Tag: theology

A Problem with Noah

Posted on by jovial_cynic
Noah is a problematic character for mainline Christian theology, which suggests that once a man is “saved” or “declared righteous,” they are sort of on an upward trajectory forever, getting better with age like a fine wine.

But the rabbis point out four things about Noah. Narratively, Noah introduces the following to humanity:

1. Planting – he plants a vineyard.
2. Drunkenness – he shames himself with wine.
3. Curses – he curses his grandson.
4. Slavery – he condemns his grandson’s house to slavery.

We tend to leave out the Genesis 9 parts of Noah’s life when we teach Sunday School to little children, but there they are in glaring detail.

There’s obviously nothing wrong with planting, but Noah’s other 3 actions seem quite disastrous.

From Genesis 5 to 8, we see a man who obeys God; his heart appears inclined towards God.

But in Genesis 9, we have a different picture. I can’t help but see an angry, bitter man who yells at his grandchildren, drowning himself in wine to cope with the tragedy of the flood.

It’s a tragic end. But God uses him.

And God said to REST

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Then the Lord said to Noah, “Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
Genesis 7:1 (NKJV)

The name Noah means “rest.” Here in Genesis 7, we know it refers to the man’s name, but if you get very, very, absurdly literal, consider this other theological statement that it appears to say:

Then the Lord said to REST. He said stop. Trust.

And because the rest of the verse describes God inviting Noah into the Ark, which represents atonement, we have this:

“Come into my protection. My dwelling. My house, you and your people. I see you desire to be with me, to be near me, to be face to face with me right here, and right now. Come. Be with me.”

I’m telling you, this is a love story.

Pitch and Atonement

Posted on by jovial_cynic

Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
Genesis 6:14 (KJV)

I don’t normally quote the KJV, but it’s one of the few translations that follow the Hebrew’s weird phrasing of “pitch it… with pitch.” You might think that is odd, but the Hebrew language has some meaning buried in it that is extremely important.

This word “pitch” is used firstly as a verb and then as a noun here, and while that doesn’t seem to make much difference, look closely at the Hebrew meanings of these words.

to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation, cover over with pitch
H3722: כָּפַר (kāp̄ar)

price of a life, ransom, bribe
H3724: כֹּפֶר (kōp̄er)

These are theological words.

The imagery we see is God’s destructive flood that covers the earth, but the boat, inside and out, is going to be covered with PITCH.

With atonement.
With reconciliation.
With the price of a life.
With a ransom.

Everything we hold dear in our faith lives inside Genesis.

The End is in the Beginning of the Next Chapter

Posted on by jovial_cynic
There’s something odd about the way Genesis is written.

If you look at Genesis 1, it’s clear that it really ends in the next chapter: Genesis 2:1-3. Go look!

Now if you read Genesis 50 (the last chapter of Genesis), it’s clear that it really ends in the next book: Exodus 1:1-7.

My theological takeaway?

The fulfillment of God’s promise may not happen in this lifetime. God told Abraham re: his descendants & the Promised Land, but it was a promise that wouldn’t be fulfilled until the book of Joshua.

God will make things right. Some now. Some later.

Hope for the Hopeless

Posted on by jovial_cynic
A story of hope makes sense only to those who first know the story of hopelessness.

“I will fix this” is a message for those who know brokenness.

Light makes sense in the context of darkness.

But this is not the same as “first, know you are a sinner.”

Genesis 1, which sets up the proper order of things, doesn’t blame the creation for its own darkness, or the land for its barrenness.

It simply acknowledges that it is. And then God fixes it: Light and Life.

Theology Summarized

Posted on by jovial_cynic

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
Genesis 1:1-3 (NIV)

Genesis 1:1-3 is the foundation of my entire theology: There is darkness, but God brings light into it and drives the darkness out of us. In as much as we are the light of the world, bearing His image, God drives out the darkness through us.