The Book of Esther: Just a Few Questions

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The Shortest Yet

If you thought the posts for Ezra and Nehemiah are short then you are in for a real treat with the book of Esther. This one is mega short. Granted, it is a fairly short book of the Bible, but the book of Ruth is shorter and even that book produced more questions than Esther which is considerably longer. Sooo...here we go, right? Girdeth thee thou thy loins and let us get on witha da show, no?

1. Esther 1:10-11

10 On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him--Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas--

11 to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman.

Questions

     1) Is this where we get the term trophy wife?

     2) Verse ten totally sounds like something from those Sleeping Beauty novels about sex, doesn't it?

2. Esther 1:19-22

19 "So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she.

20 When this decree is published throughout the king's vast empire, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, will receive proper respect from their wives!"

21 The king and his nobles thought this made good sense, so he followed Memucan's counsel. 

22 He sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases.

Questions

     1) Aha...a LITTLE problem with women, hummm?

     2) Husbands should receive proper respect from the wives but not the other way around, hummm? Tell me again how this works, how does God/the LORD figure that this is proper treatment of women?

3. Esther 4:3

3 And as news of the king's decree reached all the provinces, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and wailed, and many people lay in burlap and ashes.

Questions

     1) And this helps HOW?

     2) Did God/the LORD ever tell people to behave/mourn in this fashion when situations like the one presented in this particular story occur? What is the purpose and aim of this foolishness? 

4. Esther 8:2

2 The king took off his signet ring--which he had taken back from Haman--and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman's property.

Questions

     1) Hummm...another recycled story? Isn't this very similar to what happened to Joseph in Genesis 41:42?

5. Esther 8:17

17 In every province and city, wherever the king's decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.

Questions

     1) Well isn't this wonderfully fucked up, hummm? Many people of the land became Jews because of what they feared the Jews would do to them? You mean like how many of the Native Americans became Christians and Catholics because they were afraid of what might be done (and unfortunately still WAS) to them?

     2) What makes the Jews who did this shit so right or so special or so privileged to do something so fucked up? Because they are supposed to be GOD's people, is that it? 

6. Esther 9:2-3

2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the king's provinces to attack anyone who tried to harm them. But no one could make a stand against them, for everyone was afraid of them.

3 And all the nobles of the provinces, the highest officers, the governors, and the royal officials helped the Jews for fear of Mordecai.

Questions

     1) Sooo...is this FEAR thing something Mordecai learned from his God/LORD? And people who believe this way wonder why there are people who hate them? I am NOT saying they deserve the hate, but what I am asking is do they really wonder why some people are so angry with them and harbor great disdain for them?

     2) Do people who fear others normally love those they fear? Following this line of thinking, how in the fuckey-doo do Christians figure to get people to really love God/the LORD if what they are teaching is fear this and fear that or God will do this or that?

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Judges Part IV: Just a Few Questions

Moving Right Along

This is the last posting of questions for the book of Judges in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible. If you get a hankering to answer any of the questions noted please do so by clicking on the comment link at the end of the post. If you use Bible verses as references please note the location so that I may look up the verses.

1. Judges 18:1
1 In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them.

Questions
     1) Now hold on a minute here! Are you saying that this whole time the Bible has made it sound like the people of Israel as a whole at least have some of the promised land when the truth is that some of the tribes have nothing in regards to their 'inheritance' that was promised them?

     2) Why has the Bible made it sound like each tribe has at least something when this is not the truth?

     3) Why would the Bible mislead readers in this manner?


2. Judges 18:9-10
9 They said, “Arise, and let us go up against them, for we have seen the land, and behold, it is very good. And will you do nothing? Do not be slow to go, to enter in and possess the land.

10 As soon as you go, you will come to an unsuspecting people. The land is spacious, for God has given it into your hands, a place where there is no lack of anything that is in the earth.”

Questions
     1) Oh, this is just peachy, isn't it? Is THIS how the LORD provides land for His people? Does the LORD lead His people to spy on other people just to assess their weaknesses in order to exploit such people and take whatever they have in order to 'turn' it into their own?

     2) Is this God's/the LORD's version of giving inheritance...taking from an unsuspecting people and giving to His own? 


3. Judges 18:11, 21
11 So 600 men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol,

21 So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them.

Questions
     1) Is the reason the women and children were put in the front so that if there was a frontal attack they would be killed first and not the soldiers?

