God's Verbal Interaction with Man Part Six
Moses and the Ten Commandments
In the Koran, Allah is said to not have direct verbal communication with mankind. In the Holy Bible, however, God is said to have verbally communicated directly with several men. In this series of articles I am considering some of those men, and one in particular in this writing, Moses, when God gave him the Ten Commandments.
THE KORANIC ACCOUNT
It is beneath the dignity of Allah to condescend to speak to a mortal with the exception of disclosing information or from behind a covering hidden from view or by dispatching a messenger who reveals with His permission what He pleases; certainly, He is Exalted and exercises good judgment (Surah 42:51).
Allah made direct contact with Moses when speaking to him (Surah 4:164).
There is no comprehension of Allah’s character among those who say that Allah has never revealed anything to any mortal human (Surah 6:91).
Children of Israel, recall the approval and support I (Allah) have given you and raised you in status and dignity above all the other nations of the earth (Surah 2:47).
It is not proper for a believer to kill another believer except by mistake (Surah 4:92).
Those who do not believe are an enemy to you with no restrictions (Surah 4:101).
You who believe! Make war on the unbelievers who live near you. May they discover your determination and realize that Allah is with those who serve Him (Surah 9:123).
Those do not believe who say, “Certainly, Allah, He is the Christ the son of Mary (Surah 5:17).”
Undoubtedly unbelievers say, “Look, Allah, He is the Christ the Son of Mary (Surah 5:72).”
Allah revealed His orders to the angels; proclaiming, “I am with you. Make the believers steadfast. I shall cast terror into the minds of the unbelieving. Cut off their heads and cut off the very tips of their fingers (Surah 8:12).”
COMMENTARY ON THE KOANIC ACCOUNT
According to the Koran Allah does not lower himself to speak directly to mortals. He may reveal something of new significance to someone, but not usually. He will hide himself behind a sheet or send a messenger to deliver the message he wants to send people. Such as when Gabriel was sent to speak to Muhammad in order to reveal Allah’s word to him.
The Koran contradicts itself when it says that Allah does not speak openly to mortals. Then it says that Allah spoke directly to Moses. Moses was a mortal who Allah spoke to without something between them.
Certainly the Koran shows that Allah desires to communicate non-verbally when it is written that he will strike terror or fear into the psychic of those who do not believe. This is accomplished by his believers cutting off the heads and fingertips of the unbelievers. Such behavior is contrary to the conscience of most people.
This is permissible in the Koran since believers are only to not kill other believers except by accident. Those who believe in Islam are commanded to make war against those who are not Muslims and murder them; especially Christians who believe that Jesus is God. However, anyone who will not convert to Islam is subject to death. This includes Atheists, Hindus, Buddhists, and others who will not convert to Islam.
Those who are unbelievers have no protection in the Koran against any way believers in Islam wish to treat them. The Koran has no restrictions in Islam for evil conduct of the believer toward the unbeliever. The unbeliever is considered the vile enemy. The unbeliever being the ones who clam that Jesus is God.
BIBLICAL ACCOUNT
And God spake all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, which have brought you out of the house of bondage. You shalt have no other gods before me. You shalt not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the; water under the earth: You shalt not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and forth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments (Exodus 20:1-6).”
“You shalt not take the name of the Lord your God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain (Exodus 20:7).”
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt you labor and do all your work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God: in it you shalt not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it (Exodus 20:10,11).”
“Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God giveth you. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is your neighbor’s (Exodus 20:12-17).”
All the people saw the thundering, and the lightening, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. They said unto Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Moses said unto the people, “Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces that you sin not.” The people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. The Lord said unto Moses, “Thus you shall say unto the children of Israel, You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven (Exodus 20:18-22).”
COMMENTARY ON THE BIBLICAL ACCOUNT
God informed Israel that they were not to have any gods other than the one true God. No idols or graven images. God’s name was not to be misused. Rest was to be observed on the last day of the week.
In six days God created the heaven and the earth and all that therein is. This shows that each day is a 24 hour day. The week is what we have from that first week of creation when God worked and rested.
Children are to obey and honor their parents. This brings long life which presupposes that the parents will instruct their children in doing those things which will bring about long life. This shows that life on earth is something to be valued and long life is a blessing from God. God, hence, loves life and so should we.
God’s command is to not kill, to not steal, to not commit adultery, or to not bear false witness against your neighbor. People are to not covet the possessions of others.
The congregation of Israel observed and heard God speak with Moses from heaven on the top of the mountain. There was darkness, lightening, thunder, and a trumpet blast so much so that the people feared for their lives. God wanted the people to fear Him so they would not sin. Moses went into the darkness where God was.
COMPARING & CONTRASTING THE KORAN WITH SCRIPTURE
The Koran states that God spoke with Moses but the Scriptures show that this did not only happen in private but also in the presence of many others: possibly over three million others.
Not killing in the Koran is only between believers (in Islam), those who reject Jesus as God and who follow Islam. For all others it does not seem to matter what happens to them. They can be killed at will. Scripture is different. The same law applies to both Israel and to strangers living in Israel (Exodus 12:49).
CONCLUSION
Which God would you prefer to serve: The one who will not humble Himself to meet with mortal man, or the One who is humble enough Himself to meet with mortal man.
The Koran appears to portray Allah as an unmerciful god who delights in seeing mankind destroyed.
REFERENCES
The Koran’s passages are a paraphrase of several English translations.
The Koran, translated by N.J. Dawood: A Penguin Classic
The Qur’an, translated by M.H. Shakir: Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, Inc.
The Holy Qur’an, translated by Maulana Muhammad Ali: Ahmadiyya Anjuman Isha’at Lahore Inc. U.S.A.
The Koran, translated by Marmaduke Pickthall: Everyman’s Library
The Holy Bible is paraphrased from the King James Version
The Liberty Annotated Study Bible: Liberty University & Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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