A Strange God
“And when God made me wander from my father’s house, I said to her . . .” Genesis 20:13
Wander – Abraham’s faith is legendary. His long relationship with YHWH establishes blessings which we enjoy today. But Abraham’s perception of the character of YHWH is often at odds with our “refined” view. Consequently, we tend to modify what Abraham says about YHWH so that the rough edges of his theology are smoothed and comfortable. Perhaps we miss something by doing so.
In Hebrew, this verse uses the verb ta’ah. While it does mean “wandering about” (Exodus 23:4 and Job 38:41), most of the time is refers to being misled or making mistakes (Isaiah 53:6 and Ezekiel 44:10 are examples). These are not geographical errors. They are usually moral or religious mistakes. In other words, ta’ah is used to describe leading someone into sinful behavior. That’s why Martin Buber translates this verse, “And it came to pass when God made me err from my father’s house.” Buber calls attention to something we typically overlook. Sometimes YHWH seems to push us in the wrong direction.
Of course, we could suggest that Abraham is just making an excuse for himself. We could say that he blames God rather than accept his own responsibility. After all, YHWH didn’t really make him wander, did He? YHWH called him to a “place that I will show you.” That’s hardly wandering – destination unknown. And YHWH didn’t make Abraham do anything, did He? Didn’t Abraham have a choice in all this? Our text suggested that Abraham felt compelled by YHWH. He was pushed to act, to leave, to set forth on this journey. But if ta’ah is usually about moral mistakes, Abraham is saying a lot more than his feelings about being pushed out the door. He is saying that YHWH is responsible for events that caused him to sin. And that doesn’t sit very well with our theology.
Buber’s point is confrontational. YHWH often does things that appear to us to be unexplainable. We don’t see the bigger picture. We don’t understand, we can’t understand, the eternal workings of His will. And sometimes it certainly looks as if YHWH does things that can’t be reconciled with our view of His character. But then, who are we to question Him? Isn’t that what Job had to learn? Where were we when He laid the foundations of the cosmos? Nowhere, that’s where. He didn’t consult us in order to get it right, and I doubt He needs our expert advice in order to finish the work. Who are we to question Him?
Of course, this answer doesn’t sit well with a Greek-based epistemology. In our minds, we want answers! And we want answers that all fit neatly together. We don’t like mysteries and apparent contradictions and open-ended questions. Since we paint the character of God with our palettes, we think He should be what we want Him to be. Apparently Abraham discovered otherwise. So did Job. And Isaiah. And Jeremiah. Perhaps, just perhaps, YHWH is far greater than we can imagine. Perhaps what is required of us is to simply remain faithful – and go out the door! When God compels, even if the pressure seems to send us in the wrong direction, we need to remember Abraham. Hebrew describes the world as it appears. Abraham’s experience appeared to indicate YHWH pushed him toward a moral mistake. But YHWH knew a great deal more than Abraham and He knows a great deal more than we know. Abraham trusted YHWH in spite of appearances. His theology did not prevent him from acting. Does yours? Is your picture of God rough around the edges? Or do you have Him wrapped up in a neat little box?
Topical Index: wander, ta’ah, err, Genesis 20:13
–Do you have Him wrapped up in a neat little box?–
If the answer to this question is yes, your G-d is far too small! How little we know and how little we are.
I have an atheist “acquaintance” who is out to “disprove” G-d. He believes in science and technology- cold, hard facts. As Jack Webb used to say- “just the facts, ma’am..”
So where does this place me? Am I (excuse me) “dumb” enough to say- I don’t believe in “facts,” I believe in G-d?” To believe in G-d do I need to “lay aside” my intellect and ignore my eyes, my senses, my reason, my will? Absolutely, positively- not.
This “atheist”, this “non-believer” or NB we could call him is a bitter man. He is “eat-up” with hatred, bitterness and vitriol. He cannot (for some reason) “think” outside the box. Of course, we all will end up worshiping something or someone as we are all created for the purpose of worship. It’s just a matter of “what” or “who?” Every man on the planet has an idol. In NB’s case it is “himself.” Intellect is king. Or should I say “ego” or self. He is the self-made man. “I” did it. Not “hitherto the LORD hath led me” but look at “me” and what “I” have accomplished. NB needs to go to the optometrist for an exam for he certainly has “I” trouble. “Me,me and more me” quoting Mr. Smith (from the Matrix). Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?- The world revolves around “me.” – Oh?- You thought the world revolved around you?
