Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Commentary for the week of July 5, 2009

Getting the Know the Father     Exodus 33,34; Micah 6; John 4

Many balk at the idea of knowing God. We insist that to know someone we must see them, hear them, and touch them. But do we really? Many who communicate through the internet and social media have formed relationships with people they have never physically seen, heard, or touched. We know them only by what they have revealed to us. We trust that they have been truthful with us about themselves (and not sent us someone else’s picture!), but all we have to go on is what we read from them.

This is how we know God. We can depend on His trustworthiness about Himself, for God cannot lie. He has chosen to reveal Himself to us in His Word. In our test for this week God reveled some of His attributes to Moses as he sought to know God better. The prophet Micah reported that God expected His people to live moral lives and not merely perform religious rituals. God expected justice, love, and humility to characterize their lives because these things characterize Him. In the New Testament, Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well about God’s spiritual nature and that He expected His people to worship Him in a spiritual way. In each of these passages listed above, God revealed something of Himself to us. Although the fullest revelation of God is in His Son Jesus Christ, this lesson focuses on God as a Father.

Examine each passage and choose characteristics of God that reveal Him as Father. I have listed a few to help you begin.

Exodus 33:18-23 - authority, protection, sovereignty

Exodus 34:5-8 - compassion, self-control, discipline

Micah 6:6-8 - justice, faithfulness, humility

John 4:21-24 - patience, understanding, knowledge

View the video of Pastor S.M. Lockridge (1913-2000) as he attempts to describe God. Does he give you some new words to describe how God has revealed Himself?

As God reveals Himself to us and transforms us into His likeness, we take on His characteristics. Page 48 in the BSFL Life Truths learner guide features a “Micah 6:8 Inventory”. I reprint it here for you to examine. Take the time to answer the following questions:

• Have you acted justly toward your kids this week?
• How would your kids answer that question?
• If you are married, have you demonstrated to your spouse this week that you love faithfulness? How?
• Do your coworkers see you as someone who walks humbly?
• What about people who work for you?

Choose an area where you struggle to reflect God’s character. Ask God to transform you in this area. Submit to Him and allow Him to work! God will not only reveal Himself to you, He will reveal Himself to others through you!