"We arose before the peoples of earth and heaven at a time when all had determined to slay us. While dwelling in their midst, We continually made mention of the Lord, celebrated His praise, and stood firm in His Cause, until at last the Word of God was vindicated amongst His creatures, His signs were spread abroad, His power exalted, and His sovereignty revealed in its full splendour. To this bear witness all His honoured servants. Yet when My brother beheld the rising fame of the Cause, he became filled with arrogance and pride. Thereupon he emerged from behind the veil of concealment, rose up against Me, disputed My verses, denied My testimony, and repudiated My signs. Nor would his hunger be appeased unless he were to devour My flesh and drink My blood. To this testify such of God's servants as have accompanied Him in His exile, and they that enjoy near access unto Him."
Comments:
• Just like other paragraphs, this paragraph requires some reflection. As we reflect, let’s also remind ourselves about this reference from the Universal House of Justice:
“The Bahá'í Faith is the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh: His Own Words as interpreted by 'Abdu'l-Bahá and the Guardian. It is a revelation of such staggering magnitude that no Bahá'í at this early stage in Bahá'í history can rightly claim to have more than a partial and imperfect understanding of it. (The Universal House of Justice, Messages 1963 to 1986, p. 389)
This quote has such liberating and humbling effects on every Baha’i who is attempting to gain some “partial and imperfect” understanding of Baha’u’llah’s Revelation reflected in the passages of this mighty Tablet. So with that background, let’s explore the spiritual points and metaphors in Paragraph 1.26.
• The very first line brings to our attention the extent of danger and difficulties that Baha’u’llah had to face as God’s representative for “the peoples of earth and heaven.” According to Baha’u’llah, “all” were “determined to slay” Him! This is indeed shocking! The dictionary defines the word “slay” as “to kill or destroy in a violent way”. Here we get a glimpse of that reality that the Manifestation of God brings to our attention!
• It is also noteworthy to ponder over the phrase “the peoples of earth and heaven”. What does it mean? The word “heaven”, doesn’t appear to be a reference to the next world – since both those “peoples” of earth and heaven are determined to slay the Manifestation of God. Also, we could wonder whether this is a reference to Baha’u’llah’s period only or it is with reference to the Reality of the Manifestation of God – the Primal Will of God – that appears periodically?
• Here is another reference from Baha’u’llah containing a similar phrase – “the denizens of heaven”:
Say: Step out of Thy holy chamber, O Maid of Heaven, inmate of the Exalted Paradise! Drape thyself in whatever manner pleaseth Thee in the silken Vesture of Immortality, and put on, in the name of the All-Glorious, the broidered Robe of Light. Hear, then, the sweet, the wondrous accent of the Voice that cometh from the Throne of Thy Lord, the Inaccessible, the Most High. Unveil Thy face, and manifest the beauty of the black-eyed Damsel, and suffer not the servants of God to be deprived of the light of Thy shining countenance. Grieve not if Thou hearest the sighs of the dwellers of the earth, or the voice of the lamentation of the denizens of heaven. Leave them to perish on the dust of extinction. Let them be reduced to nothingness, inasmuch as the flame of hatred hath been kindled within their breasts. Intone, then, before the face of the peoples of earth and heaven, and in a most melodious voice, the anthem of praise, for a remembrance of Him Who is the King of the names and attributes of God. Thus have We decreed Thy destiny. Well able are We to achieve Our purpose. (Baha'u'llah, Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah, p. 282)
• It is also educational to notice how Baha’u’llah summarizes the process that He went through to accomplish His Mission:
Process:
o “continually made mention of the Lord”,
o “celebrated His praise”, and
o “stood firm in His Cause”
Mission:
o “until at last the Word of God was vindicated amongst His creatures”,
o Until God’s/Manifestation’s “signs were spread abroad”
o Until God’/Manifestation’s “power exalted”, and
o Until God’/Manifestation’s “sovereignty revealed in its full splendour.”
Maybe we, as His followers, should reflect over these and allow them to inspire us to do more noble deeds in our humble attempts to follow His example.
• This paragraph also brings to our attention what “arrogance and pride” could do to a human being, like Mirza Yahya – Baha’u’llah’s half-brother – when he saw “the rising fame of the Cause” of God:
o “he emerged from behind the veil of concealment”
o “rose up against Me” [Baha’u’llah],
o “disputed My [Baha’u’llah’s] verses”,
o “denied My[Baha’u’llah’s] testimony”, and
o “repudiated My[Baha’u’llah’s] signs.”
• Furthermore, we become aware concerning the depth of Mirza Yahya’s animosity towards Baha’u’llah when we read: “Nor would his hunger be appeased unless he were to devour My flesh and drink My blood.” It’s frightening what a human being who is filled with “arrogance and pride” could potentially do. In the case of Mirza Yahya we know that he actually made a number of attempt to kill Baha’u’llah.
