Basic 6 · Religious and Moral Education · God the Creator

Attributes of God: Creator, Eternal, Holy and Provider

In this topic you will describe more attributes of God: Creator, eternal, holy, provider and sustainer, through the teachings of the three religions.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

Explain God as Creator, eternal, holy and provider
Identify names of God that show these attributes
Relate these attributes to worship and daily life

What you already know

Omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand: God’s Creation And Attributes
Sub-strand: God the Creator
Indicator: B6.1.1.1.1 – Describe the nature of God through His attributes

Introduction

The Akan call God "Onyankopɔn Kwame", the Great One born on Saturday, the day of rest after creation. Names like this tell us what people believe about God.

1. God the Creator

All three religions teach that God created the universe and everything in it. The Bible begins: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). Islam calls Allah Al-Khaliq, the Creator, and teaches that He creates by saying "Be", and it is (Qur'an 36:82). The Akan call God Ɔbɔadeɛ, the Creator of things.

2. God Is Eternal

Eternal means having no beginning and no end. God existed before creation and will exist for ever. The Bible calls God "the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). Islam calls Allah Al-Hayy, the Ever-Living, and Al-Awwal and Al-Akhir, the First and the Last. The Akan say "Onyame bewu na mawu" (Will God die so that I die?), showing that God lives for ever.

3. God Is Holy

Holy means completely pure, good and set apart from all evil. In the Bible, the angels cry "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty" (Isaiah 6:3). Islam calls Allah Al-Quddus, the Most Holy. Because God is holy, believers approach Him with respect, purity and reverence.

4. God the Provider and Sustainer

God provides rain, sunshine, food and life for all creatures and keeps the universe in order. Jesus taught that God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers (Matthew 6:26–30). Islam calls Allah Ar-Razzaq, the Provider. The Akan name Tweduampɔn (the dependable one you lean on) shows trust in God's care.

Names that show God's attributes

Attribute	Christianity	Islam	Akan Traditional
Creator	Creator of heaven and earth	Al-Khaliq	Ɔbɔadeɛ
eternal	Alpha and Omega	Al-Hayy	Onyame (who does not die)
holy	Holy One	Al-Quddus	— (approached with purity and taboos)
provider	Jehovah Jireh (the Lord will provide)	Ar-Razzaq	Tweduampɔn

Rain falling on a green maize farm — Figure 1: God the provider Draw one way God provides for people and animals.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

Creator: The one who made all things.
eternal: Without beginning or end.
holy: Completely pure and set apart from evil.
provider: One who supplies what is needed.
sustainer: One who keeps things going.
reverence: Deep respect.

Summary

God is the Creator of everything.
God is eternal, without beginning or end.
God is holy and pure.
God provides for and sustains all creation.

Class activity: Names of God Chart

Make a chart with four attributes as headings.
Under each, write names of God from the three religions.
Present your chart and explain one name.

You need: Bible, Qur’an, Printed Ghanaian moral-scenario cards, Manila attribute-and-action cards

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

1. Which attribute means God has no beginning or end?
- A. eternal
- B. holy
- C. provider
- D. omnipresent
Show answer
Answer: eternalHe lives for ever.
2. Al-Khaliq means…
- A. the Creator
- B. the Provider
- C. the Holy
- D. the Wise
Show answer
Answer: the CreatorIslamic name.
3. "Jehovah Jireh" means…
- A. the Lord will provide
- B. the Lord is holy
- C. the Lord is king
- D. the Lord is near
Show answer
Answer: the Lord will provideProvider.
4. All three religions teach that God created the world.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: TrueCreation is shared belief.
5. Holy means ordinary and common.
- A. True
- B. False
Show answer
Answer: FalseIt means pure and set apart.
6. The Akan name ______ means "Creator".
Show answer
Answer: ƆbɔadeɛCreator of things.
7. Give one teaching from each religion that shows God as Creator.
Show answer
Answer: Genesis 1:1; Al-Khaliq / Qur'an 36:82; Ɔbɔadeɛ.One each.
8. How should believing that God is holy affect the way people worship?
Show answer
Answer: They worship with respect, purity, clean hearts and proper conduct.Reverence.

Homework

Find out the meaning of one name of God in your Ghanaian language.