If two people with virtually identical resumes apply for a job, one gets chosen the other does not. Life is full of events that are mysterious and inexplicable in terms of forces and reasons which we can see. Although I do not pretend to be an expert on ancient Near-Eastern religions, I have enough knowledge to attempt a reasonable analysis of the philosophical worldview and assumptions upon which the polytheistic beliefs and practices were founded. To solve this difficulty, we must better understand the nature and structure of ancient Near-Eastern polytheism for polytheism was the religious context into which God spoke the ten commandments. Why is God so insistent on prohibiting what would appear to be a very trivial matter-representing God by means of a symbol? Clearly, Moses understands the prohibition to forbid Israel’s making any graven image of Yahweh Himself. Moses links the prohibition to make a graven image to the fact that God, at Sinai, did not show himself to them in any form. So watch yourselves carefully, since you did not see any form on the day Yahweh spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire lest you act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the sky, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth. In Deuteronomy, however, Moses makes clear that God’s commandment was intended to forbid Israel from making graven images of Yahweh Himself: They were commanded not to worship graven images representing other gods, not graven images of Yahweh. Under this interpretation, the second commandment did not forbid Israel to symbolize Yahweh rather, it forbid them to worship other gods. It is tempting to solve this difficulty by understanding the second commandment-like the first-to be a prohibition against idolatry. What can possibly be so wrong about symbolizing Yahweh? Am I not making a symbol of Yahweh-a graven image-every time I write the word, G-O-D? If, however, it is not inappropriate to represent God symbolically with a word, G-O-D, then why not with something else? What is so inappropriate about inventing a pictogram, an image, or anything else to symbolize the living God? What was God thinking when He gave Israel this second commandment? To understand how this commandment is not just petty and trivial is a real difficulty. Humans rely on symbolism it is an inherent aspect of our abilities to reason and to use language. This commandment seems to forbid Israel from representing Yahweh with a symbol. The second of the ten commandments presents the thoughtful Christian with a difficulty he cannot help but be bothered by it. You shall not worship them or serve them for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” (Exodus 20:4-6, adapted from the NASV) You shall not make for yourself any graven image, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. Career DevelopmentLiberal Arts: Education for All Walks of Life.
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