The Greatest Stories Ever Told E-Book

Dr. Neil A. Mence

• Herausgeber: Books on Demand
• Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 359

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

The Parting of the Red Sea, Noah's Ark and the Flood, David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, the Tower of Babel …… they're stories we all know only too well. But what lies behind them? Should they be taken at face-value or does each have an underlying message? I believe they do but such messages are relevant only when we can apply them to our daily experiences. Each day we have our own Red Sea to cross (a personal challenge), and each day we're called upon to knock down the Walls of Jericho (overcome something). It often feels that as we move further into the 21st century that life is becoming increasingly fast-paced where the desire for 'instant answers' is the norm. I believe that the insights given in this book provide a glimmer of hope and reassurance. Enjoy the journey.

Leseprobe

FOREWORD

The Hebrew Bible, known to Christianity as the Old Testament, details what are commonly referred to as the Laws of Moses in allegorical1 form. These symbolic accounts of life in the two millennia before the Common Era (CE)2 contain a wealth of practical everyday advice that is as relevant in today’s world as it was 2,000 – 4,000 years ago.

Interspersed with genealogical tables of the prophets, the allegories of the Old Testament illustrate the steps each of us can take to lead a successful, healthy, rewarding and prosperous life.

Why were these ancient texts written in this manner? The most plausible explanation is that since written records were rarely kept and since laws were required for tribal government, it meant that all announcements, proclamations or messages had to be circulated in an easily understood format. Even today it is easier to remember and to pass on a story that is laced with colour and passion rather than a list of rules. The more visual the story the more meaningful it becomes, thus more readily finding a permanent place in human consciousness.

Few people take the allegories of the Old Testament literally; most agree that they are symbolic in nature. I have chosen to interpret 70 of the most well-known including the Creation, the parting of the Red Sea, the exodus from Egypt, the Babylonian captivity, the Tower of Babel, the walls of Jericho, David and Goliath, Samson and Delilah, and Ruth, a truly empowering story of love.

Each interpretation comprises four elements:

- the relevant

Old Testament

reference (King James version),

- an outline of the historical context of the story,

- a metaphysical interpretation, and

- a consideration of the lesson(s) that the allegory provides us today.

The Old Testament may rightly be regarded as an instruction handbook. Let’s not only view it as such, but let us also actively use it to enrich our lives so that we may move into a higher consciousness and achieve more success in our daily lives. These allegories constitute some of the greatest stories ever told.

1 Allegory. Noun: a story, poem, or picture interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one (The New Oxford Dictionary of English, 2nd edition, 2003).

2 As we now know, the Gregorian calendar is some four years in error. The term ‘Common Era’ is used to refer to the time either before or after the year assigned as Year 1.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

