8. God's revelation in the Old Testament

YOUCAT Catechism + Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 8

AVE MARIA Series

8.  How does God reveal himself in the Old Testament?

God shows himself in the Old Testament as God who created the world out of love and remains faithful to men even when they have fallen away from him into sin.  [54-64, 70-72]

Then the Lord said to Noah: “Go into the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this age have I found to be truly just.” -- Genesis 7:1 …...8

God makes it possible to experience him in history:  With Noah he establishes a covenant to save all living things.  He calls Abraham so as to make him “the father of a multitude of nations” (Genesis 17:5b) and to bless “all the families of the earth” in him (Genesis 12:3b). The people Israel, sprung from Abraham, becomes his special possession.  To Moses he introduces himself by name.  His mysterious name YHWH, usually transcribed Yahweh, means “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  He frees Israel from slavery in Egypt, establishes a covenant with them on Sinai, and through Moses gives them the Law.  Again and again, God sends prophets to his people to call them to conversion and to the renewal of the covenant.  The prophets proclaim that God will establish a new and everlasting covenant, which will bring about a radical renewal and definitive redemption.  This covenant will be open to all human beings.

REVELATION  Revelation means that God opens himself, shows himself, and speaks to the world voluntarily.

“We cannot talk about God, but woe to the one who remains silent about him.”  St. Augustine (354-430, Doctor of the Church, the most important writer and theologian of the early Church)

“This is (the theologian’s) mission:  in the loquacity of our day and of other times, in the plethora of words, to make the essential words heard.  Through words, it means making present the Word, the Word who comes from God, the Word who is God.”  Pope Benedict XVI, October 6, 2006

 “All that is said about God presupposes something said by God.”  St. Edith Stein (1891-1942, Jewish Christian, philosopher, and Carmelite nun, concentration camp victim)

[54-64, 70-72]

In the beginning God makes himself known

54 "God, who creates and conserves all things by his Word, provides men with constant evidence of himself in created realities. And furthermore, wishing to open up the way to heavenly salvation - he manifested himself to our first parents from the very beginning."(Dei Verbum 3; compare John 1:3; Romans 1:19-20.)⁶ He invited them to intimate communion with himself and clothed them with resplendent grace and justice. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

55 This revelation was not broken off by our first parents' sin. "After the fall, [God] buoyed them up with the hope of salvation, by promising redemption; and he has never ceased to show his solicitude for the human race. For he wishes to give eternal life to all those who seek salvation by patience in well-doing."(Dei Verbum, 3; compare Genesis 3:15; Romans 2:6-7.)⁷--CCC

Even when he disobeyed you and lost your friendship you did not abandon him to the power of death. . . Again and again you offered a covenant to man.(Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayer IV, 118.)⁸ --CCC

The Covenant with Noah

56 After the unity of the human race was shattered by sin God at once sought to save humanity part by part. The covenant with Noah after the flood gives expression to the principle of the divine economy toward the "nations", in other words, towards men grouped "in their lands, each with [its] own language, by their families, in their nations".(Genesis 10:5; compare Gen 9:9-10, 16; Gen 10:20-31.)⁹ --CCC

57 This state of division into many nations is at once cosmic, social and religious. It is intended to limit the pride of fallen humanity united only in its perverse ambition to forge its own unity as at Babel.(compare Wisdom, 10:5; Genesis 11:4-6.)¹¹ But, because of sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of its rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy with the perversion of paganism.(compare Romans 1:18-25.)¹² --CCC

58 The covenant with Noah remains in force during the times of the Gentiles, until the universal proclamation of the Gospel.(compare Genesis 9:16; Luke 21:24; Dei Verbum 3.)¹³ The Bible venerates several great figures among the Gentiles: Abel the just, the king-priest Melchisedek - a figure of Christ - and the upright "Noah, Daniel, and Job".(compare Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:3; Ezekiel 14:14.)¹⁴ Scripture thus expresses the heights of sanctity that can be reached by those who live according to the covenant of Noah, waiting for Christ to "gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad".(John 11:52.)¹⁵--CCC

God chooses Abraham

59 In order to gather together scattered humanity God calls Abram from his country, his kindred and his father's house and makes Abraham "the father of a multitude of nations".(Genesis 12:1),¹⁶ "In you all the nations of the earth shall be blessed (Genesis17:5; Gen 12:3; Galatians 3:8)."¹⁷ --CCC

60 The people descended from Abraham would be the trustee of the promise made to the patriarchs, the chosen people, called to prepare for that day when God would gather all his children into the unity of the Church.(compare  Romans 11:28; John 11:52; Jn 10:16.)¹⁸  They would be the root on to which the Gentiles would be grafted, once they came to believe.(Compare Romans 11:17-18,24.)¹⁹ –CCC

61 The patriarchs, prophets and certain other Old Testament figures have been and always will be honored as saints in all the Church's liturgical traditions. –CCC

God forms his people Israel

62 After the patriarchs, God formed Israel as his people by freeing them from slavery in Egypt. He established with them the covenant of Mount Sinai and, through Moses, gave them his law so that they would recognize him and serve him as the one living and true God, the provident Father and just judge, and so that they would look for the promised Savior (Dei Verbum 3).²⁰ –CCC

63 Israel is the priestly people of God, "called by the name of the LORD", and "the first to hear the word of God",the people of "elder brethren" in the faith of Abraham. (Deuteronomy 28: 10; Roman Missal, Good Friday, General Intercession VI; see also Exodus 19:6.)²¹ --CCC

64 Through the prophets, God forms his people in the hope of salvation, in the expectation of a new and everlasting Covenant intended for all, to be written on their hearts (Compare Isaiah 2:2-4; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 10:16.).²²  The prophets proclaim a radical redemption of the People of God, purification from all their infidelities, a salvation which will include all the nations (Compare Ezekiel 36; Isaiah 49:5-6; Isa 53:11.).²³   Above all, the poor and humble of the Lord will bear this hope. Such holy women as Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Miriam, Deborah, Hannah, Judith and Esther kept alive the hope of Israel's salvation. The purest figure among them is Mary (Compare Luke 1:48).²⁴ –CCC

IN BRIEF

70   Beyond the witness to himself that God gives in created things, he manifested himself to our first parents, spoke to them and, after the fall, promised them salvation (compare Genesis 3:15) and offered them his covenant. –CCC

71 God made an everlasting covenant with Noah and with all living beings (compare Genesis 9:16). It will remain in force as long as the world lasts. --CCC

72 God chose Abraham and made a covenant with him and his descendants. By the covenant God formed his people and revealed his law to them through Moses. Through the prophets, he prepared them to accept the salvation destined for all humanity. --CCC