The Promise

Just because I read this book in segments doesn't make it any less One. Big. Story. Genesis 7-11.

As Noah enters the picture, so does a practice that becomes central to the story: establishing a covenant. This is about promise, relationship, and an unbreakable tie between God and people. This is a good thing for Noah's family and the zoo in tow.

If covenants are so good, and such a strong symbol of God's love and care toward people, why were there no covenants in Eden?

The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the separation of how people see their relationship with God, and how God sees it. One view is flawed, insecure, jealous, uncertain, inaccurate, and changing. The other view is not. Both are, however, powerful enough to influence the course of human history... which is being framed in these chapters.

In Eden prior to The Fruit Incident, people (Adam and Eve) aren't confused about how God sees them. They experience connection, equality, confidence and completeness as individuals and as a unit. Qualities which already seem out of reach by Noah's time which is characterized by corruption, evil and violence. People are confused in their relationships with each other and with God, who seems distant and mysterious now. The creation God placed on earth and filled with His Breath goes on "rewind" as the select few are drawn to the ark and shut in by God himself. The rest, erased.

In a type of re-creation, the land and waters are separated again. The people, the animals, the plants, emerge again. And God says the new word: covenant. In the first creation, God's relationship didn't have to be proven. It was shared fully and viewed accurately. Now human perception is misleading, and proof of relationship with a sign and reminder is God's response to Noah, the 2nd Adam, and his family. What didn't need proof before is now proven, for the sake of people having something to cling to so that they might know and stay close to God: Hope.