INTRODUCTION

GENESIS

The CreationManifestation

Adam and EveDuality

Cain and AbelSeparation

Noah’s Ark & the floodBalance

The Tower of BabelConfusion

Sodom & GomorrahCleansing

The Allegories of Abraham:Faith

- Father of the Hebrew Nation

- Abram becomes Abraham

- Circumcision

- Sacrifice of Abraham’s son

RebekahBeauty

The Allegories of Jacob:Joy

- Jacob’s ladder

- Jacob’s love for Rachel

- Jacob becomes Israel

The Allegories of Joseph:Imagination

- Joseph’s dreams

- Joseph sold into slavery

- Imprisonment

- Dreams of Pharaoh’s servants

- Pharaoh’s dreams

- Reunion with his brothers

- Forgiveness; purpose of Joseph’s life

EXODUS

Moses & the burning bushFollowing Intuition

Bricks without strawFreedom

The 10 plaguesDenial

Parting of the Red SeaSetting Intentions

The 10 CommandmentsIntegrity

NUMBERS

The 12 spiesFulfilment

DEUTERONOMY

The voice of GodBlessings

RefugeProtection

JOSHUA

The sole of your footUnderstanding

The walls of JerichoOvercoming Separation

The day the sun stood stillErasing error Thoughts

“Choose ye this day”Choices

JUDGES

DeborahDiscernment

Samson & DelilahRedemption & salvation

RUTH

Love

1 SAMUEL

“Speak Lord for thy servant hears”Intuition

Saul as Israel’s first kingSpiritual Understanding

David & GoliathDivine love

David & JonathanDesire

2 SAMUEL

“Thy gentleness has made me great”Peace

1 KINGS

A discerning heartDiscernment

Halving the babyWisdom

The Queen of ShebaSeeking Truth

Elijah at Mount CarmelIllumined Thoughts

The still, small voiceIntuition

2 KINGS

Elijah taken up to heavenBliss

The widow and the oilOvercoming Separation

LeprosyPurification

2 CHRONICLES

Babylon & King NebuchadnezzarOut of sync

ESTHER

Overcoming

JOB

That which I fearCause & effect

Self-righteousnessPeace of mind

PSALMS

“Thou hast made him to have dominion”Oneness

The Psalms of DavidSerenity

Songs of praiseJoy

PROVERBS

Beware of egoFaith

ECCLESIASTES

A season for everythingKnowledge

ISAIAH

Wake up to your goodDetermination

“It shall not return unto me void”New beginnings

“Before they call I shall answer”Oneness

JEREMIAH

Watchman at the gateDiscernment

A new consciousnessRenewal

LAMENTATIONS

God’s wrathChoices

DANIEL

Three brothers delivered from the furnacePurification

Daniel and the lion’s denTrust

JONAH

Jonah and the great fishRenunciation

ZEPHANIAH

Song of joyOmniscience

ZECHARIAH

The angel of the LordSpiritual Understanding

MALACHI

Prove me nowAuthenticity

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

INTRODUCTION

This book of metaphysical interpretations of some of the most well-known allegories of the Old Testament is my attempt to put in writing my insights into what I believe to be the underlying messages of these allegories. Ultimately, however, any story, allegory or parable is relevant only when we can apply its ‘meaning’ to our daily experience.

As we move further into the second decade of the 21st century, life is becoming increasingly fast-paced where the desire for “instant” explanation and gratification is the norm for many people. Accordingly, I believe that these insights provide a glimmer of hope and reassurance.

Each day we cross our own Red Sea (a personal challenge), each day we are called upon to knock down the walls of Jericho (overcome something), and each day we commune with the prophetess Deborah (discernment). I invite you to enjoy the journey.

The Old Testament makes sense and becomes more meaningful when we realise that it wasn’t composed by one person but has been added to and changed over time by many different voices, each with his own “take” on events. And although there is never simply one interpretation of history, it is usually that of the victor that survives as “fact.” Accordingly, we must remember that the stories of the Old Testament were the work of men wanting to write history in their own image – to leave a legacy of their strength, morality and righteousness.

Additionally, the reader is reminded that the King James Version is a translation of a translation which may itself be a translation of other possible translations. Is it any wonder that words, phrases and actions may have been changed, mistranslated or misinterpreted? The wonder is that anything survives at all!

It’s worth noting that the ancient Egyptians were prolific bureaucrats and recorded everything, including statistics on anything grown or harvested even in the most drought-stricken years. Yet in the millions of records kept in many forms over thousands of years, there is mention of only one major event that is recorded in Genesis or Exodus. That event is the Flood which is also recorded world-wide in the folklore of all cultures that existed at that time.

There is no record of events such as the Exodus itself or of the 10 plagues. The Hebrew Bible is their only reference. There is no geological, archaeological or scientific evidence to confirm any of those events.

Despite this, the intent of this manuscript is not to prove or disprove these accounts but to provide an interpretation that may be meaningful in assisting us in our approach to living. To appreciate more fully the times and events described in the Old Testament, it may be of value to review briefly several factors that had an impact on that era.

1. When the Old Testament was written

The historical events described in The Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) took place between 1,200 – 722 BCE when Assyrian forces captured Israel and ended its existence as a nation.

Some scholars believe that at least five different people, or groups of people, were responsible for writing The Torah. Analysis shows that there are two versions of many events (the Creation, the flood, Abraham, etc.) and two names are given to the creative power (God and Yahweh). It’s as if someone has taken several versions of the same story and put them together into one book. Who, when and why, are a matter of debate.

