Racheli's Investigative Series: Part II-
Signs of Predestination
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Question To Ponder: Predestination or Prophecy?
Before I begin onto the next section, I would like to ask you all a question. What does prophecy mean to you? Do you believe that prophecies pose as an obstacle to our free-will or are they merely a statement by God of what will happen in the future? If someone is given a fate before they are even born, is that fair? Even if it would be that way with free-will, why does anyone have the right to know what will happen beforehand? The fact that they know makes a difference! It causes the people who receive the prophecy to see things differently. While some prophecies are harmless (Angel to Sarah: You're having a baby), others could be potentially life-changing
Predestination in Blessings:
What is a blessing? Feel free to answer, anyone. A blessing from God to a person (through angel or whatever other mechanism) obviously has more hold than a blessing from a person to a person. But is a blessing the same thing as a promise, or is it just good words? What do you think?
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Let me think of the things that have bothered me:
-I think it all really started with this passuk:
Bereshit 25:23 And the LORD said unto her: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
What bothers me about this is that they weren't even born yet and Rivkah is already getting information on what they're going to be like when they're older- major information. Who is to say that all of this was going to happen? This really bothers me.
What do you guys think of this passuk?
-Additionally, when we were reading a commentary discussing the personality of Yaakov, he discussed how Yaakov is at fault for all of his questionable actions (dealing with his brother, tricking with his father) but that the reason that he is chosen is that he was supposed to be chosen but that he suffered the rest of his life for what he did. The thing is, I liked what he said about Yaakov being in the wrong, but I don't get why he would be chosen if he was the person who was at fault?
-Something else that has been bothering me recently is these brachot. What is the meaning to them? What right does Yitzchak have to say what will happen to his sons in the future? How can he say that it will be a see-saw relationship.
Am I the only one who is pretty frazzled with all of this stuff?
-I think it all really started with this passuk:
Bereshit 25:23 And the LORD said unto her: Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
What bothers me about this is that they weren't even born yet and Rivkah is already getting information on what they're going to be like when they're older- major information. Who is to say that all of this was going to happen? This really bothers me.
What do you guys think of this passuk?
-Additionally, when we were reading a commentary discussing the personality of Yaakov, he discussed how Yaakov is at fault for all of his questionable actions (dealing with his brother, tricking with his father) but that the reason that he is chosen is that he was supposed to be chosen but that he suffered the rest of his life for what he did. The thing is, I liked what he said about Yaakov being in the wrong, but I don't get why he would be chosen if he was the person who was at fault?
-Something else that has been bothering me recently is these brachot. What is the meaning to them? What right does Yitzchak have to say what will happen to his sons in the future? How can he say that it will be a see-saw relationship.
Am I the only one who is pretty frazzled with all of this stuff?
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