How come so many of the early bible characters knew there was a god but?

Question

Still disobeyed him? I mean Think about it..Adam and Eve Knew (if they even were real) that god was real....they knew that he created them...so then why the heck would they do what they did....Then moses spends so much of his time rescuing the Jews....talking to god...yet one simple little request from god...he disobeys and can't even get into the promised land. I mean God hasn't shown himself for almost 2000 years so how can we know that these stories are even credible...the characters in the bible didn't seem to believe in God enough to pay attention to what he had to say? Does this confuse anyone else?

Answer 1

Cause some humans are real morons.

God is too.

Answer 2

Well, first of all God is real, dear.
Secondly, if there is one lesson you can learn from Scripture, it is how contrary man actually is. Eve was beguiled by satan himself - satan was the tree of good/evil. She was a human woman, who was tempted by sex. So whats new under the sun?
As far as God not showing himself for 2000 years, well thats a matter of opinion. If someone doesn't like you, mocks you, says you don't exist - how likely are you to spend alot of your time with that person? God is quite alive and well with many of us.
Do you want to know why that in the Bible even those people selected by God Himself to do His service, were so bad?
Because there aren't any people in existance who are perfect.
People are people. I know its confusing when you read that some of them actually saw the Red Sea part and let them pass, and then shortly thereafter, they were questioning God and complaining about Moses. Sounds incredible, doesn't it?
Well, a long time ago the japanese killed thousands of our young boys in Pearl Harbor, but yet how quickly people forget. Now, if you can even find some land to purchase in Hawaii, you will have to buy it from a Japanese guy. People just do not learn.
Its that simple. We are wishy-washy. Remember 9/11??
The churches were packed; you could only get standing room for services, and thats if you were lucky. Where are all those folks?
Surely not sitting in those churches today. We are hard-headed, and have very, very short memories.

Answer 3

Because it makes for an interesting story. If everything was lollipops and candy canes it would be boring. When you go see a movie you expect drama and conflict. Although I have my own opinion I don't want to say whether I think the bible is true or not because that's not important. These were people who lived in a time when the understanding of science was limited. In those times comets and volcanoes were equated with prophetic signs and revelations simply because they could not be explained in any other way. I don't doubt whether they thought that they spoke or saw god, whether they did or not is not for me to say. As far as why did they continue doing malicious things, well I would say for the same reason that people still do it today.

Answer 4

Everyone alive has the freedom to obey or disobey God. It's just like you...if your mom tells you to brush your teeth, you can choose to brush or not. And you know the consequences for not. A lot of times we don't know the whole story. Like Adam and Eve, they disobeyed God and ate the fruit, but they obeyed God and became parents. Then Cain was fully aware of God, but killed his brother. This probably wasn't just a case of sibbling rivalry. There had to be something much greater, don't you think?
The Hebrews leaving Egypt was really an interesting story. It was actually really hard on them to leave their home, as hellish as it was. They received a new law, which was a total about-face of what they had previously done/believed/practised. And old habits die hard. This isn't justification for them so much as a lesson for us. The characters in the Bible had weaknesses just like us. And strengths too. The point of the Bible is to learn from other people, and to do what is right.

God shows Himself to me every day...I see Him in the eyes of my son and daughter, in the world around me which He has created, and in His tender mercies.

Answer 5

The early Bible stories were allegorical, and were part of a rich oral tradition. They were the way to teach the next generation as to what was considered right and what was considered wrong behavior. It is always wise to read works by people who are familiar with the original language and idioms to help understand what is really meant. One of my favorite authors in this genre is Neil Douglas-Klotz. His latest work, The Genesis Meditations, may prove to be interesting reading for you.

Answer 6

Your confusion was their confusion. God is available today and even though many believe him we still are in sinful flesh in a sinful world. Man has a sinful nature if man could be perfect under the law there would have been no need for Christ to come to the world to atone for sin.

Answer 7

There is nothing confusing about that. It is still occurring today, and your question illustrates the fact that most people are completely ignorant of how wretched they truly are. Stop pretending like you don't believe in God, you merely don't want to obey Him...that is a very big difference.

