Chapter 4: The Naming of God and Ethics

1
Chapter 4 The Naming of God and Ethics

• By Mira, Sandra, and Natasha

2
A Word About Revelation

• Believe it or not, God speaks to us on a daily
  basis, even though we cannot physically hear His
  voice.
• The spiritual life is a life in which you
  gradually learn to listen to a voice.
• Spiritual life starts by claiming the voice that
  calls us the beloved.

3

• Turn To Page 63

4
Discussion Questions!!

• Why do you think that C.S Lewis has such a hard
  time putting this experience into words?
• How does this encounter with God begin to change
  Lewis?

5
Moses

• Moses is most honoured Prophet in the Jewish
  tradition.
• He is the leader, the founding father of the
  Israelites, the prophet, and the lawgiver.
• Book of Deuteronomy Never since has there
  arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the
  LORD knew face to face (34.10).
• Moses was born in Egypt to unnamed parents from
  the priestly tribe of Levi.

6

• Defying the decree of the Egyptian Pharaoh to
  kill all boys, his mother placed him in a
  watertight container in the Nile River.
• The Pharaohs daughter found him and named him
  Moses which means because I drew him out of
  water in Egyptian, Moses means is born.

7

• Moses had two siblings Aaron, his older brother,
  and Miriam, his sister.
• Moses grew up in the abundance and luxury of the
  Pharaohs house.
• He identified with his enslaved people he killed
  an Egyptian overseer while trying to protect a
  Hebrew slave.

8

• As a result of this, he flees and ends up in
  Midian where he is welcomed into the household of
  Jethro, a Midian priest.
• He marries one of his daughters, Zipporah and
  with her he has two children Gershom and
  Eliezer.

9

• The revelation of the Name of God The Call of
  Moses
• Chapter 3 of the Book of Exodus Moses encounters
  God while he is keeping sheep for Jethro
• Moses came to Horeb, the mountain of God the
  Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of
  fire out of a bush.

10

• When Moses turned aside to see why the bush was
  not burning, God calls to him and says, Moses,
  Moses! Come not closer! Remove the sandals from
  your feet, for the place on which you are
  standing is holy ground.
• I am the God of you father, the God of Abraham,
  the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

11

• Then the Lord said I have observed the misery
  of my people who are in Egypt I have heard their
  cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I
  know their sufferings and I have come down to
  deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring
  them up out of that land to a good and broad
  land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

12

• Moses said to God, Who am I that I should go to
  Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt.
• God replied, I will be with you...when you have
  brought the people out of Egypt, you shall
  worship God on this mountain.
• I AM WHO I AM, thus you shall say to the
  Israelites, I AM has sent me to you.

13
Discussion Questions!!

• What would YOU do if you were in Moses
  situation?
• Should we FEAR God?

14

• The Name of God
• In Hebrew, the name that was given to Moses is
  ehyeh asher ehjeh, but translated it can be
  read as I am who I am, I am who is, I am who
  I shall be, or I shall be who I am.
• Many people understand this name as a promise I
  will show you who I am in my being for you, or I
  will be with you tomorrow as I have been up to
  now.

15
Moses Mission

• Moses mission is to speak the mouth of God.
• God calls Moses to be a prophet an
  intermediary. between God and the people.
• As most prophets do, Moses tried to convince God
  that he is the wrong person.

16

• 10 Moses said to the Lord, Pardon your servant,
  Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the
  past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I
  am slow of speech and tongue.
• 11 The Lord said to him, Who gave human beings
  their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who
  gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not
  I, the Lord? 12 Now go I will help you speak and
  will teach you what to say.
• 13 But Moses said, Pardon your servant, Lord.
  Please send someone else.
• 14 Then the Lords anger burned against Moses and
  he said, What about your brother, Aaron the
  Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already
  on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to
  see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words
  in his mouth I will help both of you speak and
  will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to
  the people for you, and it will be as if he were
  your mouthand as if you were God to him. 17 But
  take this staff in your hand so you can perform
  the signs with it. (Exodus 4. 10-16)

17
Moses Mission Contd

• Moses is to tell his people he has been sent by
  the God of their ancestors to bring them to the
  mountain of the Lord in the power of the holy
  name YHWH.
• Bringing the people to the holy mountain test
  of power between the Pharaoh and God.
• Moses tells his people that going to the mountain
  would be a shift of service for them ? from
  slavery under Pharaoh to service of YHWH.
• Initially, the people believe Moses, but after
  their workload is increased due to the
  persistence of Moses and Aaron, the Hebrews begin
  to lose hope.
• They make an escape and successfully arrive at
  the mountain of the Lord.

