“I will never again curse the ground because of the
human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward
evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things." (Genesis 8:21,22)
Do I take this as a promise? It is something that God said "in his
heart" once he sensed the pleasing aroma of the incense and sacrifice of
Noah. That is a curious thing to note - that these words were a form
of God's self-talk. I can imagine God's thought process...I don't think I'll ever do that again!
Are we back to regret, or is this stronger? In looking at the causal
nature of the verbs used - the future tense, and intentionality, and the
simple fact that these words made it into scripture, I would like to
believe that this is a promise - but it is one which we can never really
test - because "never" is eternal. He hasn't yet . . . so it is a
promise that begs our trust.
This type of promise is one that highlights for me my posture toward
God as of late. So what if he breaks this promise? What if he does
change his mind? What if I choose not to take God at his word? What
would that mean for the living out of my faith? I could shake my fist
at him - and decide not to follow his instructions - to follow my own
path instead of the one he has laid out before me. That seems unwise -
if I believe that God actually does have the power to destroy all living
things. Perhaps he might decide to destroy me. I suppose I could live
in fear of God's wrath and frustration. But I don't.
In choosing to take God at his word - I walk a freer path. I am free
to follow his instructions - and free to make mistakes along the way. I
am free to question - is this really the right path? I am free to
wander a bit. And in choosing to believe - I join together with other
believers who are walking the path. Hopefully it is easier to find our
way together - and if we take a wrong turn we are trusting that God is
not going to wipe us out but call us back to his way.
Sometimes, when I contemplate the evil in and around us, I wonder if God regrets making this promise.
But hopefully, each time we care for one another and follow the way of
Jesus - he is reassured that we are well worth the effort.
Maybe God doesn't need the reassurance - but I am sure that I do.
On Genesis 8:13-22 (Disembarkation and Promise) Fretheim writes: "God initially responds with an internal commitment to the future of creation (vv.21-22), conveyed as an unconditional promise to Noah in 9:8-17 (formally comparable to 6:7&13). God's response expresses faithfulness not only to Noah but also to the larger creation. According to 6:18, God's commitment to Noah remains firm and involves more than his personal future. God's recognition of Noah's righteousness (7:1) and God's remembering of Noah and the animals (8:1) also reveal a committed relationship. Noah's sacrifice is thus not simply an occasion for or the cause of God's response; it symbolizes a vital relationship. the totality of Noah's relationship with God (not just the sacrifice) mediates God's new relationship with the creation...curse will no longer by he decisive divine relationship to earth. God enters into the unfolding effects of the curse (of which the flood was a climactic instance), not allowing it to control the future of humankind or the creation...the divine blessing and promise enter anew upon the scene and begin to break down the effects of the curse...God changes the ways and means of working toward divine goals for the creation." - New Interpreter's Bible, Vol.1 p.393
ReplyDelete...the flood functions for Israel as an illustration of the certainty of God's promises (Isa 54:10). The flood typifies the inviolability of God's promises. - New Interpreter's Bible, Vol.1, p.395
ReplyDelete...God decides to go with the world, come what may in the way of human wickedness. God makes this promise, not simply in spite of human failure, but because human beings are sinful (8:21). The way into the future cannot depend on human loyalty; sinfulness so defines humanity that, if human beings are to live, they must be undergirded by the divine promse. - New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 1, p. 396
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