On Tue, 23 Oct 2001 21:43:40 GMT, Exchanged <> wrote: >_

>This excerpt is taken from

>http://www.exchangedlife.com/Sermons/topical/trinity/three_persons.shtml

>

>Jump ahead to Genesis 11:

>

> 7 “Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they

>may not understand one another’s speech.”

> 8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all

>the earth, and they ceased building the city.

>

In verses 5 & 6, the text makes it clear the G-d, singular, is speaking. When in verse 7 it says “let Us go down”, it is referring to G-d’s “Heavenly Hosts”. Don’t forget, G-d did create other beings who dwell in higher places.

>The LORD said, ‘let Us go down’ (plural), followed by the LORD

>scattered them (singular). We see this again in Isaiah 6:8. God asks

>’Who will go for Us’. The concept of the Trinity teaches this

>principle. One God, three persons. Now look ahead to Isaiah 48:

>

Isaiah 6:8 is referring to G-d’s messengers, the angels.

>16 “Come near to Me, hear this: I have not spoken in secret from the

>beginning; From the time that it was, I was there. And now the Lord

>GOD and His Spirit Have sent Me.”

> 17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am

>the LORD your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way

>you should go.

>

“Sent me” is referring to the prophet Isaiah.

NUM 11:29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

“His spirit” here means prophecy.

>This is a fascinating passage. The LORD (Jehovah) is saying, ‘the Lord

>God and His Spirit have sent Me’. Who sends Jehovah? How can the Lord

>God and His Spirit send Jehovah to redeem Israel? In this passage we

>have Jehovah identifying Himself in three persons. We see a similar

>passage in Zechariah 2

>

> 10 ” Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming

>and I will dwell in your midst,” says the LORD.

> 11 “Many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and they

>shall become My people. And I will dwell in your midst. Then you will

>know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.

>

>In this passage we have the LORD (Jehovah) saying that He was sent to

>Israel by the LORD (Jehovah). How can this be unless God is truly a

>Triune God? Look again to the passage we used before in Isaiah 44

>

No, the Hebrew word for “sent me” is related to the same word for “messenger”, which is anyone, to quote the “Blues Brothers” on a “mission from G-d”. In this case, it was Zechariah.

Now, you got to admit, it makes more sense. If G-d is saying “Us” and meant another god besides Himself, then there is no case for monotheism. However, if G-d is referring to other beings such as angels, prophets, etc, then, and only then, does this make any sense and is consistent with monotheism.

Les Brown