2009-07-09T14:03:00.000-07:00

The Hidden God
By Walter Vaughn

"Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour." Isaiah 45:15

The belief in a God would seem to be a natural desire within man. What exactly is it that pushes us beyond the realm of a simple practical life into a world of talking donkeys or water being turned into wine? Is there any evidence that a God truly exist? Why is God concealed and hidden from man? Perhaps the answer is very simple, one hides when they wish not to be found. There are multible reasons to hide someone or something. We hide valuable items of great value to protect them from theft. We also hide things that may accidently endanger others or that might cause physical harm.

And He said: 'Thou canst not see My face, for man shall not see Me and live.
Exodus 33:20

God actively hides with an unwillingness to be found. We don’t look for God because He is lost. We look for God because we are lost and afraid.

The Hebrew word for conceal or hide is olam עלום. There would seem to be a certain something about man or the human experience where separation from God is temporarily necessary. If God wished to communicate with man, It would certainly look upon the way man interacts or communicates. Traditionally, it is taught that man is blessed with five senses known as sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. These senses are associated with the body or man's physical nature. The Bible teaches that man is a soul or the Hebrew,"nefesh נפש" Nefesh is the part of the soul that is connected with the body and physical existence. It is through the nefesh that man is able to appreciate these five senses. However, the Holy Scriptures also teaches us that God is spirit or the Hebrew "ruach רוח.” The English definition of ruach or spirit is "wind." The wind is invisible to man’s five senses and he is not able to see it. In the book of Genesis man is created in a way where by God is concealed or invisible to man's five senses.

REVELATION?
God often reveals Himself in dreams in the Bible. Unfortunately, dreams are not always reliable and can be difficult to understand. Who would want to speculate God's will in a unconscious state? Would you want world leaders to administer a new world based upon the dreams they had? Any sane honest hearted person would obviously be opposed to this sort of rule.

•Some may suggest that the many miracles in the Bible prove God's existence. Unfortunately, miracles can be found in many different spiritual traditions that are opposed to one another. It would appear all belief systems have some magical aspect. It is not uncommon for these signs and wonders to be entered as evidence that God is among us or a particular person’s belief is the true faith or true religion. This poses us with a delima in that all spiritual paths provide us with elements of the supernatural. It stands to reason that miracles do not define God's presence or a person's belief as the "true faith."

•We are also taught that God reveals Himself in the Torah. The Torah like all literature is a written document. In order for one to know of God they must be able to read as well as understand the correct meaning of the Hebrew words. Immediately, many are at a disadvantage and confronted with an obstacle. Down throughout history as well as today many are illiterate or have learning disabilities. The unlearned must rely upon the knowledge of strangers in order to gain some understanding regarding the most important aspect of their life. But what about the earth? Is this not evidence of a kind and loving provider?

If one views the planet Earth from space, it gives the appearance of something extraordinarily beautiful. The closer one gets to this precious jewel, it’s many flaws began to take shape. One could easily imagine the earth as a living breathing entity that mercifully depend upon elements outside of itself for survival. The Sun and the Moon are the good planetary neighbors that create conditions for the earth to spawn it’s many life forms.

The continued success of the earth depend upon the cycles of Life and Death. The earth can be liken to a flesh eating bacteria that violently turns and feeds upon itself. Every living thing must die in order for there to be future life, this is the earth’s natural cycle.

Our current earth is not a peaceful park like paradise nor does it’s current condition reflect a kind loving creator. Once life “any life form” is created, the war begins, the struggle to stay alive. It doesn't seem to make any difference whether it is a weed, fruit, vegetable, animal, or human. Every life form will be confronted with an enemy. If by chance that life form weathers the many storms or escapes the predators bite, it will eventually die within it’s own life span. The condition of our earth reflects the absence of God. Many would disagree, especially those who have built a wall around their entire life. Many are born in a condition where life is enjoyable and they see God's hand in everything they do. As long as things are going well, God is good! They are far away from poverty, hunger, decease, war, violence, and crime. They never consider the evil in the world serves as evidence that there is an absence of God, plain and simple. There must be a good reason why God chooses to remain hidden from the world.

Is it possible we have it all wrong?
If this Hidden God wishes to reveal "Itself" in our current environment or condition, It could simply and easily appear in a very effortless fashion where all would know, regardless of our ability to learn or the various spiritual beliefs that separate the world’s inhabitants. Could it be that we are here to learn not so much about God but about our self and our interaction with others? If man is unable to understand man and or provides answers to the world’s underprivileged, how could he be expected to understand God and or provides answers as to It's goodness and heavenly majesty?

