There was a book published a few years ago, God: a Biography, by Jack Miles. Of course the book was more about how human beings think about and deal with God than any kind of biography of God. The author points out that there is development in our understanding of the divine nature. For example, in the book of Exodus God is portrayed as full of wrath who wants to destroy the Hebrew Children for their infidelity. In St. John’s gospel, in contrast, Jesus speaks of God as Father who chides and corrects the Chosen people when they are missing what God is doing. I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I came in the name of my Father, but you do not accept me. The Bible challenges us to look at our own image of God to make sure we don’t stay stuck with a God full of anger and wrath but instead have a God who loves us enough to expect us to grow in the divine attributes of compassion and forgiveness.
