The Radiant Mission
The Radiant Mission
134. Who Is God?
What if every breath you take whispers the name of God? In the premiere episode of our Coffee Talk series, we're tackling humanity's most profound question: Who is God? This isn't just theological theory—it's the foundation that shapes how we understand ourselves and navigate our world.
Diving into Scripture, we explore the fascinating paradox of God's character. How can someone be perfectly just while overflowing with mercy? We unpack this divine tension and how it finds its perfect resolution at the cross, where justice and mercy embrace without compromising either attribute.
Did you know God has a personal name? When Moses encountered the burning bush and asked who he should say sent him, God revealed himself as Yahweh—"I AM WHO I AM." This name, when pronounced without vowels, resembles the sound of breathing, suggesting that every breath connects us to our Creator. Some researchers have even noted intriguing connections between the structure of human DNA and the numerical values of YHWH in Hebrew—as if our very cellular makeup bears the signature of our Maker.
We also confront common misconceptions that distort our understanding of God: the distant creator who remains uninvolved, the harsh judge waiting for us to fail, or the cosmic genie expected to grant our wishes without relationship. Jesus offers the perfect corrective to these false images, showing us exactly what God is like—loving, compassionate, truthful, and self-sacrificing.
Understanding God accurately transforms everything: how we see ourselves, how we face uncertainty, and how we choose to live. If you're feeling distant from God, take heart—He isn't hiding. He's revealed Himself through Scripture, creation, Jesus, and the whispers of your own life experiences.
Join our community on Instagram or Facebook @theRadiantMission, check out the video version on YouTube, or become a monthly supporter to help keep these conversations going. Together, let's discover the God who is closer than our next breath.
💬 Join the Conversation!
➡ Instagram: @theradiantmission
➡ Facebook: The Radiant Mission Podcast
➡ YouTube: Rebecca Twomey
💛 Support the Show!
If you’d like to help keep The Radiant Mission Podcast going, consider becoming a monthly supporter! Your support, starting at just $3/month, helps cover production costs and allows us to continue spreading biblical truth.
Thank You for Joining Us!
For the full show notes, including links to any resources mentioned, please visit The Radiant Mission Blog.
Follow along on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
Enjoying the show? Please refer it to a friend :)
Hey everyone, welcome back to the Radiant Mission Podcast. I'm your host, rebecca Toomey, and today we are diving in to the very first episode of our Coffee Talk series. Cheers, this is tea. Today, or tonight, I should say. This series is all about exploring big questions in a short, thought-provoking format. Think of this as a conversation over coffee, just us digging into the deep and sometimes challenging questions that shape what we believe. And what better place to start than with the biggest question of all who is God?
Speaker 1:God is a topic that people have wrestled with for thousands of years. Some see him as a loving father, others see him as distant and impersonal, and still others question whether he exists at all. But if we want to understand life, our purpose and our faith, we have to start with who God is. Who God is, let's first talk about the character of God. The Bible tells us a lot about God's character. He is loving and merciful. Psalm 145.8 says the Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. Merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. God is holy and just. In 1 Samuel 2, verse 2, there is no one holy like the Lord. There is no one besides you. There is no rock like our God, and God is all powerful and sovereign. Isaiah 46, 9,. For I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me.
Speaker 1:When we read scripture, we see a God who is both just and merciful, powerful and personal, a God who desires a relationship with us. But what does it mean that God is both just and merciful? You know, justice means that God can't ignore sin. He's righteous and he holds people accountable. But mercy means that he's made a way for us to be forgiven through Jesus. And this is where many people struggle with the understanding of God. How can he be both? The answer is found in the cross, where justice and mercy meet.
Speaker 1:The second thing I want to talk about today is that God has a name, and his name is Yahweh. Did you know that God has a personal name, or is this new? If you've been listening for a while, you probably have heard us say Yahweh, and maybe you've even wondered about it if you hadn't heard it before. But in the Bible he reveals his name as Yahweh, which is spelled Y-H-W-H. When Moses encountered God at the burning bush, he asked what name he should use when speaking to the Israelites, and God responded. God said to Moses I am who I am. And he said say this to the people of Israel I am has sent me to you. Exodus 3, verse 14. Yahweh means I am, or the self existent one, signifying that God is eternal, unchanging and dependent on no one. Over time, out of reverence, the Jewish people stopped pronouncing this name and instead use titles like Lord, which is Adonai, and in English translations of the Bible, yahweh is often replaced with Lord in all capital letters.
