Shouldn't The 's' Go At The End? - Psalms XXIII, XLII, LI, CXXXVII

When I was told that I had to read the psalms, I was like what the heaven are you talking about? First of all, what are psalms? Whenever I have a doubt, I Google it. So thats exactly what I did. The Book of Psalms consists in 150 psalms each of which constitutes a religious song. Psalms are also known as any of the songs, hymns, sacred poems, or prayers that are contained in the Book of Psalms. So after finding the answer to what a psalm is, I realized that the 's' is actually well placed. Well, why would we have to read about palms anyways?

The first psalm seemed as a poem or prayer by David dedicated to God. It talked about how David felt really honored by God and was extremely grateful that He preferred by him. "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake." (Psalm 23: 3) In the books of Samuel, it is clearly shown how David was chosen and guided by God in many ways. He was encouraged to save the people of Israel out of the land of the Philistines and far away from their enemies. In the psalm, David says that the Lord is his shepherd and that He restored his soul. I believe, that what he wanted to say with this was that God thought and encouraged him to be the moral and faithful David that he was at first. Even though he committed a huge sin by laying with a married woman, it seems as if David still considers himself strong and moral after being punished by the Lord. He also says that he will be followed by goodness and in this way, he will be with the Lord for ever. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Psalm 23: 6)

"My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?" (Psalm 42: 3) Maschil, the Chief Musician, is suffering under his own condition for his soul feels abandoned by the Lord. He has not received any sign of His existence and his devotion to God is now being questioned. Many questions are being asked to God by Maschil, yet no response does he receive. "I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (Psalm 42: 9) Why does Maschil refer to God as a rock? Is it because he is hard to believe in? Or is it because he rocks? I don't think that he would be loved so much by Maschil in that time for him to say he rocks so lets just forget about the second option. Okay so going back to the story, the Chief was indeed depressed that he even comes to wonder as if he was his own enemy being attacked by a sword. "Where is thy God?", his enemy asked. However, Maschil also says that he will never lose hope in God and that he will always praise him for he is the health of his countenance and most importantly, his God. This psalm made me reflect about the holocaust and its people since it shared an essential question that most people had during those tough and horrible days: Does God really exist? The one thing that I'm wondering right now is if God will ever appear to Maschil. Will he?

This psalm was very poetic and I believe it had some sort of rhythm. Considering that it was about the Chief Musician, I come to think that it had this sense because of him. Music has rhythm, and these writing changes might be done for some reason. Up to now, I would say that each psalm had one unique author.

"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." (Psalm 51: 1) Here, the author is asking God for forgiveness after committing a sin. I inferred that the author was David for he is begging God for mercy after what he did with Uliah and his wife. I realized that the more David tried, the harder it was for him to achieve God's forgiveness. However, I noticed that David was really sorry and even though forgiveness is something hard to get, he tried and demonstrated his repentance. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me." (Psalm 51: 10 - 11) David really wanted to be who he once was.

I was able to identify this psalm as soon as I began reading it. "By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion." (Psalm 137: 1) It took only one line for me to read and already know what it was talking about. Jews were taken to Babylon and obligated to serve as slaves. They met near the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers to reunite and claim for freedom. They deserved dignity, as all humans do.

Moraly Enough - Samuel III - XVIII

All along, David has shown that he is one sincere and faithful server of God. He has obeyed God and sustained his opinion over everyone and everything. He consults God before acting and follows the directions that he is encouraged to take. His morals were outstanding and exemplary, for he was extremely devoted to God and valued him a lot. But after all, he is human and humans make mistakes.

God gives David the mission to save the people of Israel out of the land of the Philistines and far away from their enemies. His calm and morals stay the same, he knows how to manage the situation and doesn't become ambitious like you would think he would. He still is the person that you were introduced with.

David was a hero at first, but time changed him a lot. He was starting to fall into the influence of power, which was something you wouldn't expect to happen. Well, he was someone correct that was devoted to God more than to anything. He identified what was right and wrong and was always willing to give the best to his people. However, on the other hand, how could he not change? I mean, he was the king of Israel and the most powerful after God, he was brave and caring, and had power to take complete control over his kingdom.

