The Presence and Influence of Gods

Throughout the first published works of literature, the presence and/or influence by Gods and Goddesses presents itself as a common topic. Whether the tale is derived from religious background or a folk tale from a civilization, each includes a story of mortals' trials of life with an authority of Gods and Goddesses for either guidance or challenge. The Gods present themselves as these all powerful forces that have a high control over the world and the mortals that live in it and within each writing, the characters experience situations that let the readers know that the Gods can use their powers in any manner may deem necessary on the mortals below. Some cases show that Gods can use their powers in a childish manner such as to prove a point that they have all the power and the mortals should aspire the imitate them as much as possible while remembering that they are only mortal. The need of showing possession creates the idea in the eyes of mortals, while Gods are a covenant partners and stern but loving 'parents', they can also be very dangerous in mortals' lives.

Previously stated, the presence of Gods has been seen in literature for centuries. One of the first pieces of published work the Bible, obviously shows a powerful influence of God to the mortals of the earth. In the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures Genesis, several of the tales exhibit a relationship between God and mortals. One scripture The Trials of Job, displays characteristics of God using his power in a dangerous manner for means of possession. In the beginnings lines, Job is described as a 'servant' in the relationship and although the term is not seen in the same connotation as how the term is used today, it is the first sign of Job being a possession to God (Hebrew Scriptures, 113). At the same time, the term 'servant' arrives again when describing God's first disaster to Job as his family, stock, and servants were killed (114). While the term of a current day 'servant' may relate for the relationship of Job and his servants, the same term could be used to describe Job being a servant to God. Job is seen as the 'perfect' servant for he not only loves God but also fears God as the same time. God appears to have a covenant promise that people will receive an earthy or heavenly inheritance if they behave well so in return of his perfection, Job is given a great life. At the same time, while God rewards his servants, he expects his servants to be appreciative of their good fortunes, for he does not want the mortals to stop fearing God as well. As long as they are grateful as well as scared of God's power, then God remains in full possession of the servants' lives. Satan on the other hand, tempts God to test Job's loyalty and see if Job only loves God for the sake of being rewarded. In return, Job ends up being a pawn in proving God's all power ownership of Job and everything in his life. God ends up testing Job to the limits of almost death just to prove that he is prime owner of mortals and they will always love, fear, and accept what God gives to them whether good or bad.

As mentioned earlier, one great aspect of the Hebrew Scriptures is that they have a parallel timeline with other tales from other cultures. One tale is particular is the Epic of Gilgamesh and the story of the Flood from Genesis in the Bible. While both of the stories tell the story of the flood sent down to earth for its wickedness differently, both in parallel exhibit a higher power of a God using displaying their position on how they should be viewed in dangerous manners. Each of the flood tales goes that a deity is very displeased with the mortals on earth below. In return for all the wickedness, the deity decides to flood the earth to wash away the evil. Both of the passages display how He can use the power in almost a childish manner to destroy all of mankind if seemed necessary.

God does not take into consideration of what the earth has produced from the time it was created and simply decides to prove a point of how angry God is at the world. He claims full possession of the world and everything the world contains, and so it is all in God position to decide the faith of the world and basically humanity in general. Although God does not sacrifice every living thing on the earth and spares some, whether it is Noah from Hebrew Scriptures or Utnapishtim from Gilgamesh, God spares them as for them to become his first new possessions. He spares lives in order for the ones who remain alive to know that God is very dangerous and at any moment, he can cause havoc on everything. They are used to play as pawns in God's plan to spread to word to everyone, that if mortals continue to be wicked, the God will in return before destruction to all. The mortals will all fear God's possibility to destroy the earth if it deems necessary, but also they will fear the different possibilities of havoc God can perform.

So what other possibilities of havoc are options to God? After each flood in both tales, God looks down upon his action and discusses the establishment of new civilization with the man God spared and arrived at a covenant. In both pieces of work, God makes a covenant that never again he will flood the earth to destroy the lands again. He states to Job that, "...neither shall there any more flood to destroy the earth" (Hebrew 96) and to Utnapishtim gives examples of different ways of destroy mankind besides a flood, whether it be ravage, famine, or plague (Gilgamesh 74). This moment in both writings, show God finding his leeway around an agreement of not destroying mankind when God is unhappy. God wants his possessions to instead of fearing the flood that took place, he wanted them to fear that this action of destruction can happen again and God has too many options of how he will smite the world next. God still focuses on remaining the all power figure and every mortal below should love and fear. Some mortals may believe that this act was a one-time act to prove a point, and while it may have been, God refuses

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