The Moral Nature of God

Almighty God created man as recorded in the first and second chapters of Genesis. In Genesis 1 God created man in His image. Our understanding of ourselves literally reflects the nature of God. Based upon that, the proper understanding of ourselves should come from a right comprehension of God Himself. The image of God then in us should consider very strongly the moral nature of God, who is foremost a moral being.

Orthodox thinking about morality starts with God’s nature. Violations of morality are strikes against Who God is. He is the standard or rule of morality. Within this context are the moral attributes of God, which define to us Who God is. This also explains to us the correct view of the world.

Man lives in the Father’s world, not vice versa. He doesn’t sit in judge of what the Father does, the example given in scripture of the clay judging the potter (Isaiah 45:9ff). God knows and sees everything and has always known and seen everything. Man does not know “moral” without God. It starts with Him. Man might, and very often does, think that he knows and decides better than God, putting God under him in his judgment. God operates with perfect precision His will, either by doing, causing, or allowing what He sovereignly wants. If He punishes or chastises a man or men, this accords with pure harmony with His moral nature.

Job questions God's actions and decisions, particularly when facing immense suffering, which is to try and defend himself against God's judgment. The conclusion is that no one can justify himself before God, who is superior to man in His moral nature.