"And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David’s soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house." (Samuel II 5: 8) Yes, you read right. David had turned the lame and the blind into his personal enemies. Why would one do such thing? Isn't a king supposed to be merciful towards those handicapped and weak? He was starting to feel much more superior than others and tried to segregate those who for him were inferior. But he then started relatively right. He was interested in knowing about Saul's living relatives and was willing to show kindness in God's name. And the king said, Is there not yet any of the house of Saul, that I may shew the kindness of God unto him?" (Samuel II 9: 3) Later on, David treats a lame boy from Saul's family as any other (as it really should be) by allowing him to sit at the king's table to eat. Definitely, David was having so many mood swings which seemed as if he was one humble king one day but a selfish and ambitious king on the other. He was no longer a man, he was now acting like a women. PMS. Premenstrual syndrome, that's the explanation of what was happening to him!

"And David went on, and grew great, and the LORD God of hosts was with him." (Samuel II 5: 10) All along, the Lord God was with David. I don't know if its me, but I realized that God was okay with David becoming so ambitious. He never let him down, nor gave him some kind of punishment or curse. After all, what he was doing was wrong but God didn't find it so immoral anyways. Also, I realized that even though David respected God like any other, it never seemed as if he was scared of Him. He knew he was powerful and everything, but I don't think David ever thought that God would dare to punish him. But one day, after God punishes someone else, David became afraid of the Lord. "And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me?" (Samuel 6: 9) He became so fearful of failing God's expectations that he decided to take control over everything that he didn't.

After this, David became completely ambitious and greedy. He decided to rapidly expand his territory. The king began by conquering cities which during the process, he killed thousands of humble people. He conquered city after city with no limitations."David took Metheg-ammah out of the hand of the Philistines. And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so the Moabites became David’s servants, and brought gifts." (Samuel II 8: 1-2) No one could stop him. Actually, the only one that could was God, but he never did. Maybe it was because conquering was part of the living and was needed in the forming of a stable nation during those times. Or just maybe because he was God's pet. But I don't think so, so lets just stick with the first one!

David then layed with Uriah's wife, which really messed everything up. This time he did indeed pass the limits. Bathsheba got pregnant and instead of facing his mistake, the only alternative that occurred to David was to kill Uriah. He succeeds with the murder, and furthermore, makes Bathsheba his wife. "And when the mourning was past, David sent and fetched her to his house, and she became his wife, and bare him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD." (Samuel 11: 27) It was no joke, the Lord was now seriously mad. Way to go David, way to go!

God was so displeased with David that he punished him by killing one of his sons. But the battling isn't over. David then fights against his own son for the throne, and later finds himself grieving for his son's death. "And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!" (Samuel 18: 33)

I believe that humans are not perfect and are allowed to make mistakes. David made a mistake, but he is human.

The Star Is David - Samuel XVII - II

The story of David starts out by narrating his adventures as he was encouraged by God to face Saul, the king of Israel. David seems as another savor who is chosen by the Lord, since he is protected and led to war by Him. What will this war bring? Why is it David the one being persuaded by God? However, David had always been interested in participating in war which eventually caused him to fight against the Philistines. "And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines." (Samuel 1 17: 2) "Now David [was] the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name [was] Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men [for] an old man in the days of Saul." (Samuel 1 17: 12) Gosh, I didn't know my English teacher was the Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah! No wonder he makes us read all about him! But wait..Mr. Tangen a cattle man? Actually, it may be possible. Everything is.

