Numbers Part I: Just a Few Questions

ALWAYS Question Whatever it is You are Asked to Believe

If you wish to answer any of these questions please do so at the comment link at the end of the post. Please note the question you are answering, and be sure to give passage locations when utilizing Bible verses as references. If you wish to ask a question that you feel should have been asked but was not, feel free to note that as well.

Now, on to the questions for the book of Numbers in the Holy Bible.

1. Numbers 1:3-4

3 From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company.

4 One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you.

Questions
     1) Okay, so the LORD is all-powerful, right? WHY does He need an army if He is all-powerful?

     2) Sooo...forced military service is okay with God/the LORD?

     3) Is the idea of forcing all those who are able to serve in the LORD's army similar, if even remotely so, to being forced to believe in the LORD?

     4) Moses and Aaron, without the modern-day benefits of computers and filing systems and all that, go about taking a count of the people of Israel in order to find out how many can serve in the army...and they only have ONE man from each tribe helping to do the count? How long did that take? What was the process? What were qualifying or disqualifying factors of being able to serve in the army?

2. Numbers 1:45-46

45 So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers' households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel,

46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

Questions
     1) If twenty years old is the youngest, what age is the oldest? Why is there no upper limit to the age requirement for the army? Are the elderly men forced to serve as well?

     2) What were other requirements for the military men? Did they have to be of a certain intelligence, or did God consider that even an idiot can die for the LORD? Did the men have to have a certain physical condition?

3. Numbers 1:47-50

47 The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers' tribe.

48 For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying,

49 Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel.

50 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle.

Questions
     1) Sooo...if the LORD doesn't force you into military service He will force you into religious service of some sort?

     2) If God/the LORD is so goddamn great and loving and providing and joyous and amazing WHY would anyone have to be forced to do anything for God/the LORD like fight in an army, or be forced to serve God/the LORD in religious services?

     3) Shouldn't people CHOOSE to be of service to God/the LORD instead of being required or forced to do so?

4. Numbers 1:51

51 When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.

Questions
     1) Why does God/the LORD seemingly inject the penalty of death wherever possible? Is it to make people afraid, to fear Him? Is it to keep people in line? Is it to make manipulating people all the easier to accomplish?

5. Numbers 1:52

52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard.

Questions
     1) Does 'standard' here mean in the sense of a cultural/social norm or construct, or does it mean 'standard' in the sense of a banner or flag particular to each family?

6. Numbers 1:53

53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.”

Questions
     1) So, the Levites were some kind of human buffer between the tabernacle of the LORD and the people of Israel? Why would such a thing be needed if the LORD loves His people and cherishes them and nurtures them?

     2) Why would the tabernacle need to be guarded? Isn't God/the LORD all-powerful and thus quite capable of protecting Himself, His tabernacle, and His people?

     3) Were the guards of the tabernacle there to guard things from going in or keep things from going out, or both?

7. Numbers 1:54

54 Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the LORD had commanded Moses, so they did.

Questions
     1) Why is the LORD commanding His people through Moses and not to the people themselves? Are the people incapable of understanding God? Were the people too afraid of God? Wouldn't God be able to impart understanding and remove fear?

     2) Does God/the LORD want to keep as few humans as possible being in direct contact with Him by creating this absurd idea that there must always be an intermediary such as Moses or Aaron, and if so why is this?

8. Numbers 3:4

4 But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests in the lifetime of Aaron their father.

Questions
     1) What, pray tell, is 'unauthorized' fire?

     2) Did Nadab and Abihu know what the 'unauthorized' fire was? Had they been informed of the 'unauthorized' fire?

     3) Where is this 'unauthorized' fire discussed in the Bible?

9. Numbers 3:8-10

8 They shall guard all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, and keep guard over the people of Israel as they minister at the tabernacle.

9 And you shall give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the people of Israel.

10 And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.”

Questions
     1) Why do the furnishings of the tent of meeting need to be guarded/protected? Will the people steal the items?

     2) What is this 'big brother' temperament of God/the LORD where guard must be kept over the people of Israel? Why would guard need to be kept over them is God/the LORD is all-powerful and all-protective and all-everything?

     3) If God/the LORD is the same yesterday and today and forever more, and if all men are the same before God/the LORD, and if all men fall short of the glory of God...WHY are lines of separation made between the priests and 'outsiders' which result in a death penalty?

     4) If God/the LORD is the same as He always has been...why does the New Testament make it sound like ANYONE can approach God/the LORD and the Old Testament make it sound like God's people must have an intermediary lest they die from the ferocity of God's/the LORD's righteousness? 

10. Numbers 3:11-13

11 Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

12 Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of every firstborn who opens the womb among the people of Israel. The Levites shall be mine,

13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated for my own all the firstborn in Israel, both of man and of beast. They shall be mine: I am the LORD.”