2. People’s ages

No single calendar was in universal use until approximately 500 BCE when the solar calendar became more widely accepted. Previously, at least two other systems had been widely used, the most frequent being the lunar calendar consisting of periods of 30 days. If one were using the lunar calendar and were reported to be 900 years of age, they would, in reality, have been 900 divided by 12, or approximately 75, by today’s reckoning.

Another system widely used was the equinoctial or seasonal form of measurement. This explains how someone reported to be 200 was, in fact, 50 (200 divided by the four seasons of the solar calendar). Accordingly, when considering people’s ages in the Old Testament, the numbers should be divided by either 12 or 4, depending on their context.

3. Numbers

The numerical numbers which occur frequently in the Old Testament are 7, 40 and 10,000. Metaphysically, 7 signifies completeness while 40 is used to indicate the length of time it takes to complete or prepare for something. Moses, Elijah and Noah, for example, all had 40 days to prepare themselves spiritually for what they were about to accomplish. The number 10,000 is often used to describe an excessive or unlimited amount.

4. Geographical names

Assyria. Assyria existed between 1,800-600 BCE. At the height of its power, it included much of what we now call the Middle East. Its capital was Nineveh which is on the banks of the River Tigris opposite present-day Mosul.

Canaan. This was the strip of land lying between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea and is referred to in the Old Testament as the Promised Land of the Israelites. Over time it expanded and became known as Palestine.

Mesopotamia. The alluvial plains lying between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in present day Iraq constituted this ancient land. The cities of Babylon, Sumer and Akkad were located here.

Palestine. In Old Testament times, Palestine was the name given to the combined kingdoms of Israel and Judaea. Israel was the Northern Province with Hebron as its main city. The southern province was Judaea (also spelled Judea or Judah). Its capital city was Samaria. Jerusalem was made capital of the United Kingdoms of Israel and Judah around 1000 BCE. The modern State of Israel established in the same location in 1948.

5. The people

Israelites. In Biblical times these were the people who dwelled in the kingdom of Israel in the northern part of Palestine.

Judeans. The southern inhabitants of Palestine.

Moabites. To the southeast of Palestine lay the land of Moab which was named after Lot’s son. This is where the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were located.

Philistines. Originally, the Philistines were sea people who probably came from Crete and/or other Greek Islands to settle in Canaan. The name Palestine derives from them. Throughout the Old Testament they are recorded as being a constant thorn in the side of the Israelites.

Phoenicians. To the north of Palestine lay Phoenicia. Today this is southern Syria and the coastal nation of Lebanon where the historical cities of Tyre and Sidon are situated.

Neil A. Mence

London, England

GENESIS

THE CREATION

(Manifestation)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void and darkness was upon the face of the deep ….and God said: ‘Let there be light’.

(Genesis 1:1-3)

THE STORY

In Genesis, the creation story appears twice and it’s worth noting that the actions in each are in a different order. In Genesis 1, God first created plants followed by animals, then man and woman. In Genesis 2, on the other hand, we’re told that God created man first, then plants, animals and finally woman, in that order. This is but one example of how the works of different authors have been combined into the one text we now know as the Old Testament.

A METAPHYSICAL INTERPRETATION

In interpreting the creation allegory, five elements of Genesis 1 are worth considering:

- the first five words, “In the beginning God created”,

- the statement that the earth was without form,

- the spoken word: God said “let there be…”,

- the claim that God rested, and

- the use of the number 7.

Metaphysically, the word “God” is used to denote the universal creative power out of which everything that is, has been, or ever will be, is formed. It’s the All-ness, Whole-ness, or Is-ness that is the source of everything, regardless of whether we name it ‘past’, ‘present’ or ‘future’.

If there is only the one energy or power, which we call God (or Its alternative names such as Spirit, One, universal law, Divine Mind, life, etc.), then it follows that everything has been produced out of this One and so must contain the same attributes or nature of the original. Just as the wave can never be separated from the ocean, an individual expression of the One can never be separated from its source.