I found that the whole setting and scene of the battle is very similar to that of Troy's legend. In Troy, Achilles fight's against another great warrior but successfully wins. I believe that these wars are related in context but furthermore, in its limitations and agreements. "If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us." (Samuel 1 17: 9)

"And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height [was] six cubits and a span. And [he had] an helmet of brass upon his head, and he [was] armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat [was] five thousand shekels of brass. And [he had] greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear [was] like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head [weighed] six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him." (Samuel 1 17: 4 - 7)

So was it really necessary to add all this? Actually, it was. But what I really can't believe that happened is that this tiny guy, know as David or Little Dave came out from one side when there suddenly appears this six cubits and a span giant who is worshipped for his absolute destructive character from another. It's like an ant against a human, or more specifically, against Michelle: feeling innocent, disadvantaged, and inferior. Take a quick guess and just by the obvious, we all know who would win. But guess what? We are all wrong. Well, here it goes:

David is first seen as a weak and fair warrior by his opponents, but when he gets in that field, he proves them all wrong. Appearance and first impression led the Philistines to get over confident about him, and without using any weapons but pure knowledge and strategies, David was able to avoid all the violence produced by the armors. This reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, "Never underestimate your opponent." David never fought with armors, he fought with his heart and let things unfold by themselves without violence.

David had become a legend. The women and warriors in Saul's army started to respect him and honor him much more than how they praised Saul. "And the women answered [one another] as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." (Samuel 1 18: 7) Soon, a tense relationship was created between these two leaders. Rivalry had been established for Saul wanted to out stand and was extremely jealous of David, who had that that he didn't. Saul had always been violent, all the measures he used to be approved were completely the opposite to those used by David, so tender and innocent.

And one more measured did he apply. Saul pursued to kill David several times but since David had something that Saul lacked, he was able to escape death. What is it that he has? If they both have Jonathan, Saul's son, what doesn't Saul have? God. God is this missing element that Saul wants. This means, that all along David had not only the people's approval, but most importantly, the Lord's permission.

All of this rivalry that had been established between David and Saul reminded me of Jacob and Esau in Genesis who competed against who received their fathers' blessing. Both of these stories reflect on jealousness and at the same time on innoce

nce. Saul is envious that David has become superior than him as well as Jacob is jealous that Esau will receive his fathers' blessing instead of him. Those innocent ones always end victorious, and this story is no exception.

Finally, David is named the king of Israel and with no rivals he will govern. Saul committed suicide once he was left alone, with no family members, which allowed David to take total control over the kingdom. The Star of David is a really important symbol for us Jews, but right now the only thing I have to say is that the star is David.

"Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail." (Samuel 1 26: 25) Saul had to accept that his enemy was actually someone to admire.

And He Finally Appeared - Job XXXVIII - XLII

"Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who [is] this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38: 1 - 2) What I had been waiting to happen for a long time, finally does. Yes, you might have guessed, the Lord at last appeared! God intervenes in the conversation of the men and faces Job. Of course Job was terrorized and scared for he was being interrogated by the Lord about his power, or so what Job believed to have. "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding." (Job 38: 4) The Lord confronts Job and tells him that if it wasn't for Him, nothing would exist and shows how much power He has over him. After all, God is his creator and with no doubt, He knows more and understands better than him.

God keeps on questioning Job. But every question shows his pride and power, trying to prove to Job that there is none that can go over or against Him. It came to a point in which he was showing off, or at least that's how I saw it. "Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, [and] stretch her wings toward the south? Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?" (Job 39: 26 - 27) With this, the Lord tells Job that the creator of the Earth is Him, and that every creature follows his orders for they are here because of Him. Everything He said had to do with His might and he asked Job these questions to make him feel helpless and feeble, as if he was no one, such as he had felt before.

"Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth." (Job 40: 4) As soon as the Lord was finished, Job’s reaction was calm. He didn’t want to continue arguing, well, they weren’t really arguing, he was just listening to Gods complaints. So, as a coward, he gave in and let the Lord win without any restrictions. Did God expect him to continue? Or at least make it difficult for him to win? Well, it was a piece of cake. Whatever, for Him everything He does is easy.

When Job saw God, his faith emerged and enforced. "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." (Job 42: 5) I liked this quote a lot because I was able to familiarize with Job since this is something that I feel very often. I think that in order to believe, you must see. I’m not saying that if you are blind you just can’t believe and that you are committing a crime if you do, but I just think that this is a proof of the existence of things. This also reminded me of Exodus, when Moses goes to Pharaoh and asks him to let his people go. Moses tells God that no one will believe him unless he shows proof, which will most surely be required by the Egyptians.

