TSoGS? The Story of God's Story - a fifteen week whirlwind tour of the Bible. If you missed Sunday, here's a link to week one's guide which has a five day reading plan. Why five days? If you are faithful, you can use the weekend to explore other readings or if you slip behind, you can use the weekend to catch up. Our readings are truly just skimming the surface of God's Story.
O Lord, may my soul rise up to meet you as the day rises to meet the sun.
Another creation story - from a different height and perspective. Caution: we run into problems when we try to merge these two creation stories into one. If they are one story, then why did the author not do a better job of reconciling them? No, this story wants to teach us something new. It is engaging us in new narrative - life before sin entered the world and life after. It's telling us something new about the connection of God's story and our story.
So does all this seem like a fairy tale to you? Should we take this (and the rest of the story) literally or figuratively? Is it metaphor? Again, we can argue either way. (I wasn't around back then!) But I can see a world that shows the results of disobedience (in light of next week's focus on the Fall.) Well I'm getting ahead of myself - it's hard not to, because this text is really setting the stage for paradise lost.
So time to get myopic - what does this text tell us? (Lots but we'll stick to the highlights)
1. A man (Adam - the Hebrew word for man) is formed out of the dust of the earth and God's breath brings him to life - divine CPR. See how different this is from story one?
2. God plants a paradise garden with everything the man needs for sustenance.
3. But God also introduces two other trees that offer more than physical food - the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. One offers eternal life. Why introduce the other to paradise? Without this tree there is no choice between obedience and disobedience.
4. Adam is placed in the garden to tend it. Don't miss this. Labor/work is part of the original equation. There is dignity in work.
5. Adam can have everything in the garden except the fruit from the tree of good and evil. God promises the death penalty for disobedience (Cue the scary theme music here.). And note - Eve's (there is no Eve yet) not around to hear this warning so guess who's responsible for telling her?
6. No animals yet? (see this is not a detailed version of the first creation story) God creates animals because it's not good for Adam to be alone. Not good. Humans are wired for relationship. Animals are paraded before Adam and he names them all but none is a suitable helper. Adam is still lonely.
7. So God does surgery. The KJV says God took a rib to graft Eve. The Hebrew word could also mean "part of the man's side." The Hebrew rabbinical commentators say the choice was strategic. Take from Adam's foot and woman would be beneath him. Take from his head and the woman would be above him. Take from his side and the woman comes along side him.
8. But what about that word "helper?" Doesn't that suggest an "assistant?" No - the Hebrew word is also actually used to describe God in other texts. Salute all you feminists! God intended equality. Why didn't we get it? The Fall is coming - it messed up everything!
9. God presents the woman to the man much like a father presents his daughter - the bride. And Adam gets more excited than ever. "At last!" Picture the joy. I can picture God smiling at Adam's delight. These few verses set the stage for the meaning and purpose of marriage. And a man shall leave his father and mother and cling to his wife. And this is important - the TWO BECOME ONE (I could take days to unpack this). God's perfect plan. And for those who wrestle with the Trinity - if you are married, you can begin to understand how you, as a unique person, can enter into "oneness" with your partner.
10. These two are naked and unashamed. Like the first creation story, God creates a world which is good - a paradise garden. But this "unashamed" means more - these two are so intimate that they have no need to hide anything from the other. Think about that kind of marriage.
We really have lost paradise - lost so much more than a garden with good fruit. I want you to hold onto this picture because as we look back, we can also look forward to what God wants to restore. What you see here is what the Kingdom of God is supposed to look like - what creation will return to some day (our Revelation story). There is intimacy with God and with one another. Someday - no more pain, tears, suffering . . . When you read the end of Revelation, the Garden is now in the midst of a vast city (Central Park?) The tree of life provides life and healing. Jesus said, I am the Vine, you are the branches.
Don't you long for the Kingdom? long for God? long for paradise?
And reflect on this the first two chapters of the Bible and the last two, written by different authors in different cultures, thousands of years apart, both highlight the tree of life. How's that for cohesiveness?
(I'm still waiting for your questions - if you have any. Some I will try to address on Sunday if they fit in the flow. I have one great question on the Canon - why the books we have and no more?
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