After a time of everything being perfect, Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They chose to listen to the crafty serpent rather than obey God. This act of disobedience is called sin. God had a perfect plan, but man destroyed it by choosing his own way instead of God’s way. Does it seem rational to assume, since God made man in His own image, that He knows what is best for him? Then, if so, would it not be logical to choose God to serve instead of self? Self is choosing one’s own way. There are only two choices: right or wrong.
When we choose God’s way we are right and when we choose self-direction, in the flesh, we are wrong. God wants us to follow His ways, for they are perfect in every way. God has not changed, we have! God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The person who chooses self for direction is blinded by Satan’s deception that man has control over his own destiny! Man is given understanding and truth only when he chooses God’s way over his own. One cannot find God with his head; one can only find God with his heart.
Who is God? Let us read from the Bible about the author, God Himself. “To whom, then will you compare God? What image will you compare Him to?” (Isaiah 40:18) “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth.” (Isaiah 40:21-22) “To whom will you compare Me? Or who is My equal?” says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens. Who created all this? He who brings out the starry hosts one by one and calls them each by name is the Creator. Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.” (Isaiah 40:25-26) “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:28-29).
God introduced Himself to Moses by calling him from within the burning bush. First by name and then with instructions not to come any closer, for where Moses was standing was holy ground. Moses agreed to go to Pharaoh to bring God’s people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. Moses wanted an answer from God to the people when they ask, by whose authority do I speak? God said to Moses, “I AM who I AM." This is what you say to the Israelites: “I AM has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14).
“But you, O Isra'el, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham My friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from the farthest corners I called you, I said, You are My servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I AM with you; do not be dismayed, for I AM your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41: 8-10) “This is what the Lord says--- He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it; 'I the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.'” (Isaiah42:5-7) “I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are my god’s’, will be turned back in utter shame.” (Isaiah 42: 16b-17)
“Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, and see! Who is blind but My servant, and deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the servant of the Lord? You have seen many things, but have paid no attention; your ears are open, but you hear nothing.”(Isaiah 42:18-20)
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear. For your hands are stained with blood, your fingers with guilt. Your lips have spoken lies, and your tongue mutters wicked things.” (Isaiah 59:1-3) “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7).
“From now on I will tell you of new things, of hidden things unknown to you. They are created now, and not long ago; you have not heard of them before today. So you cannot say, ‘yes, I knew of them.’ You have neither heard nor understood; from of old your ear has not been open. Well do I know how treacherous you are; you were called a rebel from birth; for the sake of My praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. See I have refined you in the furnace of affliction. For My own sake, for My own sake, I do this. How can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.” (Isaiah 48: 6b-11)
“Listen to Me, O Jacob, Isra'el, whom I have called: I AM He; I AM the first and the last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.” (Isaiah 48:12b-13) “I AM the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea.” (Isaiah 48: 17-18)
“Hear, Isra'el! ADONAI our God, ADONAI is one. Love ADONAI your God with all your heart, all your being and all your resources. These words, which I am ordering you today, are to be on your heart; and you are to teach them carefully to your children. You are to talk about them when you sit at home and when you are traveling on the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them on your hand as a sign, put them at the front of a headband around your forehead, and write them on the door frames of your house and on your gates.” (D'VARIM 6:4-8)
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