Questions
     1) Do you know what this set of verses reminds me of? Are you familiar with the story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson?

     2) So, first God/the LORD says He wants all of the firstborn. ALL. Imagine the U.S. government saying to all of the people it governs, "All of your firstborn belong to the government." Lovely, right? Imagine the fear and sorrow something like that would plant within a person's heart. 
     Now imagine that the government says, "Hey, tell you what...instead of ALL of the firstborn belonging to the government what will now be done is all of the Native Americans belong to the government. ALL Native Americans belong to the government. Instead of the government taking the firstborn of all the people the Native Americans will fill that spot, ALL Native Americans."
     How would the people see such a thing? Is it still terrible that some people are automatically slated from the moment of conception to NOT be their own? Sure it is! But...isn't that a small price to pay? So the Native Americans belong to the government no matter what. Big deal. At least the rest of the people get to keep their firstborn. The majority is safe.
     In Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery" someone must be stoned and everyone knows it. Perhaps for those doing the stoning, even though they are committing murder, it is much better to stone, than to be stoned, right? Maybe that is how it was for the people of Israel. The people knew something was really screwy and wrong with this God/LORD fellow, but if He was satiated by having the Levites and pretty much leave the rest of the people alone...then why not go along with it?

11. Numbers 3:46-48
46 And as the redemption price for the 273 of the firstborn of the people of Israel, over and above the number of the male Levites,

47 you shall take five shekels per head; you shall take them according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel of twenty gerahs),

48 and give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for those who are over.

Questions
     1) Never mind that the Bible says that you cannot store up for yourself treasures here on earth, but WHY does God/the LORD need money?

     2) For those individuals who would answer that the LORD needed to make sure that the items of worship were cared for and that the priests were compensated and that is why there is a need for money, wouldn't it then be true that God/the LORD ISN'T all powerful if He is in need of such a thing as money?

     3) Being all-knowing couldn't God/the LORD have devised a process of worship that did not require the use of money to sustain anything?

     4) If money is the root of all evil then why is God/the LORD requiring it in the process of having people worship Him?


12. Numbers 5:27-28
27 If she has defiled herself by being unfaithful to her husband, the water that brings on the curse will cause bitter suffering. Her abdomen will swell and her womb will shrink, and her name will become a curse among her people.

28 But if she has not defiled herself and is pure, then she will be unharmed and will still be able to have children.

Questions
     1) Have you ever read about the Salem Witch Trials? These verses here remind me of that and sound just about as stupid as dunking a woman in the water with something heavy attached to her body; if she floats she is a witch and if she sinks she's not a witch. Fucking stupid. Some things never change, I guess.


13. Numbers 7:89
89 Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark's cover--the place of atonement--that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The LORD spoke to him from there.

Questions
     1) If the LORD/God is everywhere all of the time WHY does Moses have to go to the tabernacle to speak with the LORD? Couldn't Moses simply speak to God from wherever he was? Moses wouldn't even have to use his voice, right? I mean he could freaking speak to God within his own heart, right?

     2) So, you can't take away the everything-ness of God/the LORD, right? If that is the case then if God/the LORD is everywhere (omni-present) then whenever He said anything wouldn't He also be heard everywhere?


14. Numbers 8:24
24 This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting.

Questions
     1) Ahhh, FORCED religious service. Isn't that nice? Whatever happened to the LORD moving within each man according to his own heart?

     2) So, if God/the LORD is forcing this service upon people then isn't the idea of the LORD simply allowing people to 'find' Him and to come to Him all on their own totally false?


15. Numbers 9:15-16
15 On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony. And at evening it was over the tabernacle like the appearance of fire until morning.

16 So it was continuously; the cloud would cover it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.

Questions
     1) Is God radioactive?


16. Numbers 10:8
8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow the trumpets. The trumpets shall be to you for a perpetual statute throughout your generations.

Questions
     1) Okay, so this is supposed to be a perpetual statute forever and ever, right? And the word of God/the LORD is supposed to stand forever, right? Sooo...do people still do this? Do the people who are supposed to blow the trumpets still blow the damn trumpets?

     2) If people no longer do this then HOW does the word of God/the LORD stand forever?


17. Numbers 11:1-3
1 Soon the people began to complain about their hardship, and the LORD heard everything they said. Then the LORD's anger blazed against them, and he sent a fire to rage among them, and he destroyed some of the people in the outskirts of the camp.

2 Then the people screamed to Moses for help, and when he prayed to the LORD, the fire stopped.

3 So the name of that place was called Taberah, because the fire of the LORD burned among them.

Questions
     1) What does God/the LORD expect from people when they can't even live a relatively normal life with Him around? They DON'T have consistent water and food supplies. They are for all intents and purposes WANDERING in circles in the freaking desert. They are subject to the wiles of a God with a very bad temper. The list goes on and on. What did God expect? Did He even give a good goddamn about what He was doing to these people both literally and psychologically?