Everything is created through an orderly process – thought starts the process (“in the beginning”) to bring the invisible (“without form”) into manifestation (with form). God (each of us as individualised expressions or extensions of the One) creates through our spoken word or thought (“Let there be …. “). Our believing attitudes and feelings of achievement spur on the procedure. That is, in a nutshell, the creative process.

The number 7 is a mystical symbol meaning the length of time taken to complete something. In today’s parlance we use phrases such as, ‘for as long as it takes’, to convey the same idea. So after doing everything we can on the visible plane, we rest (“the seventh day”) in absolute trust allowing the process to work.

The essential steps of affirmative prayer, or Spiritual Mind Treatment, can be seen in the creation story: recognition that there is only one creative source, realisation and release. Metaphysically it could be said that the creation story is all about rearranging universal ‘stuff’, or energy, to change it from one form to another. Through thought, which is direction (“Let there be …”) the formless is made visible.

We must remember that just as water, steam, ice and rain are different forms of the same “stuff”, so too is everything else in this omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscient universe we call Infinite Spirit. It may be visible to the senses, or it may not, but the fact remains that everything already is and comes into our three-dimensional world according to feeling and emotion behind the words we speak.

LESSONS FROM THIS ALLEGORY

The creation allegory highlights the main Law of life which is that whatever we think, feel and believe, is acted upon by something that is as certain and as real as the physical laws of gravity and electricity.

It follows, therefore, that we must continually be aware of our thoughts and actions and must understand that what appears on the external is a reflection of our consciousness which acts as a magnet, attracting (manifesting) only that which is like itself.

Once we realise what causes our conditions we can change the cause by speaking a different word, thereby changing that condition to something more aligned with what we truly desire to experience.

This central message of cause and effect has been stated time and again throughout literature and has given rise to well-known sayings such as:

- It is done unto you as you believe.

- Thoughts become the things thought about all day.

- We always reap what we sow.

- What goes around comes around.

When we know we are one with the Infinite, we know that in Truth we are whole, complete and perfect. Our believing spoken word is our announcement of our understanding of this Truth.

Each moment is a new beginning; each moment is an opportunity to express and to experience the result of our divinity through choice. At any moment we have the power to create, to bring things into manifestation. We do this through our silent or audibly expressed word of belief and then rest in complete confidence that it is done by universal law.

ADAM AND EVE

(Duality)

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened and they knew that they were naked. (Genesis 3:6-7)

THE STORY

The Adam and Eve allegory follows the second version of the creation story (Genesis 2) wherein man is made first, then plants, animals and then woman.

Genesis 3 relates the story of a serpent urging Eve to eat fruit from the trees. She reminds the serpent that, “we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden’.”

We then learn how she ate from what has become known as the ‘forbidden tree’, and coerced Adam into doing the same. “Then their eyes “were opened and they knew they were naked.” Eve tells God that they ate the forbidden fruit because, “the serpent beguiled me”, and so they were both banished from the garden knowing both good and evil.

A METAPHYSICAL INTERPRETATION

This allegory has several interesting elements – a serpent, a garden with a forbidden tree laden with fruit, eyes being opened, knowledge of good and evil, and expulsion from the garden.

Metaphysically, a garden represents our consciousness which is the place where, through our choices, all possibilities for growth reside. Trees are the links, or vibrations, between our thoughts and the Divine source, while fruit represents the results of those thoughts. A serpent is our ego, or that part of our sense consciousness that reacts to appearances and thinks it knows best.

We are constantly dwelling in a garden, but what kind of garden is it? Where is our consciousness? That’s where individual choice comes in. We can stay centred in the knowledge of the presence and power of the One eternal Spirit knowing that all is good and that we are expressing as individualisations of that good, or we can allow our sense consciousness to take control (“delight to the eyes”) and so dwell in what some call a negative state, or state of separation.

Our gardens are watered and cultivated by the thoughts we put in them. Positive and uplifting affirmations of truth ensure a harmonious and happy existence. Opposite thoughts result in separation from the good that is ours by Divine right. This is what is meant in Genesis 3:3 where God tells Adam to stay away from the tree where the fruit contains knowledge of good and evil. “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden; neither shall you touch it, lest you die.”

