Fuzzy Math
How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Psalm 139:17-18 ESV
Count – Certainty is one of the great problems of life. What can we know for sure? If everything is subject to doubt and error, how do we know what we should or should not believe or do? In the ancient Near East, the gods refused to reveal certainty about the ways of obedience. As a result, men lived under the constant fear that the next action they took might offend. Since they did not know for certain how they should please the gods, they never knew the cause of the “punishments” they received. Life began a great gamble destined to disappoint.
Contemporary society has freed itself from the vengeance of the gods, but it has not solved the problem of certainty. Men today still quake under the weight of choice. Men still attempt to excuse or rationalize failure or tragedy. Men still clamor for the “secrets” that will assure them comfort and success. Abandoning the gods has not left us any more secure.
Maharal wrote that mathematical exactitude is not existentially suited to human life.[1] A bit of reflection is necessary to understand the depth of this insight. First we must notice that the craving for certainty is a movement of the yetzer ha’ra. Why isn’t this fixation on absolute assurance the development of the yetzer ha’tov? The answer is simple: certainty is opposed to trust. I do not trust that 4 + 4 = 8. The mathematical expression is certain. It cannot be otherwise. It is not only incorrect to say that 4 + 4 = 9; it is nonsense. But certainty in mathematics cannot be extended to the real world where we live. Why not? There are two important reasons. The first is that this kind of certainty removes the need for trust in the God of creation. My relationship with God is not built on exact certainty. It is built on the choice to be obedient to Him and every choice involves at least the possibility of an alternative. If I did not have choice, if I knew with mathematical exactitude precisely what I must do without any possibility of error, then life becomes fatalistic.
Secondly, the quest for certainty is focused entirely on me. The quest for certainty revolves around my desire for control. In a world where I know for certain how I should behave to achieve my desired results, I take full control of my own destiny. With the perfect crystal ball, the world is no longer filled with possibilities. It is filled with closed doors. With the perfect crystal ball, I may never make a mistake but at the same time, I will never understand the crossroads of choice that make me human. Certainty belongs to computing machines, not human beings.
Paradoxically, the yetzer ha’ra is equally at home encouraging my animal instincts or inspiring my search for certainty. Both lead me away from the nexus of choice. Both serve the desire for control and excuse. Neither is human.
David observes the stars in relation to the finitude of Man. He exclaims the incredible fact that he is conscious in a universe filled with innumerable unconscious entities, and in that consciousness he discovers the presence of God. David is not searching for the exact number of the stars. He is expressing the fuzzy math of God’s universe, a mathematics where being human is of more value than the infinite expanse of the heavens. Even if he could count (‘esperem from safar) them, they would not supply the answer he needs. That answer is not found in the Greek ideal of philosophical certainty. It is found in the extremely practical reality of trust. Ruthless trust (as Brennan Manning would say) that holds on to the fuzzy relationship with God through obedience in spite of the sea of doubt and the plague of disconcerting evidence. In the end, those who search for certainty will find nothing more than the skeleton of formulaic religion; belief stripped of its ability to offer anything other than doctrine and ritual. But those who are willing to risk, who are ready to trust, in spite of the screams of the yetzer ha’ra crying for more, will discover, quite by accident, that life comes in fuzzy packaging.
Topical Index: safar, count, certainty, paradigms, Psalm 139:17-18
[1] Maharal, Netivot Olam, p.164 cited in Avivah Zornberg, The Beginning of Desire, p. 110.
It is no secret
what God can do.
What He’s done for others
He’ll do for you.
With arms wide open
He’ll pardon you.
It is no secret,
what God can do.
What is “certain” in this life? Where may we find “bedrock”, a “firm foundation,” a place to put our feet and a Rock to stand on? Is there anything that is certain? -and is there anything that is settled and sure?
