"Is the Lord's arm too short?"

I have been asked lately if this Bible reading brings me any closer to or further from my God.

Confession #31: Neither. I feel neither closer to nor further from my God for reading this narrative. I think part of that lies in this being a narrative. It is written as story, not as dictate. It is what happened to some people at some time, not as a document for living, say, like the Magna Carta. God is speaking to the Israelites; is He speaking therefore to me?

Confession #33: My other attribution for my neutrality lies in repeated and irreconcilable hypocrisies, double standards, and disconnectedness to MY world today. Cases in point follow.

My dear readers’ comments following my entry on sex, speak to an obvious omission on the equality of the sexes. “Man” is forbidden to lie with a man as he would a woman. What about women’s behavior? Ooh, maybe we have carte blanche.

This inequity continues in Numbers where quite some detail is addressed toward procedures if a husband suspects his wife of infidelity. And the man?? Not a word, despite the Commandment against it. Oh, that’s right, in those days, women were lumped in with other “property.” And if she is found guilty, “the husband will be innocent of any wrongdoing, but the woman will bear the consequences of her sin.” Thanks, Eve.

Leviticus goes into detail into consequences for one who inadvertently sins and is even unaware afterward. If you accidentally did it, and didn’t even know it, you are guilty. Gulp. So it’s all in the deed, not in the mind or soul.

“…He punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third or fourth generation.” (Numbers 14:17) What’s with that? I pray hard to my God that I am spared punishment for MY father’s sins.

Both in Leviticus and Numbers, the Lord orders His people to kill another.

In Numbers (16:32) a man is found gathering wood (just gathering wood!) on the Sabbath and the Lord tells the people he must die. But He doesn’t strike him dead Himself; “…the whole assembly must stone him.” And they do! What in the world happened to “THOU SHALT NOT KILL?”

I have a headache.

Confession #34: When even Moses has some doubt over his ability to look after his people, the Lord responds, “Is the Lord’s arm too short?” Perhaps not, but whoever wrote the Old Testament wrote with too short an arm, may we say?

Confession #35: As I said, I am also no further from my God for these tales in the Bible. I still feel we have a pretty groovy relationship.

Now Leaving Leviticus

Confession #29: When I told my husband I had revealed three Confessions in my entry on sex, he stopped breathing momentarily, until I assured him no names were given!

Leviticus winds up as a rule book for cause and effect. It’s very simple, really. There are dire punishments for sin and abundant rewards for the avoidance of sin.

Questions, anyone?

What kind, you ask? Well since this, too, occupies pages of text, suffice it to say that earlier stated infractions carry results like being cut off from one’s people, put to death, rendered childless, stoning, falling to outside enemies. This is also where restitution comes in as in the “eye for an eye” edict. And, by the way, tattoos are punishable.

The language in this punishment section is heartily vitriolic. As a linguist, I am struck by the word choice lending an overpowering tone to these verses - [afflict, plague, hate, ruin, waste, desolate, fearful, perish, treachery, hostility, reject, abhorred, punish, dead, lifeless, break, flee, fall]

“I will scatter you among the nations…I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight.”

Conversely, the pay-off for following the covenant is quite something. Success against and safety from enemies, peace, fruitful crops, fair weather, no fear, no savage beasts. Life in a land of milk and honey.

And, “You may buy slaves from outside nations and will them to your children for a lifetime.” Imagine!

God makes it very clear throughout Leviticus that this is a proposed covenant with the Israelites, excluding peoples of other nations. From adultery, to feast preparation, from property rights to hair styling for priests, Leviticus is extraordinarily specific in demands and results to expect.

If this…then this, but only if this …, not this…because if this…then you must this… but if this…then always this…but it has to be this…and only with this…when...

And I'd always thought we only had those little ten commandments. Whew!

How handy to have life rules laid out so well for us today in 2008.

QUESTIONS: When rules about incest and murder are swirled in with rules on the exact placement of animal blood on an altar, and the proper disposition of one’s slaves, should our laws and public debate hinge solely on this ancient document?

Are we today bound to the same covenant? Or have previous peoples blown it for us so we are just part of the “consequences” and have no arrangement with God, since some of His warned results have occurred? Were these laws of the covenant intended merely for the Israelites (the Jews) and only they and their descendents are bound (and blessed)? What of everyone else? Are we doomed or spared these rules? 

I hope these questions are answered for me as my reading continues.

Confession #30: I don’t think they will be.

Sex

Made ya look.