18. Numbers 11:10-11
10 Moses heard the people weeping throughout their clans, everyone at the door of his tent. And the anger of the LORD blazed hotly, and Moses was displeased.

11 Moses said to the LORD, “Why have you dealt ill with your servant? And why have I not found favor in your sight, that you lay the burden of all this people on me?

Questions
     1) So, was Moses displeased because the LORD continued to create situations where He knew damn well the people would be in great need and would be upset?

     2) Was Moses displeased because He knew God/the LORD had a very short fuse and that the people of Israel whining would only set God off, making the only safe spot for Moses to be the spot where Moses was standing in agreement with God/the LORD and displeased with the people?


19. Numbers 11:14-15
14 I am not able to carry all this people alone; the burden is too heavy for me.

15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!"

Questions
     1) Once again, Moses shows surprising moxie as he tells God/the LORD to just kill Moses and get it over with because this was some bullshit that the LORD was doing. Why does God/the LORD allow Moses to get away with this when He so readily kills other people for far less?


20. Numbers 11:16-17
16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Gather for me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them, and bring them to the tent of meeting, and let them take their stand there with you.

17 And I will come down and talk with you there. And I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them, and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, so that you may not bear it yourself alone.

Questions
     1) AGAIN we come to that same question of WHY, if God/the LORD is everywhere, why can't He just talk to people where they are or directly to their hearts? Why does there have to be a priest or a special meeting place? 

     2) Is God/the LORD limited as to where and when and why He speaks with people? Is this limitation only in the Old Testament, and if so WHY?


21. Numbers 11:19-20
19 'You shall eat, not one day, nor two days, nor five days, nor ten days, nor twenty days,

20 but a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?

Questions
     1) Well, what do we have here but God/the LORD blowing everyone else out of the water for the Bad-Parent-of-the-Year Award as He responds to cries for food by being nastily aggressive and mean?

     2) Wouldn't an all-knowing being know beforehand what the concerns of the people would be, and wouldn't He then go the measure to take care of these concerns and lessen them or find some kind of remedy instead of using these situations to mistreat people?


22. Numbers 11:25
25 And the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Then he gave the seventy elders the same Spirit that was upon Moses. And when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied. But this never happened again.

Questions
     1) Why is God/the LORD always in some kind of disguise?

     2) If God/the LORD never changes wouldn't trying to disguise Himself pretty much be a fruitless and wasted effort?

     3) As a child I was informed that the LORD had to disguise Himself so the people wouldn't die from looking upon His perfect glory. If that is the case, and if God's glory NEVER changes, then wouldn't trying to disguise God NOT work since you cannot dampen or change or lessen or hide the glory of God?


23. Numbers 11:27-29
27 And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.

28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' assistant since his youth, protested, "Moses, my master, make them stop!

29 But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!

Questions
     1) So God ISN'T for everyone? If God is for everyone what does it matter WHO prophecies so long as it is derived of God?


24. Numbers 11:31, 33
31 Then a wind from the LORD sprang up, and it brought quail from the sea and let them fall beside the camp, about a day’s journey on this side and a day’s journey on the other side, around the camp, and about two cubits above the ground.

33 While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD struck down the people with a very great plague.

Questions
     1) Does whoever wrote this really expect people to believe that the quail that surrounded the camp were about three feet deep?

     2) What is this douchebag behavior of getting mad at the people of Israel for them saying they are hungry, and then to make things worse striking them down with plague as they are trying to eat in order to dispel the hunger pains?


25. Numbers 12:3
3 Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

Questions
     1) Is this why the LORD liked Moses so damn much, because he was a friggin' wuss who rarely spoke out against whatever shenanigans God happened to stew up?

     2) Why in the hell would you pick the weakest person on the entire earth to lead a people UNLESS you did so specifically to play on that person's weakness?


26. Numbers 13:1-2
1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses saying,

2 Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.

Questions
     1) Okay, so this is the land that God/the LORD wants to give to the people of Israel but He doesn't know who is on it or what they are doing? Shouldn't the LORD have known?

     2) Is it in the practice of God to just give things away without doing any of the necessary research?


27. Numbers 14:34, 37-38
34 Because your men explored the land for forty days, you must wander in the wilderness for forty years--a year for each day, suffering the consequences of your sins. Then you will discover what it is like to have me for an enemy.

37 the men who brought up a bad report of the land—died by plague before the LORD.

38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive.

Questions
     1) Why is the number forty being mentioned again? Forty years of wandering for forty days of scouting? Isn't that just a TAD imbalanced?

     2) Why do God's/the LORD's punishments never fit the crime?


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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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