How can there be multiple gods? Didn't God say He's the only one?

It’s been a couple of weeks, but I hope you’re all doing fantastic and continuing to enjoy the podcast. In case you missed them, I’ve had two episodes since the last newsletter.

The first was intended to make some of us clutch our pearls. It was called, “Skubala My Bible Says: Scatological Language in the Scriptures.” This dealt with some of the edgy content that Bible translators tend to “tone down” in our English translations, but which were quite blunt and “inappropriate” metaphors the Bible uses to talk about idolatry and also adding to the work of Christ. Check it out if you missed it- but you might want to listen with headphones on.

The second, this past Wednesday’s episode, was called Does the Bible speak of multiple gods? In this one, I introduced the idea that the divine council (and these beings known as the Sons of God) are referred to as gods throughout the Bible.

This is an edgy topic as well because some will call it heretical, yet I am simply standing on God’s Word to make my case. We analyzed Psalm 82 and a few other verses to make that case, including countering the alternative theories that Psalm 82 is talking about human rulers or the Trinity. And today, I want to deal with a couple more objections that some of you may have.

What about….

So maybe there are a number of verses that speak of multiple gods as if they are real, but aren’t there also a number of verses that speak of God being the only deity?

You are probably talking about verses like Deuteronomy 6:4, which is known as the “shema” of the ancient Israelites, a statement they would chant or quote often.

Deuteronomy 6:4 - Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Now, let’s just note who is speaking here: Israel. And they are saying “the Lord OUR God.” Not talking about other gods. So no contradiction there; if anything, this verse is used to argue against the Trinity, but don’t worry, I don’t think it holds up on that front either.

Another verse people point out against the idea of multiple gods in Scripture is

Isaiah 45:5 - I am the Lord, and there is no other,
 besides me there is no God;

Well that settles it, right? No other God besides Yahweh. Plain as day.

Except this is not a statement of exclusion, but of supremacy. God is so far above any other being- human or divine- that anyone else might as well not exist. I can prove it pretty simply by turning a few pages forward in Isaiah. In chapter 47, it’s describing the future downfall of Babylon because of its pride. Here is what it says:

Isaiah 47:8 - Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,
 who sit securely,
who say in your heart,
 “I am, and there is no one besides me;”

The city/nation of Babylon was so arrogant, it said the same thing God said in chapter 45 (not that God is arrogant; but Babylon is arrogant to say similar things). Here’s another example; what Nineveh was saying about itself in:

Zephaniah 2:15 - This is the exultant city
 that lived securely,
that said in her heart,
 “I am, and there is no one else.”
What a desolation she has become,
 a lair for wild beasts!
Everyone who passes by her
 hisses and shakes his fist.

Now obviously, Babylon and Nineveh didn’t believe that no other cities or nations existed. They simply thought themselves so much higher than anyone else that none other compared.

This is similar to what God is saying in Isaiah 45- and of course, when God says it, He’s right.

He’s the Lord of lords, King of kings and God of gods. Truly, there is none other besides Him. If you want to know a little more about how none compares, I highly recommend taking 3 minutes and 18 seconds to watch this legendary monologue.

Brief ministry update- I continue to fill-in as an interim pastor at a Northwest Arkansas church. It is going well, but prayers are appreciated that God continues to help me. And in the background, I continue to prepare the Weird Stuff in the Bible website for launch soon.

Until next time, stay weird!

-Luke