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Writer's pictureJ.D. King

The Word is Not in Heaven? (Tradition and the Inexplicable Wonders of God)

Updated: Jan 24




In Christian circles, there is a premium placed on traditions and authoritative interpretations. In fact, some seem to prioritize their doctrinal formations over the present-day works of the Holy Spirit. I've witnessed this kind of thinking hundreds of times.


In one service, I prayed for a crippled man to be healed. Due to the mercies of Jesus, he was restored in view of everyone. Nevertheless, someone seated in the room still insisted that miracles ended in the first century. This haughty individual had more faith in his regimented doctrine than in what he had witnessed with his own eyes.


His attitude reminded me of the story of the "Oven of Akhnai" in the Jewish Talmud (Bava Metzia 59b:1).


At one point, ancient rabbis debated whether an oven made from broken pottery was clean or unclean. Some vessels, prior to being cleaned and discarded, had been in contact with a dead body. Leviticus 11:33-35 states that contaminated pottery is impure and must be shattered.


Rabbi Eliezer argued that an oven constructed from shattered pottery fragments—one that had been cleaned and housed in a new wall of cement—shouldn't be regarded the same way as before. Therefore, he insisted that the Leviticus 11 commandment didn't apply. Although he made a compelling case for this oven’s acceptance, other rabbis disagreed.


Eliezer said that if his determination was right, the carob tree would make it clear. Suddenly, the tree was uprooted and moved 145 feet. But the others dismissed this, saying trees cannot prove anything.


Then he said that the stream would make things clear. All at once, the water began flowing in the opposite direction. Once again, the dissenting rabbis didn't feel this was a legitimate defense.


Then Eliezer said that if his interpretation was right, the consecrated hall where they studied scripture would confirm it. Then the walls started leaning in, and ceiling tiles began to fall, but the rabbis still rejected his claim.


Finally, Rabbi Eliezer declared heaven would prove his point. At once, God spoke and confirmed that the oven was acceptable. Rabbi Yehoshua, however, interrupted the Lord, arguing that men couldn’t rely on a voice from heaven because the word "is not in heaven" (Deut 30:12). He insisted that the authority to determine truth lies with the rabbinical majority, not the voice of God.


As the story continues, Natan, a rabbi involved in this debate, met the prophet Elijah and asked, “What did the Lord do when Rabbi Yehoshua made this declaration?" Elijah said: The Lord smiled and said: “My children have triumphed over Me; My children have triumphed over Me.”


To this day, Rabbi Yehoshua's line "Lo bashamayim hi"—the word is not in heaven—is repeated in rabbinical circles as a reminder of their unique role as the arbiter of truth


This is still a beloved story among Jewish rabbis, suggesting that their older traditions are more important than the prophetic voice and actions of the Lord. Even heaven cannot correct what the scribes declare. This dreadful outlook is seen as a virtue..


It's disheartening to see a similar attitude among some Christians today. Many believe that their doctrinal knowledge or theological positions elevate them above others—perhaps even God himself. They cling tightly to creeds or ecclesiastical traditions, convinced that their understanding is the final word on truth.


Yet, in the rhythms of daily life, I’m reminded that our call as believers is not to win arguments but to align ourselves with the goodness and glory of heaven. God never contradicts himself or his Word, but he is more than willing to challenge our faulty interpretations and misguided perceptions of who he is.


Tradition has its place, but it should never be mistaken for the ultimate knowledge of good and evil. The whole world fell into ruin when Adam and Eve made that mistake so long ago in the garden.




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