At the end, Job again blames it on himself and asks for pardon. “Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42: 6) He will no longer receive more punishments, however God says he will punish his friends instead since they didn’t mention Him. “And it was [so], that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me [the thing that is] right, as my servant Job [hath].” (Job 42: 7) Job then goes on to pray for his friends to make God stop the punishment. He was giving them back what they had once gave for him. They gave him support during his hard times and I find it very rewarding of Job to help them.

After this, Job lived for a hundred and forty years and was able to see even four generations, until he died full of days. It seemed as if he was being recompensed for all the he had gone through. He must have died full of honor.

Hopeless - Job XI - XXXVII

So, God allows Satan to interfere with Job's life and make him suffer, in order to prove that he was a holy person who always feared Him and would never curse upon Him. Yes, Job is submitted through this extreme test so he can prove to God his relevance and devotion towards His service. But I wonder. Why is it that God needs to receive some proof if he knows it all? Why does he have to test Job if he knows what's going to happen? I have always been told ever since I was a child, that the only one who knows what is going to happen and who is going to survive the test of life until tomorrow, was God. Our destiny is sealed by God, or so, this is what I believe.

You might have noticed how I previously referred to life as a test. But why do I see it in such manner? Well, to begin with I believe that God has chosen to give us life for a reason. He has made us go through hard but as well unforgettable and happy moments that have turned us into who we are. I think that we are here, in this world, to survive day by day and live life to the fullest. Yes, we have many ups and downs and its just like a math test, some problems are hard to solve but others are just fluent and easy. We are here for some time, the time that God wants us to be here for, but then, there comes a day in which God takes us from life in the same way that he made us get here, and its as if you got an F on your math test, as if surviving society day by day wasn't worth it.

In this same way, Job has to survive Satan's schemes. These are so many and extremely dreadful that it comes to a point in which Job is convinced that God hates him and is completely against his happiness. This reminds me of my sad moments when I wonder why that is happening to me. I begin to think that everybody hates me and I convince myself that everything I do is wrong. Here, I can definitely connect with Job. I understand him more than how I understand myself when going through hard times. But I mean, I might sound very selfish, after all he is the one being manipulated by the Devil and his plagues, while my depressions have dumb causes.

Going back to the story, Job and his friends basically talk about the origins and reasons for his suffering. His friends try to make him see his life as hopeful and encourage him to stay strong, but Job is completely lost in his own tragedy. He is extremely negative, and it comes to a point in which I notice that he exaggerates his disgrace so much that he is making himself depressed. He begs for an answer. He wants to know the reasons for he is feeling so much pain and agony. Job continues to question upon his disgrace, and ends by blaming it all on God. Personally, I believe that Job thought that God could have done something to stop it, and he felt extremely abandoned by not being helped and guided by Him. He referred to God as the author of his grief. Even though it was Satan the one who punished him, God never did something to stop him, and Job never understood why.

"My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me." (Job 17: 1) He gives in, completely hopeless and fragile. Job can no longer live, his suffering is so strong that its as if he had been devoured by his own depression. It is no longer the Job that had once been introduced, as "perfect and upright, the one that feared God and eschewed evil." This old one, was gone, he had disappeared his own destiny.

This other Job then starts talking illogically, as I said previously, he was no longer the Job he was meant to be. He questions harshly and as if he had gained power: "What [is] the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" (Job 21: 15) Is Job expecting something in exchange for believing in God? If so, why doesn't God punish him toughly? I mean, God did allow Satan to cause suffering to Job but after all it was for a reason. Why doesn't He continue to cause agony and pain to this being?

"Shall [any] teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high." (Job 21: 22) He then makes himself seem powerful, and takes God's power away. He makes himself sound perfect as he was once introduced. How does he even dare to say that he is high in knowledge after asking for someone to teach God knowledge? Anyways, God had put Job into this test to prove that Job would never curse upon him, and after some time, Job reflects on this and even though he felt a lot of disappointment and hate towards God in that moment, no curse ever comes out of his mouth. "As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul, as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, and my tongue will utter no deceit." (Job 27: 2 - 4)

Finally, Elihu makes Job realize that what he did was unacceptable. How he doubted on Gods presence and underestimated His power was a complete lack of respect. "Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man." (Job 33: 12) "[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any [that are] wise of heart." (Job 37: 23 - 24) And I hope he learned.

