One True God

"May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor" - the God of their father - "judge between us."... - Genesis 31:53

Whenever I read the story about Rachel stealing her father's household gods, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the book, The Red Tent. That really was a great book, but there are some other things to look at in this story as well.  For instance, once Jacob and Laban finally decide to part as friends and make a covenant between them, they swear their oaths by the God of Abraham AND the god of Nahor.

Nahor and Abraham were brothers, both sons of Terah, who descended from Noah. Nahor's son, Behuel, was the father of Laban. Apparently Abraham and Nahor took different spiritual paths. Abraham worshiping the One True God and Nahor worshiping other gods. But if there is but ONE true God, doesn't it follow that He is ALSO the God of Nahor?

I think we miss this in today's world. Although we may call God by different names and believe different traditions and recognize Him in different ways, there still is but One True God. This is especially true of Christians, Jews and Muslims. Our traditions all originate with Abraham.  But even other religions that search for the goodness of mankind and a merciful, loving god are truly worshiping the same God as well, even if we don't all agree on the details.

If we could grasp this idea, we would be so much more loving and tolerant of one another.  Jacob and Laban tolerated the notion of one another's gods in order to make a covenant between them. Would it be such a big deal then for a Muslim brother or sister of today to pray at a town council meeting?

God of All,

Help us to understand that no matter how we have been taught to perceive you, you are God... period. Amen.