I give you, for your consideration, Leviticus, Chapter 18 Unlawful Sexual Relations

A long list is offered regarding with whom one may NOT have sex, including:

Your mother Your father’s wife Your son’s daughter
Your sister Your father’s sister Your father’s brother’s wife
And woman and her daughter Your wife’s sister

You get the idea. No incest! Yet some of these contradict earlier condoned behaviors in the Bible. Hmmm.

Also verboten: bestiality.

Also forbidden: “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman.” (In case you haven’t noticed, the language of the Bible is completely aimed at males.)

Now, this blog is not the format for a lengthy debate here on homosexuality. I will offer only one thought: Just a few lines later in Scriptures, the Lord says, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Confession #26: I intellectually grasp the societal consequences of incest more than that of homosexuality.

Confession #27: I do understand more clearly people’s condemnation of homosexuality when stated here so unarguably.

Confession #28: Sexuality is a very complicated element in a person and I refuse to abandon or disrespect my fellow humans for gay orientation, whether seen as a choice or an inherent trait. Besides, from what I know, later the Bible will tell me to “Judge not.”

Cleanliness is next to Godliness

Ya ever notice that as soon as you learn a new word, you start hearing it everywhere? All around me, references to the Bible infiltrate my day lately. And with only 2 ½ books under my belt, I have been able to understand each context and points of discussion with newfound clarity and perspective. As a teacher, I have long drummed the cliché “Knowledge is power” into my students’ heads. Well, like most clichés, it is oh, so true. And so, I am reminded why I started this daunting journey. Onward!

So we are now in Leviticus, which continues the painfully detailed covenant for living which the Lord dictates to Moses. Pages and pages are devoted to procedures for offerings and atonements made to God. Each is a variation on a theme that focuses heavily on animal sacrifice and the ceremonial application of blood. Yuck. Very specific instructions are given regarding food preparation, childbirth, infectious skin diseases, mildew and so on (more in the next entry).

Let’s take a closer look at the specifically stated rules for clean and unclean food. 

Today’s menu:

• YES to meat from animals with a split hoof AND that eat cud. Cows, venison o.k.
o NO to rabbits, camels, pigs.

• YES to animals from streams or seas WITH fins and scales. Halibut o.k.
o NO to shrimp, lobster, scallops, clams, oysters, crab, squid, etc.

• NO to eagle, vulture, owl, hawk, osprey, stork, heron and bat.
o YES to chicken and turkey and Cornish game hen by default.

• YES to insects that are jointed and hop, such as locust, katydid, grasshopper, cricket.
o NO to flying insects that walk on all fours. Help me here, like what? I guess a roach, housefly?

• NO to rat, weasel, gecko, lizard, skink, chameleon.

The tricky thing about eating is that it must be done repeatedly every day, so we are confronted with choices continually. I’m having enough trouble at my age trying get enough fiber, not too much salt, less red meat, enough protein, less fat, more antioxidants, less caffeine, more flaxseed, less sugar, more potassium, less white bread, more whole grains, less alcohol, more red wine, less chocolate, more chocolate. ARGH!!!

Confession #24: Sometimes I just wish we would never get hungry, simply eat nothing but oatmeal for sustenance, and be happy. Other times I thank my personal God and Mother Earth for the abundance put before me. Food is the life-giving bounty, and eating, the ritual reminder of our interconnections with all other living things.

Confession #25: On the evening of the day I read of these food restrictions, I enjoyed a lovely dinner out with my husband, my sister, and her husband. I had the scallops and shrimp on a skewer. It was delicious.

Thems are the Rules

First - readers, check it out! I’ve learned how to insert pics on this blog (thanks, Tom). So look back at Sept. 27 entry: Can You Hear Me Now.  And thanks, Jenna, for the cool pic from my recent visit to New York City.

Back to Moses and the Commandments (sounds like a jazz ensemble). With the Ten Commandments comes a very, very, very long litany of rules/laws “These are the laws you are to set before them:”) and excrutiatingly detailed instructions for the construction of an altar, tabernacle, lampstand, courtyard, priestly garments, incense, basin for washing and particularly the ark of the covenant. No wonder Indiana Jones knew it when he saw it. Then pages and pages are devoted to describing each of the instructions being followed to the letter. Again, if only God were that detailed with me. Truly would I follow.

The laws cover the following:

Personal Injury
Protection of Property
Social Responsibility
Laws of Justice and Mercy
Sabbath Laws
Three Annual Festivals

Here are a few highlights to mull over…

“Do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.” Agree, agree. Look at the trouble that has gotten us into lately.

“If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as menservants do.” Hmmm, seems fair.

“If a man beats his slave and the slave dies, he must be punished, but not if the slave gets up, since the slave is his property.” I’ve always said this.

“Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt.” Interesting slant on the immigration issue, eh?

“Worship the Lord and I will take away sickness and none will miscarry or be barren.” Should we blame our infertility, then, on devotional failure on our parts?

“If you lend money to one who is needy, charge him no interest.” Love that!

“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Love that one, too.

“Do not eat the meat of an animal torn by wild beasts.” Ew.

“If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies, the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed.” Why?

“Do not cook a young goat in his mother’s milk.” Something my mother always told me.

Now, I don’t mean to be flippant with these (well, o.k., maybe alittle) but no disrespect is intended. The principles within these laws are sound, but the specifics are for their time and place. So again, the question is raised: Do we accept all, some, none of these mandates from the mouth of God? Are we allowed to pick and choose what we want to follow? Do we accept them as true only for ancient times or feel obliged to adopt them to our own modern world? Is Man meant to only follow, not reason for ourselves, despite being born with these faculties? And what about all our modern issues that are not addressed within the lengthy and very interesting coverage of laws in Exodus?

Confession #22: I’ll just put it out there and pray for the best. I do not believe God Himself spoke all these legal dictates.

Confession #23:  And, if I am wrong and He did, I do not believe they are intended to be blanketly applied, as written, through all eras of humankind.

Thou Shalt...

Quick – name the Ten Commandments.

Recently, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia co-sponsored a bill to require the display of the Ten Commandments in the House of Reps and the Senate. When pressed, he could name only three of them.

Lynn Westmoreland: What are all of them?
SC: Yes.
LW: You want me to name them all?
SC: Yes.
LW: Uhhh.
LW: Ummmm. Don't murder. Don't lie. Don't steal. Ummmmm.
LW: I can't name them all.

Perhaps that’s why he wants them posted; so he can remember them!

The Ten Commandments (actually restructured from 17 or 23 statements, depending on which Bible version), along with copious additional rules or laws (more on them later), are spoken by God to Moses. Let’s deconstruct them a bit. Only two are directly tied to Man’s relationship with God; the rest toward our fellow man. Two are proactive directives. Eight of ten are what NOT to do. This sounds so parental. I do wish more were proactive, because I believe too many of us go through life trying to avoid settings, circumstances, decisions, risks, even adventures for what we may do.

Having said that, these are pretty good rules to live by, despite their inevitable openness to interpretation. Is a lie always bad? If I take a pen home from work, is that stealing? If I even think of sleeping with my neighbor’s wife, is that the same as acting on it? Can I honor the Sabbath in my own way? (At one point God declares, “Whomever does any work on the Sabbath day shall be put to death.” GOD said this? Or the voice in Moses’s head?) Does murder include warfare, self-defense, or life other than human?

And what is the consequence if we break these commandments? Is it the same if we break them only once or make a lifestyle out of it? If I lead a very, very, very safe life, never really do any of the things God says not to, but never actually contribute much to the world, is that good enough? Oh, tell me now, cause I really want to end up in Heaven, or at least not in Hell.

And…that leads me to an observation…

Now, I am only in Exodus, but I have begun to notice (granted, this could all be thrown out the window in Deutoronomy) that so far, God’s verbal and actual punishments for human disobedience or transgressions has always been limited to his time on earth. God has yet to threaten Hell or even His loss of love for us. Even Adam and Eve’s fall from grace did not damn them. And so, she said in a whisper, when it comes to the commandments, what is the penalty if we don’t adhere to them, hmmm? Through these commandments, God establishes His covenant with the Israelites, but everything thus stated is earthly. Earthly rewards, earthly punishments. Yet, so much of our civilization bases its laws, practices, traditions on the assumption that any of these commandments broken could spell eternal damnation.

I believe that these commandments are more guidelines for decent living. Don’t lie, steal, or kill. Be good to Mom and Dad. Take time out of your busy stressful week to rest and contemplate. Don’t forget where ya came from (honor ME!). Don’t go into credit card debt because you gotta have what your neighbor drives. Just good sense. It generally doesn’t have to be that hard. But hell, fire and brimstone if we fail from time to time? I don’t think so!

I do wish more of the commandments were how we should live, not so much how not to. From this human’s humble and limited earthly position, I propose the following pro-active additions:

~ Honor each day as the gift it is by honoring thy body and mind, filling both with what is healthy and meaningful.

~ Enrich thy life with the gifts of creativity – music, art, etc. to better embrace the spirit God has imbued in Man.

~ Find labor that best utilizes your individual gifts and most serves the greater community. Then produce that labor to your greatest degree.

~ Laugh.  It's what separates us from other animals.

~ Truly love thy neighbor as thyself.

