What do we need?

2020 was one of the strangest years that we have experienced for many years.  It is rare that the whole world is affected so completely and comprehensively. In fact, it could be said that the last time events were so widespread was probably WWII.  The only difference being with 2020 and as we have stated WWII is that the actual impact of the events in question were blindingly obvious in their origin on the one hand (WW I&II) compared to the endless speculation of the other regarding origin, extent and impact of the pandemic. This is not to say that the pandemic was/is false, but manipulation of events around it are certainly more suspicious then they might be regarding their outcome.

There is a timeless element to all of these events of which we all need to be reminded.  It is not a popular subject for many, but then popularity is not its primary aim.  Even those who would admit to being affiliated to its view of the world might still disagree with the relevance of it when it comes to the detail of everyday life.  The temptation is to mythologise its relevance to our daily lives, but if considered from the point of view of objective truth, then perhaps it is possible to examine the information that it communicates and we might learn something.

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there a thing of which it is said, “See, this is new”? It has been already in the ages before us.
(Ecclesiastes 1:9-10)

You don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist or a screaming prophet to realise that something is wrong, but in accordance with the words of the Kohelet (the preacher in the book of Ecclesiastes), this is not new.

So why are we so surprised?

I believe it is because we have become so convinced of our own intellect, that when we look back in history we don’t perceive what we have lost, but rather how much further up the evolutionary ladder we have climbed through science and technology that we must be more enlightened then our forebears. However, once again we can call on history and see that every generation has made this error, looking back and on the one hand appreciating the progress that has been made and “standing on the shoulders of giants” who have led us in this progressive direction while at the same time from the behind the back of our hands smirking and decrying how “ignorant” that previous age was and declaring that we would never make the same mistakes. This present age is the disrespectful teenager who looks at its parents and rolls it eyes, despising how ignorant they are and behind the times in their views.

The Torah teaches that the ten commandments given to Moses were divided evenly between the two tablets of stone, five on the first and five on the second. The first five are understood to be the commandments regarding Man’s relationship to GOD. The second five relate to Man’s relationship to Man. What is interesting about this, if this is the case, is that the first tablet would then conclude with the commandment:

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” Exo 20:12

So who is my father and mother? Is it just my biological parents? That in itself is a confusing enough question for today. And what does it mean to honour them? Bow down to them? Worship them? And finally, what is this bit about the land that I am being given by GOD? I don’t own any land. This is non-sensical!!!!

The commandment is actually very clear, and a bit mystical all at the same time. Your biological parents are your father and mother, even though science has done so much to make this complicated. Surrogacy is nothing new. It has existed in the ancient world since the beginning which recognised that without children no family, tribe or culture would survive. It is only in our modern society that we have made the child such a disposable commodity, although as the Kohelet says, there is nothing new under the sun and in ancient cultures children were regularly sacrificed before the gods in order to ensure that the adults remained healthy and prosperous. Seems that we are not as sophisticated as we thought. But this is to miss the fact that our ultimate Father is the Creator who brought us into existence and this physical world, the dust that we will ultimately return to is our Mother. We are to honour both in recognising the origin of our existence because by not doing so, our time upon our land or in our land (our physical bodies as well as the land we dwell on) will be foreshortened. This is the first application.

There is a second which is found in the book of Proverbs (Mishlei).

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
(Proverbs 1:8-9)

The word instruction from the Hebrew is “mussar” meaning “discipline, chastening, correction”. For some, these may connote harshness and not the GOD of the New Testament. Lets clarify that thought.

And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”
(Hebrews 12:5-6)

If we want to be known as His Children, then a bit of “mussar” can go a long way.

So, what is our mother’s teaching? Well the word used here is probably going to upset some people who might read this but the word used is “Torah”. Indeed, it is the first five books of the bible that is going to get us back on track – assuming that is where we want to be.

Now don’t roll your eyes at me!!! I’m just telling you what Dad said!!