     2) Whose idea was this? The LORD's?


4. Judges 18:27-28
27 But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire.

28 And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it.

Questions
     1) What kind of a fucked up God allows a quiet, unsuspecting people to be completely destroyed, their belongings taken and their city burned to the ground?


5. Judges 19:22-24
22 As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.”

23 And the man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, “No, my brothers, do not act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, do not do this vile thing.

24 Behold, here are my virgin daughter and his concubine. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them what seems good to you, but against this man do not do this outrageous thing.”

Questions
     1) Okay, do you think whoever wrote this portion of the Bible thought people would not notice this story is almost word for word the same as the story of Lot and the two angels who visited him and the people/men of the town were demanding that Lot send out the men so that they could 'know' the men?

     2) In the story version with Lot didn't Lot offer his own virgin daughters to the men outside of his house, something extremely similar to what is done here?


6. Judges 19:25-29
25 But the men would not listen to him. So the man seized his concubine and made her go out to them. And they knew her and abused her all night until the morning. And as the dawn began to break, they let her go.

26 And as morning appeared, the woman came and fell down at the door of the man’s house where her master was, until it was light.

27 And her master rose up in the morning, and when he opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way, behold, there was his concubine lying at the door of the house, with her hands on the threshold.

28 He said to her, “Get up, let us be going.” But there was no answer. Then he put her on the donkey, and the man rose up and went away to his home.

29 And when he entered his house, he took a knife, and taking hold of his concubine he divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel.

Questions
     1) Why did this man even allow the woman to be given to the crowd of men who assaulted her? Doesn't this make him an accessory?

     2) When this man sees the woman lying at the threshold to the door why doesn't he respond in a helpful, concerned manner? Why is his tone cold and uncaring?

     3) There is nothing in these verses to allow for the assumption that the woman was dead before the man took her home, is there? 

     4) Are we to believe that this man put a dead woman on his donkey and took her all the way home without knowing she was dead?

     5) Did HE kill her because she was assaulted by other men and thus found her to be unworthy and of no value to him?


7. Judges 20:4-6
4 And the Levite, the husband of the woman who was murdered, answered and said, “I came to Gibeah that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.

5 And the leaders of Gibeah rose against me and surrounded the house against me by night. They meant to kill me, and they violated my concubine, and she is dead.

6 So I took hold of my concubine and cut her in pieces and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel, for they have committed abomination and outrage in Israel.

Questions
     1) Oooohhh no. No, no, no. This mother fucker cannot try to push this shit all on the assholes of the town, because he LET his concubine be given to the crowd of men who assaulted her, DIDN'T HE?

     2) Considering the above question, isn't this man, the husband of the wife who was murdered JUST AS RESPONSIBLE for the woman's death as the men who raped her?

     3) Why is the murdered woman referred to as both a wife and a concubine?


8. Judges 20:17-18
17 And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war.

18 The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, “Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Judah shall go up first.”

Questions

     1) Can you imagine what kind of SNAFU the military would be if, say, during the Gulf Wars General Schwarzkopf assembled all the troops together and then decided to pray and consult God/the LORD where he should place the troops and what should be done with the troops? And I mean that the General has no idea whatsoever what he should do with the troops he has assembled and consults God/the LORD to find out troop placement and assignment. What would you think about that? 

9. Judges 20:23-25
23 And the people of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until the evening. And they inquired of the LORD, “Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?” And the LORD said, “Go up against them.”

24 So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day.

25 And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword.

Questions
     1) Is this God's/the LORD's own special version of culling His people? Why would He do such a thing?

     2) Does God/the LORD use these situations to cull His own people when He realizes He cannot come through with His many promises and cannot provide for all of His people, so He does what He can to turn things in His favor as much as possible?


10. Judges 20:28, 35
28 and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, “Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?” And the LORD said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand.”

35 And the LORD defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword.

Questions
     1) And here is a very good example of why you do NOT want religion in politics, right? Dear God, should I fight and kill people (my own people) or not? Dear Believer, yes, you should kill your brethren. Do you see a problem with this idiocy?


11. Judges 20:48
48 And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire.

Questions
     1) Sooo...if the people of the tribe of Benjamin were struck so hard, to include all men and beasts and setting all towns on fire, how in the hell are there surviving Benjamites later on? How are there Benjamite men left to kidnap women so they can be forced to bare the men children for the continuation of the Benjamites?