In other words, this tree of knowledge represents our discerning faculty and if we let our mind stray from the straight line of Truth which says God the good is all there is, we experience separation (evil). When we live in separation we ‘die’ to the truth that we are already whole, complete, perfect and free.

To understand this allegory we first accept that Adam represents the movement of thought. As spiritual beings our thought is God-centred and knows only itself. It is when we wander from the Truth of who we are, when we start asking why, how, when, etc. that our emotions (Eve) take control and start telling us what to do.

The serpent, which represents our ego-based self, urges us to do things (e.g. take the fruit) that are not spirit-based. And since ego always looks for reinforcements to back up its claims, the serpent is aided and abetted by emotion and feeling (Eve).

The fruit, or the results of our thoughts, may be good or evil. When we make ‘wrong’ choices our eyes are opened because we understand that we no longer dwell in the Kingdom of God or are living a spiritual life. As a result, we feel naked and unprotected from anything that is happening around us.

LESSONS FROM THIS ALLEGORY

Our job is to express God, the Divine ideal. When we are aligned in consciousness with Spirit and know ourselves as perfect, we express perfection.

But when things happen in the outer world that do not have the appearance of what we call ‘perfect’, it’s an indication that we have been thinking in terms of duality – good and bad, positive and negative, etc., and have attracted unwanted things or situations into our lives. We need to realign our thoughts, to step back into the consciousness of knowing that, “God the good is all there is and, since I am an expression of the One, my life is perfect in every way.”

When realignment is needed we first turn our attention to our breathing and inhale and exhale deeply and slowly for several minutes. As we breathe in we imagine that we are breathing in love and peace and joy. When we exhale we visualise all tension, fear and negativity leaving the body and going back to its native nothingness.

As we begin to feel calmer and more relaxed, we release whatever has disturbed us by blessing it and affirming the right outcome. As we continue doing this we return to the Adam state and once again find ourselves peacefully residing in the garden of good (the Garden of Eden).

CAIN AND ABEL

(Separation)

Cain said to his brother: ‘Let us go out to the field’. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain: ‘Where is Abel your brother?’ Cain replied:’ I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?’

(Genesis 4:8-9

THE STORY

This is the well-known Biblical story about Adam and Eve’s two sons – Cain and Abel. Cain, the eldest son, killed his brother Abel and then denied all knowledge of the deed.

A METAPHYSICAL INTERPRETATION

Metaphysically Cain and Abel represent the two sides of our consciousness – Abel is the mental, thinking, breathing self while Cain symbolises the physical, grasping self which is always striving to get hold of and to possess. The ‘field’ is the external world in which all activity occurs – that place where we put into practice what we learn in meditation and through prayer.

Selfishness is a negative trait wherein someone erroneously believes they are separate from their true self and so must fight to possess something. When the physical (Cain) exerts its power and presence, the more gentle attributes of our thinking nature (Abel) are repressed or killed.

What this allegory tells us is that when selfishness takes control, life becomes meaningless; we are to all intent and purpose dead because the truth of who we really are (beautiful spiritual beings) has been diminished.

Without a conscious connection to our true spiritual essence we are virtual automatons – machines operating on automatic without that inner spark of Divinity. In truth, that spark is always there but unless we acknowledge and use it, we are not fulfilled.

Operating in a selfish state of mind, killing our link to Abel -- that breath of life used by our mental consciousness, we end up miserable and at the mercy of whatever is happening around us.

“Am I my brother’s keeper?” is one of the most frequently quoted retorts of all time. It implies separation and non-compliance with the metaphysical teaching that there is only one – one power, one mind, one presence and that in this oneness there is only perfection which cannot know imperfection or separation. Accordingly, we can never be separated from one another. Truly, what we do to another, we do to ourselves.

In this allegory Cain (the selfish physical) is denying Abel (the mental) when he says he doesn’t know where Abel is.

