God the extraterrestrial

 Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as we discover new insights and new perspectives from a very old book.

Exodus 24

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Some things stand out in Exodus 24.

First:

4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord.

[...]

7 Then he took the book of the covenant, and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

What was this book of the covenant? I suppose it was the previous four chapters of Exodus containing the LORD's statutes and proclamations.

Second:

9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was something like a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. 11 God did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; also they beheld God, and they ate and drank. 12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 

What strikes me is that the elders saw the "God of Israel" who has physical features such as a hand. In verse 12, however, the name reverts back to "the LORD" (Jehovah in the YLT). The names and manifestations of God remind me of extraterrestrial (or strange creature) sightings. Impossible to pin down (although in Genesis Jacob did literally pin down whoever that was who he pinned down). 

After six days Moses seems to disappear in a cloud on Mount Sinai, where he's gone forty days and forty nights. Clouds are water, and this reminds me of the 40 days and nights of the flood in Noah's time.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support!

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)