The Great Depression - Job I - X

Things are getting spiced up. Satan was mentioned for the first time in the whole Bible, and let me tell you, he does sound extremely evil and competitive. The image I had of "the devil" doesn't change at all when reading about him in The Book of Job. He is mean, dark, and with no doubt, causes me to shiver. Satan has power, but he uses it in an evil way. He competes against God's authority, they are completely rivals in all senses.

"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil." (Job 1: 1) Job, was now introduced. He is described as a very good and important person, but after covering up more about him, I notice his glory dissolves. Since Job didn't strictly believe in the Lord, the Lord decides to send him many signals in order to prove Job his existence. "While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee." (Job 1: 19) In some way, you can interpret this part by saying that God made Job's life miserable since he didn't believe in him, but you can also find its positive side and say that what God was trying to do, was educate Job and teach him that he should never doubt on the Almighty. And since then on, he believed. "And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (Job 1: 21 - 22)

But this story continues, and I personally can't see how Job could have seen it in a positive way. All of the suffering that God caused to Job was then implemented with the interference of Satan. Taking advantage of the situation, Satan decides to get involved and make Job's life even more difficult. "So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown." (Job 2: 7) With this, we can see how mean Satan was and even though he did something very similar to God, that he even tried to follow his steps, God had a different intention. The Lord, I believe, was trying to make others feel him, to know that he existed and make it clear that he was there, even though he couldn't be seen. Satan did it for the pleasure of causing others suffering.

Job was very hurt. He couldn't get over it and was found in a state of total depression. His three friends heard about all this evil that was upon him and made an appointment together to mourn with him and give him comfort. No words were spoken for seven days and seven nights, for they saw that his grief was very great. However they tried to give him strengths, as every good friend does. "Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great." (Job 2: 11 - 13)

The depression never leaves. If I would have been there, I would have sang something to make it disappear. I don't know, maybe a song similar to rain rain go away come again another day, but without the coming back part would have worked. But it seriously stayed there forever. As if it had become part of him, as if he had to live with it for the rest of his life. Gosh.. I still don't get why antidepressants didn't exist during that time, because they indeed needed them.

"My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome. My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope." (Job 7: 6)

"I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." (Job 7: 11) And so, further on all he did was complain.

"Before I gowhence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." (Job 10: 21 - 22)

Negative, he had become and darkness was all he had.

Let My People Go - Exodus III - XX

"And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?" (Exodus 3: 11) Moses doesn't understand why he was the chosen one by the Lord to go freed the Hebrews out of Egypt. He must have been thinking what was it that he had that others didn't, just as I do daily. Kidding. No, seriously I am kidding. So, getting back to Moses, God is the only one who knows why he chose him to go help the children of Israel but when Moses questions Him, he doesn't give him a specific answer. Or at least, not the answer that Moses was expecting to hear. God refers to Moses in a similar way than how he once did to Noah by telling him that what he was receiving, was a token from the Lord, that he would be accompanied by him always and influenced by the Almighty. "And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain." (Exodus 3: 12) Considering that God took Noah as his savor previously, will Moses be the new savor?

"And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations." (Exodus 3: 13 - 15)

So when God tells Moses to go unto Pharaoh and ask for his people, Moses says that no one will believe him unless he shows proof. God tells him to say that he was sent by the the Lord God of their father's; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He states that that is his hame for ever and his memorial unto all generations. Moses must have felt some kind of relief by knowing what to say, even though he later on had to prove by showing them something for them to believe. But there's still something I don't understand. Moses says, "and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?" Why is it that the children of Israel don't know the name of the God of their fathers? Did they believe in many Gods during that time already?

"And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped." (Exodus 4: 29 - 31) What did these use to show proof? When Moses put his rod on the floor, it turned into a serpent, and when he grabbed the serpent from its tail and picked it up, it went back into being a rod. With this, the children of Israel believed and by saying this I mean that they believed in the Lord God of their fathers.