When we are living a physical or material-based life we are disconnected from our true self. Selfishness is devoid of love and therefore the caring, nurturing qualities of life are missing in our relationships. When we become so wrapped up in our own life we have cut the spiritual cord that binds us to one another and so we become separate from God and the expressions of God.

LESSONS FROM THIS ALLEGORY

Whenever our mind wanders from the truth of who we really are and stays in the material realm, we suffer. Anxiety, depression and illnesses of all types occur when we live in a state of separation.

The next time you become aware that your pulse is racing, or when you are thinking in terms of me-me-me, or expressing a state of consciousness less than perfect, ask yourself, ‘What have I denied? How have I cut myself off from the flow of Spirit?’

When personal action resolves that separation, Cain and Abel are brothers again (i.e. our mental and physical consciousness’s are in agreement with the Truth that there is only one life which is all good and that it is our life NOW).

NOAH’S ARK AND THE FLOOD

(Balance)

And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh for the earth is filled with violence through them. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it.

(Genesis 6:13-14)

THE MAIN CHARACTERS

No other story of the Hebrew Testament has been as widely reported as that of Noah and The Flood; it’s estimated that over 500 versions of the story exist within the folklore of different nations and tribes around the world. As well, there is ample geological and archaeological evidence on all five continents that this is one Biblical story that definitely did happen approximately 1,400 BCE – almost 3,500 years ago.

Most of these stories and legends tell of the sky being lit up, a deluge and then a blackened sky which blotted out the sun for many days or months before the flood waters finally receded.

Scientists today believe this was the result of a disaster such as the eruption of the Santorini Volcano and the subsequent destruction of Minoan Civilisation around 1,450 BCE, or a comet (possibly Encke-Oljato) hitting the earth at this time (the blaze across the sky), setting off a chain reaction of volcanoes erupting (thus blackening the sky) and tsunamis which flooded most of the then-known world. The resulting catastrophe would have lasted for a long period of time -- possibly many months, if not years.

It should also be noted that the Genesis account of the flood is another example of how two versions of the same story have been woven together into one text. Genesis 6:19 states that two (one male and one female) of every type of animal and bird should be taken into the ark. Genesis 7:2, on the other hand, calls for seven pairs of all clean animals (male and female) as well as one pair of all animals that are not clean, as well as seven pairs of all birds, to be taken aboard.

THE STORY

When considering the metaphysical interpretation of this allegory there are seven themes to consider:

- Noah’s state of mind,

- directions to build an ark and to gather livestock,

- the warning that in seven days it would rain for 40 days and nights (

Genesis 7:4

),

- the flooding,

- the ark coming to rest on the mountains of Ararat on the 17

th

day of the 7

th

month (

Genesis 8:4

),

- the waters receding and the tops of mountains being seen on the first day of the 10

th

month (

Genesis 8:5

),

- sending a raven and then a dove which returned holding a fresh twig in its beak.

A METAPHYSICAL INTERPRETATION

In many respects, the Flood allegory is like the resurrection story of the New Testament. Inherently we know that since we are made in the image and likeness of God, that we are always whole, complete and perfect. We go astray, so to speak, by taking in conflicting thoughts (two of everything – the positive and the negative). But when we realign our thoughts and cleanse them of error thinking, we are again baptised in the waters of life which is the ever-present Divine flow in which we live, move and have our being.

We know our consciousness is again uplifted when we feel a sense of peace and oneness which is symbolised in the allegory by the dove (peace) returning with a green twig (a new start). Often, however, it takes time and effort to reach this stage. Our affirmations must have conviction; they must be based in the belief that all things are possible through the One power and the One presence. Without conviction, affirmations are like ravens – they fly away into nothingness, never to return.

It is when we completely surrender (i.e. have the peace of “knowing” which is symbolised by the dove) that our desires are made manifest.

In seeking a metaphysical interpretation of this allegory we start with the knowledge that water (i.e. the flood) is a cleansing and purifying agent. The first question to ask therefore is, “Who or what is being purified, and why?”

