Sermon 16.2.2020
Focus Scriptures: Gen.1-2.3; Rom. 8.18-25; Mt. 6. 25-34.
The lion’s share of today’s readings is drawn from the first of the Five Books of Moses. This collection is also known as the Pentateuch and in Judaism is called ;TheTorah /Teaching.
The collection contains the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Tradition attributes these books to Moses, and in Judiasm have the greatest authority, as Moses was a man ‘who saw and God face to face” and was a ”friend of God” and spoke directly with God. The man to whom God gave His name.
In Judaism these books have very different names as titles are taken from the first Hebrew word that appears in each book.
Genesis is Bere’shit,….. In the/a beginning …’at the start’
Exodus….Shemot,…………….”Names”
Leviticus…Vy-yi.ka’…….. …”And he called”
Numbers…Be.mid.bar……… ”In the wilderness” and
Deuteronomy…Devarim….. ”The words”
The titles we have in our bible for these books, come through the Septuagint. The Greek translation of the Torah used by Alexandrian Jews in the 3rd cent BC. These Greek titles were subsequently used in Latin and English translations.
The Book of Genesis is a great book and a book that repays study. It has that ‘onion like’ or Russian doll quality…. where layer reveals layer which in turn reveals layers, leaving us with a sense of sheer wonder at its sophistication.
It is the ultimate book of Beginning and stands in stark contrast with other contemporary Near Eastern accounts of ”the beginning of things”. In these various gods and entities wage cosmic battles with each other and Chaos. Where divine attributes are ascribed to both the elemental forces(Earth, Fire, Air and Water; to animals, to nature and to stars and planets.
In contrast Genesis attributes no divine qualities to these. It shows no interest in God’s origins,and no speculation about His nature or reasoning. In Genesis and particularly the first chapter God’s nature is expressed and understood through His actions and throught the demands He makes on human beings.
The language of our chapter also contrasts with the Egyptian and Mesopotamian cosmologies. The language and images in our chapter are almost austere in starkness, directness, simplicity and quiet authority.
It touches the mystery of unknowable Divine Creativity. The recounting of when God started to create, is down to earth and matter of fact. At no stage does it try to make intelligible/understandable what is outside human experience. It reflects the time and place of its composition and listeners. It does not speculate or theorise.
The opening chapter of Genesis is not a scientific paper. Neither is it in a strict sense an historical treatise. Stating that, does not invalidate the underpinning truth of this document of faith.
”Bere’shit bara elohim….. In the beginning God created….”
It is well to note here that a fair degree of discussion takes place around this translation as the Hebrew text contains no definite article. The Hebrew translates;
”When God began to create.”
The translation printed in our bulletin cleverly straddles both possibilities; ”In the beginning when God created ”
‘Bere’shit’: He Created. The verb ‘Bara’ is used only in relation to the creative activity of God. Never is the word used in Scripture to express mankind’s action.’ Bere’shit’It is always used to describe God’s work in creating, since He is the only one who can bring something out of nothing/exnihilo. Incidentally, if He starts with something He has already created; the verb is changed to formed as with Adam, or built as with Eve.
In this chapter we learn that the universe is wholly the purposeful/intentional product of the divine creative intelligence of God. That our universe is the creation of the one self -sufficient, self-existing God, who is a transcendent Being/Spirit; … outside of nature and Who is sovereign over space and time.
In Genesis, the seeds of what will emerge and be revealed with the passage of history, are sown. Great thematic truths about God, creation, and humankind, are presented while others truths are suggested and will only manifest themselves in the fullness of time.
It’s reminiscent of a well constructed piece of music, where great and leit motifs surface and dissolve only to reappear later with added form, development and texture.
Gen1. focuses on one central idea; ”God created” .The movement from Chaos to Cosmos is not haphazard. Its a process that unfolds , not with a ‘Big Bang’, but in an orderly and harmonious manner through a series of 6 successive and equal units of time.
The chapter has great symmetry. 6 days..divide into 2 parallel groups each of which comprises 4 creative acts performed in 3 days. The 7th day is blessed and hallowed with rest and crowns the 6.
The movement throughout the creative process is from heaven to terrestrial water..to dry land.
In days 1-3 God provides the resources and in days 4-6 He creates those who will utilise the resources.
1.Light………………………………………………….4 Sun,moon and stars
2Sky, leaving terrestrial water……………….. 5. Fish and fowls
3.Dry land./vegetation……………………………6.land creatures,reptiles ……………………………………………………………..higher animals, and finally ……………………………………………………………..humankind
(lowest form of organic life) (highest form of organic life)
Each day of creation follows a formula.”God said”(10)…..followed by a command..”Let there be”..”Let us make”…. Then there’s a statement recording its fulfilment ….”And it was so”(6) .Followed by an approval …” God saw that it was good”(6) and on reviewing the totality of His creation He saw it was all ”Very Good”.
Then the closing formula….”there was evening and there was morning” followed by a numbered day.(6,7)
The 7 statements of approval are very important. For in creation we find the fullness of Divine power functioning AND God affirming that it was ”very good.” Though subsequently damaged by our fall and cursed; creation was imbued with God’s goodness and the darkness of evil cannot annihilate that reality.
God’s goodness and love relentlessly destroys evil and in the end God wins and to cap it all, we, in Christ our crucified and resurrected Savour, also win… That’s the exciting party Paul sketches for us in the extract from Romans:
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility,(without form)… in hope that the creation itself will be set free … the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains… not only the creation, but we ourselves… groan inwardly while we wait … (to)… obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
That’s us.We wait and hope with patience for this releasing glory. For Jesus, our Christ, is returning.This ‘glory’ will be the hearlding in of the glorious, sovereign rule,where we share in the Messiah’s saving rule over the whole world. This is what the whole creation is waiting for. It is waiting for us, for all God’s children, to be revealed. Then, at last, creation will see its true rulers, and will know that the time has come for it to be rescued from corruption and restored to its pristine glorious creational condition.Amen.
Come Lord Jesus come. Amen.