth in the eternal, timeless, infinite-dimension with our limited tools.

Interestingly, the word "Elohim" is used in Scripture of the true God of Heaven and also of pagan gods. From the word itself there is no way to distinguish which god is intended. However, the Bible does not leave us to guess. In the Hebrew language, a plural noun is always joined to a plural verb. A singular noun is joined to a singular verb. This rule is carefully followed throughout the Old Testament–with one major exception: When the plural noun Elohim is used in reference to the true God it is always joined to a singular verb. If elohim is used in reference to pagan gods it is always joined to plural verbs.

I wish to repeat that point: Every time the plural noun Elohim refers to the true God, it is followed by a singular verb."In the beginning God (Elohim) created (baw-raw) the heavens and the earth." Baw-raw is a singular verb used in conjunction with the plural noun. In a very sophisticated way, the Bible re-enforces the plural identity of a Unitarian God. Let me make that point another way: God is one. But, as in the case of Abraham, the revelation He made of Himself was plural. We should have no more problem accepting that revelation as Father, Son, Holy Spirit, than Abraham had in accepting His manifestation as Lord, men, or angels. For some, the dilemma will remain unresolved because human language cannot provide a word to bridge the gap. A few Christians and most of our Jewish brethren are stopped by the high wall of this difficulty.

The Hebrew word, 'echad (ekh-awd'), translated "one" and used in Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one ...", means "united", or "one" in the sense of wholeness, integrity, solidarity, and may justly be translated as "those who have come together to become one." It is the same word used in Genesis 11:6 at the Tower of Babel: "The people (plural) are one (singular) ..." Observe: The word "echad" is pluralistic and its’ use in the Old Testament concept of God is in full agreement with the concept in the New. It was used in reference to Joshua’s reign when the people gathered together "as one"–that is, in "one accord". It is interesting to note that at the tower of Babel, God again speaks of Himself in the plural when He says, "Let us go down and see ..." Without transgressing His "oneness" (echad in Hebrew) God can manifest Himself as One–or Three if He chooses to do so. In Genesis 1:26, we read, "God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness ..."

We should not be surprised that God revealed Himself to Abraham in the image of man any more than we are surprised that He created man in His own image.

The three-dimensional nature of our Universe is inseparably linked to the three-dimensional nature of its Creator. Even so, for millenniums the conflict has bristled regarding God’s being Trinitarian or Unitarian. Judaism and Islam rigorously oppose the Christian doctrine of God’s plurality. Some Christians also deny it. Every Synagogue service opens with the Holy Announcement, "Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one."

As a rebuke to Christians, many Moslem shrines carry the message "God has no sons". The fact is–as Sovereign Creator–God possesses both the position and the power to display Himself any way He chooses. Our only option is to adjust to His choice. We cannot remake Him into our image. But, as if to "confound the wise", God Himself introduced this plurality-crisis head-on in His appearance to Abraham. Genesis 18:1,2, 22; 19:1. Paul expressed this identical truth when he said of Christ, "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Colossians 2:9-10. Paul could have equally said of God’s appearance to Abraham, "In Him (one, two, or three manifestations) dwells the fulness of the godhead bodily."

An old Puritan Divine expressed it this way: "God in Himself is a sweet society." Difficult to understand? No, not really. Jesus said, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father." John 14:9. More confusing?, No. Jesus again said, "I and my Father are one." Again, "My doctrine is not mine but His who sent me." John 7:16. In writing of the end-times, Paul explained, "The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For He (the Father) has put all things under His feet (the Son). But when He says all things are put under Him, it is evident that He (the Father) who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him (the Son), then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." 1 Corinthians 15:26-28. In this passage, Paul foresaw the day when the plurality of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Father, disappear into "God’s greater oneness". What does that mean? At best, it means:

"We are entrusted with a truth from the Other Realm which cannot be explained in the limitations of our present dimension."

Even so, our English vocabulary is not the problem. This singularity/plurality dilemma challenges us because we try to fit Heaven’s distinctions into the dimensions of earth–where such distinctions do not exist. To the natural eye, our Universe is three-dimensional, Up, Down, Out. Only with the spiritual eye will we someday discern its other amplitudes. According to Dr. Lisa Randall, Harvard University physicist, there are numerous dimensions beyond our known universe. Some of these, she says, are so great as to make our present one seem like a tiny, dark hole. Astonishing to our minds? Yes. Conflicting with Scripture? No. While we may not yet comprehend the perfect union of our humanity with God’s Divinity, scripture assures us it will be so. l John 14:9. I Corinthians 15:28. In view of these possibilities let me ask two questions: Was it "Immanuel/God with us", who appeared to Lot in Sodom? Was it the same manifestation of Immanuel whom Nebuchadnezzar identified as the "Son of God" in the furnace with the three faithful Hebrews?

