Abuse is defined as the systematic pattern of behaviors in a relationship that are used to gain and/or maintain power and control over another.
Usually people think in terms of “do they hit me?”- but abuse includes psychological control by threatening a persons well being, or to take away the basic “food, clothing, shelter, safety” needed for survival.
Deuteronomy 28 is a list of promises and threats Yahweh levels at his followers. The promises are wild and lavish, and completely improbable. Everyone will be rich, no one will be sick, every enemy will be defeated, everyone will be drinking free bubble up and eating that rainbow stew, etc. The list of threats is equally lavish--disease, poverty, war, slavery, death, torture, etc. etc. An entire book of laws and stipulations follows it. (Later the apostle Paul explains this was kind of a joke, meant to show us that we can NEVER obey all the law, and even if we did, it could not give us righteousness. And then, because the original set of threats was not severe enough, eternal damnation is added to the list.)
A casual look at the Old Testament will show Yaweh is not bluffing. Disease, death, enemy attacks, and slavery abound.
At one point he gets annoyed at the Israelites because after wandering around in the desert eating the same damn food everyday, they start to get a little cranky. So he sends them a flock of tainted quail, and a fuck-ton of nomadic jews drop dead. (Numbers 11)
Think about this in human terms. You are married to a spouse who makes you and your children eat bread and honey every single day. At first it aint bad- Hey, its bread and honey. After about sixteen months it’s the most loathsome thing you can possibly think of to eat. (The kids have started eating paste and crayons.) So you suggest that perhaps it is time to go out to eat and try something new.
Your request is ignored, and more honey and bread appears. (There are now only three crayons left, the paste is gone, and the children are chewing the hell out of your leather shoes.) You tell him/her plainly that this is getting old, and you just need something different to eat. He/she says, “Okay, fine!”
You feel apprehensive at the tone of voice, but are so relieved at getting to eat something different you don’t care. The smell of roasted pheasant fills the dining room, the children stop chewing on your shoes, and you all gather at the table with tears of relief. Your spouse is taciturn, but places a feast on the table worthy of any holiday. After six months of bread and honey you and the children go into an ape-shit feeding frenzy.
Suddenly you don’t feel well. The room starts spinning. Then you loose consciousness and fall into the gravy. Two days later you wake up in the hospital and find out your spouse had poisoned the meal-- angry because you did not appreciate his/her loving provision of bread and honey. You learn that your children are dead. They were too small to survive the poisoning.
Do you (A) realize what a bad person you were to take your spouse for granted, and apologize, admitting that he/she is completely justified to murder your children, you have learned your lesson, and are more in love with them than ever…
Or (B) Divorce the crazy bitch/asshole and press charges of murder/attempted murder?
(Heres a hint, if you said A, please seek professional help ASAP, or visit the nearest Christian church, you'll fit right in.)
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