Rest

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.  Genesis 2.2  NIV

7 “Let us go to his dwelling place,
    let us worship at his footstool, saying,
8 ‘Arise, Lord, and come to your resting place,
    you and the ark of your might.
. .. .
13 For the Lord has chosen Zion,
    he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,
14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever;
    here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.  Psalm 132.7-7, 13-14  NIV

 10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety.  Deuteronomy 12:10 NIV

These are other verses used to make the point that God's rest means his reigning in peace.  As security and stability allow people to go about the normal functions of life, they similarly allow God to rest in his reigning.

 

Engagement without Obstacles

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.  Genesis 2.2  NIV

Wait.  All-powerful God who created the cosmos with his word needs to take a nap now that it's finished?  What are we missing here?

A lot, says John Walton.

Proposition 7 in his book The Lost World of Genesis One is "Divine rest is in a temple."  If we look at Genesis 1 as telling of material creation, then day 7 is anticlimactic, the exciting six days of creation having been finished.  Original hearers/readers, Walton says, would understand day 7 in a very different way.  Ancient Near Easterners would have known "deity rests in a temple, and only in a temple.  That is what temples were built for."  In this culture rest is what happens when a crisis has been averted and stability achieved.  At this point normal routines can be established and enjoyed.

"[God's resting] is more a matter of engagement without obstacles rather than disengagement without responsibilities" (Walton, page 72).

How long is the seventh day?

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.  Genesis 2.2  NIV

Do you notice something missing from the seventh day?

There is no concluding statement, "And there was evening, and there was morning—the ______ day."  Scholars tell us this an intentional exclusion because the seventh day, God's day of rest, unlike the others, is ongoing.  Whatever state God was in on day 7—subject of next entry—he is still in today.

How long are six days?

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.  Gensis 1:31-2:1  NIV

So we have the world created at last!

Putting aside the question of when this happened (already discussed), how long did the six days of creation take?  Six days, you say?  Maybe so.  But we are talking about an ancient piece of literature about which many smart people disagree, so maybe not.

Here is a quick review of the three primary interpretations.
1.  Creation took place in six 24-hour days of one earth week--the 24-hour view.
2.  Each day of creation was eons in length as the earth was developed over time--the day-age view.
3.  The six days are a literary device to show how things were set up (days 1 to 3 creating space and days 4 to 6 filling it) rather than a chronology--the framework view.

I can add John H Walton's functional creation view that Genesis 1 is a narrative of God assigning role and function to the earth which he had previously created.

All four have strong and weak points.

Here's a fifth proposition from the esteemed mathematician and theologian John C Lennox.  In chapter 3 of the aforementioned Seven Days that Divide the World, Lennox explains why he believes that the text of Genesis 1 to 2:2 can be read as referring to six 24-hour days that happened eons apart from each other.

So on the evening and morning of creative day 1 God says "Let there be light" and there is light!  Then there are unknown eras of  days as the coming into existence of light works itself out in our world.  The next time we read "And God said" we get a day in which the vault of sky or atmosphere (perceived as a solid dome) is created and then the ages of time with the working out of that before the next big act which separates dry land from the waters.  So the days are consecutive, but not necessarily one right after the other.  Each one inaugurates a new era.

THE fifth day

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.  Genesis 1:31  NIV

Here's a tiny detail about this sentence noted by John Lennox in Seven Days that Divide the World.

"A further grammatical point should be made. In many English versions of the Bible the days of Genesis are rendered as 'the first day, the second day,' and so on, each having the definite article. However, even though the Hebrew language does have a definite article (ha), it is not used in the original to qualify days one to five. Basil, a fourth-century bishop of Caesarea, thought this significant: 'If the beginning of time is called one day rather than the first day, it is because Scripture wishes to establish its relationship with eternity. It was, in reality, fit and natural to call one the day whose character is to be one wholly separated and isolated from all the others.' What is very striking is the additional fact pointed out to me by Old Testament scholar David Gooding: although the Hebrew definite article is not used with the first five days, it is used for days six and seven. A better translation, therefore, would be 'day one, day two, ..., day five, the sixth day, the seventh day'; or, 'a first day, a second day, ... the sixth day, the seventh day.'
These then are the facts. The next question is, how should we interpret them?"

