I got to thinking about God talking about His Jealousy over Israel in the Law and I started thinking about marriage. Does my wife want me to love only her? Would she encourage me to commit adultery on her? Should I not worship her as the only woman in existence? Maybe, this is the frame of reference that God was talking to the Israelites. I don't know, but many times He refers to Israel as his wife. The Israelites many times went after other God's and he took them back. Look at the Book of Hosea. In Hosea God tells Hosea to go and marry an unfaithful wife and she leaves him sleeps with another man and God tell Hosea to go take her back. I see his sternness and jealousy for Israel but also his great mercy. Misty Edwards has a song that has a line in it that goes. "God is a lover, looking for a lover." I can't seem to remember the title of it, but she has another one that is called 'You wont relent.' It talks about his Jealousy and becoming one with God, whomever he may be. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3spvQYlB-I&feature=related So, with the commandments God may have been setting up a marriage covenant with the Israelites, but none of them could keep it. Moses was a murderer, David was a murderer and adulterer, the Apostle Paul killed Christians before he wrote most of the New Testaments. I think God is really strange at times and he looks at the true thoughts of our hearts. Are we actually after him or our we like so many other after salvation from hell(if hell exists), wanting to marry Him for His wealth, or the prestige of being called by His name. I know at times I have pursued him because of the incredible joy that is found in Him. But, I found that my heart was going to the joy of the marriage, not because I wanted to marry him, but to drink of His wonderful wine of joy, so I could be merry, but not to be married. Just thoughts on maybe the disposition of God when he spoke the Law. For more articles by this author click here

Hi MJ Dakota, You wouldn't believe how many times I've told God to go away. But to me he is gracious and caring like a father. I may understand how you feel about God telling us what we can and cannot do. If I understand you right are you saying because God says 'don't do something' then he is automatically condemned as being full of pride and ego? But wouldn't any parent then who tells his child not to something be condemned as being a hypocrite and full of ego? Or anytime any authority told someone not to do something they would be condemned as being full of pride and ego? This is just a thought, I am not saying you have to do anything the Bible says because of my previous statement, I am more looking at the logic of that thinking. Plus, from what I understand of the Bible there are two covenants, the Old Covenant that lasted up until Jesus' death, and the New Covenant that extends from that point till now. Paul talks a lot about these in the book of Galatians. Paul talks a lot about how if believers in the New Covenant try to keep the Old Covenant that it is death to them and Jesus will be of no value to them Galatians 5:2-4. But who ever walks by the Spirit there is life and peace Romans 8:6. This is very confusing stuff, a lot of Christians have no clue, not to say that I got it right. You say you call a spirit a teacher of righteousness and I am assuming that you are taught by that spirit. If I am wrong let me know. But if that spirit is of God you could actually be being led by part of what the Christians call the Godhead-the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The spirit you could be following could be also an angel or something else. I don't know. I don't really know you or your spirituality. In this world I have run into good spirits and very bad spirits. But, I do have to point out that the quote you use 'do unto others as you would wish them to do to you' is found in the Bible. Lk 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. Jesus spoke it. In Christianity this is referred to as the golden rule. But I would have to say a lot of Christians don't practice that rule. If you read through the gospels and look for where Jesus accuses the religious leaders of his day of all kinds of evil and they crucified him for it. It was like a huge war that was going on. And that may be the reason Christianity is so confusing, that same war still goes on today. Some serpents lay heavy burdens on others and don't lift a finger to help, and some sheep find someone to love and help out. And some of us are in transition, we look like sheep but our serpents teeth come out every once and a while. Jesus even warned everyone to beware of false prophets that dress in sheep’s' clothing but inside are ferocious wolves. That why I personally don't pay attention to leaders and teachers of Christianity that I can't personally talk with and watch, to see if they have good fruit in their lives. So, the Bible does have words of condemnation to say to people, but the strongest condemnations are directed towards the false prophets, teachers, and leaders of the day. If I was to be looking from the outside at most of Christianity today, I probably wouldn't want to be part of it either, but there are huge depths of wisdom in it. A lot of times I just go, God or whoever you are up there, if you are real would you personally reveal yourself to me; for if you are real I would like to get to know you. I hope I did not offend you in any way. For more articles by this author click here