Aaron and Moses continue towards the salvation of the Hebrews, to freed them from Egypt. They follow the Lord's commands and they do such as they are told, to liberate every slave. God proves to them that he is there and shows his power when they all drop their rods but Aaron's snake devours the others, showing the Pharaoh and his followers that the others are much stronger and clever. The Pharaoh refused to let them go, and so the Lord spoke to Moses and told him that he would cover the borders with frogs and send plagues to the Egyptians. These plagues, are what I nowadays refer to as the ten commandments.

Finally, after many tries, Pharaoh let the children of Israel go. Shabbat was then introduced, when they finally leave. And since this point on, the Hebrews have celebrated it every friday. "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that iswithin thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." (Exodus 20: 8 - 11)

Multiplying - Genesis XXV - XXXV

After Sarah's' death, Abraham takes another wife, Keturah who bared him six more kids. "And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah." (Chapter 25: 2) When he and Sarah were bared with Isaac, he was supposedly old and found having a son at that age as a joke. So, what made him change his mind? Was it the "be fruitful and multiply" cause again? I'm beginning to think it was. His sons then reproduced and had more kids who had more kids and so forth. It seemed as if keeping the seed of the family alive was extremely significant during that time, as if they were pressured and eager to reproduce. But the time had arrived, "... Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, and old man, and full [of years]; and was gathered to his people." (Chapter 25: 8)

Isaac was left with his father's blessing, and now it was his turn to rock the Bible. So Isaac and Rebekah have two sons, Jacob and Esau. After tricking his father, Jacob is the one who gets the blessing before Isaac dies. However, all along, Isaac had a strong preference for Esau while Rebekah liked Jacob. So this was the story: Before Isaac's death, Rebekah sent Jacob instead of Esau to receive his father's blessing. Isaac could no longer recognize for he was blind, so Rebekah decided to get some animal hair to simulate Esau's hands which were hairy. With this, they expected Isaac to believe he was blessing the other son. "And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him." (Chapter 27: 23)

Considering that Esau was the firstborn, I completely disagree and despise the fact that Jacob received the blessing instead of him. Rebekah was a good wife at the beginning, but now I realize that she was in a way unfaithful to her husband, she abused him under his conditions in order to accomplish her son's ambition.

"And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob". (Chapter 28: 41) So Jacob is obligated to leave town and reaches the land of Rebekah's brother. He falls in love with his cousin and desires to marry her. However, he is made to serve her and her family for seven years and is forced by Laban to marry his first daughter Leah. He then had to work seven more years in order to earn Rachel. I find this to be ridiculous! How is it possible to force your nephew and husband to work for you? They treated him as a slave but after all he deserved it. Surprisingly, Rachel could not conceive children and gives Jacob her servant to lay with him. She then takes the maids children as of her own. This is really familiar to that of Abraham and Hagar who also had to take their servant's son, Ishamel as theirs. Why is the same thing happening in different generations? I'm starting to believe that this will form a pattern that will continue much further. They say that mutations within family members brings complications, but is this the case?

Rachel and Leah then had a fight for being the favorite. They used their handmaids to have children, both with Jacob. What did Jacob feel about this? Having two wives wasn't common during those times and much less to have children with them at the same time. Jacob ended up having 12 sons and 4 wives. Maybe he was the one who brought the tradition to the muslims of having 4 mates. "Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: The sons of Leah; Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin: And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali: And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram." (Chapter 35: 22-26)

The religious followers of Judaism tend to have numerous children. I've been relating this with the hole Bible up to what we've read and I realized that in our religion it is also very important to increase family genes, and not only that, but for us it is also significant to increase the amount of followers, for we are not many in the world today. This tendency might have come from the "be fruitful and multiply" saying that the Lord once told the first humans on Earth.

"And God said unto him, Thy name [is] Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel." (Chapter 35: 10) God now changes Jacob's name into one of the most sacred names in the Jewish religion. I have never felt so connected.

