I came across this article by Rabbi Anson Laytner of Seattle titled “Looking for a new God”. It was published at the start of Elul, the time set aside by Jews each year to get their spiritual house in order.
(Please note that all quotes are from Rabbi Laytner’s article with the exception of Bible verses.)
“This being the month of Ellul, when Jews are supposed to begin taking stock of their relationships and accounting for their behavior ”
I believe Rabbi Laytner takes a whimsical and insightful jab at modern day perception that God, the Creator and Keeper of all, has lost interest in the daily affairs of His creation. One might get the impression, tongue in cheek of course, that mankind hires it gods and the God of the Jews is not meeting their expectations. As with any profitable corporation a change in leadership is considered when the CEO loses the confidence of his shareholders.
“Every organization needs to take stock of its chief executive officer’s performance on a regular basis.
- Despite an open-ended contract and outstanding work in the initial years, Adonai has allowed his performance to slide in subsequent millennia. This has shown itself in several crucial contractual areas:
- failure to perform core functions other than maintaining the natural order
- failure to respond to requests for service from the membership
- failure to prevent the rise of competing deities and faiths
- failure to prevent repeated attempts by adherents of said competing deities to massacre segments of the membership
- failure to communicate with either the board or the membership to account for any the above.
- With this job performance in mind, it is our recommendation that we terminate our existing contract with Adonai and seek a new candidate for the position, one who will bring a fresh vision and new energy to the job.”
The expectations of a new CEO are clear.
“A higher-performing deity articulating a dynamic new message would inspire our members, bring about the return of many lapsed members, and attract many non-members as well. These are the benefits of revising the job description and opening the search for a new deity.”
Rabbi Laytner ends with a list of characteristics the “ideal candidate” should have. The last characteristic is more prophetic than the rabbi may have intended.
“8. Communicate clearly and authoritatively through established channels with the authorized leadership of the membership and, to a lesser degree, with the leadership of other peoples and faiths, so that everyone knows where things stand.”
Isaiah forty declares that God’s word stands forever and that there is none like Him. Listen to God’s words to the children of Jacob.
“Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.” (Isaiah 40:27-28 ESV)
Why do people think when God answers “no” that He hasn’t listened or cares?
So, do we get to negotiate with God on His performance? You might ask Job how that worked for him.
One can only hope that the Jews who read Rabbi Laytner’s article will somehow be guided to the last verse of Isaiah forty .
“But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 AKJV)
We are not shareholders in some heavenly corporation but we are servants with the potential to be treated as God’s children by grace through faith in the propitiation provided by the blood of Jesus. Heirs, yes, but bondservants while we wait for the return of Jesus (Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:10; Phl. 2:7; Col. 4:12; Jas. 1:1; 2Pe. 1:1; Jde. 1:1 KJV).
Let us all reflect on our commitment to God’s commandments this Elul and remember the words that end the Christian hymn of Isaiah 40:31, “teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait”.
You can read Rabbi Laytner’s article at the link that follows.
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/looking-for-a-new-god/
May God bless you in your study of His word.