"Space. The final frontier. These are the voyagers of the Starship Enterprise ... to boldly go where no-one has gone before."
THESE LINES are based on the introduction to the television series Star Trek, originally a popular prime time show from 1966 to 1969 that lives on in almost perpetual resyndication.
The first Star Trek series spawned three television spinoffs and eight motion pictures.
In 1989 the fifth movie in the Star Trek saga - The Final Frontier - introduced the subject of Elohim (G-d). A renegade Vulcan (a humanoid who prizes logic over emotion) took over the Enterprise and set out on the ultimate quest for the answers to life beyond "the Great Barrier."
Many people, not just trekkies - dyed-in-the-wool Star Trek fans - were thrilled by the plot. There was one fundamental wrinkle in the script, however, which became obvious. In a discussion with the captain at the end of the film, the starship's doctor asked, "Do you think he (G-d) is really out there somewhere?"
This is a common assumption. Many believe that by travelling far into deep space - at warp speed, perhaps - an enterprising space traveller might find G-d.
The theological problem here is that this idea makes YHWH a part of the physical creation, this time-bound universe of space and matter.
But that is not what the Scriptures reveals:
* The Scriptures show YHWH is not like us - enfleshed in time and
space. It reveals an Elohim who is the majestic and transcendent Creator of
the entire physical realm.
"By the word of Yahweh the heavens were made, their whole
array by the breath of his mouth ...
He spoke, and it was created; he commanded, and there it stood" (Psalm 33:6 &
9, The Jerusalem Bible).
* The Scriptures reveal an Elohim who transcends time and space, whose majesty and sovereignty is evidenced by the material universe we see around us.
"The heavens declare the glory of Yahweh, the vault of heaven proclaims his handiwork; day discourses of it to day, night to night hands on knowledge. ..." (Psalm 19:1-20, The Jerusalem Bible).
Beyond Deep Space
The truth about Elohim is much more striking and out of this world than even the
creators of Star Trek could fathom. Yahweh Eloah is not a physical
entity in any shape or form whatsoever. The Scriptures tell us that Yahweh is
utterly unlike anything our minds can conceive:
John 4:24 tells us that "Yahweh is Spirit: ..." This means that Yahweh is not restricted to our earth-bound parameters of time and space. Time has no meaning to Yahweh.
"The being of Yahweh (G-d) is character by a depth, a fullness, a variety, and a glory far beyond our comprehension," Louis Berkof wrote in Systematic Theology, "and the Bible represents it as a glorious harmonious whole, without any inherent contradictions."
But what does this mean for you and for me?
For one thing, we cannot be too hard on Star Trek V for presenting a limited concept of G-d. The simple fact is that Elohim (G-d) is so great that we all have trouble explaining who he is.
The real Search for Yahweh - the theological effort set forth Yahweh in his essential being - is an exciting quest. It is a much more significant venture than the science fiction scenarios of the popular culture.
Most importantly, knowing more of who Yahweh is makes us much more aware of how worthy the Almighty One of Scripture is of our worship, our adoration and our praise.
The Old Testament (and much of the New) writes of Yahweh in human-centred terms:
"Yahweh smelt the appeasing fragrance and said to himself, 'Never again will I curse the earth because of man, because his heart contrives evil from his infancy. Never again will I strike down every living thing as I have done" (Genesis 8:21, The Jerusalem Bible);
"... How often have I longed to gather your children, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings..." (Matthew 23:37, The Jerusalem Bible).
This is usually known as the "anthropomorphic style" (from the words anthropos, "man," and morphe, "form" or "shape"). This anthromorphic style is vitally necessary. It is the only way we can understand the character of Yahweh as he generously accommodates himself to our inability to understand a spirit being. Thus, even the way the Scriptures are written is but one more reflection of Yahweh's tender love and concern, his desire to be understood by his creation.
In searching our Yahweh it is vital to know this, that most of Scripture is in popular language, not the language of philosophers. Reading the Scriptures with this kind of awareness is an important means of getting to see Yahweh more as he really is.
"Yahweh (G-d) cannot be shaped according to the physical, mental, ethical, or spiritual pattern of man. Yahweh has is own transcendent life and being that defy human depiction. He is not just an enlarged man. He certainly does not display human faults and failings. Nevertheless, He may still be presented in human categories and in terms of human attributes" (International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Volume 1).
To the Hebrews of the Old Testament Yahweh was their Rock, their Shepherd (Psalm 18:2; 23:1). To the New Testament Messianic Assemblies (Christians) in the Greek cities of Asia Minor the apostle Paul presented the exalted picture of "one El and father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:6). A Rock or a Shepherd does not have the capacity to function this way. That is why the key revelation that Yahweh is Spirit enables us to fathom more of his essential attributes.
* Yahweh is self-existent. Yahweh has been described as the necessary first cause, "the unmoved Prime Mover." He exists by the dictates of his own sovereign will. Yahweh has no origin or derivation. We, on the other hand, are finite, perishable creatures who exist only by his grace. John 5:26 reveals that Yahweh has life in himself, life inherent.
* Yahweh is infinite. As the Creator of time, units of chronology are Yahweh's. He fills every particle of time and is neither bound by it or dependent on it.
"You remain the same, and your years will never end" (Hebrews 1:12). Yahweh lives in an eternal present described in Hebrews 13:8, "Yeshua is the same yesterday and today and forever."
* Yahweh is immutable. A being absolute in perfection has no need to change or alter or learn or grow. This does not mean Yahweh is not immobile or static or that there is no movement in Yahweh. It means that the changes he is involved with as he deals with the angelic and human realms are already in accorded with his perfect will (Acts 4:27-28).
Yahweh "knows the end from the beginning" (Isaiah 46:10). Though this may boggle our human minds it is meant to comfort us - the El who knows all and sees all cannot be surprised (Acts 15:17-18).
El is a Unified Being. He is one. And yet many Scriptures point to a threeness within the one El. The baptism formula of Matthew 28:19-20 - "the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" - reveals this truth.
Other threefold formulas throughout the New Testament amplify this point: "[T]he grace of the Sovereign Yeshua the Messiah, and the love of Yahweh, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:14, The Sacred Scriptures, Bethel Edition). 1 Peter 1:2 speaks of those "chosen according to the foreknowledge of El the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Yeshua HaMasiach."
Other texts underscore the threefold work of Elohim with human beings (Romans 15:30; Galatians 4:6).
The revelation of a tri-personal existence inside Elohim - though difficult for the human mind to grasp - alerts us to the fullness of divine life residing in him (John 1:4). The apostle Paul knew that Messianic Believers and Christians had this very fullness of Elohim to draw upon (Ephesians 3:19).
The Miracle of His Presence
Ultimately, the great attributes of Elohim we read about in Scripture are meant to fill us with awe and thanksgiving and trust in his sustaining power. The promise of Yahweh's abiding presence with us throughout this life - and afterwards - should be a source of strength and hope. For the Elohim who transcends time and space, the Elohim who caused the mighty galaxies into existence by the power of his will - this resplendent being can live inside of us!
"If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him make our home with him" (John 14:23).
A Eloah of parts, of physical form and shape, a Eloah bound by constraints of time and space could not do this. But the Eloah of the Scriptures, the Eloah who dwells within believers through the power of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh), he can take up residence inside us.
All over this world people have boldly gone forward on this Messianic/Christian quest - to boldly go where few have gone before, to have Elohim live inside them, to help them in their struggles, to bring them to ultimate glory.
Are you one of them?
The above article was reprinted and adapted from Living Today, November/December 1997 issue, pages 16-19.