Genesis 1-3 - Creation of Second Chances
"Eddie," as Dr. Breuer likes to be called is a Canadian who has spent a lot of time abroad. In the USA he has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Loyola University of Chicago. Eddie settled in Israel three years ago and teaches at Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
On Thursday morning, Eddie helped us to explore the first three chapters of Genesis with Jewish eyes. You will remember these chapters include the creation story(ies). We noted the significant literary features found in the opening chapters. These include features such as the notion of "one" God, a radically new thought in existing cultures. In chapter one God maintains a distant relationship from creation as Creator. Creation is declared to be good in God’s opinion. It is interesting that water is never declared to be "good." It exists even before God began to create. Could it be that God does not fully control? Are there limits to even God being defined in these opening chapters?
Chapter two seems to take us back to the opening story of creation where the author tells us what happened, and then chapter two fills in an important aspect of "how" God created. God breathes life into man which suggests there actually is a very intimate relationship between God and humanity. Humanity is given the ability to re-create which is to say that we have the ability to produce more little images of God. We are partners with God somehow.
Chapter three takes us to the decision to eat the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The punishment is that woman will bear children in pain and that men will have to exert effort for the things he needs and wants. Is that so bad? What mother would say that the pain of childbirth is not worth the wonderful gift of her child? What man expects a free ride without effort? It is not such a harsh punishment. The Jewish perspective would say that what we have here is a creation of second chances. God is revealed as a God of second chances! That is good news.
Even the name for "God" changes as one reads through the first three chapters. It starts out as "Eloheim" which means "God of justice, fairness, judge" and it becomes "Adonai Eloheim," Adonai meaning "God of compassion." God is revealed as one who desires to be in relationship with humankind.
On Thursday morning, Eddie helped us to explore the first three chapters of Genesis with Jewish eyes. You will remember these chapters include the creation story(ies). We noted the significant literary features found in the opening chapters. These include features such as the notion of "one" God, a radically new thought in existing cultures. In chapter one God maintains a distant relationship from creation as Creator. Creation is declared to be good in God’s opinion. It is interesting that water is never declared to be "good." It exists even before God began to create. Could it be that God does not fully control? Are there limits to even God being defined in these opening chapters?
Chapter two seems to take us back to the opening story of creation where the author tells us what happened, and then chapter two fills in an important aspect of "how" God created. God breathes life into man which suggests there actually is a very intimate relationship between God and humanity. Humanity is given the ability to re-create which is to say that we have the ability to produce more little images of God. We are partners with God somehow.
Chapter three takes us to the decision to eat the apple from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The punishment is that woman will bear children in pain and that men will have to exert effort for the things he needs and wants. Is that so bad? What mother would say that the pain of childbirth is not worth the wonderful gift of her child? What man expects a free ride without effort? It is not such a harsh punishment. The Jewish perspective would say that what we have here is a creation of second chances. God is revealed as a God of second chances! That is good news.
Even the name for "God" changes as one reads through the first three chapters. It starts out as "Eloheim" which means "God of justice, fairness, judge" and it becomes "Adonai Eloheim," Adonai meaning "God of compassion." God is revealed as one who desires to be in relationship with humankind.
posted by Philip | 7:27 a.m.
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