Metaphysically, Noah represents a state of equilibrium and tranquillity while his three sons represent the three states of mind, or the three levels of thought. Shem stands for the spiritual aspects, while Ham represents the physical and Japheth signifies the reasoning state of mind. Taken together they depict our consciousness.

Starting at Genesis 6:11 we read that, “the earth was corrupt in God’s sight.” Essentially this means that when we think in terms of separation we frequently attract negative and corrupting influences.

We take all kinds of thoughts (two-by-two) into our mind (the ark). As we grow in spiritual awareness we actively choose to become more discerning in our thinking (cleanse or flood out negative thinking) so that our habitual thoughts are those of Wholeness. The flood represents the baptism or renewal of Spirit that we must go through to bring our three levels of mental activity (Shem, Ham and Japheth) into alignment or equilibrium (Noah).

As in many parts of the Hebrew Testament, the mystical numbers of 7 and 40 are used frequently. Seven means the length of time it takes to complete something while 40 is a general figure used to denote a very long time.

Genesis 7:17-20 is a good example to look at. We are told that the waters increased and bore the ark up for 40 days. In a metaphysical context the interpretation is that the internal cleansing process can go on for a very long time. During that time we become aware of increased internal spiritual activity and the influx of Divine Ideas (we are carried up). We rise above mountains (the barriers in our consciousness that cause separation from an awareness of Oneness).

Then, when “all the flesh died that moved upon the earth” (Genesis 7:21), we know that all false ideas have been erased from our habitual thinking and we rest in a state of Spiritual Oneness.

This idea is reinforced in Genesis 8:16 when the admonition is given to, “Go forth from the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives. Bring forth with you every living thing that is with you of all flesh …. that they may breed abundantly on the earth and be fruitful and multiply upon the earth.”

In other words, once we have erased any negative thoughts (i.e. have become more spiritually discerning) our positive thoughts increase rapidly and bountifully and we live in that enlightened state of Oneness which some call heaven.

The overarching metaphysical significance of the Flood allegory is that when we live in a consciousness of Wholeness and follow Divine intuition we will never be flooded by negative conditions.

LESSONS FROM THIS ALLEGORY

When things seem to ‘go wrong’ it’s generally an indication that we are using Divine Law in the wrong way. To get back on track our thoughts need to be purified so that we attract only good.

For example, let’s suppose that we are suffering from the appearance of financial lack. If such is the case we need to realign our thoughts with the truth that since God is all there is, and we are a perfect reflection of the whole, then we are abundantly prospered in Spirit. By holding to that belief, feeling it, speaking it, seeing and acting as though it were true, we align our consciousness with abundance and we express on the physical that which we believe.

The affirmation to use in such instances is, “I am infinite supply, now and always.”

THE TOWER OF BABEL

(Confusion)

On a plain in the land of Shinar, they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its tops in the heavens and let us make a name for ourselves…. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower and said, ‘behold, they are one people and they all have one language …… let us go down and confuse their language that they might not understand one another’s speech. So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth and they left off building the city. Its name was called Babel because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth.” (Genesis 11:1-9)

The New Oxford Dictionary of English3 defines babel as, “a confused noise made by a number of voices; a confused situation.”

So what brings about a confused situation? Is this not what happens in life when our thinking and actions have neither focus nor direction? Frequently, when we go barging into a situation and try to do things ourselves without reference to intuition or spiritual guidance it’s a sure sign that we’re on some type of ego trip. In such instances we feel that we know best. ‘Ego’ is the key word here and that is what the Tower of Babel allegory is all about.

THE STORY

On the surface the story is about a group of people moving from the east and settling on a plain between what we today know as the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. There they attempted to reach heaven by building a tower in the hope that they would eventually get so high that they would not only be face- to-face with God, but that they would also be equal with God.

Unfortunately for them, God thought they were getting too bold so knocked the tower down, scrambled the one common language they all had and dispersed them to different parts of the world, thus giving birth to the various languages we have today.

For some, this act explains the existence of a common ancestral language. Although it is an acknowledged fact that languages have developed by branching from each other (modern European languages are a case-in-point), most linguistic experts believe this happened thousands of years before the Tower of Babel story.