~He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand ~ (Psalm 40.2)
~ Shimeon Kaypha (Simon Peter) answered and said, “My LORD, (ADONAI) to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life ~ (John 6.68)
One, Andrae Crouch, centuries later was inspired to write a song. A very familiar song to those of us who have “seen some stuff,” – (and who hasn’t?)- but this we also know, (experientially) and can testify.. ~ “God is faithful”- always faithful- in every situation and circumstance, “Jesus saves”- (completely)
Is this “our story” as well? Do these words “ring true?” – (and Who is this doing “the ringing?”)
I’ve had many tears and sorrows,
I’ve had questions for tomorrow,
there’s been times I didn’t know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consulation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
I’ve been to lots of places,
I’ve seen a lot of faces,
there’s been times I felt so all alone.
But in my lonely hours,
yes, those precious lonely hours,
Jesus lets me know that I was His own
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
I thank God for the mountains,
and I thank Him for the valleys,
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through.
For if I’d never had a problem,
I wouldn’t know God could solve them,
I’d never know what faith in God could do
I’ve learned to trust in Jesus,
I’ve learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.
There is a key word in all of this.. It is the word “through.” Been “through” the fire? Been “through” the flood? Seen some “stuff?” So have I. And I’ve got the scars to prove it. – Brothers, sisters- “been there,- done that.. (bought the t-shirt!). But I’m here to testify.. “I’m through with through. I have a new friend.. a new word, this logophile has come to love.. It is the word “after!”
It goes like this… “After” the fire.. “After” the flood.. “After” the storm! And “after” I (finally) learn to listen to, to hearken to, to heed, to recognize, to realize, to “lay hold of”, to “hunger for”- the life-imparting, life-giving words of my Savior and resurrected LORD. When He speaks (and my right-response is obedience) – things happen. Good things.
Is there a famine for the word of God? Have we been starved for too long? Has God issued tHis invitation to “whosoever will?” Look-Find-Feast? His command has gone out: ~ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth ~ (2 Timothy 2.15)
Where do we find God’s thoughts? In His word. How do we know what pleases our ABBA Father? We open His Book and “read and follow label directions.”
The ways of God, will of God, witness of God, work of God, wisdom of God are all fully revealed, (no longer concealed) within the life-imparting words of God.
Friends, “it is written.”
But, for whatever reason, (or excuse) our Bibles remain closed and sitting on the shelf.
“These hath God married and no man shall part, dust on the Bible and drought on the heart.”
Ouch! Between my HD “box of lies”, my responsibilities at home and at work and even at church- spending time with this -that- or even the other thing- when and where do I find time to spend alone with God? – Exactly.
I am going to find the time to do what I want to do. (period). If I want to go hunting, -I’ll make the time. If I want to bake a cake, or go on a vacation, or wash the car or watch the game, – I will plan and prepare accordingly. When will I make room for God? -for studying His Book, and for prayer? What are my (mostly misplaced) priorities? Who has “first place” in my life?
Haven’t we become “distracted” sheep? Looking unto “Who?” -and why?..
~My LORD, (ADONAI) to whom shall we go? You (alone) have the words of eternal life ~ (John 6.68)
Is “eternal life” a quantity? or a quality?
~ what do the scriptures say? ~
(John 10.10) ~ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly ~
The flame shall not hurt thee I only design
Thy dross to remove and thy gold to refine
~ the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold..~ (Proverbs 27.21)
-Is it warm in here?
I think that this is one of the best accounts I’ve ever read on this topic, Skip, thank you. If we could ‘prove’ the existence of God with impeccable mathematical logic, then he would be contained, and therefore smaller than our minds, and unbelievers, once confronted with the seeming undeniability of the argument, would be forced (intellectually) to believe. That’s not the way it works! (And anyway, Paul has some comments on the nature of the human will in all this in Romans 1. A person convinced against his or her will is unconvinced still!)
