Our last session – and where to start? Inevitably most of the content was left uncovered. I tried to get somewhere away from the idea that fall itself was just about eating a fruit when told not too. A bit like saying ‘no’ to a toddler maybe? We discussed how surely God must have known what would happen.
I tried to move towards the serpent’s attack on Adam and Eve’s identity. Pride and the desire to be like God is usually thought of as being the root. In light of the image/idol nature of humanity teaching, what was the fall about? Yes, it includes pride of course, but there is also an attack on the divine, royal nature that has been given to them as God breathed into them to animate them in his tselem. How could they desire something that they already had?
What we could not cover
I’d like to have said more about their role to continue God’s creation out into the earth, subduing it and making it all fit for God’s presence. And if they already had knowledge of good and evil, which they clearly did, what did God mean when he talked about ‘eating of the fruit of the tree of good and evil?’ Why was the serpent in the garden if that was a holy of holies as Genesis seems to suggest? How were the consequences of their actions suited to the nature of their action? Was their a change in Adam and Eve’s nature? If God knew it was going to happen it must be ultimately good?
So many questions!
It is my hope that people went away with a new sense of the depth of the origin story. I hope that people’s faith was deepened at the profound, coherence of the narrative, and the awe of being made in God’s image.
Will there every be another course like this at EV? I’d like to think so. In the style of theology a better question might be ‘Will I ever do another course like this at EV?’ Judging by the feedback a number of people would be up for one. Others who couldn’t make it have asked for a repeat. One thing I do know is that it wont be long before its all bubbling up in me again.
What do you think?
Powerpoints for Session 6
Origins 12 – Fall-ward
Origins 13 – Fall-ward – 2
4 replies on “Origins – session 6”
Dear Edward and all!
Thank you first of all, for such lovely gatherings! Enjoyed them very much!
Edward, I can imagine and understand your excitement when one starts to deepen into the Lord’s I AM WHO I AM!
During the course, I have been taught, challenged and clarified much more about Who our God is?
Human process of thinking is fantastic and as a quality of it is that, one cannot “unknow” something one has learnt or understood! It is impossible to do so!
So, I believe that a seed for godly growth has been planted in us and it is not going away!
I was left with the wonderful sense and feeling of God’s Divine Love for each of us. Something to really treasure! Thank you!
Thanks Sara. I really was the proverbial kid in a sweet shop when I saw that Yahweh Elohim vs Elohim in Gen 2/3. I certainly wouldn’t have seen that without doing a bit of Hebrew – just goes to show!
Around October 2021 I planted a load of spring bulbs – and mostly they have been fab. However, the snowdrops put up shoots but very few flowers. Apparently it can take several seasons for the beautiful white heads to appear. Bit like what you are saying about seeds that God plants it us. They can take time to grow. What you say is so encouraging to me, because when all is said and done, that was the point of the course.
Edward. As always I’m like Oliver wanting more. No pressure. But you really have a way of unearthing questions I wouldn’t have ever dared to wonder. I love being able to process the other side of what God truly wanted for us all and to understand that we are only human, but not to see that as such a negative but how wonderful being human can really be. I’m ready for you to unleash another dose of unlocking some more awesomeness.
So glad it fired you up Joni – that’s the whole point. I discovered the other day that it’s around 10 years since I sat and first heard the image / idol teaching. Still processing. Perhaps we could look at some of the characteristics of God next? Awesome content.