12. Judges 21:2-3
2 And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly.

3 And they said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?”

Questions
     1) Sooo...these idiots kill their own brethren and then have the gall to ask the LORD why there is one tribe lacking in Israel?

     2) Don't these verses show both the stupidity of the people of Israel at this time as well as the idiocy and lack of control of God/the LORD, a divine being Who is supposed to be in total control of everything (but obviously is not)?


13. Judges 21:10-11
10 So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, “Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones.

11 This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction.”

Questions
     1) Is this more of God's/the LORD's generosity of suffering the little children unto Him?

     2) Is God/the LORD ordering the killing of the children as well since He is already ordering the killing of the women and does not want the children to be motherless as well as fatherless? Is THIS how the LORD shows His love for the children?

     3) Sooo...it says to kill the women who have lain with a male. Does this mean a woman's value, something already fairly low with the LORD as well as with men, falls even lower once she has lain with a man?

     4) Would you agree that 'devote' is a positive word, or should be a positive word? Would you agree that 'destruction' is a negative word? Why would you use the words 'devote' and 'destruction' together?


14. Judges 21:20-22
20 And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, “Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards

21 and watch. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22 And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, ‘Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.’”

Questions
     1) What the hell is this treachery? Kidnap the women so that they can have wives and reproduce?

     2) God allows this crap to happen, eh? Should you be surprised considering all of the incest God has already allowed up to this point in the Bible?

     3) Again, what does this say for the character of God/the LORD and what He thinks of women and their value?

     4) If God/the LORD is the same now as He ever was...doesn't this mean He would also approve of this disgusting, debasing behavior nowadays?

     5) If this is something God/the LORD would NOT do or allow nowadays, then wouldn't that mean the WORD of the LORD does not stand forever without fading as the Bible claims and that the LORD is not the same now as He always was?


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Exodus III: Just a Few Questions

Is that Your Final Answer?

Tell me, tell me

I really want to know

Where is the point of my origin

Where does this river flow

If I choose to take

Will He promise to give

Why must I choose His love

If I want to live

I won't say 'yes'

And you won't say no

The answers I seek

Shouldn't be impossible to show

Do you believe that the Bible is God's final and everlasting word? Do you believe that every single word in the Bible is the truth, the actual, literal truth? For those who would press you for answers about what it is exactly that you believe, do you ignore them because you feel frustrated for repeating yourself? Are you wanting for a good set of answers? Do you ignore such questions because they give your faith a good shake, rattle, and roll? Are you ashamed of the absurdity and ridiculousness of what you believe? 

All of these questions are part of why I do not believe that God exists. I do not believe that the Holy Bible is some kind of road map given by God to man for purposes of communicating with God. I grew up immersed in Christianity and once I began to think for myself and once I actually stopped and listened to some of the crap I was saying to people I realized something was seriously wrong. 

I do not care if people wish to tell me I am going to hell. Whatever, right? I just want people to type in their answers as to why they believe what they believe in regards to the Bible. Answer these questions. Tell me why. Is that too much to ask of you? 

And now we continue with Part III of Exodus as we consider some of the questions that come to mind when considering whether or not the Holy Bible is the absolute truth of God's own words.

1. Exodus 13:1-2

1. Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

2 "Sanctify to Me every firstborn, the first offspring of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast; it belongs to Me."

Questions
     1) Did you ever read the story of Rumpelstiltskin? I always thought that was a really creepy story, but this verse totally reminds me of that story. Give to me your firstborn? That is straight-up something right out of Children of the Corn.

     2) The firstborn of every womb among the sons of Israel? So, I take it the women have zero say in this matter? As a mother I can tell you I would rather fight up to and through my last breath before I gave anyone dibs on my children. What kind of God demands the firstborn?

     3) Doesn't the idea of the firstborn belonging to 'God' sound like something straight out of pagan/ancient traditions?

2. Exodus 13:3

3 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the LORD brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.

Questions
     1) Where is this strong hand that supposedly brought out the people of Israel from Egypt? Isn't this hand more like something from the hand that rocks the cradle considering that God used straight-up sabotage techniques in order to get His way with Pharaoh?

3. Exodus 13:5

5 "It shall be when the LORD brings you to the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Hivite and the Jebusite, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall observe this rite in this month.