Your post today gives the lie to the closed-form, seemingly self-consistent formulaic ‘systems’ concocted by some in the Christian community. As you say, ‘My relationship with God is not built on exact certainty.’ I think that the ‘mathematical/scientific’ approach is a really big flaw in the Intelligent Design ‘arguments’. The ‘God’ the arguments portray is far too small. And even if we are convinced by them, that God is a far cry from the one with whom we can have a relationship.
I find it revealing that until Greek philosophical metaphysics became the foundation of Christian thought, there were no attempts to prove God’s existence AND there was no perceived need to do so. As you point out, arguments for the existence of God are ultimately a denial of the God of Scripture, in both character and person. They are, instead, rational attempts to secure the primacy of reason.
It is quite interesting that one of David’s most heart wrenching moments came about directly because of his unauthorized census of G_D’s children! Hmmm! And naturally today’s commentary in ancillary fashion shed some light upon G_D’s anger regarding David’s need to know … David’s desire to control!
Anyway ….
Faith … and the uncertainty that goes along with it is clearly an issue of trust. At the same time however all of this “uncertainty” by no means is what G_D promised … hence HIS witness … Yisrael. Generation to Generation recounting HIS fiathfulness … Generation to Generation living Torah and being blessed … Generation to Generation where Yisrael is blessed and serves as the light unto the nations! Well you get the idea! The plan was to remove uncertainty but alas our forefathers chose the curses over the blessings!
Uncertainty nags us because of man’s unfaithfulness!
Still in all … uncertainty is necessary; in this manner those with eyes that can’t see and ears that can’t hear do rationally (olam hazeh’s wisdom) choose not to believe! … And WHO allows the net of delusion to be cast upon the inhabitants of Earth? … Hmmm!
Seems like G_D has no problems with a good dose of uncertainty … why should we?
What can we know for sure?
Hmmm
My mother used to say that we could be sure of two things
Death and Taxes
Well said, for certain one raised from the dead, it didn’t seem to convince some people even with certain proofs. I’m convinced that if we poured the same amount of effort into living a redeemed and obedient life as we do “proving” God by the design of substace, we would be better convincers.
We trust God if we know Him and naturally find it impossible to trust someone we don’t know.
Those who trust God have learned that He is worthy of trust.
1. He never lies and never fails to fulfill His promises. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Num. 23:19; Ps. 89:34)
2. He has the power to bring to pass what He plans and purposes to do.
Isaiah says “The LORD Almighty has sworn, ‘Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.’”
3. His plans are perfect, holy, righteous, and He works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His holy purpose. To know Him is to trust Him.
4. Do we have any proof? [just in case we need it?] “. . . Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses.”
The record of God’s promises is there in His Word for all to see, as is the record of their fulfillment. Historical documents verify those events and speak of God’s faithfulness to His people.
I have personal testimony to God’s trustworthiness, as does every Christian, — we see His work in our lives, fulfilling His promises to save our souls and use us for His purposes (Eph. 2:8-10) and comfort us with the peace that passes all understanding (Phil 4: 6,7) as we run the race He has planned out for us (Heb. 12:1). The more we experience His grace, faithfulness, and goodness, the more we trust Him. (Ps. 100:5; Isa. 25:1).
I am fully convinced, I am certain He is worthy. The evidence is brighter than the morning sun, not fuzzy to me.
I do love thinking on today’s verse!
Imagine the “thoughts” involved in planning and forming a body so wondrously made, and of the care necessary to bring it to perfection; to develop it; to provide for it; to guard and defend it.
We can come no nearer than to consider how many “thoughts” of a parent are used in behalf of his children, in providing for them; teaching them; counseling them; anticipating their needs.
How many more thoughts are needful on the part of God in reference to each one of us: for there are numberless things necessary for us which cannot begin to occupy the mind of a parent on behalf of his children, since so many things are beyond our power to cause to happen.
In the general, God’s thoughts concerning good to us simply can’t be counted; and much less the accomplishment of them.
I praise and thank You, my Father! So many blessings You load mankind with!
