… we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory… (1 Corinthians 2:7–8)

Each title, description or epithet of God helps us focus on one aspect of His character and being, like a prism separates out the various colors that make up the light spectrum. At times God is revealed in all His glory, like a blinding light. When God represented His presence entering the tabernacle and later the temple, the phenomenon is called the Shekinah glory. In the wilderness travels of the exodus, Israel saw the glory of God as a bright cloud by day and a flaming fire by night (Num 9:15-23). Isaiah saw the glory of God in His heavenly temple, as the angels called out, “Heaven and earth are filled with His glory” (Is 6:3). But Ezekiel depicts the glory of the Lord this way:

As the appearance of the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the surrounding radiance. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord … (Ezek 1:28)

One wonders if Ezekiel, for a very brief moment, could see the many characteristics of God all differentiated, yet blending together in a continuous whole. Indeed, God, though complex in the extension of His many different aspects and attributes, is at the same time simple in His unity. But unlike a rainbow, whose colors show seamless connections with adjacent colors and hues, all of God’s attributes and characteristics seamlessly flow with every other attribute and characteristic. None are contrasting to any other, but all fit perfectly together, with no gradients, blending smoothly. While we may differentiate them so as to focus on each, in reality, He is one whole entity. Theologians call this the simplicity of God. He is the ultimate “integer,” the ultimate whole.

To all this, the apostle Paul, with inspired wisdom, identifies Christ as the Lord of Glory. If Jesus were not God, Paul would be guilty of blasphemy, for God clearly said, “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another…” (Is 42:8). But Jesus is God in the flesh, and glory is His. True, He “… was made for a little while lower than the angels … because of the suffering of death,” yet now He is “crowned with glory and honor …” (Heb 2:9). All glory is His, in all its facets, perfectly as one whole.

Lord, as Moses desired (Ex 33:18), I am looking forward to seeing You in all Your glory.