Did the Tower of Babel ever exist? Over 5,000 years ago each town in what is now called the Middle East had a tradition of building a stepped pyramid, or ziggurat, within its walls. These pyramids honoured specific gods and archaeological evidence suggests that within Babylon there was a tower which could be the origin of the story. It was built and rebuilt many times and during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE) it reached a height of 295 feet -- an incredible height for any man-made built structure back then.

It’s worth noting that because the Tigris-Euphrates delta lacked stone, construction was made of bricks made by mixing chopped straw with clay which, when dried by the sun, were joined to other bricks with bitumen brought in from the east.

A METAPHYSICAL INTERPRETATION

It’s significant that these events are not only placed early in the Book of Genesis (which literally means ‘in the beginning’, ‘the birth’, or ‘the start’), but that the action is placed in the Tigris-Euphrates delta which has often been called the Cradle of Civilisation.

We have seven different pieces of information to assist us in unravelling the meaning of the allegory:

In Verse 2 we are told that men migrated from the east. In metaphysical terms the east is generally interpreted as one’s inner consciousness.

The Tower of Babel allegory is set on the plain of Shinar. Reputedly, this was the plain through which the region’s two main rivers flowed and is also the plain on which the cities of Babylon and Babel were built. Since the plain is divided by two major rivers, Shinar can be thought of as representing a divided mind. And as we know from personal experience, a divided mind indicates a belief in two powers – a power of good and a power of evil. Such thinking usually results in confusion on the external level.

After settling in the land of Shinar the men decided to make bricks (instead of stone) and to use bitumen (instead of mortar) to build a city. As any builder will advise, bricks and bitumen are more likely than stone or mortar to shatter or crumble.

In this analogy we see a similarity with the parable of Jesus in which he advised against building a foundation on sand, rather than on rock.

Verse 4 says, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens.”

Heaven, as we know, is not a place to go to but a state of consciousness. It’s that state of joy, peace and harmony we reach when we are consciously one with the indwelling Spirit which permeates everything in its entirety at all times. Metaphysically we can take this phrase to mean that the builders were looking outside of themselves in an attempt to reach a higher level of consciousness. In a consciousness of separation they were trying to reach God in the outer, rather than by communing within.

The verse continues with “…and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.”

It is the person totally lacking in self-esteem who, separated in thought from his or her authentic self, seeks recognition in the external world. In this part of the narrative the builders are living in the ego world believing that it is through their individual activities and by their own power that they can achieve results.

The quotes about the Lord that are found in Verses 5-7 are in fact references to Divine Law, the Law of Cause and Effect, which says that effect is inherent in the cause. This suggests that whatever we put out we get back and so the reference to the Lord coming down is another way of stating the natural outworking of the Law of Cause and Effect.

“The law of God is the orderly working out of the principle of Being, or the Divine ideals, into manifestation throughout creation.”4

Finally we are given a name for the tower (Babel) and are told that the Lord (i.e. Law) confused everyone’s language and then scattered them over the earth.

In essence, the Tower of Babel story tells us what happens when we lose track of what Divine Law is all about and try to do things ourselves, letting ego take control. Let’s remember, however, that the word “Lord”, as used in the Old Testament, refers to Divine Law -- a process, a principle, which incorporates three steps: mind, idea, and manifestation.

Mind is the energy or vibration that exists in all places at all times and encompasses everything that is, has been, or ever will be, both in the visible and invisible. An idea planted in this Mind is acted upon by energy to bring into manifestation a result which perfectly reflects the idea. Religionists may call this God, while metaphysicians may call it Spirit and philosophers may refer to it as reality while science uses the word ‘energy’. Whatever name one applies, it is this principle that has given rise to the often quoted adage, “Thoughts are things.”

The story of the Tower of Babel is, therefore, about a man (although the Biblical text refers to men, plural) who turns away from his inner contact with the creative source (i.e. he came from the east) and, as a result enters into a state of divided thinking (resides on the Plain of Shinar). Readers will see that there are many parallels between this story and the parable of the Prodigal Son, as related in the New Testament.