I’ve put a link to the reading if you do not have a Bible at home to read from. Today we read Genesis 1-3 (remember that means the book Genesis chapters one through three).
First, welcome to everyone who is here today and will be coming in the future.
About the Book:
Now I want to start with just a very quick and short introduction to the book of Genesis. Genesis actually means “an origin, beginning, or creation.” It is the first book in the Bible (obviously or we wouldn’t be reading it today) and is part of what is called the Pentateuch, or five fold scroll. You can gather from that it means that it is one of five books; the first five books in the Bible.
The Pentateuch is the memorial of the beginnings of God’s people. The book of Genesis really plays a very important part; it sets the scene for the entirety of the Bible. It sets the tone. It shows us that God is the all powerful creator of the universe.
About the Reading:
We begin the year by reading about, well, the beginning! These first 3 chapters in Genesis are all about God creating the World and everything in and about it. He created night and day. He split the land from the water. He created the life of everything! The plants, the animals, all of it! It is all here because of God.
God created a man in His likeness to be the master of this creation.
When he created Adam he notices that, even with all the animals around, he is lonely. God puts him into a deep sleep, takes part of his rib, and creates a female counterpart. Adam, himself, is given the opportunity to name her. She is woman because she is made from him.
This is also were we are first introduced to free will and our human ability to use that free will to go against Him. It is in chapter 3 that we learn about God’s instruction to not eat from one tree and the serpent’s temptation given to Eve who, in turn, tempts Adam.
God then doles out punishment for this decision.
My thoughts and notes:
Maybe because it’s the first book in the Bible, maybe it’s because I went to Catholic schools, maybe it’s because I grew up in a very religious home, but no matter the reason, I am very familiar with this passage.
I can clearly recollect a time in elementary school when we were having a Friday service. The fourth grade class had been responsibly for the readings that day and chose to act this story out. It was then that I realized that the serpent had actually had legs until he was punished because of his behavior.
There were a few verses that stood out to me. First was Genesis 1:12, 24-25 which reads,
“The earth produced vegetation: the various kinds of seed-bearing plants and the fruit trees with seed inside, each corresponding to its own species. God saw that it was good...God said, ‘Let the earth produce every kind of living creature in its own species: cattle, creeping things and wild animals of all kinds.’ And so it was. God made wild animals in their own species, and cattle in theirs and every creature that crawl along the earth in its own species. God saw that it was good.”
A few months ago I was confronted on another blog in my beliefs that God created us and my belief that we didn’t come from a single cell organism. As I was reading these words I realized (wish I had realized back then during my debate) that it says right in there. It’s not an accident through mutation that we are human and pigs are pigs and apple trees are apple trees. God created these things in “their own species”. It’s that simple!
The next verse that struck out to me was Genesis 1:26 that reads,
“God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild animals and all the creatures that creep along the ground.’”
This verse struck me because, the way I read it, God has given us a great responsibility to be masters of the living animals on this earth. I have struggled lately in my personal life with decisions on how “green” to go. The way I see it, we are also living on this planet and we shouldn’t care more for the animals than for ourselves; however, I do know and understand that we have been given a big responsibility from God: to care for his creation.
I have come to this conclusion: I can do my part in caring for the animals put into our care. I do not go out of my way to intentionally hurt the animals in our care. It is my responsibility to not trash or destroy the habitats of animals. I recycle, I do my part. However, God also gave us the earth to live off of. We are to use His gift to live. Therefore, farming and using the animals to live is quite alright with me. That’s the way I read it. (okay, please note that I did NOT write that as clearly as it is in my head; but no matter how much editing and rewriting, I just couldn’t get it to sound as good as it is in my head. So, if you want to know what I really mean, I invite you to crawl right inside my brain and pull that information out).
I was also intrigued by Genesis 2:23-24,
“And the man said: This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh! She is to be called Woman, because she was taken from Man. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
I love these verses for very personal reasons. Personal reasons that I know those of you who are married share with me. It is a powerful thing to think about, isn’t it? In our marriage ceremony it was emphasized a great deal how we were now becoming one. We were no longer two people but one unit. This verse is the root of that belief. This verse is very powerful for me, as it is my husband.