18
Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19)

• On the third moon after the Israelites had left
  Egypt, they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
• The Lord called Moses to the mountain and said

19

•  "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and
  tell the people of Israel 4 You have seen what I
  did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on
  eagles' wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now
  therefore, if you will obey my voice and keep my
  covenant, you shall be my own possession among
  all peoples for all the earth is mine, 6 and you
  shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy
  nation. These are the words which you shall speak
  to the children of Israel."

20
Exodus 19 Contd

• Moses told the people this and they answered as
  one
• Everything that the Lord has spoken we will
  do.
• After telling God what the people had said, He
  told Moses he would come in the form of a dense
  cloud.

21

• The Lord told Moses to
• Go to the people and consecrate them today and
  tomorrow. Have them wash their clothes 11and
  prepare for the third day, because on the third
  day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in
  the sight of all the people. 12You shall set
  limits for the people all around, saying, Be
  careful not to go up the mountain or to touch the
  edge of it. Any who touch the mountain shall be
  put to death. 13No hand shall touch them, but
  they shall be stoned or shot with arrowswhether
  animal or human being, they shall not live. When
  the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may go up
  on the mountain. 14So Moses went down from the
  mountain to the people. He consecrated the
  people, and they washed their clothes. 15And he
  said to the people, Prepare for the third day
  do not go near a woman.

22
Exodus 19 Contd

• The morning of the third day there was thunder
  and lightning, as well as a thick cloud on the
  mountain, and a loud blast of a trumpet.
• Moses brought the people to meet God.
• Moses would speak and God would answer him in
  thunder.

23

• 21Then the Lord said to Moses, Go down and warn
  the people not to break through to the Lord to
  look otherwise many of them will perish. 22Even
  the priests who approach the Lord must consecrate
  themselves or the Lord will break out against
  them. 23Moses said to the Lord, The people are
  not permitted to come up to Mount Sinai for you
  yourself warned us, saying, Set limits around
  the mountain and keep it holy.  24The Lord said
  to him, Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with
  you but do not let either the priests or the
  people break through to come up to the Lord
  otherwise he will break out against them. 25So
  Moses went down to the people and told them.

24
The Decalogue (Exodus 20)

• Moses went up the mountain and met God face to
  face.
• When Moses descended the mountain he had the Ten
  Words or the Decalogue.
• These laws would help the tribe of Israelites to
  self- govern as they made their way to the
  promised land.

25
The Ten Commandments

• The Decalogue (Ten Words, and known as the Ten
  Commandments) is written in two versions.
• The first is Exodus 20, which is the longer
  version.
• In the Book of Deuteronomy (5.6-21) there is a
  shorter version.
• The Ten Commandments have been interpreted
  traditionally, as Christians interpret them based
  on their faith in Jesus Christ.
• The Ten Commandments state what God expects of
  the people bound by the covenant.
• The first three contain the words how to honour
  and love God the last seven concern our actions
  towards others.
• Our relation to others is part of our worship of
  God.

26
Reflection Question!!

• How can each of the 10 Commandments guide our
  ethical decision making today?

27
Covenant Its Origins
Stages of an Ancient Covenant Parallels drawn to the Mosaic Covenant
The Preamble The name, titles, attributes, and genealogy. Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from Mount Sinai.
The Historical Prologue Who is involved, the benefits, and previous relationships. Prologue recalls the Israelites liberation from Egypt You have seen what I did to the Egyptians.
The Submission Who is dominant, the stronger individual dictates what they want, conditions that have to be met. Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant
The Witnesses Who is the witness (divinities). God is a witness, and Moses witnesses for the people.
The Blessings and Curses What is going to occur if you follow or break the covenant. You shall be my treasured possessionyou shall be for me a priestly people
28
Whats In A Name?

• Your name is who you are, given to you by an
  authority figure.
• Moses is given a new name for God YHWH.
• 1. The Name I Am has consequences for Moses
• God gives the Name as part of Moses mission.
• Moses is being sent to the Israelites and the
  Pharaoh.
• I Am is who will free the Israelites.
• The Name has the power to free Moses and his
  people.
• 2.I Am, YHWH is a name with great power
• Slave people become a nation by the power of the
  Name.
• The nation of Israel is given a vocation.
• The people of Israel are bound to reveal the
  Name.
• There can never be an Israel without I Am.

29
Continued

• 3. The Name results in a new way of living
• The revelation of the Name is an ethical event.
• Most important part of the meeting between God
  and Moses is the 10 commandments.
• The reason for keeping these commandments I Am
  is your God the bond between God and the people.
  
• 4. The Name is a source of judgment
• The Name provokes a decision on who ever hears
  it.
• The Name is not only a blessing, it can also be a
  curse.
• Example The Name I Am became a curse for
  Egypt, as it was at times for Israel when it
  failed to abide by this covenant.

