You Did What?!

Let us assume for a moment that GOD is actually all It has claimed Itself to be. (I use It instead of Him or Her because in my personal experience GOD has never come across to me as having a gender.) Since there are references to many characteristics I’ll be more specific. Let’s focus on references to GOD being omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. You can find these in the following scriptures: "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37), "Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there" (Psalm 139:7-8), "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13).

These qualities are attributed to GOD on several occasions throughout the Old and New Testaments. One will find every major religion refers to the Supreme Being in similar tones. GOD is everywhere, all seeing and all powerful.

Another element in our quasi-academic examination is the obvious shortcomings of translating a language such as Hebrew or Greek into English. These languages are so rich in meaning that the very letters convey deep metaphysical principals. English is linear and superficial when compared with multilayered languages thousands of years old. However, since we have already assumed GOD is omnipresent then it follows there is GOD’s Truth in all things (GOD wouldn’t lie to us right?), regardless of language.

Now, let’s take a particular set of circumstances mention in the Old Testament. I’ll paraphrase: GOD calls Moses up the mountain (after scaring the hell out of everyone) and tells him there are twelve “commandments” he wants us all to “keep.” You’ll find it in Exodus 20.1-17. You’ve heard at least one or two I’m certain: Thou shalt put no other God before me. Thou shalt not steal… commit adultery, bear false witness, etc.

Here is where we begin our assembly of “points of view.”

First we have a GOD that is everywhere, seeing everything and can do (or not do) what It wants no matter what anybody else may have to say about it.

Illustration:
I have to tell you the story of the GURU who told the disciple to “Take this chicken where nobody sees and kill it.” After three days the disciple returns with the chicken clucking cheerfully and says “Master, everywhere I go the chicken sees.”

Next we have twelve commandments, which I am going to refer to as Cosmic Law, because I believe that’s what they are.

Then, practically in the same breath (GOD likely takes really deep breaths which may be why we don’t hear much for long periods of time), GOD tells Moses to tell Joshua (probably a sergeant) to get a bunch of guys together and go murder everyone they find in the valley. Everything wasted, including the animals and plants. Bring nothing home! Look in Exodus 34.11-17 if you’re interested in the story.


So here’s my take on it (aside from the fact GOD’s idea of killing and our world cultural view of killing is radically different). We don’t really have a choice regarding these Cosmic Laws. They are Divine and are transcended only by the Divine.

GOD wasn’t saying attempting to disobey these rules necessarily means you're bad. Guilty? I suppose it depends on one’s agenda. It does point out one's ignorance however. GOD was saying it is impossible to exist outside of these laws. You cannot kill! Only GOD gives or takes life, which by the way isn’t a purely physical phenomena. The physical is animated. Life is the essence of being and as such permeates even non-animated matter. It cannot be killed. The entire universe is alive!

Stealing somebody’s stuff. Ha! It isn’t somebody’s stuff. It’s GOD’s stuff. GOD puts it here and GOD takes it away. Where could you take it that GOD wouldn’t have it anyway?

Adultery is an interesting concept. We have a lot of fun trying to outwit GOD on this one. Alas! It isn’t to be. In the first place I suspect we really don’t have a clue as to the real meaning of adultery, yet. Putting something into something else to make each an impure version of the other.

Dictionary: adulterate, verb [ trans. ] render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance, typically an inferior one…

Now that’s a joke. Make GOD, which is everywhere, impure?

One more… and you can go through the rest on your own.

Honor thy mother and father. Could I have chosen differently after I discovered who they were? No! I look at myself and I see them in me. I hold my parents, GOD the Father, GOD the Mother and Kenneth Stone and Iola Hodges up for everyone to see twenty four seven.

So in the end what matters? If we can’t break the laws why did GOD point them out? I feel certain that suffering (to put it mildly) is a key element to the answer.

It seems our effort to get around what we think of as simply directives turn out to be our faulty perception of a Master Plan. These laws are really like corrals one sees around cow pastures. The herd is forced into a little area in the pasture so each creature can be handled one on one. The laws leave us no option to avoid becoming conscious of our GOD nature. These laws will humble and eventually open your eye to the grace of a truly merciful creator. Especially if you struggle with guilt.

One More: Put no other GOD before me. Yea! Try it and see how fast the little preferred God goes from interest to passion to habit to addiction to allergy to a very sour, unpalatable taste in one’s mouth.

Here’s an interesting book: SERMON ON THE MOUNT ACCORDING TO THE VEDANTA Swami Prabhavananda isbn-10: 0874810507, isbn-13: 9780874810509
Find it here for two dollars used. It’s worth a lot more. http://www.fetchbook.info/compare.do?search=9780874810509