Jewish folks? please help me to understand the concept of God in the judaism?

Question

Hi.. I don't understand the Hebrew Bible.. GOD in the torah,.. he demanded sacrifices and he put horrible punishments.. well they are cruel for us, now well you read the prophets, God seems to be more merciful.. in the sense God told you. all nations will come to sion to woshirp him..and God will forgive the sinner and I don't remember the verse but a rabbi told me God doesnt want the death of the sinner. he wants the sinner live and ask for merciful.. that's the reason they don't apply the punishments.. so tell me are there different Gods in the torah and Prophets?

Answer 1

To Answer your question directly, No.  The G-d in the Torah and the G-d in the book of Prophets is the same G-d.  He is one and only one.  If you truly want to understand some of the things you ask, the typical person of Jewish faith will not be able to answer your question to your satisfaction.  I will not attempt to understand exactly what you are asking or what you are trying to  get from your further understanding of the Tanakh.  I can only recommend that you should find a rabbi and make an appointment with him.  Very important that you make an appointment.  This will allow you to sit down and speak with him about anything you wish to know.  A rabbi has studied the Torah and will be better equipt to answer this, and any other question.  If you live in America, you can email me which city you live in and I should be able to give you a location or a phone number of someone who can help further.  

Good luck to your pursuit of knowledge.

edit --

  Alas, I do not know enough about the Jewish Community in Mexico to direct to you the answers you seek.  My apologies.  I can only tell you that if you wish to learn more, then you go away from Yahoo answers group and find a Rabbi to speak with.  I promise you, he will be able to answer everything you want to know to your satisfaction.  

Shalom to you and Buena suerte.

edit 2 -- I love the way I get thumbs down for actually answering the question and giving further advice on how to expand his knowledge, while people like Logic get thumbs up for spewing hate speech and slanderous remarks.  Further evidence what kind of people are actually on these boards.  

Tell you what.  Email me with a specific question if you wish and I will go to my rabbi and give you the word for word answer he gives me.  I would be more than willing to do that for you if you can not find the answer elsewhere.  Just give me the word.

Answer 2

If one believed that a blood sacrifice was necessary before God would forgive you, then even one example where God forgave without a blood sacrifice would prove that this idea is UnBiblical. There are many such examples, but the most interesting is found in the Book of Leviticus. The reason this is so interesting is that it comes right in the middle of the discussion of sin sacrifices, which is found in the first chapters. In Leviticus 5:11-13, it states, "If, however, he cannot afford two doves or two young pigeons, he is to bring as an offering for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering." One can also see that one does not need a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins in the Book of Jonah 3:10. There, the Bible simply states that God saw the works of the people of Ninevah. Specifically it says that the works God saw were that they stopped doing evil, and so God forgave them. There are plenty of other examples, and the idea that one needs a blood sacrifice for the forgiveness of sins is UnBiblical.

Answer 3

God is one. Too bad most here are unable to live up to their religion. They want to spread hate and lies,that does not fit into any religion. I have seen very few religious people in this section,they are unable to love their fellow man,hate is all they show and i guess hate is all they know. I bet no one can show me where hate and lies are accepted in their religion and even though that is what they show they think God will still think they are good.

Answer 4

Hi One More Chance,

I am very religious and also from Mexico (Chihuahua) I am third generation in America.  Also very busy so I am glad I had opportunity to respond to your question.

You got some very good answers already from the Jewish respondents and please ignore some of the others as they talk too much politics here sometimes.

The answer to your question I think I will expand a bit on Shay's response.

You are looking at aspects of G-d and trying to separate one aspect from another.  In one instance you say He is judging and another that He is merciful.  G-d has many aspects of which cannot be divided. G-d is One.

"And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed: "Lord, Lord, benevolent G‑d, Who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth, preserving loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity, rebellion and sin, and He cleanses"...Exodus 34

In all aspects of Judaism we have examples of how we combine the aspects of G-d into One when we worship from daily prayers to Rosh Hashana to Passover services. The different aspects of G-d can also be found in His Names.

It is different perspectives of G-d for different situations.  One person can look at one example and see mercy.  Another sees the compassion. Another sees His mighty power. Another sees His shield.

So keep in mind that G-d is One and not take one perspective to compare to another. You are just used to looking at things from Catolico perspective to divide up I like to say to spanish speakers is that El Dio es Uno no tres!  I can say that now there is no more Spanish Inquisition!  *smile*  It has not always been so easy for our people.

Since you are in Mexico and there are not alot of Rabbi there (what part of Mexico you from, email me if you want) then I suggest learn from books too there are alot with good information.  Also please please please feel free to ask these questions here or in R&S, as Israel is very much spiritual as she is physical place and you are always welcome to ask questions and learn.  Jewish people are very forgiving and understanding on all aspects of life that may pertain to you as we learned it from our G-d.