The Hebrew word for doubt is “safek,” and for certainty, “vadai.” Amazingly, these commonly-used words are not to be found in the entire biblical writings! Nowhere does the Torah mention the Hebrew forms for doubt or certainty. Both these words are of Rabbinic origin.
Now we know that the essence of an idea is contained in the Torah word for that idea; if there is no word, it surely means that in essence that concept does not exist. And of course — the world as formed by its root in Torah contains no doubt: things either exist or they do not. There is nothing in the world that exists “doubtfully,” tentatively; doubt is our problem, a feature of our perception, not an objective reality! And if there is no doubt external to us, of course there is no certainty — certainty exists only where doubt is a possibility; if there can be no doubt there can be no certainty, a thing simply “is”!
(The truth is, we are so confused that we say we are sure exactly when we are not: “I’m sure I saw him yesterday” really means one is not sure at all! When one is certain one simply states the fact: “I saw him yesterday.”)
The primal, pristine world of God’s Creation is dear and open. We opacify and confuse it. The word for “doubt” is of human origin; it is a result of the damage we do to our own perception.
Doubt is truly brought into being by us. And we must fight our way towards certainty. As we develop our consciousness in spiritual terms we can approach it. On Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when we struggle for ultimate clarity, we say “God’s name is ‘certainty,’ so be His praise”; the name we attach to God, as it were, in our struggle to see Him more clearly, is “vadai,” certainty. The word for “certainty,” too, is of human origin; our battle is to crystallize perception, to make truth shine clearly.
——from aish.com
Certainty and doubt are both opposed to trust. The desire for control and the lost of control?
Thank you for this wonderful insight! Like most theological issues, it turns out to be a human problem. That doesn’t make it less important but it certainly establishes the playing field.
For the full article that includes this quote, see http://www.aish.com/sp/ph/48944106.html
“Our goal is to break through into clarity — that is transcendence!”
“see http://www.aish.com/sp/ph/48944106.html”
Hi Skip,
Thanks for sharing the great article on “doubt and certainty”
The link above is definitely worth reading; for me, it gives great pleasure to read
Those moments of “clarity” are brief; and relatively infrequent, but definitely highlight one’s life
Hi L — You say: “Certainty and doubt are both opposed to trust”
I have been hoping someone else might ask so I didn’t have to, but it seems I must.
Are you really certain of n o t h i n g ?
If so, please explain how that can be. Are you saying you can’t be certain God’s Words are true? Or that you can’t be absoutely certain that you are married/single {whatever applies to you}, or that I can’t be certain I am a woman, or that we can’t be certain of the second comming of Yeshua/Jesus?
And do yu mean that if I am ‘certain’ of any of these things, then I’m not trusting???
The way I see it, if I ‘doubt’ these things then I am stupid. also not trusting.
My question is not to be argumentative. I am truly curious and await your reply.
Let me jump in here. There are two senses of the word “certain” in our culture. One is the ordinary, normal conversational use. This is what Dorothy means when she asks if we are certain we are married (or not), certain of God’s Word, etc. Most of us operate with this meaning of “certain” all the time, like “I am certain of two things: death and taxes.” But then there is another meaning, logical certainty. This meaning is usually defined in mathematical terms, for example, A=A is the law of identity and it is certain within the realm of logic. But on this level, nothing that we speak of as “certain” must necessarily be the case. You could believe with all your heart that you are married, only to find out (when you take the red pill) that you are really in a machine that is providing all these thoughts to you from some computer. Don’t laugh. One of the serious questions in philosophical inquiry is “How do we know that the world we experience is real?” In fact, at one point some religious philosophers even suggested that God just provides all our thoughts, that we are nothing more than an extension of God’s own thinking. Think about this! How do you REALLY know? The answer is that you cannot really know (with logical certainty) since even your thoughts about questioning this might be just God’s thoughts. And this is why philosophical investigation leads to epistemological bankruptcy. A man cannot think his way out of the box.
