The Things We Wish to Know:
Continuing with Questions from Genesis
Well, well...we are getting close to finishing with the questions for the book of Genesis. It IS taking a while, isn't it? That is okay. Please feel free to leave an answer to any of these questions and be sure to cite passage locations if you are using a Bible verse as a reference. It is not necessary for you to answer all of the questions, but rather just the ones you wish to answer. I am fine with that. I just want to know why you believe the Bible is the absolute final truth and literal words of God, if that is indeed what you think. These questions are all part of why I no longer believe in the Bible or God. Tell me why you believe. Give me a reason to believe.
1. Genesis 20:6
6 Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that in the integrity of your heart you have done this, and I also kept you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
Questions
1) Here, God prevents sinning for He knew such sin was not the intent, right? So, where did that line of reasoning go when God purposely hardened the heart of Pharaoh so that God could put a hurt on Egypt and everyone against the Israelites (and actually including the Israelites themselves) would be impressed with the might and anger of God?
2. Genesis 21:1
1 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
Questions
1) Go back a bit and you will find the verse where God tells Sarah that she will have a son, even in her old age and apparent menopause. The strange and creepy part is that the verse says the LORD is the one who visited Sarah and then Sarah conceived. Why does this verse differ so much?
2) When Hagar gets pregnant by Abram the verse says Abram "went in unto her." When Eve conceives it says Adam "knew" his wife. Cain is mentioned as "going into his wife." Even when the Nephilim were mentioned in regards to procreating the Bible says "the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men." Noah is mentioned as having "begot" three sons. These men either "knew" their wives OR went in unto them of begot them sons and daughters.
The question here is WHY there is this strikingly different use of words? Why does the verse say the LORD was the one who visited Hagar? Why doesn't the verse note WHO the father is? This is creepy.
3. Genesis 21:9-10
9 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
Questions
1) So, Sarah is so infantile in her reaction to a KID mocking that she wants them booted?
2) Does she want everything for Isaac and screw Ishmael?
3) Has Sarah forgotten that Ishmael is also Abraham's son?
4. Genesis 21:11-13
11 And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
13 And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
Questions
1) Abraham is grieved because of what Sarah wants him to do to his son, Ishmael? Grieved? Shouldn't he be appalled?
2) Is the promise by God to also make Ishmael a great nation supposed to be some kind of bribe meant to make Abraham feel better about his shitty decision in the treatment of Hagar and Ishmael?
5. Genesis 21:17
17 And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
Questions
1) So, I HAVE to ask whether or not God/the Angel of the LORD/Angel of God thinks it is funny or cute or endearing or clever to ask the god-damnedest most obvious questions? What aileth thee? Well, lemmie see, here...Hagar and Ishmael have been marooned in the freaking boondocks of the desert, are likely dying of thirst, and are suffering through this at the hand of their own people. Is that good enough for you? Do you think God or any representative of God can stop with the asking of stupid or obvious questions?
6. Genesis 21:19
19 And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
Questions
1) In verse seventeen it first says in regards to Hagar's prayers, "...and God heard." Then a few words later it says, "The angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven." So, is it God or the angel of God? Or, is it both?
7. Genesis 22:1-2
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
Questions
1) How in the hell is it anywhere near a credible test or temptation of loyalty to instruct the person being tested to kill their own child, or to kill anyone for that matter?
2) Why does an all-knowing God need to test a mere mortal in order to ascertain whether or not that person is loyal to God?
8. Genesis 22:7-9
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
Questions
1) If Abraham is so very faithful and true and loyal to God why didn't he tell his son Isaac the truth as to what Abraham was about to do, and at God's own direction at that? Why did he feel compelled to lie?
2) Is this child abuse by Abraham, or will God let it slide?
9. Genesis 22:11-12
11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
Questions
1) So, God ran this little demented test to find out something of Abraham that He already knew?
2) Is what happened to Isaac what Jesus meant when He said, Suffer the little children unto me?
3) Which part of this would be appropriate in modern times?
10. Genesis 22:16-17
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
Questions
1) Why in the world would God swear by Himself? Would that be blasphemy against Himself?
2) Isn't it true that scientists estimate the Milky Way has 400 billion stars?
3) Isn't the promise by God to number Abraham's seed as the stars are numbered an empty, foolish promise God never intends to keep?
11. Genesis 24:4
4 But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.
Questions
1) Kindred does mean people that are of blood relation, correct?
2) Is this another divine trek into incest?
12. Genesis 24:67
67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife; and he loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.
Questions
1) Isaac takes his NEW bride to his DEAD mother's tent on the wedding consummation?
2) Is this some kind of strangely horrifying Oedipus thing that Isaac has going on?
13. Genesis 25:23
23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
Questions
1) First of all, if God really did create man wouldn't he know that babies are NOT born from a woman's bowels?
2) Why does God seemingly always go directly for an imbalance of power that will inevitably lead to war at some point or other?
14. Genesis 25:29-34
29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Questions
1) Why is it that so many of these stories in the Old Testament have something to do with someone getting rooked by another someone who almost always turns out to be the underdog who almost always manages to win with the manipulative, wickedly caring help of the LORD God?