Questions
     1) Why is God STILL talking in the future tense when it comes to this promised land that has been promised time and again, but that never really seems to materialize for the people of Israel?

     2) Consider the modern day issues with the country of Israel and ask yourself if God has fulfilled His promise to give the people of Israel this land that supposedly flows with milk and honey? Tell me, does Israel flow with milk and honey or with aggression and spite considering the lovely history with Palestine and Islam?

     3)Is this God's idea of a really fucked up joke, to 'give' this promised land that is riddled with problems and scuffles and religious dissension to His people? Does God do this with the specific intent to cause so many problems that the people have no choice but to keep coming back for more help?

4. Exodus 13:9-10

9 And it shall be to you as a sign on your hand and as a memorial between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in your mouth. For with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt.

10 You shall therefore keep this statute at its appointed time from year to year.

Questions
     1) I think God's version of what a strong hand is qualifies as dirty fighting techniques, don't you?

     2) So, exactly WHAT about what God did are we remembering? The underhanded techniques? The lies? The deception?

5. Exodus 13:11-13

11 “When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your fathers, and shall give it to you,

12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD’s.

13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

Questions
     1) Do you know what these little rules about the firstborn sound like? Just like all of the other gods within religion that demand the firstborn as payment in exchange for giving the worshiping masses a place to stay and food to eat. I think it is sick and very twisted. You know what this is? This is sick. If this God is the one and only God why does He demand all of the same stupid crap that all the other gods demand? He isn't any different then, is He?

6. Exodus 13:15-16

15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.’

16 It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt.”

Questions
     1) Uhmmm, how do you figure that the Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let the people go? God did that, didn't He?

     2) What is this about marking the hand and on the forehead? Does that sound suspiciously like some kind of 'end times' mark of the beast to you? Isn't that fairly creepy?

     3) If God is just how does He count subversive techniques as qualifiers for a strong hand? Is it because He is God and so figures He can say and do what He wants how He wants when He wants?

7. Exodus 13:17-18

17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.”

18 But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle.

Questions
     1) What is the REAL reason God led the people of Israel out of Egypt in the manner that He did? Was it so they would have as little other people and places as possible to rely on? Why wouldn't God want them relying on other people or places?

8. Exodus 13:22

22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.

Questions
     1) So, isn't man supposed to be made in the image of God? If that is the case why does God seemingly love to appear as anything BUT the image in which man was supposedly made?

9. Exodus 14:4

4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD.” And they did so.

Questions
     1) So, is 'getting glory' over Pharaoh just another way of saying, "I will murder," but said in such a manner as to make the individual saying such (God) not appear as murderous as they really are?

     2) I want to know how God can do what He did to Pharaoh and yet turn around and give a commandment such as thou shalt not bear false witness? Does God think He is being clever?

10. Exodus 14:18

18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

Questions
     1) Shouldn't this really say that the Egyptians will know it is the LORD since the LORD is the one who caused all of the problems, hardened Pharaoh's heart repeatedly, murdered Egyptians in droves, and did hateful things to them?

11. Exodus 14:21-22

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the LORD drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

Questions
     1) Okay, how can you people who believe this type of story here pop off at the mouth that what other religions or faiths or spiritual practices believe is unreasonable? Have you ever once stopped to listen to the craziness of what you believe? Do you seriously believe that the waters were separated and the people walked through? Do you believe this is the literal truth?

12. Exodus 14:24
24 And in the morning watch the LORD in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into confusion,

Questions
     1) Well now, this is not the only time that the LORD threw a bunch of people into confusion, is it? Didn't the LORD do something similar with the folks at the Tower of Babel?

     2) If the LORD really wants people to see His truth why is He more consistent about throwing people into confusion than revealing truth to them? Is this kinda backwards of what He is supposed to be doing?

13. Exodus 14:28

28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.

Questions
     1) Is there any verifiable evidence, historically speaking, that an entire Egyptian army was lost at sea or in any kind of accident or act of war or anything of the like?

14. Exodus 14:30-31

30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

31 Israel saw the great power that the LORD used against the Egyptians, so the people feared the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.

Questions
     1) How else were the people of Israel supposed to react when they supposedly saw God totally and completely destroy the entire Egyptian army? Did God want 'His' people to see what He could do to people when He was very angry? Was that the whole point here?

     2) If the entire Egyptian army was destroyed how did Egypt survive so long in history after this event? Wouldn't other kingdoms have swooped in and taken all the riches of Egypt?

