The intimate nature of our relationship with God is expressed as: God being our Father, and we being His children. In Matthew, chapter 6, when Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray, He begins, “Our Father Which art in Heaven…” So that very close relationship, that very intimate relationship, that family relationship IS possible. [Matthew 6:9: “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father Which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name,” (King James Version)].

Concerning the Fatherhood of God, as a Father, Jehovah God does several things:

God hears and answers prayers and requests, Matthew 6, verse 9 [see above]. We pray to God, we talk to Him, we pour our hearts out to Him, and we make requests of Him.

God shows and expresses concern for us as His children, 2 Peter 3:9 [“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”]; and Luke 15:11 through 32. This reference in Luke 15 is the great parable of the prodigal son, a parable that we know very well. The imagery of that father constantly looking for, constantly anticipating, the return of his son, represents God the Father. That’s the way He is with us. God has concern.

God also provides guidance, Hebrews 1, verses 1 and 2 [“God, Who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, Whom He has appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds…”].

God makes provision for us, John 1:17 [“He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.’”]; Matthew 6:25 through 34 [See verses 31-34: (Jesus said,) “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”].

Because God is our Father, He also disciplines us, Hebrews 12, verse 6 [“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”].

God has deep love for us, John 3:16 [“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”].

To see a wonderful expression of the Fatherhood of God, read Hosea 11, verses 1 through 10.

Another expressive and instructive way to know God is by looking at some of the Names of God. The Names that are used in Scripture also reveal things about God. We can know and understand things about Him by knowing and understanding His Names. His Names are a part of the revelation of God, and often speak about His attributes—about His character. These are Names, by the way, that are revealed by God. These Names are not made up in the minds of men.

There are several Names we can look at. For example, in the Old Testament, the Hebrew word “El” is a prefix that expresses the majesty and the power of God. The Name that is used most often in the Hebrew is “Elohim,” which expresses God’s majesty and God’s power. There are other Hebrew words with the “El” prefix: “El Shaddy”—God Almighty; “Elyon”—God Most High; “Eloah”—I Am. Then there is a related word in the Hebrew, “Adon,” or “Adonai,” which means “My Lord.” If we think about the understanding and the meaning of the Names, we can see information revealed in the Name that we can know about God. [Other Names for God in the Old Testament include: “Gobbor”—Mighty Man of valor; “Tsaddik”—Righteous One; “Quanna”—Jealous; “Sabboath”—God of host; “Abhir”—Mighty One. God’s Names in the New Testament include: “Theo”—God; “Kurio”—Lord; “Hypistos”—Most High; “Father”—His relationship to His children; “King of kings or KING OF KINGS”.]

Another way of knowing God is by His ATTRIBUTES. The word “attributes” refers to His qualities, His characteristics, and the virtues that we know about Him. These attributes, as we understand them and know them, help us to separate even further the Creator from the created.

The first attribute we’ll examine is God’s OMNIPOTENCE. The word omnipotence refers to the “power of Almighty God [all-powerful].” For example, in Job 42, verse 2, Job says, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.” That verse speaks to the omnipotence of God. We might look also at Jeremiah 32, verse 17, and I call your attention to the way the New King James Version expresses this: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” Once again, this shows the omnipotence of God. And from the New Testament, in Revelation, chapter 19, and verse 6, we read, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns.” There you have it—God in His omnipotence! And even though God is all powerful, I remind you that there are still things that He cannot—that He will not do, whether it’s lying or being tempted, or whatever. His omnipotence means that He can do anything. But, He has limited Himself—He has restricted Himself—so that He will not violate His holiness or His righteousness, and so on. See also: Genesis 17:1; Genesis 18:4; Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37.