Hey – that’s 5. Maybe those were the five Moses broke in History of the World!

Confession #21: There are certain commandments (I won’t reveal which) that I often do not feel shameful for not following.

Pause for the cause

Well, Ten Commandments must wait until tomorrow, as I fill my readers in on my week’s gap in this blog, since it relates to this.

But first…

At this writing, the Jewish community is pausing to observe Yom Kippur, one of the most solemn of Jewish holy days. I have always been drawn to this Day of Atonement for its themes of repentance and forgiveness. Each atones for his sins and seeks reconciliation with God and fellow human. But it also falls on the other to forgive. I find grace in this concept. As I had one explain it to me, think of the word "a-tone-ment" as “at-one-with" another. Some of their prayers are not unlike Catholics’ own Act of Contrition, but I like the added communal aspect of it all. Seems to me, anyone can adopt this tradition and make it his own regular intent.

I haven’t blogged for a few days because I was busy viewing the Dead Sea Scrolls. Yes! The real ones!

I am often intrigued by the way life’s seemingly random circles intersect. I was off to a long-awaited weekend trip to New York to visit my daughter, Jenna, who lives in Manhattan. While she had to go to work Mon. morning for half a day until we met for a taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (more fun than one should have!!) my cousin Eileen from New Jersey met me in the city. She offered me 2 or 3 things we could do. One was a visit to the Jewish Museum nearby. Oh, yes. Once there, I discovered it houses a major exhibit of portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls. OMG. In researching my Old Testament origin obsession and this blog, I read up on the DSS and was amazed to learn they were only discovered in 1947. Now, just weeks later, I was placed in their midst. What an extraordinary opportunity. Walking along the dimmed room, examining teeny tiny scraps with even tinier writing, I was in awe, much like when I viewed the Book of Kells in Dublin. These physical connections to antiquity and the history of man overwhelms me with a feeling of “at-one-ness” with all. As I wandered through the other exhibits and read many references to early Bible events and quotations, I realized why I most feel the need to read the Bible for myself: it provides me with a frame of reference. A true frame of reference for all future understanding. As literature and historical documents go, I want to have my own internal roots for comprehension and discussion. What I viewed in the museum was far less foreign to me, simply because I have read just a few sections of the bible. I am newly invigorated to keep going.

Confession #19: C asks in the previous entry: Do I think the Jews have it all wrong…or the Muslims? Absolutely not. I don’t believe any of us, particularly a group, has it all wrong OR all right.

Confession #20: I am most at-one with my fellow man when I make myself picture him/her as they were as children, when we are all on the same playing field without our physical and experiential baggage. Sometimes that takes real work on my part.

"Let my people go"

“What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” Moses cries out to the Lord… Or was that W to Paulson, hmmm?

This section of Exodus speaks to the subject of leadership. Moses truly was one born to lead. From his miraculous rescue at birth to his leading the Israelites out of Egypt, he had this direct line going to and from the Lord. God told him in painstaking (for the reader!) detail everything he should do and say. And he obeyed. Jethro tells Moses, “You must be the people’s representative. Select capable men from all the people – men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain – and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Again, my thoughts drift to our elected officials today. “…men who hate dishonest gain.” And God says, “Do not make for yourselves gods of silver or gods of gold.” Wow. Would that Wall St. and D.C. followed such edicts.

But Moses does seem imbued with these honorable traits. Here we have the great parting of the Red Sea and ascent up Mount Sinai to deliver the Ten Commandments (man, I’ve got to rent Charlton Heston’s movie now.) It’s quite a dramatic scene in the bible with trumpets and smoke and fire. But here’s a weird detail. God gives Moses the tablets “inscribed by His own finger.” Moses later becomes so angry at the Israelites’ worship of false idols “he threw the tablets out of his hands breaking them to pieces.” OMG!!! Can you imagine that? I immediately think of my favorite scene in Mel Brooks’s History of the World when, playing Moses, he presents 15 Commandments on 3 tablets, but drops and breaks one, leaving (luckily for us) only 10, 10 Commandments. Hilarious. But now I know there was a biblical source for this detail.  Funny.  

Poor God has to re-inscribe new tablets to replace the ones “which you broke,” he reminds Moses in a parental tone. Ouch.

Confession #18: Moses is the man. As leaders go, Moses was tireless, servient, obedient, fearless. But essentially a follower himself. Granted, he had the advantage of God speaking directly to him, but don’t most leaders believe this secretly? He follows orders well, but I don’t observe any original thinking or decision-making. Nevertheless, he is an impressive figure in the Bible. I like him.

Next entry – those ten commandments.