Assignment 3 (BIC 3358)

           The covenant is so important to the Jewish idea of God because it portrays them as the chosen people. "I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly (Genesis 17)." Abraham made a sacred agreement with God to obey his command and in return be blessed with land and multiply fruitfully. God warns Abram that his descendants will be slaves in a foreign land, but God will soon pass judgment on their oppressors and bring them to the promise land. "Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward (Genesis 15.1)"
            God would test Abraham's loyalty by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Right before Abraham was about to light the altar on fire an angel of God said he did not have to follow through because it was a test to see his fear of the Lord. The idea that one should fear the Lord's wrath more than earthly suffering is very important in Jewish faith. It demonstrates that obedience to the Lord will result in great reward on earth or after death in Heaven. "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine (Exodus 19.5)."
          During this time the Jews were outcasts in the world because they believed in just one God versus the popular polytheistic beliefs. They roamed the earth being tormented, but the covenant provided peace of mind and strength for the Jews. I think the idea of the covenant and the promised land is even more important today because of the fight between Jews and Muslims over the land of Israel. Both groups believe that the land was promised to them by the Lord or Allah. Many of the sacred areas and buildings are shared between both religions but each wants sole rights to it.
            Perhaps this is ignorant of me to say but I do not understand why they cannot share the land in peace. In one of my previous BIC classes we discussed how all religion can be viewed as worshipping the same God, but with a different name and different practices. Many believe that Hinduism is a polytheistic religion, but when in fact they worship one Holy spirit called Braham. Braham is the one supreme, universal spirit that created the universe. All other deities are parts or sectors of Braham's spirit, so ultimately Hinduism is a monistic religion.
            So maybe God is the same as Allah and Allah is Braham and Braham is Buddha. Who is to say? Maybe if the world could agree on this, we could worship together and accept our different styles and practices because ultimately it is to the same higher authority.