Text 1: Genesis 1-9

The passage is familiar to many people - particularly Genesis 1 & 3. The themes are grand, and the issues raised are controversial, going to the heart of the question of whether the Christian faith is true and believable, and whether or not it has real significance for how we are to relate to each other, to the world, and to God.

What struck me as I read these chapters?

Genesis 1: Two things - the distinctions made, and God's generosity reflected in the abundance and proper functioning of creation; "I give you ...", "be fruitful", etc. There are three big distinctions made that stood out: firstly between God and the world, secondly between humans and animals, and thirdly between animals and the rest of the (inanimate) world including plants. God and the world are completely 'other', in the first instance - God acts, and the world does as it is told. Animals are part of the world (e.g. produced, in some sense, by the land - vs 24), but are given a task - to fill the earth (vs 20), and rights - at least the right to eat plants! (vs 30). Humans are given the same right as animals to eat plants, and as birds and fish to fill the earth, but are also dramatically distinct from the rest of creation - they are given authority to rule over other creatures, and are specially made to represent God (vs 26). The whole chapter seems to be very much about ordering the world, and setting up distinctions. This leaves open, of course, the many questions about chronology and methodology which our scientific age will raise; I don't see them being the main function of this text, or even really addressed by it.

Genesis 2: The focus now zooms in towards humankind and their relationship with their creator and with each other, having been made male and female.

Genesis 3: God's had generously provided many options for life, including a range of food sources, with one proviso - don't eat from one tree, associated with moral knowledge (in some way). But it turns out that that particular tree had very desirable fruit (vs 6); it seems it was nutritious, looked good, and made whoever ate it smarter/wiser - the ultimate health food, perhaps. The serpent's role here was not hard. But the consequences of eating from that tree, in disobedience to God, were death in the long term, separation from God now, and broken/trouble-ridden human relationships now too.

Genesis 4: Cain, the horticulturalist, didn't give God what God wanted. Not sure what to make of this, but perhaps it goes back to the earlier animate/inanimate distinction from Genesis 1. Maybe we can say, borrowing from Leviticus, that only the death of something that had the breath of life in it is deemed to be of religious importance.

Genesis 5: Work is hard (vs 29), as should be expected from earlier chapters.

Genesis 6: Humans were completely corrupt, and for once in the Bible, got the fitting punishment - complete destruction. It's not a happy story. The exception was Noah, who was - it seems uniquely - in relationship with God. He sounds like a great guy until we get to chapter 9. It's helpful to read a chapter like this in light of what the New Testament teaches - that the appropriate response by God to human error is indeed, uncomfortable as it is, to end human error by ending human life, but an alternative has been provided in Jesus.

Chapter 7: This was a big flood.

Chapter 8: after chaos, God re-establishes order, and adds a dimension of promise (building on earlier promises) to His relationship with humans.

Chapter 9: Just in case you were tempted to leave this story saying "wow, how awesome was Noah?!"
God's promises/gifts were unconditional here -it's worth reflecting on.

So, those were the first nine chapters of what God has spoken to human beings - I've just scratched the surface, but there's plenty to think about.