Within this chapter, we see a shift in perspective from the author of Genesis. The subtitle, "Another account of creation" in the middle of verse 4 indicates that we are seeing a different voice telling the story. Most scholars believe that Genesis actually may be composed of at least four different authors or schools of thought.
Within this second account, we see the man is created before the trees and the animals where humans come last in the previous chapter. This is nothing to worry about as if the Bible is not true. The story-telling nature of these ancient peoples means that truth comes not in the details as a post-enlightenment mind might believe, but rather in the larger truths of how we treat one another and how we interact with God.
Jesus makes note of this particular passage when he speaks of divorce in Mark 10:1-12. Within the time of Jesus, divorce was fairly common and yet, Jesus calls them to a different standard, a higher standard. In this time, women did not have as many options once they were divorced. They would have been marginalized in first century society. So a prohibition against divorce was not to keep the hierarchy intact as much as it was to keep the women from being forced into prostitution in order to survive.
Today, we would not insist that someone stay in an abusive relationship. Women have more options and people do not need to marry to survive. At the same time, we may allow people out of their marriages a little too quickly on other grounds. We know what it means to cling to one another and become one flesh, but can we think about it from a spiritual perspective?
How do two people know one another while at the same time retaining their individual natures? To do so might meant that we are naked or exposed to one another as we truly are and are not ashamed as mentioned at the end of chapter two. If we took this seriously and really knew and valued one another, we might not be so quick to end our relationships.
Divorce is one of the most painful things people can experience. My writing this is not to demean people who have survived divorce but to try to encourage people to fully explore their relationships before ending them. Unfortunately, it takes two to make a marriage work and if one is unwilling to continue, the other person doesn't have many options.
Gracious God,
May we find your image in those we know.
May we recognize your image in ourselves.
May we be more comfortable with who you have made us to be.
May we have the courage to be our true selves with those we know.
May we encourage others to relax around us so they may do the same.
Amen.
Within this second account, we see the man is created before the trees and the animals where humans come last in the previous chapter. This is nothing to worry about as if the Bible is not true. The story-telling nature of these ancient peoples means that truth comes not in the details as a post-enlightenment mind might believe, but rather in the larger truths of how we treat one another and how we interact with God.
Jesus makes note of this particular passage when he speaks of divorce in Mark 10:1-12. Within the time of Jesus, divorce was fairly common and yet, Jesus calls them to a different standard, a higher standard. In this time, women did not have as many options once they were divorced. They would have been marginalized in first century society. So a prohibition against divorce was not to keep the hierarchy intact as much as it was to keep the women from being forced into prostitution in order to survive.
Today, we would not insist that someone stay in an abusive relationship. Women have more options and people do not need to marry to survive. At the same time, we may allow people out of their marriages a little too quickly on other grounds. We know what it means to cling to one another and become one flesh, but can we think about it from a spiritual perspective?
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The relationships we form
in our families should
allow us to truly be ourselves!
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How do two people know one another while at the same time retaining their individual natures? To do so might meant that we are naked or exposed to one another as we truly are and are not ashamed as mentioned at the end of chapter two. If we took this seriously and really knew and valued one another, we might not be so quick to end our relationships.
Divorce is one of the most painful things people can experience. My writing this is not to demean people who have survived divorce but to try to encourage people to fully explore their relationships before ending them. Unfortunately, it takes two to make a marriage work and if one is unwilling to continue, the other person doesn't have many options.
Gracious God,
May we find your image in those we know.
May we recognize your image in ourselves.
May we be more comfortable with who you have made us to be.
May we have the courage to be our true selves with those we know.
May we encourage others to relax around us so they may do the same.
Amen.
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