YHWH the Mutilator

June 16, 2009, 9:03 am by dc-agape.

Exodus Chapter 4:1-17

This part of the life of Moses is where he finishes his palaver with YHWH.  I didn’t mean to be disrespectful to Native Americans and use powwow so Dictionary.com comes to the rescue - palaver.  Even though this is not the end of Moses’ discourse with YHWH, during the rest of the Book of Exodus little tidbits of YHWH’s commands are added where necessary.

At the beginning of the chapter Moses is still not convinced that he can do what YHWH has commanded him to do.  I thought this brought immediate hellfire and damnation!  In fact, Moses gets away with it three more time in this chapter.  I didn’t really bring it up in my last post but his whining did occur two other times (Exodus 3:11-13).  I guess when you are special to YHWH he puts up with it.  But Moses’ confidence in YHWH is very weak and he is very stubborn.  He risks life and limb by pushing his luck.  First he asks how he will prove that he spoke to YHWH.  YHWH gives Moses three miraculous signs to show the elders of Israel.  One is that he will turn his staff into a snake.  Another is turning his hand leprous and healing it.  The last one is turning water into blood.  Even YHWH knows that it will take more than one miracle to guarantee his followers will follow him.  You would think he had learned something by now!  If he really wanted us, today, to follow him he should show up and do some tricks.  Don’t you agree? 

Well this isn’t even enough for Moses.  Moses whines about not being the best talker.  Of course this gives YHWH the chance to brag:

Exodus 4:11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord?

This is a powerful verse that proves that the suffering of people in this world is not due to Satan.  No it is the loving YHWH that causes birth defects and accidents that make people handicapped!  He takes complete responsibility.

Moses whines one last time begging YHWH to send someone else.  This pisses YHWH off.  But he does not punish Moses; no he punishes all of Moses’ descendants.  He gives the priesthood to Aaron’s line (Moses’ brother).  YHWH likes to do that it seems…punish the innocent for the sins of the father.  It certainly does not seem like justice to an Atheist.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Killzone 2 will lead us to freedom! (crunchgear.com)
• Dry Bones (ibiblio.org)
• Moses, Joshua, and Jesus (justanotherclaypot.blogspot.com)

Posted in Exodus, Readings | Print | 1 Comment »