All of this comes about because of a paradigm commitment to the idea that mathematical certainty can be, and should be, extended into the world of experience. This is a PARADIGM commitment. It cannot itself be proven either. But it has tremendous effects on the way we think about the world.
Now, if we introduce a different paradigm, a Hebrew paradigm that is based on OBEDIENCE, not on UNDERSTANDING, then the rule of the game change. How do we know that what God says is reliable? We do it and see what happens. We do not first determine its rational veracity by THINKING about it until we arrive at certainty. That road only leads to the failure of thought to reach its goal. If you want to know that the word of God is real, you must FIRST DO WHAT IT SAYS, you must enter into the paradigm, and then you will see if it works out for you.
But that is NOT the same as claiming that it is certain.
I quit reading sci-fi when I got saved. I realized it was a giant waste of time!
And that is what THIS sounds exactly like:
__________________________________ * __________________
One of the serious questions in philosophical inquiry is “How do we know that the world we experience is real?” In fact, at one point some religious philosophers even suggested that God just provides all our thoughts, that we are nothing more than an extension of God’s own thinking. Think about this! How do you REALLY know? __________________________________ * __________________
One day when I was about 10, my brother tried to mess with my mind. We were sitting on the edge of our porch and I was picking up a bike tire on its rim with my feet, –balancing it across the top of my shoes. My brother asked me how do I know I’m not dead and laying in my coffin and what I feel there is ‘dreamed up’ and in reality my shoes are tied too tight. Think about it, he urged.
Grandmother overheard him and came onto the porch with her broom and give him a dusting and put him to work. Some of these people with such silly things to say ought to have to work harder and it might clear their heads of the nonsense!! Lol [Oops, I laughed]
Dorothy, firstly, I have never given “certainty” any thought prior to this TW – I am just trying to learn HOW to trust and Who God says He is in order for me to walk the Way He wants me to – and to challenge prior preconceived beliefs.
I understand the one kind of certainty as being 100 percent sure –
Where in Scripture does God demands of me to be certain?
I went through all the scripture with the word certain/certainty in and could not find one that I could equate to 100 pecent(except those about a certain man etc). The closest I got was hebr 11:1, and still how do I do 100 percent hope and evidence. How would I know what Gods view of 100 percent evidence look like – for me to measure mine?
If I was a 100 percent sure that I am fullfilling what God demands of me, then what will I do next ?
Wasn’t certainty the sin of the sect of Judiasers(Acts 15) and some Pharisees?
And as for your questions: Can we say that all people that trust have certainty? And all the clever have no doubt?
Luzette, thank you for taking time to reply.
The rest of your understanding of ‘doubt and certainly’ on the post was so sharp that I had to inquire your reasons on the part that left me baffled. Like you, I also had not thought about certainty before this TW. I had thought about doubts.
Here’s my answers to the new questions you posed for me:
Matt. 23 outlines pretty much what the sin of the Pharisees was and ‘certainty’ isn’t mentioned:
The burdens they imposed on the people, their eagerness for the praise of men, hypocrisy, and murdering the prophets.
Acts 15, The Judiasers’ sin that Peter confronted and contested was that they were teaching the Gentile converts at Antioch, that they could not be saved, unless they observed the whole ceremonial law as given by Moses. By the words “purifying their hearts by faith,” and the address of Peter, that justification by faith, and sanctification by the Holy Ghost, cannot be separated; because both are the gift of God.
We have great reason to BLESS GOD God that we have heard the gospel!
Paul and Barnabas showed by plain matters of fact, that God owned the preaching of the pure gospel to the Gentiles without the law of Moses; therefore to press that law upon them, was to undo what God had done.
…for the last two you asked: “Can we say that all people that trust have certainty? And all the clever have no doubt?” My answer is no and no.
I used the tags to get to Skip’s other entry under “count” dated 8 Feb 2009.
Wow! HaShem is truly GREAT! The thing he had done for Skip by letting him lose everything has enriched the Kingdom tremendously.
Skip, I’m sure this road was not nice, but it was good.
