The dual nature of God’s creation

The dual nature of God’s creation

Hebrew Scripture intimates that, for every physical (or “material”) phenomenon, there is a non-physical (or “spiritual”) counterpart; a curious relationship that is quite similar to the observed relationship between matter and energy.
And from whence do we get the former? We get it from the account concerning King Ahab, in which we are informed that the flattering words of his false prophets were inspired by a lying spirit. As it is written,
«And the Lord said: “Who will induce Ahab, so that he goes up and falls in Ramoth Gilead? ”... And a spirit came out and stood before the Lord, and said: “I will induce him”. And the Lord said to him: “In what way? ” He said, “I will go out, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets”. And He said: “You will induce him, and you will even get it; go, then, and do so” And now, behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all your prophets, and the Lord has decreed evil against you»- 1 Kings 22: 20-23

Is your soul saved from condemnation?

The Christian Gospel states the following: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God”- Matthew 5: 8 (Christian Standard Bible).
Is your heart pure? Do you sincerely strive to be a just, honest, humble, and merciful human being? If not, then you are not in peace with God. If you really want to to abide forever in the presence of the Almighty, you must proceed to sincere repentance, starting to walk the path of righteousness set forth by the Scripture that goes on to say:
“Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain? The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart— who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor, who despises the one rejected by the Lord but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word whatever the cost, who does not lend his silver at interest or take a bribe against the innocent— the one who does these things will never be shaken”- Psalm 15: 1-5 (C. S. B. )

The Decalogue is God’s true and Eternal Law

While reading Moses five books of Torah you’ll find that, during Israel’s journey thru the wilderness, God punished the people’s violation of the Ten commandments in at least five different episodes:

(1) The Israelite assembly was punished for making a golden calf, thereby violating the command that forbade any graven image (Exodus 32: 7-8)
(2) The son of a Hebrew woman was punished for blaspheming God’s name, thereby taking God’s name in vain (Leviticus 24: 10-11)
(3) An Israelite man was punished for gathering wooden sticks during the seventh day, thereby violating the command to observe Sabbath (Numbers 15: 32-35)
(4) Israel was punished at the plains of Moab for violating the command that forbade immorality (adultery and fornication), as well as for violating the command forbidding them from bowing to an idol (Numbers 25: 1-2)

On the other hand, during the forty years spent in the wilderness, we never hear God ever punishing any Israelite for the sin of failing to wear Tephillim, for mixing meat and milk, for wearing clothes of mixed fabric, or for failing to place a Mezuzah upon the door post of his Tent (or house). In fact, during all those years, the whole Israelite assembly completely disregarded the command requiring that newborn babies be circumcised.
As is written: “For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed… AND THEIR CHILDREN, WHOM HE RAISED UP IN THEIR STEAD, THEM JOSHUA CIRCUMCISED: FOR THEY WERE UNCIRCUMCISED, BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT CIRCUMCISED THEM BY THE WAY”- Joshua 5: 6-7. Yet, no one was ever punished for such gross violation of God’s Law!
Thus, we must ask ourselves the following question: Why was God so severe with Israel’s violation of the Ten Commandments, yet was He so lenient when it came to the violation of those commands that are not part of the Decalogue?
Could it be that, by casting them upon stone tablets, Scripture hinted at the idea that the Decalogue is God’s true and perfect Law; the one Law promised to remain forever unchanged (“The Law of the Lord is perfect… So shall I keep thy Law continually for ever and ever… This book of the Law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein”- Psalm 19: 7, & 119: 44, Joshua 1: 8 KJB)?
Could the former be God’s own way of telling that the rest of the 613 commandments were just particular applications of the previous Ten; and therefore their implementation was temporary, as it depended upon uncertain circumstances (Israel dwelling upon the Land, the existence of the Holy Temple, the existence of a properly established Sanhedrim, the existence of a functioning priesthood, etc)?
Curiously, Jewish lore seems to validate the former perspective. Why? Because it states that, in case of extreme danger, you are allowed to violate all of the commandments [when so doing can enable you to escape with your life]. Yet, there are three commands for which you are expected to prefer death, rather than to violate them:

(1) Idolatry (the worship of another God)
(2) Immorality (adultery)
(3) Bloodshed (Murder)

Notice that each of the above is part of the Decalogue! Notice that each of the above is part of the Decalogue! Thus, the Decalogue is the one Law you can never afford to completely abandon.