Continuing our study of women in Genesis, we move on to Eve in chapter 3:1-13. The serpent tempted Eve to eat of the fruit of the forbidden tree by saying, "you will be like God, knowing good and evil". Ironic, isn't it? They were already like God, made in his image and likeness, in charge of all living creatures on the earth, even to the point of naming them. And they already knew good and evil, having been warned by God that eating of that particular tree would bring death while eating of all the other trees would be good. They were at the top of their own world. I'm sure if they wanted more of anything, they could have asked God for it. But the serpent twisted the truth and made Eve feel that she lacked something. She then saw the tree in a new light-- "the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise" (3:6). And Adam agreed. There is nothing wrong with wanting more. Jesus said: Seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you (Matt 7:7). The sin lay not in wanting more, but in deliberately doing what God had told them not to do. For reflection: What do I need more of to accomplish what God has called me to do? Let us pray: Giver of all good gifts, we thank you for the blessings you have given us and for the call you have placed on our lives. Help us to seek more of what we need to accomplish your goals. (Your comments are welcome.)
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Staying with Genesis 1:26 - 2:3, let's look at verses 26 - 28. "Male and female he created them." In this simple, straightforward sentence there is equality for men and women. Male and female qualities equally reflect the image of God and they are equally valuable before God. This is quite remarkable considering that this was presumably written in the midst of a culture that did not see men and women as equal. Yet they write that God created us equal. The creation of mankind is in the middle of God granting dominion over "the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground" (vs 26) and "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground" (vs 28). So it is repeated that we are to rule over or have dominion over (as some translations have it) all other living creatures. What does it mean to have dominion? The role of a (good) king is to see to the protection of his people and making provision for them. A king is to be a leader of his people such that they are able to be fruitful and multiply. So it seems to me that our having dominion over all other living creatures means that we are to help them be all that God created them to be. We must steward these creatures as God stewards creation. Our question today is from Stephen Binz's Women of the Torah: What is the difference between "dominion" and "domination" in terms of humanity's rights and responsibilities within the created world? Let us pray. Creator God, you made us in your image and likeness and entrusted us with royal responsibilities. Help us to take seriously this share in your divine role. Let us see it as you see it and carry it out according to your will. For we know that all creation waits for the sons of God to be revealed, to be liberated from its bondage to decay, and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God (Rom 8:19-21). God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground" (Gen 1:26). This one sentence opens up many avenues for exploration and wonder. Why does God say "Let us" instead of "Let me"? Is it an indication of the Trinity or just the so-called "royal we" of kings? If no one else exists, who is God talking to? What does it mean to be made in the image and likeness of God? What does it mean when God says, "let them rule over" (other translations have "let them have dominion over")? There have been a lot of answers proposed over the years to all of these questions. One that has been important to me concerns being made in the image and likeness of God. That assurance - of being made in God's image - has strengthened me countless times. What do we know of God's image up to this point in the story? Basically, we know that God is a creator. He has tremendous imagination. He creates light, sun, moon, stars, sky and land, fish, birds and animals, and men and women. He sets in motion time, seasons, days and years, plus an entire ecosystem with a vast planetary system. There is a lavishness to his creation and attention to detail that could be seen in the diversity of his creation in the skies and on the land. We know much more about these now due to microscopes and telescopes, but even in the beginning God's creativity was evident. So, being made in God's image and likeness, must include being creative and imaginative. But there is more. We are able to create and imagine things and systems, as does God, but we are also able to create and imagine life, new and perfect and whole. That is to be like God. What do you think of any of the questions raised above? Your comments are welcome. Let us pray: God, creator, thank you for making us in your image and likeness. Thank you for lavishing your love and your Spirit, your creativity and imagination upon us. Thank you for allowing us to join you in creating and imagining. In honor of Women's History Month, we begin a new series in our blog post on women in the Torah - primarily women in the book of Genesis. We will be drawing inspiration from Stephen Binz's book Women of the Torah, so I encourage you to buy it, though it won't be necessary to have it in order to follow along and participate. Our Scripture passages will be brief and these postings will be brief. Please participate by posting comments here or in Facebook. Bible study and prayer can both be richer when shared with others. Men, don't tune out just because this month will be about some of the women in the Bible. Men's and women's perspectives also enrich one another when shared. There are many fewer women mentioned in the Old Testament than men. Men of the time had greater power and status than women. Those who merited mention must have been exceptional. Tomorrow we will begin with a specific passage (Genesis 1:26- 2:3). Today, let us begin with prayer. Holy Spirit, guide us and inspire us as we begin to spend this month with our remarkable female ancestors in the faith. May we join in their journeys, laughing and crying with them, learning more about you and growing closer to you. We dedicate this time of prayer and study to you. Thank you for being with us every step of the way for there is none like you. |
AliceI started this website and blog on May 1, 2012. I am a Catholic who has been in ministry for many years. I first developed what I would call a close relationship with Jesus in the early 1970s. Ever since then I have been praying with people for healing and other needs. It is because I have seen so many of these prayers answered that I am so bold as to offer to pray for you individually through this website and phone line. Archives
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