Answer 8

This goes to show that since sin entered the world many are weak to the flesh and many doubt- and that is because we are human. The Israelites would complain all the time, and the Lord would rebuke them- and act. Then they would realize just how Real the Lord is and how FAITHFUL the Lord is to them, that they would repent and ask forgiveness, but they fell into that trap several times- just as we who are saved, can at times fall into a trap of complaining and doubting God's hand in our lives--when we need to praise Him even through the bad times, even through the struggles- we just need to continue Praising HIM! Because God is faithful- that is for sure! And we who love Him should always remain faithful to Him.

Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

Answer 9

I believe that God shows himself everyday. And people today still aren't paying attention. That confuses me.

The bible is credible,because of the witness in my heart that has changed.

blessings, in Christ

Answer 10

You have a point. Some might say this is part of Gods' plan, that it was already written, if that's the case, it begs the other obvious question, if all of this is preordained, why try be anything other than what you are, what would be the point?

Answer 11

Answer this for me... Don't you enjoy it when you do things that are "sinful"? I mean, lets face it, sin is fun. It is enjoyable, at least for a season. But I will try to hit each point you mentioned one by one.

1) as to Adam and Eve: It is in human nature to make ourselves superior to all around us. Yes, they knew God was real, but, when it was thought they could become just like God himself by partaking of the "Tree of knowledge of good and evil", they took it. I mean, how many humans have tried to become gods, or at least tried to act God-like in their actions and mannerisms. We even have a psychological term for this behavior. Its called having a "God Complex". If we are subject to this today, then who is to say that Adam and Eve were any different than us? Who is to say they did not have the same desires, drives, emotions, and sensibilities as we do? They knew God... Even spoke with him and walked with him in the garden... and wanted to be as gods themselves...

2)Moses was kept out of the promised land because he took credit for the miracles done by God when he struck the rock and said "must WE give you water to drink?", as much as it was for having struck the rock in the first place. Moreover, how many people were struck down for their sin? Was there not a person struck down for gathering sticks for a fire on the sabbath? God said what he said and he meant what he meant. The choices we make dictate the life that we lead, and if we choose to do other than what God said, there is a price to be paid. It was written in the law of the old testament that the price was blood. Fortunately, the blood sacrifice was paid by a spotless being for us, and we no longer have to kill animals as offerings, but it was still blood that had to be paid.

3) as to God not showing himself in almost 2000 years: I wonder... Since man has not even been able to reproduce a single thing, not even a single living cell without some form of genetic material... I wonder how old you are? I would say that it has not been that long since God showed his face... aside from that, all the days you have been alive, the earth has not been knocked off its axis at all, been spun out of orbit at all, the seasons have not reversed, we have not seen calamity ofther than natural events. I would say God has been here and has things well under control. You just gotta know where to look. If you want an actual miracle to read about, here you go:

A friend called me one day when I had just gotten out of high school. He had been married only about 6 months, and he was frantic. He said he was praying and heard an audible voice that told him to go to where his wife was. She was about to commit adultery. I used to drive an old 78' thunderbird back then, the huge model that had the hydraulic headlights that flipped up. Well, I had a hydraulic leak, and one of the lights, after it flipped down used to flip back up, making it look like it was winking at you. So the car was called "Winky, the amazing thunderdove" (at least after this night, cause that car got touched by God). I told him I didn't have but a quarter tank of gas in the car and it would never make it the 300 or so mile round trip he was wanting to go on. He told me that God would not have told him if there wasn't a way. So, I went. I picked him up and we went to where she was visiting family. My friend walked in, just as she was about to kiss a guy her family member that didn't care for my friend had set her up to meet that day. We drove back to their home, and I went home. When I arrived, I looked at the gas guage, and I had a half tank of gas there. I had not stopped or put and gas in the car at all during the trip, and I had looked at the guage right before I pulled out of the driveway. I remember that I prayed for help, cause the car couldn't do it alone.
I guess you just gotta look for the miracles in their small places. We wanna look for huge signs and portents all the time, but the bible says he comes in a still small voice. Why would he not display miracles the same way?

Hope this helps...