15. Exodus 15:3

3 The LORD is a man of war; the LORD is his name.

Questions
     1) Shouldn't the words here be more along the lines that the LORD is a filthy man of war for the LORD is a dirty fighter?

16. Exodus 15:10

10 You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Questions
     1) If the Egyptians sank like lead when the waters crashed in around them how did the people of Israel see the bodies on the shore as it says in verse Exodus 14:30?

17. Exodus 15:22-23

22 Then Moses made Israel set out from the Red Sea, and they went into the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water.

23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink the water of Marah because it was bitter; therefore it was named Marah.

Questions
     1) Does the LORD purposely lead the people of Israel into these kinds of predicaments for the purpose of making it seem like they are not self-sufficient and so very desperately need the LORD?

     2) Who in their right mind would lead the people of Israel with all of their children and flocks and herds into the boondocks of the desert where there is no water and no sustainable source of food? WHY does God do this, seriously, WHAT is the real reason for this?

18. Exodus 16:3

3 and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

Questions
     1) How is it that the people of Israel do not see that the LORD purposely sets them up for failure so that whenever He 'helps' them or 'rescues' them it looks like the LORD really cares for them and is providing for them?

19. Exodus 16:4

4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not.

Questions
     1) Do you notice that the LORD is in the habit of giving the people only what they need to survive and nothing more? Why is that? He only wants them to have just enough to survive and eek by life by the skin of their teeth?

20. Exodus 16:8

8 And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”

Questions
     1) What did Moses expect to experience as a spokesman for a God that seemingly lives to glorify only Himself by means of making things as difficult as possible for His people?

     2) Does life really need to be so difficult and seemingly impossible for the people of Israel?

     3) When the LORD made all of the promises to be the God of the people of Israel and to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, I am wondering how the inflection in His voice sounded, how His voice sounded? It is one thing reading it in the Bible and another thing entirely when you think about how it was supposed to have sounded to the people of Israel, right? Was the tone of God's/the LORD's voice such that it sounded like it was a really good deal and would be no trouble at all?

21. Exodus 16:18-19

18 But when they measured it with an omer, whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack. Each of them gathered as much as he could eat.

19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over till the morning.”

Questions
     1) What is it with the LORD not wanting the people of Israel to save up/store the food? I could not help but to feel somewhat confused with this story when I was a child. Here the LORD was supposed to be providing for His people, bit it seemed like He never really wanted them to be very comfortable, like He wanted them to worry about where their next meal would come from or where they would be able to find water for their flocks. Why does God choose this really whack way to show His people that He will provide for them?

22. Exodus 16:28

28 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws?

Questions
     1) Why is the LORD asking questions to things He already knows the answer to?

     2) If the LORD wants the people of Israel to respond better to Him why doesn't He stop putting them in crazy ass situations? Aren't there better ways to show His people how He will provide for them instead of bringing them to the brink in some way, every time, every day, and then at the last moment providing birds for meat, providing 'bread' from heaven in the form of manna, or making water come out of a rock?

23. Exodus 17:1-2

1 All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.

2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?”

Questions
     1) Wait a minute here, WHO is doing the testing here, hummm? Look at Exodus and try to grasp how often these people, this great mass of people wandering in the friggin' desert with loads of children and herds and flocks, suffer for want of water or food...why is this? Is the purpose of allowing all of this to gain control of the emotions of the people of Israel?

     2) Is the purpose of directing and controlling the emotions of the people of Israel to keep them so unsteady that they do not realize how screwy the God that they worship really is and how cruel and bloodthirsty He is just like many other gods of other nations?

24. Exodus 18:11

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods, because in this affair they dealt arrogantly with the people.

Questions
     1) Arrogance? Arrogance? You want to talk arrogance? Okay, let us look at some of the synonyms of arrogance: conceit, pride, self-importance, egotism, an offensive display of superiority...wow, this list goes on and on and you know what? These are ALL the characteristics of the LORD/God, aren't they?

     2) So this LORD is so full of Himself that He feels it is necessary to remind the people of Israel over and over how He can provide for them in a pinch? He persists to put them in dire circumstances just show He can show how creative He is in His efforts to give His people what they need? 

     3) Why does God continue to pick unhappy and desperate situations to subject His people to? Does God really understand the mind of man? Is the reason because God knows that everyone has a breaking point and He is trying to break the people of Israel so He can truly control them as only He wishes to control them?

