The Jewish View of God

Kimberly Roberts August 6, 2015

Discussion Questions 2

Mesopotamian society was truly advanced. They discovered the quadratic equation in math. They found that a circle had 360 degrees. The Mesopotamians discovered the Pythagorean Theorem and multiplication and division tables. They believed that they had to be obedient to their fathers, older brothers, pastors, kings, and personal gods who would determine the actions of other gods. (Perry, page 14) An event could be favorable or unfavorable depending upon the disposition of the gods. Misfortune could be attributed to gods whereas when things went well it was because the gods helped. The Egyptian Pharaohs were thought to be part god and part human. The Egyptians thought the gods were in nature not created nature as the Hebrew people believed.

The Hebrew people had a unique responsibility to keep the 10 Commandments and benefitted from being named the chosen people. If anyone would act against the Hebrews, God would strike them down. If someone would speak highly of them they would be praised. It is for this reason the Hebrew people had to give up other gods and serve only one god, Yahweh.(Perry, page39)

God brought Moses and the Hebrew people out of slavery in Egypt under the Pharaoh. Moses parted the Red Sea and allowed the Hebrew people to cross into the Sinai Peninsula where they were free from bondage. Moses went to Mount Sinai where he got the 10 Commandments which were inscribed in a slab of stone by the finger of God. Hebrew Law is based upon the 10 Commandments. The first commandment says you must love God with all your heart and have no other gods besides Him. The others say that you should treat your fellow man fairly.(Perry, page 36)

Justice to the Hebrew people meant keep the 10 Commandments as a way of life. Serving only one god illuminated the confusion of having more than one god. The Old...