The Tail End for the Questions of the Book of Genesis
Well, we have finally made it to the last posting for the questions of the book of Genesis. Wow. THAT was an ordeal...and a lot of research, let me tell you. Hopefully, you have responded to a few questions or even a lot of questions. Remember, the purpose here is to show you part of why I no longer believe in the supposed truth of the Bible or the existence of God, and also for YOU to express to me why you DO believe in the truth of the Bible and the existence of God. I have told you why I do not believe. Now, you tell me why you DO believe and show me why my heart should be throwing in its vote with that of your own heart.
1. Genesis 35:1
1 Then God said to Jacob, “Go up to Bethel and settle there, and build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you were fleeing from your brother Esau.”
Questions
1) Why does God tell Jacob to build an alter to God instead of simply saying, "Build an alter to me?"
2) Why did God address Himself in the third person? Is it because He is part of the Trinity?
2. Genesis 35:2-3
2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:
3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.
Questions
1) It is clear from these verses that sometime previously Jacob was in distress, called out to the LORD, and the LORD answered him. So why does it also make clear that Jacob's household still worshiped gods other than the LORD God...even when this LORD God did render assistance to Jacob?
2) If the LORD was with Jacob and Jacob recognized this as a benefit bestowed by THE God of the universe why was his household still worshiping other gods? Did Jacob not see the LORD God as all that powerful? Did he view the LORD God as only powerful in regards to certain requests?
3) If God was with Jacob and Jacob knew this and recognized this why was there the apparent desire and need for other gods? Did Jacob not know he was supposed to have no other gods before God?
3. Genesis 35:4-5
4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.
5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.
Questions
1) So, Jacob buries all of these idols and earrings under an oak tree? What was the purpose of doing that, and who did he think he was hiding the idols and jewelry from?
2) Why does it seem like those who do not know of God or wish to know of God are always experiencing the terror of God? What would be the benefits of showing the love of God instead of the terror of God? Why doesn't God do that instead of trying to scare the shit out of people all of the time?
4. Genesis 35:11-12
11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.
Questions
1) Soooo...do you notice that with all of these promises that God slings about to His favorites the wording is so very careful? Do you see that God routinely says, "I will give," instead of, "I give," and that the underlying meaning is that He is only promising to give and has not yet done so?
5. Genesis 35:13
13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.
Questions
1) If God is everywhere why and how can He "go up" from a place where He was?
2) If God is supposed to be everywhere all at once He can never be in the past, for being everywhere all at once means that He is eternal and omni-present, right?
3) If God is eternal and omni-present no one can remove Him or cover Him or hide Him...not even Himself, right? So, how in the hell does God "go up" from a place where He conversed with a man?
4) The man God was speaking with can up and leave without problem. The man is not eternal and omni-present. God is eternal and omni-present, so again I ask you how in the blue blazes did God "go up" from the place?
6. Genesis 35:17-18
17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.
18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
Questions
1) Is this a good example of the curse of horrible childbirth experiences that God put upon Eve and all women after her?
2) Sooo...Rachel dies for something she did not do?
3) Is the real punishment by God not so much pain and suffering in childbirth so much as it is the removal of what should be great joy in a situation where new life is created and brought into the world?
7. Genesis 35:20
20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave: that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.
Questions
1) So, the believers who read this verse today do realize that when the verse says the pillar remains on Rachel's grave to "this day" that such was written in the context of whoever was back then. the writer of Genesis?
2) Believers who read this verse do understand that the verse is NOT referring to the present day and the idea that this pillar is still there...even now?
8. Genesis 37:3-4
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Questions
1) Why does it seem that so many of God's chosen seem to be hated by their peers or family members as a direct result that the chosen individual is loved more by someone or by God?
2) Why does God consistently use love as a tool to drive a wedge between people and friends and families?
9. Genesis 38:7-10
7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
Questions
1) What did Er do to piss God off?
2) What do you know? A man who is forced to impregnate his brother's wife and the child that is born will not even be considered as belonging to him? What kind of shit is that?
3) Are these verses why some religious people are so against masturbation and birth control?
10. Genesis 38:15-16
15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
Questions
1) Wow. Lord forbid that a woman in the Bible seek the company of a man for pleasure, but a man is more than welcome to do it, even those men who are of God's chosen people. Tell me, how does this work, God? Where is your vindication for this double standard?
11. Genesis 39:20-23
20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
Questions
1) So the LORD was with Joseph while he was in prison, but never mind keeping him OUT of prison?
2) Is this one of those screwy stories that is all in the mega-plan that God has for man?
12. Genesis 41:15-16
15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Questions
1) So, because Joseph claims that it is God giving him the answers as to what the dreams interpret to...then God really IS the one giving Joseph the answers?
2) Lots of people claim to be speaking for God or by the inspiration of God, not only in Bible times but in present times as well. So, how do people prove this? You just take them at their word? How does this apply to televangelists?
13. Genesis 41:31-32
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.
Questions
1) So, is Joseph really saying that God is the one who dreamed up the drought and famine in the first place? God is in control of the disaster?
2) How would such a way of thinking apply to present day disasters?
14. Genesis 42:14-17
14 But Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you. You are spies.
15 By this you shall be tested: by the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go from this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
16 Send one of you, and let him bring your brother, while you remain confined, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies.”
17 And he put them all together in custody for three days.
Questions
1) So, considering what his brothers did to him when they sold him off as a slave are these actions by Joseph a sort of payback from Joseph towards his brothers?
2) Isn't vengeance supposed to belong to the LORD?
3) Does God approve of this treatment of Joseph's brothers even though in all fairness they did treat him horribly when he was a child?
15. Genesis 43:8-9
9 I will be a pledge of his safety. From my hand you shall require him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever.
Questions
1) What in the world would be served by bearing the blame forever if Benjamin is hurt, injured, or killed? Will it bring Benjamin back? Will it fix the situation? Will it absolve anyone of any wrong done?
16. Genesis 45:5
5 "Now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Questions
1) Isn't this one of the verses/stories believers just love to quote when trying to prove or argue for the absurdity that God allows every thing to happen for a reason, even the bad things?
17. Genesis 45:19-20
19 "Now you are ordered, 'Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father and come.
20 'Do not concern yourselves with your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"
Questions
1) Is it even remotely believable that Pharaoh would so easily give the best lands of Egypt up to a scraggly group of foreigners?
2) Is this verse supposed to mean that the wisest rulers of nations will give their best lands to God or the people of God if they know what is good for them?
18. Genesis 46:3-4
3 He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.
4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes."
Questions
1) Why does God always issue excellent promise after excellent promise but seemingly ALWAYS seems to forget to mention that, while He might be making this people or that people a great nation, He is also going to make damn sure that they suffer as much as possible as partial payment for the generosity of God?
19. Genesis 47:5-6
5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Your father and your brothers have come to you.
6 "The land of Egypt is at your disposal; settle your father and your brothers in the best of the land, let them live in the land of Goshen; and if you know any capable men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock."
Questions
1) Does the writer of this verse really expect you to believe that Pharaoh said to foreigners that the land of Egypt was at the disposal of said foreigners? Seriously?
2) Can you imagine the President of the United States telling the folks of Syria that the U.S. is at their disposal?
20. Genesis 48:18-19
18 Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head."
19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations."
Questions
1) Why is it that the firstborn child of many of the stories in the Old Testament gets rooked time and time again by a younger sibling...and usually a younger sibling that is one of God's chosen?
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