God of Judaism

God is one

Judaism is a monotheistic religion, and we can see the commitment to one God in the Shema, an important Jewish prayer:

• Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Deuteronomy 6)

There are three elements to the idea that God is one:

• There is only one God - this influences Jews to worship only God, and not the deities of other religions (e.g., the Hindu god, Brahma).

• God is a single unified being that is indivisible (cannot be split into parts) - this influences Jews to reject the Christian idea of a Trinitarian God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

• God is unique, he is unlike anything else - this influences Jews to accept that they may not fully understand God or God's plan for them.

God is the creator

Jews believe that God created the world out of nothing (ex nihilo), as described in Genesis:

• In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1)

This shows that God is infinitely powerful.

God as law-giver

Jews believe that to help people live good lives, God created laws to guide them. These laws (mitzvot) are found in the Torah - the books of law, which are the first five books of the Tenakh (Hebrew Bible). There are 613 mitzvot, which include the Ten Commandments.

The Torah (law) was revealed to Moses during the Israelites' journey out of slavery to the Promised Land (Exodus). The Ten Commandments were given to Moses on Mt Sinai, and the remainder of the laws were given during the 40 years of travelling that the Israelites undertook on their way through the desert back to the Promised Land.

God as judge

Alongside the belief that God has created laws to guide our lives, Jews also believe that God will judge us on whether we have obeyed his laws or not.

Here is a selection from the Torah of punishments (curses) that God handed out to those who disobeyed mitzvot:

• famine & drought

• disease and plague

• defeat at the hands of enemies

• exile from homeland

• enslavement and oppression

As well as judgements that have to be endured in this life, Jews believe that God will also judge people after death.

God as loving and merciful

Although these punishments seem severe, there are many episodes in the Torah that show God is loving and merciful - that he is willing to give people a second chance if they are truly sorry.

• The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus 34)