“But those who are willing to risk, who are ready to trust, in spite of the screams of the yetzer ha’ra crying for more, will discover, QUITE BY ACCIDENT (Mary’s caps), that life comes in fuzzy packaging.”
“QUITE BY ACCIDENT” This is an interesting perspective of our proclamation as Christians to having all the answers to today’s questions. “Jesus is the answer” is the mantra but then to attempt to define that statement is like pouring water through a sieve. It takes a lifetime of continued seeking of the truth to unwrap the layers of this simple yet limitlessly profound truth. In fact, the more we APPLY the truth, the more opportunities are available to go deeper and further away from the cultural constraints of man made religion, whether it be Judaism or Christianity. This “quite by accident” seems to encapsulate His chesed..his loving kindness toward us.
I am amazed at how today’s explosion of information has led to increased fear, hatred and violence. Christians living as the heathen and calling those leaving traditional church apostate. WHAT?? Will we stumble upon peace quite by accident, children of G-d? I think Skip brings up this valid point:
“Ruthless trust (as Brennan Manning would say) that holds on to the fuzzy relationship with God through obedience in spite of the sea of doubt and the plague of disconcerting evidence. In the end, those who search for certainty will find nothing more than the skeleton of formulaic religion; belief stripped of its ability to offer anything other than doctrine and ritual.”
Let’s face it…how many of us know EXACTLY what will take place on any given day? How many of us KNOW for sure that we, our friends and loved ones will live to breathe the next breath? Do we know without a doubt that we will not have an argument with our dearest loved one and leave the argument in anger one minute, and then receive the dreaded call that they died suddenly in a car/plane crash or victim of crime? NO! none of us knows any of this, however, the Law we KNOW and keep to the best of our ability is what keeps us KNOWING we have lived out the Will of G-d and that we can rest assured that He watches over us and is aware of our heart’s condition toward Him as expressed through our actions toward Him and others. This is why we can sin and BE repentant and BE the apple of His Eye. This IS the shalom of YHWH and only the information He gives us that we put into practice (shema, hear, believe in our heart and DO) is sufficient for LIVING LIFE as humans created in His image. We can go our own way and ……
This is a saying…”it could go either way.” True, Moses gave us the heart of YWHW when he set before us life and good, death and evil…We are to choose, one Way or the other.
I recall not too long ago praying for discernment and shielding from doctrinal error. I was terrified and gripped with fear as I was being led on a journey away from “organized” Christianity towards living out the teachings of Christ. I think Skip’s devotional hits the nail on the head…pretty precisely! 😉
Shabbat Shalom dear ones.
The evidence that demands a verdict is before our eyes, ears, nose and throat. This is how we roll: ~ what do the scriptures say? ~ The inability to fully understand God is a given. I,personally have no ability to understand all that takes place within one square inch of soil, much less understand the God who now is.
I would know nothing of Him had He not first revealed Himself unto me. I did not come to Him- He came to me. He is the Shepherd who found the wandering sheep (me), the one who was lost (me) and brought him (me) back into His fold. Our (always Good) Shepherd is an (always seeking) Shepherd.
Our Father’s desire is for reconciliation, but how may one who is a sinner, (all have sinned) be reconciled to a God who has revealed Himself, through His own words and actions, to be holy? God is holy. Yes, or no?
God has given unto all- (myself included) the gift of choice. I (and you- whoever you may be) have the gift of choosing. This is the free will of man. You may choose to believe or you may choose “unbelief” or not to believe the evidences that have been placed before your eyes, ears, nose and throat. Physical evidences in the world we now live in, the world God created as is written and revealed in Genesis 1.1: ~ “in the beginning God..”
Right out of the gate, “in the beginning” God says, “let there be” and…? What happens next? There is.
God creates by speaking. “let there be light- and? – there was “light”.