30
Life as a Covenant With YHWH

• The book of Exodus tells us how the Israelites
  came to understand themselves as Gods people.
• The 10 commandments still describe this covenant
  we have with God ? we are responsible for others.
• The stories of creation, of the patriarchs and
  matriarchs of Israels faith (Abraham and Sarah,
  Isaac and Rebekkah, Jacob and Leah and Rachel)
  and the stories of Israels time in the desert
  under Moses leadership tell us who we are.
• Life is about a relationship with God, we are not
  meant to be alone or isolated.
• The word covenant expresses the most solemn and
  unbreakable of bonds.

31
The Covenant With Moses

• Moses encounters God in the burning bush
• God recalls the covenant made with Abraham

32

• The Lord said, I have indeed seen the misery of
  my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out
  because of their slave drivers, and I am
  concerned about their suffering. So I have come
  down to rescue them from the hand of the
  Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land
  into a good and spacious land, a land flowing
  with milk and honey.

33
The Covenant With Moses Contd

• God says this because he remembers the promise
  made to Abraham (special care for his
  descendants)
• This covenant becomes Israels identity ? when
  Israel forgets or ignores this covenant, Israel
  is lost
• For us, this covenant is renewed in Jesus Christ.

34
From Moses, the First Prophet, toOther Prophets

• Israels history is filled with prophets-
  messengers, or spokespersons, for God.

Call Story- Isaiah 61-13 Example
Confrontation With God A dramatic vision of God in the temple. The Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty.
Introductory Speech Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory.
Imparting of a Mission In Isaiah the mission is preceded by a request Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And Isaiah says, Here am I send me. And he said, Go and say to this people (Isaiah 6.8-9).
Objection by the Prophet-to-be How long, O Lord? Objects also because of his unclean lips.
Reassurance by God Seraph touched Isaiahs lips Now that this has touched your lips , your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.
The Sign Until the cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is utterly desolate until the Lord sends everyone far away, and vast is the emptiness in the midst of the land (Isaiah 6.11).
35
Continued
Call Story- Jeremiah 14-10 Example
Confrontation With God The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah.
Introductory Speech Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you I appointed you a prophet to the nations (Jeremiah 1.5).
Imparting of a Mission The Lord said to Jeremiah, For you shall go to all whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you
Objection by the Prophet-to-be Jeremiah offers an objection Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a boy (Jeremiah 1.6).
Reassurance by God The Lord says, Do not say, I am only a boy for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver youI will open your mouth.
The Sign Today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.
36
Continued
Call Story Ezekiel 11- 315 Example
Confrontation With God Ezekiel saw visions of God. The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel, and the hand of the Lord was on him there. It is the scroll that he is told to eat.
Introductory Speech O mortal, stand up on your feet, and I will speak with you.
Imparting of a Mission I am sending you to the people of Israel, to a nation of rebels who rebelled against me...
Objection by the Prophet-to-be Ezekiel does not object. He is overwhelmed. His objection is expressed in a resentful silence.
Reassurance by God O moral, do not be afraid of them, and do not be afraid of their words.
The Sign The spirit lifted Ezekiel up, the glory of the Lord rose from its place. He went and the people listened to him for seven days.
37
Prophets of Judgment

• The prophetic call stories are poignant and
  gripping, leaving us stunned.
• The prophets are given a devastating mission ?
  usually involves a message about the destruction
  of their cities.
• The covenant kept Israel together ? these
  prophets are expressing Gods action to maintain
  this covenant, therefore maintaining the
  well-being of Israel.
• The disasters did not leave people to their own
  devices. They embraced the covenant more than
  ever.
• If not for the prophets, Israel might not have
  survived the crisis caused by the exile.

38
Sin and Transgression

• Prophets used the word sin.
• Sin referred to transgressions.
• Role of the Prophets
• The prophets threaten, order, accuse and warn the
  people.
• God demands that we be holy as He is holy.
• They informed the people that breaking the
  commandments affected their relationship with God
  and with other individuals.
• It also affected who they were.
• Breaking the commandments breaks their covenant
  with God.
• Prophets helped the people understand how to live
  in accordance with God, even though their actions
  were not equal to His holiness.
• The Human Perspective
• Sin means understanding that our actions do not
  measure up to Gods actions.

39
Discussion Question!!

• How do you think that sending prophets to the
  people is Gods way of keeping the covenant
  relationship intact?

40
Morality, Sin, and Transgression

• Prophets outline our relationship with God into
  things we can do for others.
• Pride and refusal to think of others is sin and
  transgression.
• Sin occurs when the commandments are broken.
• The prophets broke down peoples sin into several
  interactions (stealing, cheating, being
  disrespectful).

41
THE END

• Thank You For Listening You Are All
  Beautiful!!
• GOOD LUCK ON THAT TEST!!!! )