On a personal note that fits right into this verse, my husband and I have a running interaction with each other that really gets to the heart of this. I must admit that he started it, but I love it. Often times when I tell him, “I love you” he will say, “I love me, too…which means I love you, because we are one.” He started this on our wedding night. It’s a bit goofy, but it is one thing that truly keeps us grounded in remembering that we are no longer two entities, but one. This truly is one of my favorite verses.
Chapter 3 in it’s entirety stuck out for me. I think it is here that I see how much God is truly a parent to us. I also see here that through all these years, from the beginning of time, our nature has been to point fingers and, really, not take responsibility for our actions. Do you get that?
I mean, sure the serpent told Eve to eat of the fruit, but he didn’t say “eat it or I’ll kill you.” She still had a choice to make. She chose to eat the fruit even though she knew it was wrong. Her weakness as a human showed right there. As did Adam’s when he, too, ate of the fruit.
What I love, however, is that God listened and then he doled out the punishment. Sure, everyone had their excuses, but none of them were free of their punishment, were they? There was a consequence to their actions and He didn’t falter in His punishment. Heck, he still hasn’t, has he? Here we are how many millions of years later and we still have pain in child birth, serpents still crawl on their bellies and are still not loved by Eve’s children, and man still must sweat through thorns to get fruit from the earth.
However, through it all, it shows God’s great love for us, doesn’t it?
What did you notice about the readings? What did you remember from the past? What are your thoughts on the readings? What was your favorite verse or which verse really stuck out the most to you?
Come, let’s discuss!
Like you, I am very familiar with these passages. The first thing that comes to me is the picture of the Trinity we find in Genesis 1: 1 - 3. We see God (the Father) the Spirit (who was hovering) and Jesus (see John 1:1 Jesus is the spoken word of God.) The same Jesus that went to the cross for MY sins was the creator of all that is.
ReplyDeleteI once read somewhere, I wish I could remember when and where, that the story of creation aligns itself perfectly with all other 'theories'. Or something along those lines. If you have read anything about the theory of evolution and the big bang theory, you can see how it follows the exact steps as creation. I wish I could remember the exact quote, because it explained it much clearer than I just did.Anyway, I personally believe that the how of creation isn't nearly as important as the WHO of creation. No matter HOW it all began GOD did it. Next time you come across someone who wants to argue the 'big band' theory, just keep ask them where that first speck of dust come from. There can only be ONE answer: GOD.
The story of the fall of man (Gen. 3) is also a favorite of mine. Ever wonder if all the animals spoke to them? I mean, if a snake came up to you and started talking would you consider it a normal thing? Not me, I'd be like "WHOA! A snake is talking to me. Hey, Adam, a snake is talking to me!" And would completely miss what he was saying. But, it seems that this serpent speaking to her was no big deal. Satan used the same ploy to deceive Eve that he uses to deceive us. First, he questioned God's word. "Did he really say that?" "God wouldn't really do that!" "If He loves you, He wouldn't let you die." Since nothing had ever died, Adam and Eve probably didn't understand exactly what that meant. Just that it wasn't a good thing. Satan is still using that one. Next, Satan made her think that they would be equal to God. Then she noticed that it looked good, would taste good, AND make her as wise as God. Mans still wants to be like God, and Satan still uses this to deceive us. You know, Eve has always gotten a bed rap for this, but if you look, you will see that Adam was right there with her, (3:6). Some versions and translations leave out that HE WAS THERE WITH HER. Some don't. I believe that Adam was right there with Eve when the serpent (Satan in the form of a serpent) spoke to Eve. So they made their choice. And they didn't immediately die. BUT, their eyes were opened, and so they sewed leaves together to cover themselves and then they hid from God. Have you ever tried to hide from God because you knew you had done something wrong? Doesn't work any better for me than it did for them. God knew. He knows when we make choices that go against what He has told us, too.