In our world, the physical world we now live in, something comes from something. But this world is not our world, – it is His. This green earth and all that is in it, is His. How does anyone know this? Once again, for the nine hundred and ninety ninth time.. ~ it is written ~ “the earth is the LORD’s and the fulness thereof, the world and they who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24.1).
Are there other “evidences” of God? Hmm.. Maybe a better question might be: -“Am I blind in one eye and can I see out of the other?” Again, for the nine hundred and ninety ninth time (plus one) ~ what do the scriptures say? ~ (this is how we roll, people..) ” The fool has said in his heart,- “no God.” (Psalm 14.1) and then we have a further description of what a fool would look like- maybe so we can recognize who the “fool” might be.. (including the person in the mirror!) “They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good”. Friends, “if the shoe fits..” If (according to the scriptures) ~ the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom – does the “fool” fear God? No. Why not? – Why, – would it possible be because he (or she) is a fool?
And, while we seem to be on a roll here..- where does wisdom come from? From the Greeks? From the Hebrews?- what is the Source of all wisdom? Again.. for the nine hundred ninety ninth time (plus two)-
~ For the LORD gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding ~ (Proverbs 2.6)
Just like my momma told me, she said son.. I said what momma? She said- “consider the Source”.. Mom was right! (they usually are!) Now friends, I believe, (I may be wrong) but a verse like this bears repeating.. again and again and again- ~ is not my Word like a hammer? -that breaks the rock (my hard heart!) into pieces? lol!- Oh listen! Listen to Him! (Was this not the “advice” of the mother of our Savior to the servants? (servants are us)- Listen to Him! – Whatever He says unto you- “do it.” (John 2.5)
Do what He says. Obey Him.
Here I would like to repeat (for emphasis) the second greatest question ever asked in the scriptures- (IMO)- ~ Who is the LORD that I should obey Him? ~ Do you remember who it was who said this? ~ it is written~ in Exodus 5.2. Sumdumguy who the people referred to as “Pharaoh.” This man was large and in charge.. – or so he thought. Elohim, through His mouthpiece, Moses, gave this monarch ten opportunities to repent, but what do the scriptures say? He hardened his heart.. again- and again. And again. No small miracle either.. These were of the “in your face” kind. But what was God’s desire in all of this? What was the will of the LORD? Was it to destroy Pharaoh? No, not at all.
~ The LORD (our God) is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance ~ (Pharaoh included). Oh, if we only had a sign from God! a Miracle!- then we would believe! Pharaoh had ten of them, and no small ones either. Maybe if Moses would have said “please..” Were there lack of tears on Moses part? What is the end of those who refuse to repent? Ask Pharaoh.
Let us “go through” with God’s children to the other side. These are the ones who crossed over without muddy feet. God did make a way and God did provide for His own- and there was “great rejoicing” in the camp, (to say the least!). And the same “pathway” of deliverance for God’s chosen ones was the “pathway” of death to their enemies. Deliverance and death- all on the same day. Great joy and great sorrow, God did provide, God was faithful, God did save.
God has a history of delivering His people. Does God ever change? Or is He the same- yesterday-today-tomorrow? Will God “be there” for us as well? Does He “ever love and care for His own?” For the nine hundred and ninety ninth (plus three) times.. What does God say through His messenger Malachi? ~ I AM THE LORD,- I change not. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed ~ (Malachi 3.6) Or again.. (for the nine hundred ninety ninth time (plus four) God speaking through the prophet Jeremiah: (it is written!) ~ The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness ~ (Lamentations 3.22,23)
Just how great is our God?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWnvmKoLWUU
It seems that our quest for certainty has led us down a road of insanity.
It has certainly caused intellectual schizophrenia, and perhaps a case of cultural paranoia too.
“It has certainly caused intellectual schizophrenia, and perhaps a case of cultural paranoia too.”
Hmmm
Speaking of certainty, schizophrenia, and paranoia, can we be certain that God is speaking to us through Ezekiel?
Or is Ezekiel a paranoid schizophrenic?
