August 8, 2009, 1:51 pm by dc-agape.

Exodus 32 – 33:6

Moses spent 40 days in the presence of YHWH, receiving the instructions for the Tent of Meeting.  During this time the Israelites quickly forgot all the “miracles” that YHWH performed to get them out of Egypt and all the events that took place during the three months to make their way to Mount Sinai.  Even when presented with “miracles” these people did not believe/trust in YHWH.  That would certainly explain why YHWH doesn’t bother with miracles today!  Why bother, when people who saw the miracles were unaffected by them.

When YHWH had finished detailing his Tent of Meeting he instructed Moses to go down to the Israelites.  In fact, it was a direct commandment from YHWH to leave.  But Moses disobeyed YHWH, instead he argued with YHWH.  He used a guilt trip on YHWH to save the Israelites.  Moses had to remind YHWH of the promise made to Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.  Moses also had to remind YHWH of the acts that were preformed in Egypt.  Finally, Moses pushed the ultimate button on YHWH:  “what will the Egyptians think of you if you kill the Israelites?”  For a supernatural being of ultimate power YHWH sure is concerned with what sinful people think of him, because this trick worked. 

Here the study guide to the NIV makes a simple mistake.  The Word of God clearly states that Joshua goes with Moses up to see YHWH (Exodus 24:23).  But in the study notes for Exodus 32:17 claims that Joshua did not enter the presence of YHWH.  Yet nowhere in the Word of God does it indicate that Joshua did not follow Moses.  And it is certain that Joshua did not go down to the Israelite camp, because Moses never interceded with YHWH on Joshua’s account (as he did for Aaron).

The situation of the Golden Calf brings up a number of issues.  Didn’t YHWH know this was going to happen before it occurred?  He is supposed to be all-knowing.  But more importantly, why did he get angry, if he knew it was going to happen?  Or does he not know the future?  Not knowing the final outcome would explain the anger and the remorse.  Knowing the future would eliminate any reason for becoming angry.  But by explaining this away as freewill (of the Israelites) would mean that YHWH does not know what we will do, so he is not all-knowing.   It also indicates that YHWH showing himself to modern humans would not negate our freewill.  From the Atheist perspective, this one incident removes the issue of freewill, an all-knowing supernatural being, and the absence of YHWH’s presence in modern times.

Also, why did Aaron make the Golden Calf?  Why did Aaron lie to Moses?  And why did YHWH choice Aaron to be the High Priest, knowing that Aaron would make the Golden Calf?  Further, why would Moses have to intercede on Aaron’s behalf in Deut 9:20, if YHWH had already decided that Aaron was going to be the High Priest?  Many questions are left unanswered and all of them deal with YHWH perceived omniscience and human freewill.

Another issue that the Golden Calf presents is Moses’ actions.  First, he directly disobeys YHWH command to leave Mount Sinai.  Second, he actually argues with YHWH.  Modern Tradition of Men indicates that both of these actions would result in instant wrath from YHWH.  In fact, what we see today is people claiming that YHWH will bring wrath down on those who disagree with him, but no one who is standing up to YHWH.  Third, Moses does something that YHWH did not prearrange.  When Moses reached the Israelite camp (knowing that the Golden Calf existed), he ordered the Levites to murder 3,000 people.  YHWH did not communicate this to Moses; Moses chose this action on his own yet then claimed that it was an order from YHWH:

Exodus 32:27 Then he said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side.  Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’

YHWH did not tell Moses this!  Moses choice this option from his own anger!  Is this any different than the psychopaths today that claim “YHWH told me to kill!”?  Was Moses a charismatic psychopath in charge of the Israelites?

The story of the Golden Calf ends with Moses making peace with YHWH.  But YHWH left the Israelites to their own devices.  YHWH still promised to drive the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites from the Promised Land.  Yet in the Book of Ezra (440BC) these tribes were still influencing the Israelites.  YHWH did not fulfill his promise to drive these people out of the Promised Land with an angel before the Israelites.  And this verse clearly says that this was YHWH’s promise to Moses:

Exodus 33:2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

So to end this post we have seen how one story about a Golden Calf has destroyed many Traditions of Men that exist today in Christianity.  Lying is acceptable behavior (Aaron), back talking to YHWH is approved (Moses), pretending that YHWH ordered something is OK (Moses), miracles do not eliminate freewill (the Israelites), YHWH does not know the future (YHWH’s anger), and YHWH does not fulfill his promises (the angel).  I am sure that I missed some extra opportunities to point out some more Traditions of Men that are not factual, but I think I have given you a taste.

Posted in Exodus, Contradictions, Personal Responsibility, Traditions of Men, Freewill, Readings | Print | 1 Comment »

August 8, 2009, 7:50 am by dc-agape.

Chapter 30:25-43

Jacob has finished his 14 years of labor for his now father-in-law uncle.  He has 4 wives, and 13 children to think about.  Laban is desperate for Jacob to stay.  Here we read again that Laban is not a believer in YHWH. We know this because he has used divination to find out that Jacob is blessed.  So they hash out another deal of unspecified duration for Jacob’s work.  The pay that Jacob will receive this time is the imperfect offspring of the sheep, lambs, and goats owned by Laban.  Jacob uses good old evolution to create speckled sheep, dark-colored lamb, and spotted goats.  Looking through the web I found an interesting site on the Rainbow Biology Project.  It is an excellent primer in biotechnology (man-made evolution), and near the bottom it explains how Jacob purposely breeds for specific phenotypes (the speckled, dark and spotted animals).  Since Jacob had worked with breeding these animals for 14 years, there can be no doubt that he recognized the patterns of birthing.  To make sure, Jacob uses superstition instead of calling upon YHWH.  In the end Jacob becomes very rich with many sheep, lambs, and goats.

Look closely at the section about using poplar, almond, and plane tree stripes (Gen 37-39).  No once did he call upon YHWH to bless this tactic.  Today we know that the use of wood strips in the water would not work.  But we do know that breeding the stronger animals together is a wise practice.  From a biological point of view, it is obvious that by mating the speckled animals with the pure white animals Jacob was able to increase the number of imperfect offspring.  He did the opposite thing with the pure ones.  He only mated them together.  As a result, he minimized the pure white population because he was mating the speckled ones into the pure white population.  He was not mating the pure white population into the speckled.

From an Atheist’s point of view, and noticing that this entire section of Genesis 30 does not call upon YHWH, it is obvious that the precursors to the Israelites knew something about the world around them.  They also knew that YHWH was not required for miracles to occur. 

Posted in Genesis, Readings | Print | 1 Comment »