seem a trifling waste of time. We find, however, that not only is the word "God" in

Gen. 1: 1 the plural Elohim, but it is followed by the verb in the singular, and that this is

the general rule. Had there been no overwhelming necessity, Moses would never have

introduced so disturbing a word into the opening verse of revealed truth as the plural

form Elohim. The word El was known to him (Gen. 14: 18; Deut. 7: 9, etc.). He

knew also the word Eloah (Deut. 32: 15) a title used by Job over forty times.

To every believer in the inspired Scriptures, it must be evident that the plural form

was a necessity, and its choice Divinely dictated. The strange fact that the plural Elohim

is construed with a singular verb must be a necessity also, for no one would perpetrate

`by inspiration of God' a grammatical error. We are immediately confronted with a

revelation which indicates that the subject matter lies outside of the ordinary experiences

of mankind. The mystery is not solved in Gen. 1: 1 but it is recognized, and if we will

but notice its presence, we shall have made the first step towards its solution, at least, in

part. The employment of the plural Elohim in Gen. 1: 1 is not an isolated instance of this

peculiar fact, for the use of the plural "God" with the singular verb is the rule throughout

the O.T. Isaiah who so insists upon the unique Person of the Creator, says:

Dr. John Lightfoot draws attention to the need for care in translating this verse, and

reads "He that created . . . . . and they that stretched them out" which is confirmed by the

note in the Companion Bible on this verse. Who are intended by `they'? Again in

Ecclesiastes where we read "Remember now thy Creator" (Eccles. 12: 1), the word

Creator is plural "Creators". At the confusion of tongues the Lord said "Let US go

down" (Gen. 11: 7) where the grammatical construction is the same as that used in

Gen. 11: 3 "Let US make brick". What was grammatically true of many when speaking

of man, is grammatically true of ONE when speaking of God. At the creation of man,

this use of the plural is marked "Let US make man in OUR image, after OUR likeness".

Yet this is followed by the words, "so God created man in HIS own image" (Gen. 1: 26,

27). With whom did God take counsel? The Scriptures make it clear that He does not

stoop to take counsel with any creature (Isa. 40: 14).

It is easy to submit the holiest and most solemn of mysteries of Scripture to ridicule,

and those who object to the teaching of Scripture here brought forward, dismiss the idea

as absurd that God, Who is One, should hold a consultation with Himself. It may

transcend anything that comes within our own experience, but is that to us the final word?

However, there still awaits us one passage that cannot be thus set aside.

We are told in Gen. 18: 1 that "The LORD appeared unto Abraham in the plains of

Mamre", and the title used here is "Jehovah". Abraham saw three men, two of them,

"the two" literally, being subsequently called `angels' in Gen. 19: 1. At the confusion

of tongues, the plural is used "Let US go down" but now the singular is used "I will go

down now", "To Me", "I will know" (Gen. 18: 21). "The men" turned their faces

towards Sodom, as we find in the next chapter, "but Abraham stood yet before the LORD

(Jehovah)" (Gen. 18: 22). It is to Jehovah that Abraham prayed, and it is Jehovah Who