25. Exodus 19:4-6

4 You yourselves 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 indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured 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 that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Questions
     1) This is so mother f***ing smug it is hard to know where to begin to comment on it, right? God has something else on His mind if He is thinking He had to reference something He did in the past, especially when you consider exactly what it was that He referenced, correct?

     2) How must this have sounded to the people of Israel, hummm? Remember what I did to the Egyptians? Of COURSE they remember what you did to the Egyptians because you played dirty, mister God, and now you are trying to use that as some kind of threat, right? Remember when I did this or that to these people? I can do the same to you if you do not listen. 

     3) Why does it seem like that the more you read in the Bible (when starting in the Old Testament) the more it seems like the LORD/God is not a God of love or a God that wants to BE loved, but that this God...above all of the things HE wants...this God wants to be feared, needs to be feared, and perhaps to a frightening degree must be feared lest the negativity and horror that gives Him substance degrade to a point where He no longer exists?

26. Exodus 19:12-13

12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.

13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

Questions
     1) Okay, I really want you to think about this, alright? So, God makes man in His own image and for the satisfaction of God (and the screwiness of that is a subject all its own), this God loves these people and even titles them as His people, wants to protect these same people, wants these people to love Him as deeply as He loves them...but then consistently exhibits behaviors and actions that put His people, His chosen people in direct danger?

     2) Considering that many of the trademarks of fear center around patterns of behavior based on that fear how can God/the LORD ever expect ANY people to truly love Him? 

     3) Since when has love EVER required fear, or anything negative for that matter?

27. Exodus 20:19-20

19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.”

20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.”

Questions
     1) Sooo...the purpose of God/the LORD making people fear Him is to stop them from sinning? How is that working out thus far?

     2) Is it possible to prevent sin through ways that are not aggressive or filled with fear?

     3) If God is all-powerful why does He insist on using fear to get people to obey? Since He is omnipotent doesn't this mean He would know that fear is not such a hot tool after all?

28. Exodus 21:7, 11

7 “When a man sells his daughter as a slave, she shall not go out as the male slaves do.

11 And if he does not do these three things for her, she shall go out for nothing, without payment of money.

Questions
     1) So, uh...some of the men who God considered to be part of that group known as God's people would sell their daughters as slaves? And not only that but apparently God had special rules set aside for such? These verses are wrong for so many reasons.

     2) What is this thing that God has against women?

     3) Why does the Bible mention God the Father many many times, but never once mentions anything about God's mother? Does this have anything to do with the overall bullshit treatment of women in the Bible?

29. Exodus 21:23-25

23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life,

24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,

25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Questions
     1) Is this about one of the most stupid things from the Bible? You don't return evil for evil, and do you know WHY? 

     2) It should not be do unto others as they do unto you, right? I mean, why would you want to treat anyone in the same deplorable manner in which someone has treated you?

     3) Is God really saying that it is okay to behave in a terrible manner so long as you were not the one initiating said bad behavior? Is that it?

     4) Sooo...then the ends DO justify the means?

     5) What happens when someone has a mental disease and they harm or kill someone? Does God allow any kind of relief for those individuals who have zero control over their psychosis?

     6) I take it God offers a mulligan in times of war?

30. Exodus 21:28, 32

28 “When an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox shall be stoned, and its flesh shall not be eaten, but the owner of the ox shall not be liable.

32 If the ox gores a slave, male or female, the owner shall give to their master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.

Questions
     1) Explain to me the purpose and benefit of killing the ox that has killed a person? What does such an idiotic thing accomplish?

31. Exodus 22:18
18 “You shall not permit a sorceress to live.

Questions
     1) I this because God/the LORD does not want the competition?

     2) Is this because God does not want people to have or understand this kind of power?

     3) Not everyone does bad things with great power, and surely God knows this, yes? Why kill a good sorceress?

     4) God wants to be the only one with great power, doesn't He?

32. Exodus 22:22-24
22 You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child.

23 If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry,

24 and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.

Questions
     1) God has no clue when it comes to rendering balanced punishment, does He?

     2) How in the fuck does making another woman a widow and making her child fatherless compensate for the original wrong done?

     3) Wouldn't making a woman a widow and a child fatherless qualify as mistreatment toward that woman and child?

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