The metaphor “to catch God by the beard” employs an image in which even something as absurd as physically seizing a part of the divine visage symbolizes an attempt to grasp something by its very nature unattainable and ephemeral.

Grasping the Divine: The Paradox of the Unattainable

The metaphor “to catch God by the beard” employs an image in which even something as absurd as physically seizing a part of the divine visage symbolizes an attempt to grasp something by its very nature unattainable and ephemeral. In this context, the call “extend your beard forward, your eyes to the heavens, and behold God!” reflects the idea that the pursuit of understanding a higher reality transforms into an absurd, almost ritualistic belief that a physical act can capture something that essentially always slips away from comprehension and direct perception.

The essence of the metaphor is that the ultimate truth or divine presence remains beyond the reach of ordinary means of apprehension. Attempting to grasp them literally, by interacting with a physical symbol (the beard), emphasizes the absurdity and paradox of such an endeavor. In this way, the higher reality remains elusive: it is always out there, no matter where we might seek it in ordinary, material, or everyday manifestations.

Supporting citation(s):
“Hey, opium,” he shouts to the snow-bearded priest of the Moscow Palace Church, “extend your beard forward, your eyes to the heavens, and you’ll see God!” (source: link txt)