Ha Achor

In the previous post, Ha Ayin ("the eye"), we looked at a few of the amazing events in the lives of Avraham and Yakov. These were life-changing (and name changing) encounters with G-d. As we've seen, the text is clear that these instances are not like Enoch "walking" with G-d, Adam hearing the "voice of G-d walking", or G-d appearing as a pillar of cloud. Rather these are physical, tangible manifestations of Adonai where He ate, spoke plainly, and even wrestled - all without smoke, fire, lightning, sounds of rushing water, or wheels within wheels - as everyday as hanging out with the Creator of time-space can be. We, therefore, have every reason to believe that G-d is able to manifest Himself any way that he likes and, in times past, on multiple occasions, He chose to appear in bodily form. But don't take my word for it.

In today's post, Ha Achor ("the back"), we'll explore a few passages from the incredible life of Moshe. G-d seems to have genuinely enjoyed astounding Moshe with His amazing power. The miracles G-d wrought before Moshe's eyes are well-worn territory and fairly common knowledge, even among non-believers. But, with all that is commonly known and has been discussed for centuries concerning Moshe's life, it's surprising to still hear claims that G-d is completely incorporeal. As we'll see, this couldn't be further from the truth.

I won't be including verses that might quickly spring to mind when you think of Moshe, like Exodus 6:3 where G-d tells Moshe the He has appeared to his predecessors, or even Exodus 3:2, for that matter, where it clearly says that the Angel of the L-RD appeared to Moshe in the burning bush, but when He speaks, amazingly, it's the L-RD talking! While these verses offer their own treasure (and deserve a future post), they don't, upon examination, exhibit the tangible, bodily manifestations of G-d I'm talking about. For an encounter like that, let's look at Exodus 24:10.

In this passage, Moshe and the men accompanying him actually see G-d. Incredibly, this verse makes reference to His feet and His hands - and casually mentions how the men sat there and ate. Immediately following that, we read in Exodus 24:16, that Moshe enters a cloud atop the mountain and sees the glory of the L-RD as a "devouring fire". There he stays for a while - wouldn't you? So what do these seemingly contradictory passages mean? Is it just irresponsible record keeping or is it possible that G-d is able to appear however He likes, to whomever He wills - and if He wants to show you His glory one minute and His body the next, that's what you'll see? Some believe passages like verse 10 to be figurative, but scripture always illustrates when G-d is appearing in a vision, dream or bodily. Besides, why would G-d say things like, "You cannot see my face and live.", as He does in Exodus 33:20, if He doesn't actually have (or sometimes choose to have) a face? He goes on to tell Moshe (in verse 22-23) that He will place him in a rock crevice and pass by, covering Moshe with His hand, then removing it so Moshe can see His back, but (again) not His face. Why (and how) would G-d go through all this if He were only a spiritual presence, as some believe? It just doesn't make sense. Let's look at just one more passage.

In Numbers 12:5-8, G-d comes to the defense of Moshe (against his brother and sister) and while in this instance He chooses to appear in the form of a cloud, it's what He says that's most revealing. "Hear my words, if there is a prophet among you, I will appear to him in a vision and speak to him in a dream. Not so with Moshe. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he sees the form of the L-RD." The word translated "form" is temunah, which means a solid form and is most commonly used when talking about a statue or carving - not an ethereal specter, mirage or otherwise. G-d explains that a prophet will only be allowed to see Him in a dream. In other words, not as He truly is. Moshe, on the other hand, is actually able to perceive G-d as He truly is - and that, sometimes, like it or not, is in bodily form.

Be sure to share your ideas and scripture references pertaining to this topic in the comment section below - even if (or, especially if) they seem to contradict those I've cited. We'll explore them in another post on this topic soon.

****UPDATE: This post was featured on The Rosh Pina Project. Join in the discussion there, if you like.