If we are to believe the account in Genesis, we must stay true to our original assignment. Adam and Eve were put into the Garden as trustees. They were assigned to care for the garden, to love it and care for it. Immersing themselves not in heavenly things, but in earthly things. In truth, the earth is our Garden.
Ironically, it is the attempt to persue heavenly things that causes an expelltion from the garden. The snake (Hebrew- Nacash) tempted Eve by saying "you will be as God". Being as God is being aware of heavenly secrets and immortality.

for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.'

Is this not what religion promises even in our day? Man can not move on to the next level until he takes responciblity for his natural path.

Judaism as well as ancient eastern thought believe that we are spiritual beings having a practical physical experience. This would suggest we came from a spirit world. For whatever reason, we seem to be assigned a time upon the earth to learn, acquire, or experience something we were lacking in our spiritual state.

When the Apollo space ship landed on the moon on July 20, 1969 we went with the intention to learn about the moon. In total, the Apollo program would bring back 842 pounds of the moon ranging in size from a grain of sand to a basketball. When NASA landed two robots Spirit and Opportunity upon Mars it was the intention to recover atmospheric observations. This seems to be pretty simple reasoning until we get to the earth. Many spend their entire earthly existence searching for invisible spiritual worlds, never questioning why their feet stand upon the physical earth. As a result, we are left with any assortment of religious belief and ideologies that vary greatly from one to the next. All the while the earth crumbles away at our feet. Could this be evidence that we slipped along the way? Could it be possible that our imperfect world with all of life’s unfortunate circumstances provides the perfect stage, backdrop, and obscure obstacle course designed to refine the soul? It would seem all this takes place in a most severe and dark environment we call earth.

Many religious paths encourage praying for those in need. I am one to admit that it’s easier to pray for peace than to make peace. I am one who shamefully admits it’s easier to pray for the hungry than to actually feed them. All of us need to become an active participant in our world. Your feet is upon the earth, repair it. All life is purpose driven. What is your purpose? Many claim to “love” God. What is love? The Hebrew word for love is ahava אהבה. Love is a verb, a word in action. Love is not saying, love is doing. What are you doing, what is your purpose? How can you make the earth a better place for having lived? We are here to experience the human condition upon the earth. One does not go to heaven to learn about the earth. And one is not born upon the earth to learn about invisible spiritual worlds. That which is spirit is spirit and that which is flesh is flesh. We are aware of our bodies, the flesh,

but are completely ignorant of the spirit. The spirit is from the concealed world where as our flesh is from the earth. We are here to learn from our earthly experience.

What is Evil and why is there Evil?

Maimonides wrote on theodicy (the philosophical attempt to reconcile the existence of a God with the existence of evil in the world). He took the premise that an omnipotent and good God exists. He adopts the Aristotelian view that defines evil as the lack of, or the reduced presence of a God, as exhibited by those who exercise the free choice of rejecting belief.

For now, the existence of evil is unfortunately necessary. Evil is the absence of God and the embodiment of our personal imperfections. It is the left over residue of the imperfect spirit. Our short time upon the earth is to rectify what ever it is that’s needs to be refined. Your personal residue of imperfection collides and integrates with the shortcoming of others which make for a world of sin. In this fragile state our world abounds in all sorts of pain and heartache. I would think it possible that perhaps some souls are born to the earth not for them self but for others. It would seem as if they have a small cameo role to play in a person’s life. Perhaps, this is the fate of some children who would appear to die before their time. And who knows? Perhaps, this is a role they have previously chosen before being born upon the earth in order to assist those who need refining. More than likely due to our imperfections some young ones die before their time. However, this would mean they must be re-born back into the earth. All life has a purpose and that purpose must me attained, regardless of how many times it might be reincarnated into the earth. No one can prevent a soul from coming into existence. The process can be stalled, but that life will eventually be born. It's unfortunate, but we seem to grow stronger when life provides negative resistance. Sometimes, it is through inner turmoil where the heart is humbled, recovers, and is healed. It is important to understand that we can moderately control the misfortunes in our world by letting go of self ego and prejudice. Endeavor to be patient with one another in gentle kindness and love.

As long as a person is unsuccessful in his purpose in this world, the Holy One, blessed be He, uproots him and replants him over and over again. (Zohar I 186b)

All souls are subject to reincarnation; and people do not know the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He! They do not know that they are brought before the tribunal both before they enter into this world and after they leave it; they are ignorant of the many reincarnations and secret works which they have to undergo, and of the number of naked souls, and how many naked spirits roam about in the other world without being able to enter within the veil of the King's Palace. Men do not know how the souls revolve like a stone that is thrown from a sling. But the time is at hand when these mysteries will be disclosed. (Zohar II 99b)

Walter Vaughn invites you to discover the true essence of the hidden Torah.
"Truth" cannot be measured but is the endless path to enlightenment. Search, Discover, and Grow!