PART ONE
The word ‘course’ often refers to a series of lessons, lectures or discussions through which we navigate to come to an intended conclusion or understanding in a particular subject matter. Course can also be a noun that refers to a specific part of a meal; as, dessert may be your favorite course of the meal. The noun course can also refer to an area laid out for a particular event; as in a golf course, a race course or an obstacle course. As a verb, course can also mean to move over or through a certain pathway or part of a journey to arrive somewhere else, like when teardrops course down your cheeks at a sad moment or joyful experience; or, as when you course from point A to point B. ‘Course’ can also be a noun, referring to the pathway taken to get from point A, to point B. But then there is also coarse, which can refer to something being rough, or difficult to endure; as in a coarse journey; or a coarse fellow; or, a coarse lesson and experience. [ibid. Vocabulary.com, with my paraphrase. adn] This particular investigation may include all of the above. alan.
I have been on a journey, or course, for over 30 years. And the intended destination of this extended journey is to finally come to a satisfactory conclusion about what the Bible, its authors and writers, and its ultimate message was all about. As to date, I have not reached the intended conclusion I assumed the journey would present. There are, admittedly, some conclusions I have accepted. And I have made some marvelous and revelatory discoveries. But a final summation, as such, has yet to reveal itself; with one critical exception. The messages in the Bible, which I from this point forward refer to as “The Book”, are the revelation of, or unveiling of, me; and you. The ultimate story line from The Book is not one of “…man trying to become god”. The story line of The Book is of God desiring to become Man. And the obstacle to achieving this story line, which stands right in the very middle of the course, is ‘man’! ‘Man’, (you know, you and me) continually resisting the Spirit of God, which is Love, is the ultimate obstacle in this course.
Gen. 6:3 “Man (adam) shall not always continue to resist My Spirit; for the erring of him (man) is his flesh…” [my paraphrase, ADN]. Adam, as a living soul trusting and relying on his flesh for direction and instruction, will always err, and miss the mark. Adam was intended to get the directions for his purpose, and his assignment, only from the Spirit of God.
The primary ‘course’ in this course has been, at least for me, to learn to retrieve the Spiritual Truths woven into the words and messages of the Hebrew language through which The Book was delivered to us. Obviously I am referring to the Hebrew scriptures we call the Old Testament, and which Judaism refers to as ‘TaNaK’. God is Spirit, on the authority of Yashua, and so the messages from the Spirit of God must, of course, be Spiritual communications. The messages in The Book are also a compilation of parables, metaphors and analogies that are given as natural and physical examples and explanations. However, to take the messages from The Book solely as recordings of natural and physical history is to completely miss the value and Truth the messages are purposed to deliver. The messages from The Book are Spiritual communications from the Spirit of God with the intended purpose of becoming Spirit Life in Adam. Adam is ‘living soul’. Yashua reminded us, “The Words that I speak are Spirit, and Life”. Spirit is intended to become our Life.
There are many taboos, handed down to us from our varied and ancient religious heritages, which have prevented the majority of us from positioning ourselves to hear the Spiritual lessons The Book intends to deliver. Thankfully, many of the obstacles upheld by those religious taboos are being dismantled. The most stubborn and resistant of those taboos, probably, is the understanding of the concept and identity of Yahweh. This series of writings will be an attempt to focus on unveiling and revealing the concept of Yahweh, and the mysteries cloaked therein. Like the pulling back of the curtain on The Wizard of Oz, revealing the true identity and mystery of Yahweh is not without its hazards. There are many taboos that must be overcome in this course. But, the intended destination of this course, and its ultimate purpose, is to reveal “Christ in you, the Hope of God’s Glory”. And God is Love! [1John 4:8] Yashua reveals to us that His Father is the Spirit of Truth in Love, and as such, is also Our Father.
If God is Love in 1 John 4:8 then God is Love in Genesis 1:1, and in every verse and chapter in between. How then do we reconcile the writings from the Old Testament of the many instances of violence, aggression, retribution, jealousies and retaliatory repercussions that are portrayed as being responses from YHVH Elohim, or LORD God, against an obstinate and unruly people? How is it that the Holy Spirit of Truth and Love is so often seen as an angry and retaliatory God? How do we reconcile this picture that seems so out of focus with the character and nature that Yashua reveals about the one he called “My Father”? That very question is what has prompted this writing effort. If you, the reader, have had any such discussions within yourself, hopefully this writing will offer to you some answers that begin to clarify your own understanding. This writing is not a definitive and authoritative declaration of truth. Actually, it is quite far from it. It is only my way of sharing with you, a fellow sojourner on the way to Truth, some insights that have helped me to understand some of what has been so thoroughly misunderstood; and that may you find peace that passes all understanding on your journey.
alan