47: Ha'azinu
Okay. Time for you to climb the mountain.
The mountain? Already?
That's right.
But why?
Because I said so.
But why do you get to say so?
Because I'm the Creator, that's why.
But I don't want to climb the mountain.
You don't get a choice. It's time for you to go.
But what happens if I decide not to go? What then?
There's no "if". There's only "when". Which is now.
But what if you're wrong about that?
I'm not wrong about it.
How do you know?
Because I'm the Creator.
Maybe even the Creator makes mistakes.
No, that's not even remotely a possibility. Almost by definition.
By whose definition? I don't see a definition. Where is this written down?
In the physical laws of the universe. Stop being a smartass.
But you're not the boss of everything.
I am too.
Oh is that so?
That is, in fact, so.
Then what about Evil, huh?
What… What about Evil?
Why does it exist?
Because…
Uh huh. Let's hear it!
Look. I'm the Creator, so what I say goes.
Even all the Evil things that happen in the world? All yours?
If I say yes, are you going to be able to handle it?
Why would you choose to do that, though?
Do what? Make Evil exist?
Yes! It's terrible!
Yes, it is. It really, really is.
So why would you make such a thing?
Because nobody appreciates things for absolute value.
What do you mean, absolute value? The absolute value of what?
I mean, you don't know what Good is if the only measuring stick is Good Things.
I disagree. I think we'd know what Good is, intrinsically.
Well, you're wrong about that. Big time.
How would you know?
Because I'm your Creator. We covered this.
Oh, yeah. Okay, good point. On that one, I'll give it to you.
So believe me, the only way you know that Good is, you know, *good*…
…is by recognizing how far from Evil it is when we see it.
That's basically it, yeah. There's also a choice aspect.
You mean free will and all of that?
Yeah, but that's just a side effect.
Some would say it ought to be the whole point.
Eh. Maybe they're right. Honestly, it's been so long now…
Don't tell me you don't even remember why you put all this in motion.
Oh, I remember. I just wonder at my own motives, sometimes.
Are you second-guessing your own infallible self?
Yeah. It's my only actual flaw.
That's messed up.
Oh, it's not so bad eventually.
When you say 'eventually' how long do you mean?
I mean all time that has ever passed in the life of the universe, of course.
Yeah, I figured you say something like that, even if it's not true.
It's totally true. I would never lie to you.
Is that so?
Yep.
How do you test Evil?
What do you mean, test Evil?
Well, I mean lying, specifically. How did you test it?
I… wouldn't say that I… tested Evil. Or anything else, for that matter.
You just deployed straightaway? … Actually, that seems all too plausible.
Hey, man, there was a lot of stuff to get shipped in a very short time.
Okay, I will hand it to you. You did a pretty swell job.
You admit that I know my shit, yes?
Yeah, I do at that.
Then let's get back to business.
Which is what…? Oh, you're going to tell me…
…to go climb the mountain, that's right.
Did I do something wrong?
It's not about what you did right or wrong.
Isn't it?
It's just that it's time.
Okay.
------
For consideration: Deuteronomy 32:1 - 52; the problem of evil with an infallible God; it is time for Moses' life to come to an end
The mountain? Already?
That's right.
But why?
Because I said so.
But why do you get to say so?
Because I'm the Creator, that's why.
But I don't want to climb the mountain.
You don't get a choice. It's time for you to go.
But what happens if I decide not to go? What then?
There's no "if". There's only "when". Which is now.
But what if you're wrong about that?
I'm not wrong about it.
How do you know?
Because I'm the Creator.
Maybe even the Creator makes mistakes.
No, that's not even remotely a possibility. Almost by definition.
By whose definition? I don't see a definition. Where is this written down?
In the physical laws of the universe. Stop being a smartass.
But you're not the boss of everything.
I am too.
Oh is that so?
That is, in fact, so.
Then what about Evil, huh?
What… What about Evil?
Why does it exist?
Because…
Uh huh. Let's hear it!
Look. I'm the Creator, so what I say goes.
Even all the Evil things that happen in the world? All yours?
If I say yes, are you going to be able to handle it?
Why would you choose to do that, though?
Do what? Make Evil exist?
Yes! It's terrible!
Yes, it is. It really, really is.
So why would you make such a thing?
Because nobody appreciates things for absolute value.
What do you mean, absolute value? The absolute value of what?
I mean, you don't know what Good is if the only measuring stick is Good Things.
I disagree. I think we'd know what Good is, intrinsically.
Well, you're wrong about that. Big time.
How would you know?
Because I'm your Creator. We covered this.
Oh, yeah. Okay, good point. On that one, I'll give it to you.
So believe me, the only way you know that Good is, you know, *good*…
…is by recognizing how far from Evil it is when we see it.
That's basically it, yeah. There's also a choice aspect.
You mean free will and all of that?
Yeah, but that's just a side effect.
Some would say it ought to be the whole point.
Eh. Maybe they're right. Honestly, it's been so long now…
Don't tell me you don't even remember why you put all this in motion.
Oh, I remember. I just wonder at my own motives, sometimes.
Are you second-guessing your own infallible self?
Yeah. It's my only actual flaw.
That's messed up.
Oh, it's not so bad eventually.
When you say 'eventually' how long do you mean?
I mean all time that has ever passed in the life of the universe, of course.
Yeah, I figured you say something like that, even if it's not true.
It's totally true. I would never lie to you.
Is that so?
Yep.
How do you test Evil?
What do you mean, test Evil?
Well, I mean lying, specifically. How did you test it?
I… wouldn't say that I… tested Evil. Or anything else, for that matter.
You just deployed straightaway? … Actually, that seems all too plausible.
Hey, man, there was a lot of stuff to get shipped in a very short time.
Okay, I will hand it to you. You did a pretty swell job.
You admit that I know my shit, yes?
Yeah, I do at that.
Then let's get back to business.
Which is what…? Oh, you're going to tell me…
…to go climb the mountain, that's right.
Did I do something wrong?
It's not about what you did right or wrong.
Isn't it?
It's just that it's time.
Okay.
------
For consideration: Deuteronomy 32:1 - 52; the problem of evil with an infallible God; it is time for Moses' life to come to an end