Musing - Is our God dictatorial or interactive?

Hebraic Musing - Is our God dictatorial or interactive?

As we study our first Parashah of the year 5776 Genesis, B’reisheet, we find a unique characteristic of Almighty God.  In Genesis 2.19-20 NIV we read –   Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.  So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field.  

If God is all knowing, why didn't He just tell Adam the names of each of the animals?  And after dictating the names a few times, maybe Adam would finally have them memorized.  No, God wanted to interact with His beloved creation, man, and develop a relationship out of interaction rather than as a dictator.  Should parents be dictatorial or interactive with their children?

Let's look at other religions, how do they perceive God?  Mormons have a book and their bible version that they must accept.  Muslims are not allowed to question the Koran.  Cults are told what to believe and that their own books contain (dictated) 'truth'.  The commonality - adherents are dictated to!

Meanwhile, our loving Father God talks to us. He provides us with His Word, the Bible with stories, instructions and parables that don't always fit neatly together, i.e. Men of God who are not perfect.  So we are challenged to figure out His intentions and the underlying truths.

Some may say that God dictated the "Ten Commandments" to us; more correctly, His "Ten Words".  Okay, let's use that example to describe His working relationship.  We tell a 3 year old child rather directly "Don't play in the street"; then when they are a little older, we send them across the same street with instructions to watch both ways. Are those contradictions, or are they progressive revelations as one grows in understanding or maturity?  In Genesis, the Ten Words to the Israelites came from God in stone to babes in the wilderness; a kindergarten type lesson in basics. When Moshe retold God's Words in Deuteronomy, he had them internalized and he explained them with more detail and added more explanations and understanding.

Our God trusts us to read, study, ask questions, be confused, find answers, correct one another, etc.  All of this learning process is interactive AND will lead to the truth if our heart is true to Him.  His Holy Spirit will guide us to the truth; therefore He can allow and even encourage interaction with His beloved growing children.  

The best way to learn is to ask questions; which creates a vacuum that needs to be filled.  (Nature abhors a vacuum) And the search for truth becomes interactive and personal. Do you like to hear your children asking questions?  It makes me search and learn in order to answer them, a Win-Win!

Points to Ponder

Are you encouraged to ask questions in Your Bible studies?

Does God mind it when you question him?

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             October 21, 2014             

Author “Hebraic Insights”;  “Biblical Marriage” & “Musings v.1 – A Victorious Life”
Weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”
Yosef1@cox.net   or  www.InsightsByYosef.com