Jewishing It Up and Love - Genesis XVII - XXIV

When Abram was ninety nine years old, the Lord appeared to make a covenant with him. His old identity as Abram, had been modified for he was now named as the father of many nations. "Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee." (Chapter 17: 5) Then God told him that he would make his offspring consistent together with nations of him and that kings should rise from them, for the covenant will be established between both and the seed after thee in the generation. But what was this agreement? "This [is] my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised." (Chapter 17: 10) Yes, that's right; It all depended on Abraham's descendants' circumcision.

Circumcision is a topic that has always brought shocks and gasps among the crowd when it is mentioned. But for some strange reason, I find it to be perfectly normal. Actually, I think there might be a cause that explains why I see it completely natural. Now here comes my religious point of view. When a Jewish boy is born, in order to welcome him into a covenant between God and the children of Israel, a religious ceremony is held on the eight day of the child's life in which a ritual of circumcision is performed. This is done in order to mark the covenant with God in the child's flesh. The importance of being circumcised is one similar to the reason given in the Bible, to connect with God and keep the promise that was once made. "And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant." (Chapter 17: 14) Now, by slightly analyzing this, the Brit Milah was enjoined by Abraham which is one of the fathers of Judaism and since I'm a descendant of Abraham and Sarah, it is a mitzvot (a good deed) to be circumcised.

"And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah [shall] her name [be].

And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be [a mother] of nations; kings of people shall be of her." (Chapter 17: 15,16)

So Sarai was no longer Sarai and Abram was now Abraham, and they were blessed and given a child, but now it was a child of both. The idea sounds splendid, but for them considering that one had one hundred and the other ninety years old, it was a joke. But the Lord was serious. He stated that Sarah shall bear a son indeed, and he even named their future child. Isaac, the one that He will establish an everlasting covenant with.

Later on, the same two men (or angels, I'm not quite sure) that went to tell Abraham that no matter his age he will still have a son, go to Lot who was in Sodom where they end up in his house for the night. "And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat." (Chapter 19: 3) People passed by and asked Lot for the two men, they wanted to have sex with them. People...hmm, so this means that homosexuality was present and that men in that time really wanted to have intercourse with other men. However, these "people" were unlucky, since Lot said they couldn't. It seemed as if Lot was protective and comprehensive, but then he tells the people that passed by, that he has two daughters inside that they can lay with and do anything that they want with them. The gay guys disliked the idea and attempt to intrude, but the two men inside blind the people so that they can't reach the door and tell Lot to leave Sodom with his daughters and wife for the Lord will burn the city. So, Lot and his family left to Zoar, where they hid in a cave. They must have been desperate to lay because for some reason, Lot's daughters decide to get their father drunk and lay with him in order to "keep the genes alive". They took advantage of their old fathers' state for pleasure and supposedly, needs.

I previously cited when mentioning the two men and the feast that they were welcomed with in the house of Lot. What is so important about this? Again, I will relate this with Judaism. For some reason, it says "and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat." To begin with, last month I was celebrating Pesach, a Jewish holiday that commemorates the story in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. During those days, I couldn't eat flours and had to base my diet upon the matzah, flat unleavened bread. I find it very interesting how these two men were served with unleavened bread since they weren't in a hurry (such as us when leaving Egypt) and Egypt hasn't been mentioned as an actual setting in the Bible. So, I wonder from where did this unleavened bread idea come from? Does it symbolize something? I hope to answer those questions soon.

Abraham and Sarah now have their son so Hagar and Ishamel with the help of God, who gives them water to survive. Then, God decides to test Abraham to see if he feared Him as he had to. He does this by telling him that he has to sacrifice Isaac. With no hesitation, Abraham proceeded and when he was close to commit this command, the Lord told him to stop and since he did, God realized that Abraham did fear him. Because of the loyalty showed by Abraham, the Lord blessed and told him that he would take control of the cities.

Sarah passed away, and when Abraham noted that he was getting old, he told his servant that he wanted a wife for his son but she had to be from Isaac's native land and that he couldn't get there. The servant followed his orders and brought back Isaac's future wife, Rebekah. "And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's [death]." (Chapter 24: 67)

Love is in the air, or should I say tent?