Hay orasion buena en Espanol nombre "Bendigamos" y tambien musica Judeo-Espanol Yasmine Levy.  Tengo su album "La Juderia"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBz7cFnRF...

Answer 5

No Comparison:  Whenever we think of God, we must be aware that we are exploring a mystery; and when we have exhausted our thought, we have moved but one small fraction closer to comprehending God.  Our lifetime is as a split second against the earth’s eight billion years.  We stand upon approximately two square feet in a universe that is described by a number with twenty-four ciphers in it.  We grow humble and begin to perceive that we are but specks of dust.

Such thoughts stir us greatly.  How, we wonder, can an individual stand on the hills and gaze at the stars, walk by the seashore and hear the endless pounding of the surf, look at a newborn infant and not understand that there is a God?  And what that God thinks of us is far more important than what we think of God.

To whom will you liken God?

And to what can you compare the Eternal?  Isaiah 40:18

The Jewish religion is solidly founded on belief in the unity of God.  The first commandment requires us to recognize God’s sovereignty.  ÃƒÂ¢Ã‚€ÂœI am the Lord your God … You shall have no other gods before Me.”  Every berakhah, blessing, begins with the traditional formula praising God as Ruler of the Universe.  There is no Jewish God, no Christian God, no Moslem God, for God is above and beyond all theologies.  There may be a Jewish, Christian, or Moslem approach, but these are merely ways to view God, to express feelings and thoughts.  It is our privilege, indeed it is our right, to worship as we see fit.

Tragically, tolerance has not always prevailed.  We Jews were the first people in history to fight (and die) for freedom of worship.  We must continue this fight to protect the vital principles that are part of our heritage – as Americans and as Jews.

“Hear O Israel: The Lord our God the Lord is One.”  Deuteronomy 6:4

Answer 6

god (the one god) demands that we follow his laws and that's it. his laws have many reasons but it is our task to follow the laws and that's that. the punishments are direct results of our not following the laws. in the prophets, the fate of the people is spelled out explicitly and these texts ALL work to guide us and teach us how to lead the life he wants us to lead -- learning to worship, obey and not sin.

Answer 7

It sounds like Allah that you're describing. The G-d of Israel does NOT require sacrifices...what He does require is that people be fair-minded while also being considerate of one another.

Answer 8

Judaism unlike Christianity does NOT believe that anyone who is not Jewish to be inferior in any way.  In fact Judaism teaches that non-Jews have 7 Noachide laws.  You can look up B'nei Noah on Wikipedia, but be sure to get all your advise from a competent religious Rabbi.

Answer 9

You aren't Christian either I see.

Try a Bible study course.  You can find them on line  or at your local churches.

You see the Hebrew Scrolls and the bible read the same in English.

Try taking a few minutes to ask God to come into your life.  When He does you won't be worried about whether He is Hebrew or American.  It just doesn''t matter.

God is all things without God there is nothing.

Answer 10

God in Judaism.

The basis of the Jewish concept of God can be derived from Rambam's thirteen principles of faith.

God exists.

The first line of the Torah (Hebrew Bible) reads, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." God is introduced as creator of the universe. No background information is needed as God's existence is a given. In Judaism, the world's existence is sufficient proof of God's existence.

God is one.

Belief in one God is a fundamental Jewish belief. The Shema, a central prayer, states "Hear, Israel: The Lord is God, The Lord is one." The idea of any other God is heretical for Jews. It follows that all prayer and praise can only be directed to God.

God is incorporeal.

In Judaism, God has no body, God is non-physical. Any mention of God's body is considered to be metaphorical. Any physical representation of God, such as the Golden Calf, is considered to be idolatry. As God has no body, He has no gender. While God is referred to in masculine terms and the Shechinah (Divine presence that fills the universe) is referred to in feminine terms, God is actually neither male nor female.

God is eternal.

God has no beginning and no end. He transcends time.

God is omnipresent.

God is everywhere. He has no spacial boundaries. He fills the universe and beyond. And He is always near.

God is omniscient.

God is all knowing. He knows all man’s thoughts and deeds, in the past, present and future.

God is omnipotent.

God is all-powerful. The only thing outside of God's control is man's free will.

God will reward good and punish bad.

God is just and merciful. Thus, people can atone for their sins. Via prayer, repentance and giving (tzedakah), people can find their way back into God's favor.

Answer 11

No, There is only one God.

God is good and merciful but at the same time he wants justice.

If God was merciful to criminals without making them pay then he wouldn't be good now would he?

Edit - James I gave you a thumbs up :)