Trinity in Genesis and beyond

The first thing to say, is that if we understood the God who spoke and stars were flung into space, then we would be God! The other thing is that in other areas of our life we accept things we don't understand without (as many people do with God) believing they don't exist. I'm thinking of such things as black holes,  or  electricity or light! As I was saying last day, mystery is something beyond logic, but not contrary to it,  but nevertheless true. Trinity is One God in three persons, unity in diversity, three  interconnected and interrelated entities. And Trinity certainly is mystery, for on the one hand God is One, but God is also three Father, Son and Holy Spirit on the other.  That they are not the same is seen in the Son praying to the Father, and (at least in His time on earth) His not knowing the time of the end (John 17:1;  Mark 13:32).

The word 'Trinity' of course,  is not a Biblical word, it was invented by theologians to remind us that we need to hold together the truths that the Father is God (John 6:27),  Jesus is God (John 20:28), Holy Spirit is God (Acts 5:3, 4), but also that God is One (Deuteronomy 6:4).   Interestingly the clearest statement of this is found in the Old Testament “For unto us a Child is born, a Son is given; And His name will be called Wonderful,  Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). The Son given is widely accepted to be the then coming Messiah, and Jesus claims to be He (John 4:25, 26). Note then, that one of His Names is “Mighty God,” another is “Everlasting Father,” yet another “Counsellor,” one of the Names of Holy Spirit.  Having seen this in clearly in Isaiah,  helps us to see echos of it from the very first.  The Name of God in Genesis 1:1 is “Elohim,” the  plural form of El, or Eloah.  So then we see plurality from the very beginning. We also see it in “Let us make mankind in our image” (1:26). The Old Testament of course is thoroughly monotheistic, strictly One God.

It stuck me one day that if God is Trinity,  we might expect to see expressions of three in one, unity and diversity,  in nature.  The examples would not be God of course, but faint echos,  pale reflections of Him. Look at an egg, it consists of shell, white and  yolk, and the whole thing is a unity, a single egg. God is not an egg of course, not even a good egg! The triple point of water, is another “trinity,” it is the place of temperature and pressure,  where water is solid (ice), liquid and vapour all at the same time.  Perhaps not surprisingly mankind, being made in the image of God, is the “trinity” that most closely reflects Him. Mankind,  as we were saying last time, consists of body,  soul and spirit. Of course mankind,  being made of dust,  is also merely an echo of our uncreated God.  Indeed, we are not God!  

Lord,  it seems the elders never tire of falling down before You  and worshiping You saying “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:10, 11). You indeed are wonderful my Lord, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and I too worship You this morning in Jesus Name Amen