Lesson No. 13

Lesson No. 13 Omnipotence

This attribute of God is understood to mean His unlimited power to do all that He desires. God is the source of supreme power.

Regarding this concept of His omnipotence, let us see what the Holy Scriptures say:

Psalm 115: verse 3: “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased”.51

Psalm 135: verse 6: “Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places”.51

Psalm 19: verse 1: “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork”.51

In these three biblical quotes, we have the divinely inspired expression of the psalmist, who, contemplating the marvelous works of divine creation, writes in such terms, referring to God's unlimited power to create all natural things.

The most authentic declaration recorded in the Holy Scriptures about God's omnipotence is found in His own confirmation to Abram, Isaac, and Jacob. Let us consider the following passages:

Genesis chapter 35: verses 9 and 11: “And God appeared unto Jacob again, when he came out of Padanaram, and blessed him. 11And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins”.51

Exodus chapter 6: verses 2 and 3: “And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them”.51

In other quotes from the Holy Scriptures, clear mention is also made of God's omnipotence. For example, in Genesis chapter 28: verse 3, it says: And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people.51

In Genesis chapter 43: verse 14, Jacob declares the following blessing to his sons: And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.51

Likewise, he said to Joseph, according to Genesis chapter 48: verse 3: And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me.51

While the prophet Ezekiel makes the following declaration: And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. (Ezekiel chapter 10: verse 5).51

If we take into account the peculiarities of His own existence, eternity, omnipresence, and omniscience, which are attributed to Him as His attributes, it will be easier to understand the reason for His divine omnipotence.

The greatest evidence of this attribute of God is clearly revealed in the biblical narration of the creation of the universe, which we will address in the next chapter. To conclude with the topic of this attribute of God, I want to specify that His divine power is manifested not only in the work of creating the universe but likewise in the conservation and vivification of all things; what we understand as His divine providence, an issue we will address as a theme included in the attribute of goodness.

Considering that God's omnipotence consists of His unlimited power to do all that He desires, it is worth considering that, to exercise a certain degree of power, the following qualities are needed: having the faculty of intelligence, full knowledge of what is to be done, and all necessary resources at hand. Regarding God, we already know that He possesses all these qualities and resources in unlimited measure.