A raving madman like the alcoholic bums wandering around the “tenderloin” district in downtown SF
Maybe the schizophrenics are closer to God than we might imagine
Ezekiel 1:4-2:1
New King James Version (NKJV)
4 Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of Amber, out of the midst of the fire.
(Coincidentally, Amber is the name of my daughter’s new friend and their friendship is wreaking havoc on our family)
5 Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man.
6 Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings.
7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze.
8 The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings.
9 Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.
10 As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle.
11 Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies.
12 And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went.
13 As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning.
14 And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.
15 Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces.
16 The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel.
17 When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went.
18 As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them.
19 When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up.
20 Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures[a] was in the wheels.
21 When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures[b] was in the wheels.
22 The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures[c] was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads.
23 And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body.
24 When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings.
25 A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings.
26 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it.
27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around.
28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Ezekiel Sent to Rebellious Israel
So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
2 And He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak to you.”
Michael
Do you remember where else we see this? — the burning bush, the coal on the altar, the cloud which led the Hebrews out of slavery and across the wilderness?
… great cloud, and a fire infolding itself – A mass of fire concentrated in a vast cloud, that the flames might be more distinctly observable, the fire never escaping from the cloud, but issuing, and then returning in upon itself. It was in a state of powerful agitation; but always involving itself, or returning back to the center whence it appeared to issue.
. . . and a brightness was about it; that is, the cloud. This brightness was an emblem of the glory of the divine Being; who was now present, an enlightened the mind of the prophet to see the following things, and which all proceeded from Him:
…and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber out of the midst of the fire; that is, out of the midst of the fire, and out of the midst of the brightness about it, there was something which was as “the colour of amber”; or, “like the chasmal”; which, the Jews say, is the name of an angel.
It is asked, what is “chasmal?” The reply being , “fiery animals speaking”: who, when God speaks, are silent; and when He does not speak, they speak; –but Christ is meant; for the appearance of the man upon the throne is said to be as the color of “chasmal”, Ezekiel 1:27.
The word, read the contrary way, is the Messiah, or the anointed, or to be anointed. It is the name of a color, nearest to the color of fire, “a most lively color”; and perhaps may mean the color of a burning coal; exceedingly clear, burning, red-hot coal; which may denote the pure light of Christ, who is the brightness of His Father’s glory; His flaming love for His people; His burning zeal for the glory of God, and the good of His church; and His fiery indignation against His enemies.
We render the word amber, as do others; by which must be meant, not that which is the juice of certain trees, which is hardened by the air, but a sort of mixed metal, compounded of gold and silver; the fifth part of it is silver, and four parts gold; though some are of the opinion that the “qurichalcum”, a metal made of gold and brass, is meant; which is the most fine brass; to which the feet of Christ are compared in Revelation 1:15; and so this “chasmal” may denote the two natures in Christ; the preciousness of His person; His brightness and glory; and His great strength and power.
Some conjecture, that the color of “chasmal” means the color of some precious stone, as the color of “tarshish”, or “beryl”, Ezekiel 1:16; and so He that sat upon the throne, in Revelation 4:3; was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone.
” a fire infolding itself – A mass of fire concentrated in a vast cloud”
Hmmm
Makes me think of grad school one night in a working class bar shooting pool
In Solano Beach
And this other worldly music started playing
As I was getting ready to shoot
I was swept away by the sensation of the music
I stopped and looked up at Tom who was beaming with this big smile
And I said who is that !!!
And he said, that’s Neil Young’s “After the Gold Rush”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e3m_T-NMOs
After the Gold Rush
“Well I dreamed I saw the silver
space ships flying
In the yellow haze of the sun
There were children crying
and colors flying
All around the chosen ones
All in a dream, all in a dream
The loading had begun
All in a dream, all in a dream
The loading had begun
They were flying Mother Nature’s
silver seed to a new home in the sun”
Ooops, I meant to meantion that Tom was my office mate from Brown
And a lot smarter than I was 🙂