Allow Genesis to Tell Its Own Story

Reflections

Larry R Evans

Have you ever tried to tell a story only to have someone interrupt and tell their own? I wonder if we don’t do that sometimes with God. Take the book of Genesis, for example. There is much debate today over the book of Genesis. Albeit critical issues are being debated, and we have no intention of minimizing their importance, but other critical insights for our time will remain buried if we restrict our probing to the current debate. We do lament the fact that it seems to be more of a debate than a dialogue for growth and understanding. Sometimes more is told about our Christianity by the way we defend truth than the truth we are defending. Recently I finished reading an insightful book by Marva J. Dawn entitled, In the Beginning God: Creation, Culture, and the Spiritual Life. The book’s focus is on chapter one to three of Genesis. I’ll share a few thoughts from her book as well as some personal reflections.

Establishing a biblical worldview is perhaps one of the most important disciplines confronting any of us. A worldview enables us to make sense out of whatever happens to us and the world around us. Keeping God at the center of any worldview is vital but how He is understood is equally important. Dawn exposes vital insights from the first three chapters of Genesis with the aim to help us “to cope with difficult experiences, be more grateful than proud when occasions go well, more trusting that God is still in control when the world seems totally chaotic.” (pp.110-111) “With this understanding that God embraces us all in His love and grace—indeed, in Himself—we can confidently frame our answers to existential questions that haunt us all in our postmodern times.” (p.111) Some of life’s probing questions do find some resolve in the early chapters of Genesis though a fuller picture is given when all of Scripture is pulled together. The insights from this first book of the Bible are profound. They are practical. Genesis lays the foundation for answers to such questions as . . .

Who am I? What is my identity?

We are created in the image of God but we are not the product of some kind of a “cookie-cutter” approach. We are each unique and that is by design. Being created in the “image of God” must not be limited to some kind of physical form though even that would be a stretch. It is said in the context of “let us.” (Gen.1:26) This suggests a particular kind of relationship not a mere physical form. Foremost, we are reminded that we are cherished and have a destiny beyond our present circumstances.

To whom do I belong? To whom do I pledge my loyalty?

The more we allow God to reveal Himself the more we see that He is trustworthy. His patience exceeds our understanding. Before we even sinned, He had already planned the way for us to be forgiven and become reconciled to Himself. God will never leave us though we may choose to leave Him.

Why am I here? What is my purpose?

Our supreme moments are when we praise and worship God. The more we understand God’s works of grace the more we are fulfilled and come closer to living in the image of God.

What is wrong with the world? Why is there so much disorder?

At this juncture we are tempted to give simplistic answers but Genesis 3 broadens our view. The impact of sin is wide. What is wrong is a combination of “evil forces from outside ourselves, the influence of our peers, the corrupted attractiveness of God’s creations, and our own easily manipulated attitudes and actions. Most of all . . . each of has a narcissistic bent that makes us all want to be equal with God, and therefore we spoil God’s perfect designs.” All of this goes to reinforce one very important point: We can’t rescue ourselves. We need help from beyond anything we can do or accomplish or command. Genesis lays the very foundation and the assurance of the gospel message.” (p.113)

How can it be fixed? What is the remedy for sin and evil?

The book of Genesis by itself doesn’t answer the question fully but it gives some important hints. God’s plan for forgiveness from sin and the restoration from evil is implied but not fully developed. If there is one important thought that rises to the surface after reading Genesis 3 it is that God can be trusted to fix the problem. Leaving the ultimate outcome in His masterful and merciful hands is a lesson not easily learned or accepted in a time and culture that beckons “if it is broken then fix it.” God’s solution will ultimately do just that.

Why should I live? What gives meaning to my existence?

Throughout Genesis we find important insights to this question. The LORD (Genesis 2 introduces this added concept of God – the relational, caring, loving covenantal God) God has given us the job of tilling the ground. We join Him in His work of nurturing life. By doing so we honor him and give meaning and fulfillment to our own life. Note Dawn’s statement on this concept:

“Life has a lovely meaning when whatever we do nourishes someone or something—parenting, gardening, garbage collecting, nursing, answering the telephone, plumbing, painting. The list is endless because God’s creativity is unceasing. We find our meaning because our life matters to God. That makes meaning as eternal as He is.” (p.116)

Take Time to Absorb the Bigger Picture of Genesis.

Of course, all of this is superfluous if we don’t see God as the Creator but Genesis doesn’t offer that up for debate. Let’s not get so bogged down in the debate over our own issues that we don’t see God for whom He is, and we for whom we are and the future God has for Him, you and me. No wonder there is such a magnificent theme in the first and last books of the Bible about worship! Bearing the image of God in all of our relationships – with God, with ourselves, with one another and, yes, with the earth—is such a privilege and a responsibility. It is reflective of the meaning behind the capstone of all creation, the Sabbath. Genesis lays an important foundation on which all Scripture connects. Let’s let Genesis tell the full story it is intended to tell.