[aron]

Originally Posted by OBW

The revelation of the specific things is meaningful in an important way while figuring out how it all fits together is not. That is the reason that there is no doctrine of the Trinity in scripture. We can argue that it is there — just between the lines. But just like the "ground," it isn't really.

It is much more important to believe in the sacrifice of the Son, obey his teachings (as they lead to righteousness that is demanded by the Father), relying on the leading and filling of the Spirit to accomplish this. Understanding it is not needed for action. How did the Jordan stop flowing and become dry for the crossing? Is there some natural explanation? Doesn't matter, especially if you are one of the group that is about to cross. You just obey and cross. God did it. Did he use some natural phenomenon or break the laws of physics? Doesn't matter.

We are trapped in a mindset that requires completely logical explanations or we cannot continue. There is mystery in God that is not revealed. The sooner we understand that, the sooner we can get back to the parts that are not mysterious. And there are a lot of them.

Funny now we manage to turn the mystery into science and then ignore the literal as metaphor and "OT law."

OBW: "How did the Jordan stop flowing . . . doesn't matter" What does the Bible say about this. Let's read Psalm 114.

1 When Israel went forth out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language;

2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

3 The sea saw it, and fled; Jordan was driven back.

4 The mountains skipped like rams, the little hills like young sheep.

5 What aileth thee, O thou sea, that thou fleest? thou Jordan, that thou turnest back?

6 Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams; ye little hills, like young sheep?

7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob;

8 Which turned the rock into a pool of water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

According to Psalm 114, the "presence of the LORD " made the Jordan turn back. Actually the word for 'presence' in Hebrew is 'faces'; paw-neem.

The "angels of the face" go before the Lord, and the mountains melt like wax before Him. (Psa 97:5). Mountains tremble, water pours forth from the flinty rock, the sea becomes as dry land. Etc etc. Thorn bushes burst into flame without being consumed (Exod 3:1-3), donkeys speak(Num 22:25-28), the surface of the pool of Bethesda begins to ripple(John 5:4). Etc etc.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_of_the_Presence

Understanding the mechanism of the Lord's operation* allows us to co-operate with Him. Here's an example, from Matthew 8:8

The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

The centurion knew that he didn't deserve to have Jesus under his roof, but he also knew that he didn't need to have Jesus under his roof. Jesus could just speak a word and his servant would be healed.

Note that in the case of Jairus' daughter, Jesus did have to come under the roof; He had to expel the flute players, deal with the laughter of the derisive ones etc. Only then could he save the girl. The centurion's understanding of the dynamics of the situation allowed him to avoid such ignominy of Jesus' further travel and inconvenience. When Jesus heard, He marveled at his understanding, said, "Let it be done", turned on His heel, and went off (Matt 8:10-13).

The servant was healed without the need for the extra time, effort and struggle, because of the understanding of the centurion. The centurion experientially knew how it all went down: "I also am a man under authority" and "I also have servants under me" etc. Nothing of the Trinity here. Merely God (although not stated, but implied: the centurion was also a man under the authority [of Caesar]), and His emissaries, or agents. He knew how things worked, and because of this and his good heart (obedience) he was able to cooperate effectively with Jesus.

If you look at the stories of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:21-43) and the healing of the centurion's servant, they're quite different in tenor. One of the recipients had more understanding, and was able to cooperate seamlessly with the Father's will. The other healing work of Jesus is accomplished only through a good deal of fuss and muss. Shouting, mocking, arguing, expelling people from the house and so forth.

Psalm 32:9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

*Actually, 'understanding' God's operation is perhaps a bit optimistic. God is, after all, ineffable. 'Beginning to understand' would be better phrased. At least, don't be dismissive, or pretend that it has nothing to do with you. God is your Father, after all; aren't you a bit curious about what goes on, in His house? Jesus has prepared a place there, for you. Curious, at all? Interested? Good.