The Faith of Israel. How God Spoke to the People

While all the peoples of the world believe in the various deities of the sun, earth, fate, war, love, and death, the basis of Israel's identity is that God is One. "Listen, Israel (Shema Israel), the Jews pray every day, "the Lord our God, the Lord is One." For all the other peoples of the empire, Israel's belief that God is one would be easier to understand if this God were worshipped before an image. Meanwhile, the Israelites do not recognize any images of the One. If it were not for the belief in the One God, there would probably be no more people of Israel. Even larger states and nations have been lost in the darkness of history without a trace. Where did the once powerful Hittites go? Where is the kingdom of Mitanni, where is the power of Crete or Troy?

And the people of Israel endure. They last in their ups and downs thanks to their attachment to faith in God, whom they even avoid calling by his name. He who spoke to Moshe from the burning bush revealed his name—Yahweh, or I AM, WHO I AM, but in the course of the centuries it has become customary in Israel not to mention this name, for man is not worthy to address Him directly. Even the use of the names Lord (Adonai) or God (El or Elohim) is avoided. This is how only the high priest in the Temple of Jerusalem addresses Him. Heaven, Glory, Majesty, Holy One, Supreme or Eternal are commonly referred to Him.

Israel is the people of the Covenant, the people of remembrance of Abram's astonishing repeated on Mount Sinai to Moses. There God said to them, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods beside me. You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or serve them. For I, the LORD, your God." (Ex 20:1-5)

This is the first of the Ten Commandments that Moses received on Mount Sinai, and which observance is Israel's highest commandment. The second commandment is connected with it: "You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain (Ex 20:7)." In the third commandment there is a command to observe the holy day of rest, the Sabbath: " Remember the sabbath day—keep it holy. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God. You shall not do any work, either you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your work animal, or the resident alien within your gates. (Ex 20:8-10)."

The fourth commandment concerns the honor of parents: " Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you". In the fifth commandment, God says, " You shall not kill.," in the sixth, " You shall not commit adultery," and in the seventh, " You shall not steal." The eighth commandment concerns a false witness: " You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor" The ninth commandment strengthens the family: " You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife," and the tenth commandment warns against greed and envy: " You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, […] his male or female slave, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor. (cf. Ex 20 12-17). These ten principles, as well as many of the finer regulations, govern the life of Israel.

Many gods or One God?

If the deities of other peoples are represented in the image of men, if many human qualities are attributed to them, are they not a projection of human imaginations? When worshipping them, do not men most often worship their ambitions or weaknesses? And if the God of Israel is to be infinite, unimaginable, eternal, all-powerful, and One, could man have invented Him? In God, does not Israel worship the greatness that is above all creation? Did He not really speak from His incomprehensible being to the limited man, to Abraham and Jacob, and later to Moses?

Waiting for the Messiah

Among Israel there is a constant expectation of the coming of someone extraordinary, the Anointed One of God, an all-powerful king, a priest or judge anointed to extraordinary deeds. In Aramaic it is called mashiach. The mysterious figure of the Messiah appears in many of the holy books of Israel. Around him grew a huge amount of vague, often contradictory premonitions and views. It is generally maintained that the messianic period will begin an era of perfect happiness, in which Israel's faithfulness to the One will be rewarded, in which God's righteousness will reign over the world. In the Solomon Psalms we read of the king's son, who " That he may defend the oppressed among the people, save the children of the poor and crush the oppressor. (Psalm 72:4)

We also read how "faithfulness will grow from the earth, and righteousness will come out of heaven. Yahweh Himself will bestow happiness, and our land will bear its fruit. Justice will go before Him, and in the footsteps of His steps, salvation."(Psalm 85:12-14) In the Davidic Psalm we see a mighty king and priest whom " The scepter of your might: the LORD extends your strong scepter from Zion. Have dominion over your enemies (Psalm 105:2). The prophet Isaias foretold, " For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations and set terms for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. (Is 2:3-4). And he continued "But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide fairly for the land’s afflicted. He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked”. (Is 10:17; 11,1–4).

Elsewhere, Isaias said more concretely: "The Lord himself will give you a sign; the young woman, pregnant and about to bear a son, shall name him Emmanuel”. (Is 7:14). This name translates to "God with us". In a prophetic vision, Isaias saw the Child: " The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone. You have brought them abundant joy and great rejoicing; They rejoice before you as people rejoice at harvest, as they exult when dividing the spoils. For the yoke that burdened them, the pole on their shoulder, the rod of their taskmaster, you have smashed, as on the day of Midian. For every boot that tramped in battle, every cloak rolled in blood, will be burned as fuel for fire. For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. His dominion is vast and forever peaceful, Upon David’s throne, and over his kingdom, which he confirms and sustains by judgment and justice, both now and forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this! "(Is 9:1-6)

The prophet Jeremiah expected that "days are coming—oracle of the LORD— when I will raise up a righteous branch for David; As king he shall reign and govern wisely, he shall do what is just and right in the land." (Jer 23:5) In the vision of the prophet Daniel, "I saw coming with the clouds of heaven One like a son of man. When he reached the Ancient of Days and was presented before him, He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed”. (Dn 7:13-14)

Who will be the Messiah?

This is not clear from the writings of the prophets. In the book of Enoch, this "Son of Man" is identified with the chosen Messiah "before the sun and signs were created." Some scribes claim that he will be a powerful ruler who, supported by the power of the One, will restore Israel's freedom and even establish its dominion over other nations. Others expect that by the power of Jehovah he will reward Israel's faithfulness and establish universal righteousness, so that all nations will recognize that God is one, I AM WHO I AM. Then the faithful of Jehovah will be able to say: "Indeed, this is our God; we looked to him, and he saved us! This is the LORD to whom we looked; let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us." (Is 25:9) In the Messiah, therefore, the Israelites see rather the sign of Jehovah who will do all this.

Christians are still called to realize a simple, though for many non-obvious, fact. John Paul II mentioned it in his speech at the Major Synagogue in Rome, on April 13, 1986: “The Church of Christ discovers her “bond” with Judaism by “searching into her own mystery”, (cf. Nostra Aetate, ibid.). The Jewish religion is not “extrinsic” to us, but in a certain way is “intrinsic” to our own religion. With Judaism therefore we have a relationship which we do not have with any other religion. You are our dearly beloved brothers, and, in a certain way, it could be said that you are our elder brothers.”

Until Tomorrow

fr. george