And God gave Moses 2 CDs. He read the eighth line of code and it read: “Thou Shalt Not Pirate”.

“God!” Moses paused for a moment. “You have written… Thou Shall Not Pirate!”

He continued. “I thought, in the modern world, piracy is harmless. Moreover, you know how important is Microsoft Office for my ministry and me? I got the Windows for myself (yeah, I got a branded PC). And, Aaron is willing to share his Office installation CD. I think he got the original one. What’s wrong in sharing?”

Now they are on the escalator, on their way down, from Sinai.

The Lord replied, “Then it is Aaron’s property. Thou Shalt Not Covet.” The Lord’s reply was brief with the general statement of the tenth line of code.

Moses had more reasons. “God, there is a difference. In olden days, when people used to steal the owner lost the property and he could not use it anymore. Software is different. It is like the bread Jesus gave to five thousand!!! It does not get emptied. The owner enjoys the software and he lets his fellows enjoy it too.”

God was patient, “Who stands lost”?

“Of course, it’s Microsoft, or whoever makes the software”, Moses continued. “But they made all the money which they wanted. And if I did not pay for one piece of software, it is not going to make any difference to them. Moreover, I am not using it to run a business. I am using it for a not-for-profit organization and that too for Your ministry. How do you think I will summarize these CDs and publish, without Microsoft Office and Adobe PageMaker?

The Lord smiled at Moses and repeated His question. “Tell me now, who stands lost?”

Moses stood perplexed. They have now reached the first floor. As they stepped on to the last flight of escalators, God spoke to him.

“You talked about one small piracy. The one small piracy which does not make any difference to the software company or its CEO. The one small piracy which is not going to make any difference in this world. And when you do it, remember, you are the one I came looking for. You are the one I came to rescue. Now you know who is the lost.”

When they almost reached the ground floor, God spoke to Moses. “Do not be afraid. I have come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”

Moses saw a thunder and lightning. The Lord disappeared.

He opened his eyes and saw his wife walking to the kitchen. She has left the lights on. He looked at the table clock, and then the computer behind that.

Then he rose up from the bed, and walked to the computer, for God commanded him, “Thou Shalt Not Pirate”.