beanpie

"AS" vs "IN". A distinct difference...

Since sharing some of what I have been taught, regarding the
apearance of God, as a human, in the Bible, I have recv'd many e-
mails. Some attempt to argue that God is a spirit only. Some admit
that Genesiis 18, refers to God as a man. While some do not actually
state that Gen. 18 refers to God as a man. They do state that God can
appear as a human. They base this belief on the supposed fact that
God appeared as a cloud or the most used example, God appeared to
Moses as a burning bush.

I nodded in agreement when I read or heard these things. But, I had
the feeling that something was not right. I awoke this morning, with
a strong urge to research this. So, I got out my copy, of the Bible.
Not suprisingly, my supicions were, indeed, correct. The Bible does
not say that God appeared as a cloud or as a burning bush. This is a
fallacy, we have been taught to believe.
The Bible actually says the following...

9: And the LORD said to Moses, "Lo, I am coming to you in a thick
cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also
believe you for ever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the
LORD.
EXODUS 19 ( GOD APPEARS IN A THICK CLOUD, SO THE PEOPLE CAN HEAR HIM.
HOW IS HE COMMUNICATING WITH MOSES? WHY MUST THE PEOPLE BE NEAR, TO
HEAR GOD SPEAK WITH MOSES? DO SPIRITS HAVE THE ABILITY TO "SPEAK" AND
BE "HEARD", WITHOUT A BASE? THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED.)

2: And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out
of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and lo, the bush was burning,
yet it was not consumed.
EXODUS 3 ( It is interesting to note, the angel of the LORD, is said
to have appeared, in the flame. But this is not what I wish to
ultimately point out.)
Now, is a good time to define some of the key words, so we can have a
clear understanding, of what the Bible is actually saying, and not
saying...

As (Page: 87) ( NOT USED IN THESE VERSES )
As (#), adv. &q conj. [OE. as, als, alse, also, al swa, AS. eal
sw&qamacr;, lit. all so; hence, quite so, quite as: cf. G. als as,
than, also so, then. See Also.]
1. Denoting equality or likeness in kind, degree, or manner; like;
similar to; in the same manner with or in which; in accordance with;
in proportion to; to the extent or degree in which or to which;
equally; no less than; as, ye shall be as gods, knowing good and
evil; you will reap as you sow; do as you are bidden.

In (Page: 740)
In, prep. [AS. in; akin to D. &q G. in, Icel. &qimacr;, Sw. &q Dan.
i, OIr. &q L. in, Gr. . . Cf. 1st In-, Inn.] The specific
signification of in is situation or place with respect to
surrounding, environment, encompassment, etc. It is used with verbs
signifying being, resting, or moving within limits, or within
circumstances or conditions of any kind conceived of as limiting,
confining, or investing, either wholly or in part. In its different
applications, it approaches some of the meanings of, and sometimes is
interchangeable with, within, into, on, at, of, and among. It is
used: --
1. With reference to space or place; as, he lives in Boston; he
traveled in Italy; castles in the air.
The babe lying in a manger. Luke ii. 16.
Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west. Shak.
Situated in the forty-first degree of latitude. Gibbon.
Matter for censure in every page. Macaulay.

Appear (Page: 71)
Ap*pear" (#), v. i. [imp. &q p. p. Appeared (#); p. pr. &q vb. n.
Appearing.] [OE. apperen, aperen, OF. aparoir, F. apparoir, fr. L.
apparre to appear + parreto come forth, to be visible; prob. from the
same root as parre to produce. Cf. Apparent, Parent, Peer, v. i.]
1. To come or be in sight; to be in view; to become visible.
And God . . . said, Let . . . the dry land appear. Gen. i. 9.

SPIRIT ( NOT USED IN THESE VERSES )
. Life, or living substance, considered independently of corporeal
existence; an intelligence conceived of apart from any physical
organization or embodiment; vital essence, force, or energy, as
distinct from matter. 3
4. The intelligent, immaterial and immortal part of man; the soul, in
distinction from the body in which it resides; the agent or subject
of vital and spiritual functions, whether spiritual or material.
There is a spirit in man; and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth
them understanding. Job xxxii. 8.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is
dead also. James ii. 26.
Spirit is a substance wherein thinking, knowing, doubting, and a
power of moving, do subsist. Locke.
5. Specifically, a disembodied soul; the human soul after it has left
the body.
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit
shall return unto God who gave it. Eccl. xii. 7.
Ye gentle spirits far away, With whom we shared the cup of grace.
Keble.
6. Any supernatural being, good or bad; an apparition; a specter; a
ghost; also, sometimes, a sprite,; a fairy; an elf.
Whilst young, preserve his tender mind from all impressions of
spirits and goblins in the dark. Locke.


9: And the LORD said to Moses, "Lo, I am coming to you in a thick
cloud,

God here states tht He is coming in a thick cloud of smoke, not as a
thick cloud of smoke. According to the dictionarie's definition of
the word "in", God must have a form. According to the dictionary
definition of the word "spirit", it does not have the ability
to "appear", without a base.

2: And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out
of the midst of a bush;
The previous is very clear, when one considers the meaning of the
words.

So, the question is not whether God "appeared" or not. The question
is, in what "form", did He and His angel appear?

Remember, they did not "appear" as these things, they appeared in
them.

COMMENTS WELCOME. Sol