Ego vs. ego. How lovely. lol!- “A man wrapped up in himself makes a mighty small package.” ‘Nuff said about that?” I am supposed to pity this man and to have compassion upon him and by G-d’s grace, I really do. It is a sad, sad scene to see. Disproving G-d and hating G-d. Such destructive behavior.
Who am I? I have come to recognize and realize I am a very small cog in a great big wheel. I am a speck living on a speck in the midst of specks. G-d is big and I am little. G-d-big. Me-little. Proper perspective- genuine humility. Who is He and who am I?- great questions.
Ok then,- how big is G-d? (get out your calculators folks- this is an open-book test!) Now is the chance you’ve been waiting for to reveal your super-intellect to all who wait to hear your answer.. Let’s “kick it up a notch”.. Since your ten dollar calculator is starting to melt, how about we allow the use of all the world’s supercomputers, running at once, networked together and working on this one question- “how big is G-d?” And then we might also ask,- “How does a brown cow eat green grass and give white milk and yellow butter?” Oh- we are so incredibly smart- we don’t even know after all these years of “evolution” (more like devolution to me..) what goes on in one square inch of soil, much less the universe(s). And the supercomputers continue their task..-still “calculating and computing..”
My former pastor, (now in Heaven above) asked his mentor, a previous pastor of the very same church,- “When you die, may I have your brain?” The ninety year old’s reply? “My boy, that would be like taking a grand piano and stuffing it into a closet.” lol!!- When this dear man of G-d breathed his last, surrounded by several of his “students”, family and friends, his last words coming from the mouth of this very gifted, well-spoken, highly educated man were- “Jesus love me, this I know,- for the Bible tells me so.”
May I say, (as the scriptures say), “He doeth all things well.” Yes, there is no doubt in this little man’s little mind,- “hitherto hath the LORD led me,” “the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes,” and in conclusion,- “Jesus love me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
No higher love,- no greater truth, no comparable wonder,no greater mystery,- Jesus loves me.
“this answer doesn’t sit well with a Greek-based epistemology”
Skip,
I don’t understand. What’s the difference between a “Greek-based epistemology” and a Hebrew-based epistemology?
Greek-based epistemology aspires to the same sense of certainty that comes from mathematics, i.e. apodictic and uniform. In our world, this means there is ONE right answer to the questions of life – and everything else it seems. This quest for certainty leads to an epistemological bankruptcy where every man believes his own paradigm (every man does what it right in his own eyes).
Hebrew epistemology aims at practice rather than cognitive certainty. Therefore, its focus is on obedience even if I don’t clearly understand. Actually, understanding is not a requirement of obedience. Understanding comes AFTER obedience (if at all). The question of life is not “Why?” but “How?” How may I serve my God and Master?
This, of course, does not mean that Hebrew LOGIC is different than Greek LOGIC. The laws of logic are a part of the human form of life. They apply to everyone. But the epistemological goal is radically different. So Hebrews can tolerate tension, mystery and paradox while Greek thinkers view these as FAILURES of reason.
So how do we explain I Cor. 10:13 ??
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but, God is faithful and will not suffer you to be tempted beyond what you can bear; but will, with the temptation, also provide a way of escape so you are able to bear it.
Now you have both sides of the paradox. How we “explain” them is usually a function of trying to force fit the answers that we really want rather than noticing that the text paints a different picture. Consider Isaiah’s remark that God is the author of evil. Wow! That doesn’t sit too well, does it? Jewish thought accepts paradox as part of the human condition. Greek thought recoils at the idea of paradox. As Obama says, “We just didn’t do a good enough job of explaining how wonderful our legislation really way.”
I find this to be true, at least in my experience thus far. I have been allowed to go in directions that have only enhanced my vision of who YHWH is, although to others, I may appear to be a total failure, backslider, however your personal persuasion or theological lens might view me. I read passages like this one and can identify with what Skip is pointing out in this article. Even now, some of the choices I made have taken me in a direction I would never have imagined 10 years ago. Some of the dreams I had just 6 years ago, seem to be unfulfilled, yet I will continue to seek His will and continue forward, knowing He is my great reward, my shield and my banner. So much of it I do not understand, I only know that He has cut the trail and will guide my steps. His Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path! Isn’t this what faith is…walking forward into the unknown, knowing/trusting the One who causes the future to be!