The beginning adult reasoning faculty or the first natural rational doesn’t
see or believe some key ideas about what is really true. Ishmael’s mocking of
Isaac is an image of this flawed perspective. This first adult rational laughs
within in a mocking way at key and fundamental ideas that the Lord would
have us believe and live from. It does not really believe the Lord. It is inclined
to ridicule some of what He would teach us.
Consider the following example of the first adult rational’s perspective
taken from the Arcana Coelestia’s explanation of this story:
This rational would again mock if it were told that in heaven the greatest are
those who are least; that the wisest are those who believe and perceive that they
themselves are the least wise; that the happiest are those who wish the greatest
happiness to others and the least to themselves; that heaven consists in wishing
to be below everyone else, but hell in wishing to be above everyone else; and that
consequently the glory of heaven does not hold within it anything at all of that
which the glory of the world holds. (Arcana Coelestia 2654:5)
The first rational just does not get it. It is convinced of its own perspective
and wisdom. People who lead their lives solely by this first rational will
make many spiritually foolish decisions that will be harmful to themselves
and others. This part of our mind can excuse us from obeying some of the
commandments with self-justifying reasons. A person who lives solely by this
first rational will inevitably set his or her heart on too worldly a set of treasures
or on too-short-term goals.
The first rational cannot easily
believe that the Lord actually expects
us not to put our own welfare above
others. It finds the idea of wanting and
seeking good things even for people
we strongly disagree with a foolish
perspective. It would rather condemn
and even punish.
Acting from this first rational
people will face many issues,
frustrations and discouragements
that will tremendously influence their
peace of mind and ability to do what
is right and good in many situations.
The first rational faculty does not really
know what the happiness of heaven
is like because people operating from
it have such limited experience with
true eternal happiness that it will be
The Lord has described
for us how salvation
occurs. A wise person
can recognize many
elements of it in the Old
and New Testaments.
A more detailed and
direct explanation
has been given us
within the teachings
for the New Church.
389