Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Genesis 2:4b-9

Genesis 2:4-9
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

 Did you know there were two creation stories?  We often skip over the one in Genesis 2 -- it's hard to come to terms with the fact that there are two accounts of God creating the earth, and they differ.  What to make of that?
  I interpret it as meaning that the creation stories in Genesis aren't intended to be precise, scientific documents that explain every facet of how life came to be.  They are intended to set out the fact that there is a cause for creation, and it is rooted in a God who loves us and has power over creation.  It's not intended to spur debate between Christians, but rather to inspire awe at a God who can speak the world into being.  It's intended to call us to gratitude, that we might give thanks for being created, and to remind us that we are created in the image of God -- sin is a stain on what has been made good, and we depend on God to redeem and restore us.
  God creates, freely and lovingly, and God loves his creation so deeply that he is willing to sacrifice his own Son to bring his creation back into his loving arms.

No comments: