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Theodicy Soteriology, Hermeneutics

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TRINITY : M. M. NINAN<br />

GOD OF ISRAEL<br />

However the clearest appearance of the God of Israel was again at the time of Mosaic Covenant<br />

Celebration which culminated in a dinner. This was witness by 73 elders as described below.<br />

Ex 24: 9-11 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up nd saw the<br />

God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.<br />

But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and<br />

drank.<br />

They saw the glorious figure of God himself who has a hand. This is not a haphazard vague<br />

reference. The statement "They saw the God of Israel" is repeated twice within two verses to<br />

emphasize the reality of the event.<br />

MOSES MEETS GOD<br />

Then one day Moses wanted to see God's face.<br />

Ex 33: 20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."21 Then the LORD<br />

said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock.22 When my glory passes by, I will<br />

put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my<br />

hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."<br />

Ex 34: 5 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name,<br />

the LORD.<br />

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and<br />

gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,7 maintaining love to thousands, and<br />

forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the<br />

children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation." 8 Moses bowed<br />

to the ground at once and worshiped.<br />

Did Moses see God? Certainly god came and stood with him. It was certainly God because, Moses<br />

worshipped him.<br />

JOSHUAIC THEOPHANY<br />

Joshua also met God as a man.<br />

Josh 5:13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front<br />

of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you for us or<br />

for our enemies?"14 "Neither," he replied, "but as commander of the army of the LORD I<br />

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