What about the dieing thing? Adam and Eve didn't fall down dead as soon as they ate of the forbidden fruit, but death entered the world. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death. Something had to pay that wage for Adam and Eve. In verse 21 of chapter 3, God made
tunics of skin' to cover them. Some animal died to cover them (their sin). This points to the death of Jesus to cover OUR sin. But Adam and Eve, and the serpent, had to pay for their sin in other ways. Even though they tried to justify their actions, that didn't work with God. Man hasn't changed in all these years. We STILL try to justify and blame others for our sin; even blaming Satan. But we also must pay for our sins. Even with the covering of the blood of Jesus, we still have to accept and live with the consequences of our sins, just as they did.
The most amazing thing to me is, being an omniscient God, He knew HOW this was all going to play out before He EVER spoke creation into being. Knowing this He STILL created man with a will to choose. But it was the only way for man to become the creation that He wants us to be.
One more thing. God rested on the seventh day. It never says that God stopped, just that He rested. I believe that God continued to create (mold) man into His image. That is why Adam and Eve had to fall, why Israel had to fail, and why Jesus had to die. So man could become the creation God started 'In the beginning.'
ReplyDeleteI could probably go on and on and on....but I'll stop here.
I am anxious to read what others see in these 3 chapters. Thank you Jenni for this opportunity to not only READ the Bible, but to discuss what we read as well.
I am not sure how to weigh in as I to have many thoughts about the things brought up in this first discussion. I will start with God resting on the 7th day. On the seventh day of creation (Genesis 2:3), God established the Sabbath as a day of rest and the Day of the Lord. This is The 3rd Commandment. Though the Jewish Sabbath is Saturday, the Last Supper took place on Holy Thursday, and Jesus died on Good Friday, the main focus of Christianity is that Christ rose from the dead on the first Easter Sunday. Therefore, Sunday is the Christian Sabbath. It's that day that Catholic Christians go to church to participate in the Mass. My next thought is about the creation of man Genesis 2:2 " Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground* and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. God is depicted as creating man before the rest of his creatures, which are made for man's sake. God is also portrayed as a potter molding man's body out of clay. There is a play on words in Hebrew between adam ("man") and adama ("ground") Being literally, "soul". We all know the Devil aka Satan is a fallen angel who worked with God in judging of souls. Satan was the "prosecutor" before he got jealous and was banished. So Satan realizing he could not be like god brought into our world death. Genesis 2:2-15 " From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die." Satan is resentful of God because God created everything and has the power to resurrect life "Jesus on the 3rd Day" Also by cursing Satan to be a serpent that play into Genesis 3 verse 15 " I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel."* To explain this one can look at (1Jn3, 8) the passage can be understood as the first promise of a Redeemer for a fallen man mankind. The woman's offspring then is primarily Jesus Christ. A side note to that Google a Picture of Our Lady of Grace and you will see the Virgin Mary Standing on a snake. As to the passage Genesis 3 verse 24-25 “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two become one body.* One body: literally “one flesh”; classical Hebrew has no specific word for “body”. The sacred writer stresses the fact that conjugal union is willed by God. To back up a bit Genesis 2 verse 23 There is also a play on similar- sounding Hebrew words ishsha (“woman”) and ishah (“her man, her husband”). Those of us who are Catholic Marriage is one of Our Sacraments. Catholic Marriage is a vocation, a calling from God, from the Latin vocare meaning to call. Because marriage is a vocation and a sacrament, marriage imparts a special grace that gives the recipients the strength and ability to assume and fulfill all the duties and responsibilities of Christian marriage. The United States Catholic Catechism Chapter 21 page 277 CCC, no 1603 states GOD IS THE AUTHOR OF MARRIAGE “The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variation the centuries in different cultures, social structures and spiritual attitudes. The last statement I found in the Catechism is the following “Sacred Scripture begins with the creation and union of man and woman and ends with “the wedding feast of the Lamb” (Rev 19:7, 9). Scripture often refers to marriage, its origin and purpose, the meaning God gave to it, and its renewal in the covenant made by Jesus with his Church. I find all of this information about Catholic Marriage even more powerful to me as I continue to journey deeper into my faith and my union with The Father, Son and The Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteMichael Mary, I love what you brought to our discussion! You sparked another memory of mine in what you said. When I was young my absolute favorite hymn was "Abba Father". It brought such a vivid image to me with the line that says, "you are the potter, and we are the clay." I just have this image of God sitting at a potter's wheel with a lump of clay forming each one of us.