Blood Suckers

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.  Genesis 1:29-30  NIV

Along with the pouncing lion and other meat eaters, the existence of blood-dependent vampire bats brings into question how this picture of a peaceful, vegetarian world with no bloodshed can be reconciled with our predatory world.  How to explain?

Here's one idea.  Some creation biologists theorize that at one time the bats ate only insects.  But when plucking an insect from a mammal's body would sometimes inadvertently pierce the skin and get mammal blood too.  Over time these bats came to prefer this to their original diet.

From May 17th entry of Inspired Evidence:  Only One Reality by Julie Von Vett and Bruce Malone

Animal vindicator?

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.  Genesis 1:29-30  NIV

It's interesting to check out some of the fringe ideas on these things.  While cooking the other day, I listened to a guy who proposed that according to these early Genesis verses, all taking of life, by humans or by animals, is against God's will.  This is jumping ahead in the story, but his proposal is that even though God tolerated it, Abel sinned by taking an animal's life and that Cain then killed his brother in a fit of righteous indignation over the loss.  That's a different take!

Where is the pouncing lioness?

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.  Genesis 1:29-30  NIV

Wait.  What?  Where are the steaks?  Where the sushi?  Where's that wasp that lays its eggs inside a living caterpillar?  Where are the world's great predators:  sharks, wolves, crocodiles, bears, spiders, owls, and the prowling cat family?  Could it be that these were originally herbivores with chewing teeth not ripping teeth?
 

This is unimaginably far removed from our world where so many creatures, including most humans of course, live in part or whole by consuming others.  Could it be that our violent predator and prey world is not what God originally intended?  Is it possible that the animal kingdom was created with no food chain?  No slaughter of animals for meat?  All eating green plants?  This is difficult to even imagine, and an evolutionist would doubtless give the idea an eye roll, but it sure sounds like it here in Genesis 1:29-30.  Just sayin.

Responsibility or License?

26 ... and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”  28 And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”  Genesis 1.26, 28  Amplified Bible

It's obvious that God is giving us stewardship of the earth here, responsibility for its care, not a license to exploit for our individual purposes, right?  

Or am I looking through my assumptions again?!

Fill the earth: Check

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”  Genesis 1.28a  NIV

We seem to have done quite well at fulfilling this mandate at least.

Check out this fascinating video from worldpopulationhistory.org.

For the fast version, click on the arrow at the bottom right hand of the page and watch what happens on the earth as time passes.

For the almost 6-minute version with explanation, click Menu on the right and from the drop-down click Watch the Video.

Link

Why did the earth need to be subjugated?

26 ... and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.”  28 And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”  Genesis 1.26, 28  Amplified Bible

Today's Burning Question:  Why did the earth need to be subjugated and the other creatures dominated?

Nature does get pretty wild.  Does God like seeing dense forests turned into parks and grasslands into cultivated fields?

How have we influenced the animal kingdom, the fish, the birds?

Maybe word choice in the translations is too strong.  Compare have authority over to dominate and subjugate.

Some postulate that the world in Genesis 1:26 and 28 is not the world created in Genesis 1:1.  They say an enormous gap exists between verses 1 and 2 and that during this gap Satan fell and evil began.  They say that this threw the creation of verse 1 into the tohu wabohu (see March 5 entry) of verse 2.

My True Love suggests that maybe God just wanted to give humans something to do--an idea not out of line the conclusion of the previous entry.  :-]

Once again we have more questions than answers.

For God? For animals? For mankind? Why the rule mandate?

