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and God Noticed…
By Billy | January 20, 2010
Geneis 1:4
…וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־ הָאֹ֖ור כִּי־ טֹ֑וב
viyar elohim et-ha’ovr ki tov…
Viyar is usually translated as “saw.” God saw that the light was good. Viyar also means see-to- something. Like, see to it that our guests have enough food…
God created light, separated the light from the dark, then saw to it that the light was good. He took the chaotic world and made good with it — that is one thing this undefinable thing seems very capable of.
Then, humans ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil — the serpent said it would make them like God (the serpent never lied when he tricked the humans). (Thank you Rachel Sarah) After they ate, they learned that they will die. A real punishment, but not without a loop hole. After that they were given the chance to create (like God) through sexual reproduction. (The Tree of Knowledge… the world for Knowledge is the same as the word for Sex)
When we tango with the LORD, he will see to it that it becomes good. God created then worked to turn to chaotic universe into something good. We have the ability to create chaos, as was the case in the Garden, and between Cain and Abel, and in Noah’s time, and all throughout Exodus and… wait, did I mention the name Israel means To Strive With God ? The whole freaking nation was called Fights/Struggles with God.
He’s going to see to it that goodness happens.
We are humans. We mess up, we hurt ourselves, we hurt other people, we do things opposite of what our Maker says to do. We steal from our parents, punch our girlfriends, eat forbidden fruits, and it’s OK. God will see to it that it is good. When you read that, it should be encouraging to continue working, not just standing still.
Be still and know that he is The LORD. The Hebrew word for Peace, Shalom, is a homonym for the word Complete. If it’s seems “bad,” it’s just not complete. Keep moving, keep praying, keep loving, and you will find the Shalom there.
Topics: Philosophy | 2 Comments »
January 23rd, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Hmmm… but I think the serpent DID lie! In 2:17, God speaking, “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Then in 3:4, serpent speaking, “You will not surely die…” He craftily told an outright lie, but to further stir confusion, mixed it with truth! In the second part of 3:4 he says, “for God knows when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Which is exactly what happened in 3:7.
I think the devil has the same tactics he’s always used from that time to now. And the miserable thing about that is… it all still works on us! Why change your tactics if they fool people with every language, interest, social or economic level, any era through time…?
But it sure is encouraging to continue working!! I agree with my whole heart on that. I think hope and knowing that I don’t have to worry about what the future will bring, these are the direct result for knowing that “God will see to it that it is good” as you say. Jeremiah 29, in particular, verses 11-13 (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jeremiah%2029&version=NIV) declare this.
January 23rd, 2010 at 4:58 pm
You are correct! I just checked and even the Hebrew uses the same root word that God and the serpent (The Hebrew people had no concept of the Devil, as such, until around 300 B.C.E.) speak. It is worth noting that the word “mooth” — to die — can be a spiritual death, a physical death, or it can even be translated to having to do with crying. Nonetheless, you are right that the serpent spoke directly opposing God’s words.
If I have seined through the text correctly, NOTHING died before the fruit of knowledge of good and bad was eaten. Everyone seemed to be a fruitetarian — eating fruit doesn’t even kill the plant (as eating a potato, for example, would). After being expelled from the garden, the cycle of life takes a new form and death AND birth are put into the picture. (Don’t forget that the word for knowledge is the same as the word for sex)
The Tree of Yidah (sex / knowlege)… can this be a coming of age story?
It’s weird to think that they DO die that day, but are given a new way to live — through their children. Oh paradoxical Hebrews.
In conjunction with your Jeremiah passage (I love the way Jeremiah changes voices around chapter 30…), I’d propose reading Micah 6:6-8.
(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah%206:6-8&version=NIV)
In case someone ever gets entangled in going through the motions and forgets the important parts, or if someone is worried about the fundamentals of pleasing Him, remember that he draws the oppressed out of their suffering, and that seems to be what he wants us to do.
Thank you for contributing, RSB. Your thoughts are appreciated!