From what I understand of the Christian deity, it has human-like attributes and emotions, especially in the OT. Is it ever explained what this entity actually desires, beyond worship of its subjects? Does it just sit around all day creating and refining moral systems and species – and if so, to what end? In the Bible, is there ever talk of the deity’s long-term plans? What does it want to do a trillion millennia from now? Does it ever get bored with its creations?
It sounds like you’re making the assumption that God exists in time and is subject to its passage.
From what I understand of scripture, God’s desire is to make mankind part of His family, and like Him.
Seconded.
and I would add/modify…
We are gods, and God desires us to know that. We are God’s offspring, we are the children and we will grow up.
(Worship is just us praising ourselves as we are god’s children and deserve it because of who we are)
Except for that part where he specifically punishes them (eden), or scatters them (tower of babel) , less they become like him.
Some of these responses are talking about what God wants from/for us. I think the OP was more asking what God wants for Himself. Though the answer to that may well be “nothing: God is complete and perfect, lacking nothing.”
Does not a parent sometimes punish, or at least discipline, their children at times, or perhaps more fitting for Eden, does not a parent remove a child from a now harmful situation instead of letting them stay there? Does a parent sometimes push their children outside their comfort zone to achieve new things?
Irrelevant to the scripture that says “lets scatter them less they become like us” - this is a fear of the creation - not at all what you are implying.
[QUOTE=Genesis 3:22]
And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Genesis 11]
5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”
[/QUOTE]
So, it seems that the biblical God does not want his creation to become like them or reach out and do the impossible.
THis isn’t punishment for being bad - this is a parent deciding that the child should always be lessor.
He does want that for us, because He created us and loves us, but He wants a family the same way most people do. SO it is His plan and desire for Himself as well
You’re correct - of course - because scripturally - there is nothing to state what God’s 10 year plan is - but if we are to take the scripture at face value, it seems he wants a creation he can continue to mess with.
Facts not in evidence - Genesis shows he does not want us with him permanently - atleast not as family/equals - or after eating of the tree, he would have allowed Adam./Eve to live eternally “just like them”.
to late to add -
How was allowing them to stay in Eden “harmfull” ?
Well from what my knowledge is were created because it pleased him to do so. To understand what god wants is to get a canvas and paint the things which bring you pleasure onto it. then when done turn the canvas around and on the back side of the canvas paint all the things that bring you sorrow on it. When its all dried hang it up on the wall with the back side hidden and the side thats brings you pleasure shown. Not saying this is accurate but probably pretty close. And if you want to see what god see in us put the painting on a string hung to the ceiling in the middle of the painting and give it a good spin. you may even see things that bring pleasure and sorrow at the same time. But this is abstract though how am I to know what god wants. I just try to do good
Which is why the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was necessary. After the sin of Adam. To reconcile man back to God so we can become like Him. Rom 8:15 Gal 4:6
Fairy tail for children. Was almost several sins before eve had even taken of the forbidden fruit because of Lucifer lust envy and jealousy of gods new creations
Look at things like a coin it has a heads and a tails. Every thing in the universe has a equal opposite. If you take away lust,envy,greed,murder and such. then you dont bring out our greatest potentials love generosity, creativity,forgiveness,compassion. So daily we are meet with challenges to teach us strength,wisdom and compassion. We have the potential to murder one another or the potential to evolve into something better. I do how ever have all ways question why Lucifer mention in genesis but satin every were else. So it make me ponder if Lucifer actions didn’t start a war between god and satin. or if Lucifer and satin are the same
Does a parent make a child ask for a sweater when it is cold outside?
God could have created us just like him - he chose to create us “good” - but without key knowledge (of good and evil) - once we had that - he had us thrown out of the garden “lest we become just like him” with eternal life as well.
So, seems God does NOT want us just like him, or he would have done that to begin with.
Or you’re saying that anything that God creates is imperfect from the start - which is in direct contradiction of the scriptures as well.
As for the “sacrifice being necessary” - remember - its God making it necessary - he could have wiped the slate clean at any time - remember, its supposed to be by his ‘grace’ that we are saved, instead, it seems he wants us to be punished for things we have no control over - yet he does.
as for allowing them to stay in Eden being harmful, I would suspect sense Lucifer couldn’t create life. He manipulated the rules. He lusted after eve who was created for adam thus causing evil to be born into the world. Thus forbidden fruit snake in a tree was a metaphor. Adam was punished if you look at it from that perspective for adultery. Sorta like christ told a woman you have many husbands but this man will not be one of them in the new testament. You bed it you bought it. Shortly after all this god said I will separate thy seed from thee seed to Lucifer. Cain and able were born. One slew the other. So with god statement its possible the were twins ones Adams son ones Lucifer son. But most minister would tend to not touch my beliefs on the subject the fairy tell sounds better.
God could not punish the angels in heaven for Lucifer actions. With out punishing man for his involvement. Or else he would not be a just god. Means you all threw a party you all clean up the mess.