26 Then God said, “Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the cattle, and over the entire earth, and over everything that creeps and crawls on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 And God blessed them [granting them certain authority] and said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subjugate it [putting it under your power]; and rule over (dominate) the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and every living thing that moves upon the earth.”  Genesis 1.26-28  Amplified Bible

--switching to the Amplified Bible for a different voice--  

In other creation stories of the Ancient Near East, man is created to serve the gods and provide for their needs.  Not so Genesis.  In the Hebrew account, God makes humans in his own image so that they can rule, have authority over the other creatures.  Rather than assert his rule over them (as their creator), God shares the responsibility to rule with them.  He gives them the power to affect and change their world.

We are not given a reason for this divine choice.  Did God give humanity this mandate to save himself work?  Given that he creates the world with a word, that makes no sense.  Perhaps he gave this rule to the man for the benefit of the animals and the earth?  Does man provide better care than God?  

Can we say then that it's possible God gave man the authority to rule for man's benefit?  Through the successes and failures of ruling, man can learn and grow, be influenced and change, better glimpse the heart of his ruling God?

How many?

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  Genesis 1.26-28

My intention is to try hard to look at early Genesis without the preconceptions and worldview glasses through which I have read it over the decades of my lifetime.  It's a challenging and fascinating task and I'm thankful for the many others who have made their observations and thoughts easily available.  Each one helps me to see in a new light.

So  let me ask this of anyone else who, like me, has been reading this text for one hundred years.  How many people does Genesis 1 report are being formed here?  And, by the way, where does this action take place?

Us: Hebrew or Christian Interpretation?

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness . . . . "Genesis 1.26  NIV

Blogger Paul Sumner has a studied opinion on this use of the plural.  I quote from his website  hebrew-streams.org.

"Historically, most Jewish commentators have said the Creator is here speaking to the angels of the heavenly assembly, his divine court. Most Christian interpreters have said the texts allude to interaction within the Triune Godhead.

"In the last century, there has been a marked opinion shift among Christian commentators toward the traditional Jewish interpretation. The reason for this shift has not been due to ecumenical feelings but to a different approach in reading the Hebrew Bible ("Old Testament" in Christian terms).

"Most commentators now believe the Bible should be interpreted on its own terms, without imposing later theological beliefs or agendas, either Jewish or Christian.

"In other words, these verses in Genesis (and passages like Isaiah 41:21-23 ...) need be viewed in light of their own contexts without biased interpretation. The desire is to understand what Moses or Isaiah, Jeremiah or the Chronicler understood by what they themselves wrote, in their own times.

"This doesn't mean the original meanings cannot have implications beyond their contexts. Later biblical writers often appropriate and extend earlier texts to their own time or into the future. But, in my view, those 'implications' should not contradict or turn the original words upsidedown."

Just so you know . . . .

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness . . . . "Genesis 1.26  NIV

Just so you know, there are theories out there that the "us" refers to God and space aliens.

The Council of Heaven

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness . . . . "Genesis 1.26  NIV

Who is us?
God speaking in the royal plural?

It is generally understood to refer to the trinity.  That the Holy Spirit was present too is stated in Genesis 1.2.  Verses like Psalm 104:30 add support:  "You send forth your spirit, they (all creatures) are created; and you renew the face of the ground."  How about Jesus?  The New Testament teaches that he was present at creation too.  Colossians 1:16 "For by [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through him and for him."  And John 1 "the world was made through [Jesus]" (verse 10).

Here is an idea I would not have thought of except for reading Robin A Parry's book the Biblical Cosmos: A Pilgrim's Guide to the Weird and Wonderful World of the Bible.  The Divine Council.  Huh?  Surprisingly, says Parry, we have scriptural evidence to believe that some biblical authors may have considered the sun, moon, and stars to be associated with deities, perhaps members of the heavenly council.  Not that they were polytheistic.  Clearly Jehovah alone was accepted as ruler over all!  But there are references to "sons of God Most High" (Psalm 82.6, Job 38.4-7), "holy ones" (Psalm 89.6-7), "the host of heaven" (Isaiah 24:21).  And how to explain Deuteronomy 10:17's assurance that the Lord your God is God of gods?

Another mystery to ponder.