ReplyDeleteI never had really thought about marriage at the beginning and ending of the Bible; it leaves such an impression on me knowing that.
You brought some great things to the discussion. I look forward to everyones input tomorrow as well!
Thanks for your kind words Jenni. I invited my brother and sister in laws to join you group also my stepmom so if you see different names it is porbably them.
ReplyDeleteWe have not a discussion in a while so I went back and re read Genesis Chapter 3 THE FALL OF MAN. First off I must say I have been reading and watching many programs which have theories about the falling out between God and the devil. There was one program on EWTN the all Catholic cable channel that sort of brought Genesis 3 into some perspective for me. Lucifer was an Angel who worked for God in fact Lucifer was the most beautiful and smartest of all the Angels. However when God told the Angels of his plan to make man the third person of the Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit Lucifer became angry and scoffed at God for choosing man. Lucifer was also jealous and prideful feeling he should be God. A battle took place not one of violence but a battle of wits of the Trinity and when God said Our Blessed Mother Mary would be Queen of all heaven this sent Lucifer over the edge and that is when he told God he would no longer serve him or bow down to Mary who is also human. Lucifer had a convinced a third of Angels to believe in his idea and to follow him in no longer serving God. So God banished Lucifer and the Angels to the Underworld we know as hell. A side note about Angels is that Angels cannot make any mistakes or they get banished by God also they only know as much as God wants them to know hence Angels do not know when the world will end. So if we look at the 7 Deadly Sins Pride is one of them to this day many believe Lucifer is still prideful. Back to the fall of man I think it is safe to say Satan took the form of a snake and tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit as a sort of payback to God. By eating the fruit and listening to Satan Adam and Eve disobeyed God which we know made God angry. Genesis Chapter 3 V 8:18 God passed out a sever reprimand to Adam and Eve and cursed Satan to forever be the serpent. Also by eating the forbidden fruit and listening to the serpent Adam and Eve unknowingly brought into our world sin and death because that was Satan’s plan to get back at God. We can also see God forgives Adam and Eve for their disobedience and shows them mercy by making them leather clothes but he also adds a bit of punishment to the woman by saying “ I will intensify the pangs of your childbearing in pain shall you bring forth children”. Man also gets some punishment as well “To the man he said: Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree which I had forbidden you to eat, Cursed be the ground because of you! In toil shall you eat its yield all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to you as you eat of the plants of the field.” I also find this chapter the first case of finger pointing she told me to eat it and she say’s the serpent told me to. Ironic how we still point fingers when we get into trouble even after 2,000 years. One can also see the connection to Mary and Jesus the picture of Our Lady of Grace standing on the world with a serpent smashed under her feet. Mary has the power to also beat the devil down as does Jesus you might recall the scene in the movie Passion of The Christ where Jesus in the Garden praying and the white snake appears and slithers toward Jesus and Jesus stands up and with his foot crushes the head of the snake! I find it comforting to know that God, Jesus, Mary and St Michael have the power to defeat Satan and his minions. God also wants all of us in heaven that is why Jesus tells Peter you must forgive 7 times 70 fold and we all know Jesus told Peter he would deny him 3 times and when Jesus was resurrected he asked Peter 3 times do you love me which Peter exclaimed Yes and Jesus gave him the key to the kingdom. God had foretold his plan to make Jesus the third person of the Trinity and since Adam and Eve had committed sin. God choose The Virgin Mary who was without any sin and had consecrated herself to God thus making her the perfect woman to give birth to the son of God after all Jesus had to be sinless so he could not be born of a sinful woman.
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