Friday, December 8, 2017

Isaiah 31:3 and Divine Embodiment


Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together. (Isa 31:3)

Commenting on this verse, Edward Watson in his book, Mormonism: The Faith of the Twenty First Century, wrote:

This verse doesn't mean God is a nonmaterial spirit since the context (starting in Isa 30: 1) shows he was reproving Israel to turning to Egypt for help instead of turning to God. He was comparing his strength to the strength of the Egyptians and the strength of their horses (31: 1). 'The contrast between "flesh" and "spirit" is one between weakness and strength and not God's ontological status. The Egyptians are weak whereas God is strong, therefore he will cause both the Egyptians and those who place their trust in them to fall (31:3). God himself will defend Jerusalem and compares himself to birds protecting their chicks (31:5) who will cause the Assyrians to flee in terror (31:8-9).

Supporting this interpretation of Isa 31:3 (that it is about the weakness of horses and armies in comparison to God, not a comment on the physiological natures thereof and the biblical authors rejecting divine embodiment) is Psa 20:7:

Some take pride in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

That the Bible teaches divine embodiment is rather clear. As one example, consider the evidence contained in my article:







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