15. Genesis 26:4-5
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Questions
1) Isn't God really saying here that if you want ultimate success and blessings and power and affluence and possessions and riches and wealth that you MUST do everything that God asks you to do?
16. Genesis 26:7
7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife; and he said, She is my sister: for he feared to say, She is my wife; lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon.
Questions
1) Here is ANOTHER man who lies about his wife being his sister. Why is this? Is this some kind of sicko remembrance of how the entire world was populated, destroyed, and then re-populated with people who were very closely blood related?
17. Genesis 27:19-22
19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.”
21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not."
22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
Questions
1) How is this deceitful behavior allowed?
2) Is it part of God's "plan" for mankind?
3) If it is part of the big plan for mankind does this infer that God's divine plan included lies and deceit and trickery and thievery?
18. Genesis 27:33-34
33 And Isaac trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, and he shall be blessed.
34 And when Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
Questions
1) Now, if Jacob procured the birthright blessing by trickery and fraudulent means...WHY does Isaac still honor the blessing instead of revoking it?
2) Why does God allow it when it was not by honest, true means?
3) So, is it okay to do something by dishonest and impure means so long as in the end God is benefited in some way?
19. Genesis 27:39-40
39 And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above;
40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
Questions
1) How in the blue blazes is this a blessing?
2) Not only will there be fighting and bloodshed but he will be in servitude?
20. Genesis 28:12
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
Questions
1) Do you believe this Bible story?
2) If someone claimed the same thing nowadays would you believe one word of what they would have to say about anything even remotely sounding this screwy?
21. Genesis 28:17
17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Questions
1) Is he afraid because he really thinks this place holds the gates of heaven?
2) Why would the house of God be considered dreadful?
22. Genesis 29:25-26
25 And it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me?
Questions
1) Why all the sneakiness?
2) So, if someone gets rooked it is all fine and dandy so long as it served the purpose of God?
23. Genesis 29:31-32
31 Now the LORD saw that Leah was unloved, and He opened her womb, but Rachel was barren.
32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she said, Surely the LORD hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me.
Questions
1) Is Rachel being punished by God because Jacob loves Rachel more than he loves Leah?
2) So, should people who are deeply loved expect a certain 'barren' nature to their lives?
24. Genesis 30:1-3
1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.
2 Then Jacob's anger burned against Rachel, and he said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"
3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.
Questions
1) So, do you really think Jacob is going to say 'NO' when his own wives are encouraging him to do unto the servants of his wives, even as he does unto his wives?
25. Genesis 30:15-16
15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband? and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes.
16 And Jacob came out of the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night.
Questions
1) So Jacob gets pimped out by one wife FOR the other wife...and all of that for mandrakes?
26. Genesis 31:53
53 May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac.
Questions
1) This is a very interesting verse. Read this verse a couple of times and then consider exactly what was meant when referring to God as the "Fear of his father Isaac." Why was God referred to as the Fear of his father Isaac?
2) So, Isaac was afraid of God?
3) Was Isaac's fear of God in the sense of awesome power, or in the sense of this mo-fo is friggin' crazy so I best run and watch my back?
27. Genesis 32:1
1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
Questions
1) Why is God sending angels to do His bidding when God is already supposed to be everywhere? Seriously.
28. Genesis 32:24-25
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
Questions
1) So, if Jacob really was wrestling with God does the fact that God put Jacob's hip out of socket to force Jacob to let go make God a dirty fighter?
29. Genesis 32:26
26 Then he said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." But he said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
Questions
1) Why would the breaking dawn have anything to do with anyone in this situation? Will the man Jacob wrestles melt away from the rays of the sun, like a vampire of sorts?
30. Genesis 32:29
29 Then Jacob asked him and said, "Please tell me your name." But he said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" And he blessed him there.
Questions
1) I am curious to know WHY Jacob's request for his opponent's name was ignored, especially if he was supposedly wrestling with God?
31. Genesis 34:2
2 When Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he took her and lay with her by force.
Questions
1) Tell me how Shechem's taking of Dinah by force is all that different and morally reprehensible than the LORD God taking the land of the Canaanites by force and giving it to the children of Israel?
32. Genesis 34:14-15
14 They said to them, “We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us.
15 "Only on this condition will we consent to you: if you will become like us, in that every male of you be circumcised,
Questions
1) So, is the guy basically saying that it would be okay to keep the woman who was raped so long as he cut a portion of his penis off?
33. Genesis 34:24-26
24 And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city.
25 On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males.
26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out.
Questions
1) Did all the males of the city rape Dinah? If not WHY kill them?
2) Is the issue guilt by association whether that be by trade or by faith or by family?
34. Genesis 34:27-29
27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.
28 They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field.
29 and they captured and looted all their wealth and all their little ones and their wives, even all that was in the houses.
Questions
1) What is wrong with this picture here? Yes, I would be totally pissed if what had happened to Dinah happened to someone I care about. However, where is the justification for killing everyone, taking the flocks, taking the possessions, even taking the wives?
2) If this type of behavior is what God is looking for now (or HAS looked for in the past), and how does this GLORIFY God?
35. Genesis 34:31
31 And they said, Should he deal with our sister as with an harlot?
Questions
1) Is this the question form of the phrase, "The ends justifies the means?"
