Fretheim’s Fretheim’s The PentateuchThe Pentateuch God as CreatorGod as Creator God as Electing GodGod as Electing God God as SaviorGod as Savior God of the Covenant PromiseGod of the Covenant Promise God as One who BlessesGod as One who Blesses God as LawgiverGod as Lawgiver God as JudgeGod as Judge God as RelationalGod as Relational Human Beings as Good and Responsible Human Beings as Good and Responsible

CreaturesCreatures Human Beings as Sinful CreaturesHuman Beings as Sinful Creatures

Genesis 1:1Genesis 1:1

NIV NIV In the beginning God created the In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.heavens and the earth.

TNK TNK When God began to create When God began to create heaven and earth --heaven and earth --

NRS NRS In the beginning when God In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,created the heavens and the earth,

Genesis 1:2-5Genesis 1:2-5 ……the earth was a formless void and the earth was a formless void and

darkness covered the face of the deep, darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind (Spirit) from God swept while a wind (Spirit) from God swept (hovered) over the face of the waters.(hovered) over the face of the waters.

Then God said, "Let there be light"; and Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.light from the darkness. God called the God called the light Day, and the darkness he called light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.was morning, the first day.

Day 1Day 1

Light (Day and Light (Day and Night)Night)

Day 2Day 2

Waters and skyWaters and sky

Day 3Day 3

Dry land and Dry land and vegetationvegetation

Day 4Day 4

Sun, Moon, and Sun, Moon, and starsstars

Day 5Day 5

Sea creatures and Sea creatures and birdsbirds

Day 6Day 6

Earth creatures Earth creatures and humanityand humanity

1. The God of Israel is the creator of the cosmos. 1. The God of Israel is the creator of the cosmos. One God (not pantheon, like Babylon). No cosmic One God (not pantheon, like Babylon). No cosmic battle here. The “deep” (tehom) is not a goddess. battle here. The “deep” (tehom) is not a goddess. God CREATES the sea monsters (cf. Leviathan in God CREATES the sea monsters (cf. Leviathan in Job 41 and Ps. 104)Job 41 and Ps. 104)

2. Sun (Marduk) and moon are deities in Babylon 2. Sun (Marduk) and moon are deities in Babylon (and in much of the ANE). Not in Bible. Sun and (and in much of the ANE). Not in Bible. Sun and moon are created by God, and are created as moon are created by God, and are created as secondary beings (light exists before their secondary beings (light exists before their creation). creation).

3. The world is good! Whatever happens later, 3. The world is good! Whatever happens later, the world is a good creation. And God wills life. the world is a good creation. And God wills life.

  

4. Sabbath is the crown of creation. Important 4. Sabbath is the crown of creation. Important for Israelite identity. Profound act of trust – for Israelite identity. Profound act of trust – that God will provide.that God will provide.

5. Purpose of humans:5. Purpose of humans: (in ANE) – to do the work, slaves, made out (in ANE) – to do the work, slaves, made out

of blood of slain godof blood of slain god (in Israel) – for companionship, for imaging (in Israel) – for companionship, for imaging

God, God calls forth someone to love. God, God calls forth someone to love. Created as image of God and filled with Created as image of God and filled with God’s breath.God’s breath.

The only image of God in creation is The only image of God in creation is humanity! (Look at prohibition in Ex. 20 and humanity! (Look at prohibition in Ex. 20 and Deut. 5; cf. Is. 40:18ff. and Ps. 115)Deut. 5; cf. Is. 40:18ff. and Ps. 115)

So God created humankind in his image, So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27)(Gen. 1:27)

You shall not make for yourself an idol, You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.the earth. You shall not bow down to You shall not bow down to them or worship them… (Ex. 20:4-5a)them or worship them… (Ex. 20:4-5a)

Why should the nations say, "Where is Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?"their God?" Our God is in the heavens; Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases.he does whatever he pleases. Their Their idols are silver and gold, the work of idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.human hands. They have mouths, but They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.do not speak; eyes, but do not see.

They have ears, but do not hear; noses, They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.but do not smell. They have hands, but They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats.make no sound in their throats. Those Those who make them are like them; so are who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them. (Psalm 115:2-8)all who trust in them. (Psalm 115:2-8)

Gen. 1:11-12Gen. 1:11-12

And God said, "Let the earth sprout And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was fruit with the seed in it." And it was so.so. The earth brought forth The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants of vegetation: seed-bearing plants of every kind, and trees of every kind every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that this was good.God saw that this was good.

Genesis 1:20-25 God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and birds that fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." God created the great sea monsters, and all the living creatures of every kind that creep, which the waters brought forth in swarms, and all the winged birds of every kind. And God saw that this was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

Genesis 1:26-28Genesis 1:26-28

Then God said, "Let us make Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."upon the earth."

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Made in the image of God, we are Made in the image of God, we are called to care for the earth as God called to care for the earth as God cares for the earth. God’s cares for the earth. God’s command to have dominion and command to have dominion and subdue the earth is not a license to subdue the earth is not a license to dominate and exploit. Human dominate and exploit. Human dominion (Gen 1:28; Ps 8), a dominion (Gen 1:28; Ps 8), a special responsibility, should reflect special responsibility, should reflect God’s way of ruling as a shepherd God’s way of ruling as a shepherd king who takes the form of a king who takes the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7), wearing a crown servant (Phil. 2:7), wearing a crown of thorns.of thorns.ELCA Statement: ELCA Statement: Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope,Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope,

and Justiceand Justice

Genesis 2:7-8Genesis 2:7-8

Then the LORD God formed the Then the LORD God formed the man (man (adamadam), dust from the ), dust from the ground (ground (adamahadamah), and breathed ), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living and the man became a living being. And the LORD God planted being. And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he there he put the man whom he had formed.had formed.

Genesis 2:15Genesis 2:15

The LORD God took the man and The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to put him in the garden of Eden to till (till (avadavad)) it and keep (it and keep (shamarshamar)) it. it.