Gods Attributes

Omniscient - having universal knowledge

Such wisdom is beyond human comprehension, for His infinite mind knows the end from the beginning. This unique ability separates him from all other beings. 

Passages from Isaiah such as 45:21 reinforce this Divine ability to foretell future events with unerring accuracy.

Is 45:21
Is 48:3,5

Here we find the test of a true prophet of the Lord. If a man is able to declare things which come to pass then such prophecy is a testimony to him being inspired by God himself.

Finally in chapter 55 Isaiah summarises the great gulf that exists between the Creator and his creatures

Is 55:8-9

Omnipotent - having unlimited power

Now clearly omniscience is linked to omnipotence, for God is able to foretell the future because he is able to control his creation and the power to perform lies behind his word.

Again the lofty words of Isaiah shrink man to his proper place as the prophet demonstrates the power that controls the mighty universe with all its hosts.

Is 40:12-15,25,26

Omnipresent - everywhere present

Ranging from the vast to the apparently insignificant God is there in control Jer 23:24

Eternal - unchanging

Not only do we find the Almighty from the height of heaven to the depth of the earth, we look back in remote ages, we look forward to the future and still He is there.

Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even form everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Ps 90:1,2 Fortunately for man he does not change, he does not need to, he already possesses universal knowledge, and he assures us through Malachi, "For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed." (Mal 3:6) James describes Him as "the father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (Jas 1:17). It was God that commanded the light to shine out of darkness, when at the creation he spake and it was done. The heavenly bodies, glorious though they be, and proclaiming the glory of their maker as they do, are not without imperfection. They may wax and wane, they may suffer eclipse, they change their position, but with God there is no variableness or variation, no shadow such as is cast by one body on another and no turning, all words which seem to be allusions to astronomical phenomena. God however changes not, he is light and in him is no darkness at all.

 

The Character of God

The character of God was declared to Moses who had requested to be shown God's glory. The reply was that he would make all his goodness pass before Moses.  Essentially God is good, for as Jesus said "Why callest thou me good, there is none good but one, that is God". Further God is wise, in the ultimate sense, as Paul declares "God only wise" (Rom 16:25-27). Now clearly if the power and might of omnipotence were not qualified by goodness and wisdom the consequences would be truly fearful, whereas on the other hand wisdom and goodness without the power to accomplish would be totally ineffective 

It is the uniting of boundless wisdom and power that makes the Almighty worthy of our fullest trust, and the two are found together in such passages as He is strong in power.. there is no searching of his understanding (Is 40:26,28) Wisdom and might are his (Dan 2:20)

By wisdom we mean sagacity or cleverness harnessed to produce the best possible outcome. Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to chose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. Similarly with all the positive elements of God's character there is behind them this seeking the highest good. When we read that God is love, we know it means a love that seeks the very highest good for his creatures, which will result in eternal good for those who use their freewill to obey him, and alternatively eternal unconsciousness for those who do not.

So if we look at this definition of God's goodness given to Moses we see how the various aspects of character produce perfection from their balancing and combination. 

"The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children unto the third and fourth generation."

In all we see God's justice, his impartiality in dealing with mankind, for it is repeatedly said that there is no respect of persons with God. "All his ways are judgment; a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he" (Deut 32:4) To summarise the character of God we find that He is kind, yet inflexible in the requirements of his law; loving and compassionate, yet terrible as a destroying fire against the rebellious and the guilty; forgiving towards offences, yet jealous of the dignity, the glory, and supremacy of His name. He is holy, and cannot look upon sin. He is wise, and cannot tolerate fools. He is true and faithful, and will destroy all the false and evil. He is just and true and perfect - at once the fountain of love and vengeance; the author of life and death; the source of reviving mercy and consuming fire. He is eternal, unchangeable, unsearchable, infinite, glorious in power and majesty - the King immortal, the possessor of heaven and earth, to whom alone is glory due.