Speaker 1:Now, if you're hearing a little bit of squeaking right now, I have my sweet little newborn on my lap. Lift her up. Can we see her? Oh, oh, little baby. Turn her around, say hi, little baby, oh, oh. She's just chilling on my lap here Joining for this first episode. Yes, I just had my sweet little Riel a month ago.
Speaker 1:Let's keep talking about God. A fascinating connection actually between Yahweh and our breath, which Rachel and I have talked about. God. A fascinating connection actually between Yahweh and our breath, which Rachel and I have talked about before. But some scholars and theologians have pointed out a really beautiful connection between God's name and our very breath. The pronunciation of Yahweh, when spoken without vowels, resembles the sound of breathing. I'm going to do it for you right now. Can you hear it? Some believers, some believe that this symbolizes that every breath we take is a reminder of God's presence, from the first breath of life he gives us to our very last, which I think is a really beautiful thing. There's also a possible connection to DNA and this is a really fascinating theory, and it suggests that the very structure of our DNA may reflect God's name. Some researchers have noted that the molecular pattern of our DNA sequence aligns with the numerical values of YHWH in Hebrew. While this is a debated idea, it serves a powerful reminder that we are fearfully and wonderfully made, as we're told in Psalm 139.14, bearing the mark of our creator in every cell of our being. Understanding that God has a name reminds us that he is personal, not just a distant deity, but a God who desires to be known by his people, by his children.
Speaker 1:Next, let's talk about misconceptions about God. There are so many ideas about God in the world. Some believe he's only a distant creator who sets things in motion but doesn't intervene. Others think that he's more like a cosmic judge and he's waiting for us to mess up. And some see him as some kind of genie, like a wish granter, expecting him to give them everything that they want without a real relationship.
Speaker 1:But the Bible paints a very different picture. God is not distant. He is actively involved in our lives and he's not a judge. He is a loving father who seeks to redeem. He is not just a provider of blessings. He desires our hearts, not just our requests.
Speaker 1:Jesus, who is God in the flesh, shows us what God is truly like loving, compassionate, full of grace and also deeply concerned with righteousness and also deeply concerned with righteousness In John 14, 9,. Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. Think about that. If you want to understand who God is, look at Jesus. The way he loved people, the way he spoke truth, the way he sacrificed for us. That's God's heart on display.
Speaker 1:So why does all this matter? Understanding who God is changes everything. If he's just a distant force, then life can feel empty. But if he is a personal, loving father who created us for a purpose, then everything shifts. Knowing who God is also affects how we see ourselves. If we believe we were created by a loving, intentional God, then we are valuable, intentional God, then we are valuable, known and deeply loved, and that changes the way that we live. If we know that God is in control, we can trust him even in uncertainty. If we know he's loving, we can rest in his grace instead of striving for perfection. If we know he's just, we can live with integrity and righteousness.
Speaker 1:But maybe you're listening and thinking I don't feel close to God. I don't know him like that. And if that's you, let me encourage you. God wants to reveal himself to you, yes, to you. He's not hiding. He has made himself known through his word, through creation, through Jesus and even through the way he works in our lives. So as you sip your coffee or tea today, take a moment to reflect on the following who is God to you? Have you sought to know him beyond what the world says? How have you seen God's character at work in your life? Are there misconceptions you've had about God that need to be replaced with truth? I encourage you to take time this week to read through the verses we shared today and ask God to reveal himself to you in a personal way. You can get all these Bible verses in the show notes and you can find the full show notes at theradiantmissioncom forward slash blog.
Speaker 1:If this episode got you thinking, I'd love to hear from you. Join the conversation on Instagram at the Radiant Mission or Facebook at the Radiant Mission Podcast, if you prefer watching. Check out the video version on YouTube by searching for my name, rebecca Toomey, and that last name is spelled T-W-O-M-E-Y. If you'd like to help keep the Radiant Mission Podcast going, consider becoming a monthly supporter. Your support, starting at just three bucks a month, helps to cover production costs and allows us to continue spreading biblical truth. I will leave a link in the show notes to become a supporter and, of course, please don't forget to subscribe and leave a review. That will help more people find these faith-based conversations. That will help more people find these faith-based conversations. Today we're going to close with Proverbs 18.10. The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous man runs into it and is safe. We're wishing you a radiant week and then we'll see you next time. Bye, everyone.
