Tuesday, February 17, 2015

thoughts on Gen. 9:8-17

Presbyterians have long held fast to covenant. Here is a critical one. I find the academic insistence that we read it in light of near eastern treaties to be unfruitful. I do find Terence Fretheim's approach to it as a deep commitment to god's relationship to us to be much more engaging. (see along with God in Creation, his working preacher piece on this text)

The weapon of the gods, the rainbow, here is transformed into a symbol of peace.

Still, it is a symbol for peace after a cosmic catastrophe, the deluge of the waters thought to surround the precious earth.

If one is looking for a great text to pursue Lent and the environment, what could be better?

On the other hand, one may wish to go another route and face fully the catastrophe of this flood account.

Why do you think  flood was present in other Near Easter accounts?

Did you notice that only God speaks here?

God certainly says never again a lot here. Why? What does that show of divine character?

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