Baptism and Abraham’s Revelation Of God

Jesus instructed us to be baptized in the Trinitarian Name of God. Matthew 28:18,19. He said: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Wonderfully, this 3-Name baptism acknowledges the believer’s relationship with Abraham’s Trinitarian God and connects him with the Old Testament revelation of Elohim. To baptize in any other way ignores Jesus' instructions, denies man’s spirit, soul, body, identification with his Creator, and disregards the Universe’s structure.

Acts 19:1-3: "While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' And they said to him, ‘We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.' And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?' So they said 'Into John's baptism ..."

When Paul heard these men say, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit," his immediate question was, "Into what then were you baptized!" In other words, Paul knew that they could not have received authentic New Testament baptism unless the Holy Spirit had been identified with it. That authority specifically ordered baptism to be administered "in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Finally: In God’s plural-appearance to Abraham we have one of the most challenging examples of Deity transition His nature between the Divine, the angelic, and human essence. But, since He is the One by whom "all things consist"–He has final authority over all of it. Had He pleased, He could have revealed Himself to Abraham in a variety of other ways. Do I understand what Abraham saw? Of course not–not at all. Do I believe it? Absolutely! Does it benefit me? Yes! Such a challenge forces my mind to see God as the Immeasurable, Inexhaustible, Eternal One! In that astounding realization, I can better grasp the truth of God’s manifesting Himself in human flesh, passing Himself through the womb of a young virgin, and stepping into the world as Immanuel–"God with us"–at the same time He maintained His identity as Ancient of Days.

If given the chance, perhaps Abraham would join us in singing this wonderful old hymn:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name
In earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, Holy, Holy, Merciful and mighty
God in three *Persons, Blessed Trinity!

Holy, Holy, Holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns
Around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who wast, and art, and evermore shall be.

Holy, Holy, Holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man
Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Genesis 18:1


WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "KILL AN AMERICAN"?
Remembering September 11th.

In Pakistan, someone published a reward to anyone who killed an American--any American. In response, an Australian dentist wrote an editorial to let everyone know what an American is. He said: "An American is English, or French, or Italian, Irish, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian or Greek. An American may also be Canadian, Mexican, African, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Australian, Iranian, Asian, or Arab, or Pakistani or Afghan. An American may also be a Comanche, Cherokee, Osage, Blackfoot, Navaho, Apache, Seminole or one of the many other tribes known as native Americans.

An American is Christian, or he could be Jewish, or Buddhist, or Muslim. In fact, there are more Muslims in America than in Afghanistan. The only difference is that in America they are free to worship as each of them chooses.

An American is also free to believe in no religion. For that he will answer only to God, not to the government, or to armed thugs claiming to speak for the government and for God.

An American lives in the most prosperous land in the history of the world. The root of that prosperity can be found in the Declaration of Independence, which recognizes the God given right of each person to the pursuit of happiness.

An American is generous. Americans have helped out just about every other nation in the world in their time of need, never asking a thing in return. When Afghanistan was over-run by the Soviet army 20 years ago, Americans came with arms and supplies to enable the people to win back their country! As of the morning of September 11, Americans had given more than any other nation to the poor in Afghanistan.

Americans welcome the best of everything...the best products, the best books, the best music, the best food, the best services. But they also welcome the least. The national symbol of America, The Statue of Liberty, welcomes your "tired and your poor, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores, the homeless, tempest tossed." These in fact are the people who built America. Some of them were working in the Twin Towers the morning of September 11, 2001 earning a better life for their families.

It's been told that the World Trade Center victims were from at least 30 different countries, cultures, and first languages, including those that aided and abetted the terrorists. So you can try to kill an American if you must. Hitler did. So did General Tojo, and Stalin, and Mao Tse-Tung, and other blood-thirsty tyrants in the world. But, in doing so you would just be killing yourself. Because Americans are not a particular people from a particular place. They are the embodiment of the human spirit of freedom. Everyone who holds to that spirit, everywhere, is an American.


THE ABDUCTION OF YOUR CHILD'S MIND: Lt. Colonel Dave Grossman, former psychologist at West Point Academy, and currently Professor of Military Science at Arkansas State University, is a retired Army Ranger Paratrooper who was schooled in the techniques used to transform ordinary, non-violent men into violent killers. He explains: "In World War II only 15 to 20% of combat infantry were willing to fire their rifles with the intent of killing another person. In the Korean War about 50% were willing. By the time of the Vietnam War, the figure had risen to over 90%." Colonel Grossman reveals a profoundly troubling observation about American youth. He says: "The desensitizing techniques used to transform non-violent soldiers into killers are now found in the mass media, films, television, and video games." Without their parents realizing it, American youth are being frighteningly transformed into slaughterers. The Colonel's figures on youthful homicides strongly suggest that we are breeding teenage Rambos on the national scale.


THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: America’s election of a new President is no longer a contest between Democrats and Republicans. The interests that have usurped that noble cause could care less about America's man-on-the-street. Instead, intenational power-brokers are