Here is the final part of our look at Genesis 1 from a more Hebrew perspective than is normal for Gentiles. Having realised that any passage will probably need more than one post (or a post that few would read to the end!), I have decided to take a default position of limiting myself to one passage per month. Keep a look-out for the next one - in July (DV).
If you haven't read the previous two parts, I would recommend doing so before reading this one!
Sadly, due to a crafty serpent’s trickery, Eve sinned and Adam sinned soon after her; humankind went from grace to disgrace in a single day! Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent, and men and women have been pointing the finger at others ever since. There, in the Garden, for the first time in human history, we see the emergence of shame. With shame came forth a fear of God’s wrath. In his utter humiliation, Adam hid among the trees, having become aware that he was naked. He attempted to cover his disobedience (of which his awareness of his nakedness was a result. The human body, per se, had already been declared "good" by YHWH!), by his own efforts, but "... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Heb 9:22), and so an animal had to die in order that YHWH could provide adequate covering for the sin of those first humans. How many, even today, are deeply conscious of their own shortcomings (sin!), but try to cover their sin by their own efforts and good works! But that never can be effective. Listen to Paul, again: “... by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God – not because of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9; emphasis added). So, from their utopian, sheltered, and innocent existence in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were thrust into a cruel and unforgiving world of hardship and pain.
If you haven't read the previous two parts, I would recommend doing so before reading this one!
Sadly, due to a crafty serpent’s trickery, Eve sinned and Adam sinned soon after her; humankind went from grace to disgrace in a single day! Adam blamed Eve, and Eve blamed the serpent, and men and women have been pointing the finger at others ever since. There, in the Garden, for the first time in human history, we see the emergence of shame. With shame came forth a fear of God’s wrath. In his utter humiliation, Adam hid among the trees, having become aware that he was naked. He attempted to cover his disobedience (of which his awareness of his nakedness was a result. The human body, per se, had already been declared "good" by YHWH!), by his own efforts, but "... without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins." (Heb 9:22), and so an animal had to die in order that YHWH could provide adequate covering for the sin of those first humans. How many, even today, are deeply conscious of their own shortcomings (sin!), but try to cover their sin by their own efforts and good works! But that never can be effective. Listen to Paul, again: “... by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God – not because of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9; emphasis added). So, from their utopian, sheltered, and innocent existence in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were thrust into a cruel and unforgiving world of hardship and pain.
The good news, however, is
that none of this came as a surprise to God. Even before the foundations
of the earth were laid, God had a plan for redemption. God sent His one
and only Son, Yeshua (Jesus), to pay the penalty for all of our sins. The
Gospel (Good News) according to John echoes the Creation story. The very
first word of this book is the very same first word found in the Torah:
“In the beginning [Bereisheet] was
the Word (HaDavar), and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through
Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made… And the Word became
flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:1–3, 14)
Yeshua was there at the beginning, and
John describes Him as the agent of creative power, the power that made
everything through the spoken word (davar). It is also
through Yeshua, who is called HaDavar (the Word), that we enter into
a relationship with God and our true conversation with Him begins.
When we submit to Yeshua, HaDavar has a
home in our hearts. This means we are born again and given a new beginning as
a child of the Heavenly Father, the God of the Universe. Hallelujah!
Have you yet submitted your life to Him - Who willingly gave His life for you?
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