Posted by Alex Caughey on October 23, 2020, 5:09 am
In 1956 I was herded along with my fellow primary school pupils to watch Cecil B. DeMille's "Ten Commandments" at our one, and only town cinema learning that God spoke to Abraham with a very loud, booming voice ensuring that His prophet did not misunderstand His words. Theatrical displays ensure that the audience can participate in Abraham's journey to the promised land by imagining being present in every scene as an observer. The 1993 made for television version of Abraham starring the late Richard Harris has chosen to present its audience with God speaking with a whisper, using the voice of Richard Harris to inform the viewing audience that the words of God are sourced from within the human person.
The spiritually inspired person learns from their journey of self discovery that there is an influential life living at one with their own life asking them to follow their guidance in all matters. That faint whisper is always patient, kind, and understanding when ones reply questions the rationale of the counselling. The inner person will provide the reasoning supporting their advice sufficient to persuade the enlightened person to do all that is being asked of them.
Saul of Tarsus was born, and raised in a cosmopolitan city where several ethnic minorities from across Asia lived in harmony with the Hebrew community that Saul treasured as one of God's chosen people. Saul received his education in the Laws of Moses “Under Gamaliel, I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today” ~ Acts 22:3
Saul, or as we have come to know him, Paul of Tarsus received a privileged education developing into one of Israel's brightest rising stars destined to join The Sanhedrin. Paul was acknowledged as a brilliant intellectual by all who knew him.
Events would conspire to change the way that Paul understood his relationship with God.
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Paul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. — Acts 9:3–9
Here we note a highly intelligent, well educated man with no known history of schizophrenia hearing a voice conversing with him.
The revelation continues with Ananias of Damascus being asked by God to visit Saul at the house of Judas on Straight Street, there lay hands on him to restore his sight. Ananias is reluctant, having heard about Saul's persecution, nevertheless obeys the divine command:
... Placing his hands on Saul, Ananias speaks "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. — Acts 9:13–19
Paul's journey of self discovery begins by discarding all that he believed was the only way to assuage the needs of God, by obeying The Laws of Moses. Paul's journey of faith in God would demonstrate to him day, by day that The Spirit of God lives in the life of every human person guiding each of us to do all that He asks of us.
Our own conversion can also be an enlightening event that registers rather like an earth quake waking us out of our lethargy.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.~ John 16:13
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Re: The architect of life
Posted by Alex Caughey on October 23, 2020, 5:19 am, in reply to "The architect of life"
Moses is the appropriate prophet when referencing the Ten Commandments.