This week as I read, discussed, and reflected on Genesis 1-11 I discovered the story of God's ever faithfulness to God's people. The Yahwehist's primeval history is told about how humans acted toward God "in the beginning" and God's patient response. By comparing these scripture stories with ancient myths about creation, Cain and Abel, the great flood, and the tower of Babel I have come to realize God's faithfulness to the human race, despite their turning away from God through selfishness, jealousy, pride and frequent rejection. The biblical stories show God graciously providing for the needs of the very ones who had turned away from him by providing clothing for the first humans who are ashamed of their nakedness, protecting Cain from people seeking revenge, and safeguarding Noah and his family from the flood. God always gives the promise of hope, restores humanity, gives promises for the future, and bestows blessings on the people for their fidelity. Through these myths and symbols my image of the OT punishing God has changed. It is beginning to reconcile with my image of the New Testament God as seen through the life of Jesus.
The Priestly view tells about the goodness of God's creation in the first creation story (very good). Through this myth we learn of the greatness of God and in the other creation story of the first humans we learn of the closeness of God. It reminds me of the story Old Turtle, in which all the creatures of the world tried to describe who God was and they described God as great, powerful, majestic, and way up in the sky, as well as gentle, nearby, quiet, and small. Old Turtle helps them to realize that God is all of these.
I look forward to continuing this journey through the Old Testament so I can continue to focus and fine tune my imagination of God. For it is in understanding the expressed meaning of the writers of these works that I can begin to give meaning to who God is to me in my experience.
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Cindy, it is interesting that you mention Old Turtle, one of my all time favorite books! The transition that you describe seems to be even more in keeping with the second book, Old Turtle and the Broken Truth. I encourage you to check it out if you haven't already read it. The basic premise is that a group of people has come across a broken truth that says, You are loved. They become so enthralled with that knowledge that they use it to separate themselves from others as the chosen, the holders of the truth. Finally, it takes a young girl to find the other half of truth, Love others.
ReplyDeleteAs I think about your post and encounter with the OT v. NT, I can't help but feel that there is great relevance to this story. Although I don't personally favor holding the NT over the OT as more complete or better, but one might say that the OT is the first part of the truth, broken and incomplete and thus used to identify the Israelites as the chosen people, justified in dominating and holding their supremacy over others. And it is only in Jesus' revelation as the new covenant that we become reminded of the second half of the truth, love others. (Of course, I believe that there is plenty in the OT that speak to this relationship with other/neighbor.)
Either way, when we become so obsessed with ourselves as the main character of "the story", as either villain or favored child, we enter into a false reading. The Old Turtle is always a good reminder of that:)... I should note that all of the animals that come across the first half of the truth recognize that it is broken and leave it for humans to find...
I'll be sure to find that book. Is it the same author? I like the idea of the first half of the truth and the second half of the truth; noting both halves are important and give us a completeness, wholeness.
ReplyDeleteCindy, I appreciated your thoughts and reflections. It seems like we are all being stretched to step out of the traditional interpretation of Genesis being about God's mercy and humankind's sinfullness. I wonder if your image of God would change at all if the stories of the human events in Genesis (Adam and Eve's eating the apple; Cain's jealousy toward his brother; etc) were not interpreted as stories of human's failures but human maturation as Lyn Bechtel invites us to ponder. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteCindy---FYI---for some reason when I posted my comment is shows up with the name "Bill" instead of Brian. I think that is because my computer tech at work set up my Google account and I can't figure out how to change it. Brian
ReplyDeleteC- Yes, the book that I referred to is by the same author and has similar beautiful illustrations. It is wonderful! Some time I will have to tell you about the Easter Sunrise service I did with it!
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