Jun 11 – 1 Pentecost
Genesis 1:1—2:4a
Six Days of Creation and the Sabbath

Background: Within the book of Genesis, the writers lay out the creation of the universe and all that is in it. Additionally, the writers describe the population of the earth and the willful nature of humans in God’s realm. It has been postulated that the book of Genesis was influenced by at least 4 different “schools” of thought; in today’s account we see the Priestly perspective of Creation.

Theme: In this passage we are introduced to God and God’s creative works. We will see an account of creation or possibly of ordering that which has already been created. The creation story today is the Priestly account of creation and shares many traits with other ancient Near East polytheistic religions. Principally, this story differs from other religious stories of creation by being decidedly monotheistic.

Questions to Ponder:
* Please read Genesis 1:1—2:4a.
* Some believe the book of Genesis, as it appears now, was finalized much later in Israel’s history – probably at or near the exile. How might a later dating of the final version impact the way in which the text is presented?
* What do you think the importance God’s presence from the beginning (or at the beginning) of the story of the bible is?
* What do you think the focus of this passage is? What might the writer’s motive or agenda be in this account of creation?
* What is your impression of the presence of generative and personal words like “God created… God said… and God saw…” in this text?
* In this account, God declares the creation on days 1 3, 4, and 5 “good”; day 6 “very good”; day 7 “hallowed (blessed)”; and day 2 is silent. Why might that be the case? What might the significance of silence at the creation of the heavens (that which separates the upper waters from the lower waters”)?
* Although God declares that humans were created as male and female there is no indication of why that distinction is important from the outset. Do you think that is significant?
* What do you think is the importance of this passage from Hebrew scripture? How do the difference between this story and those surrounding it imply or tell a new story about God?
* How do we recognize a still tangible presence of God in creation as identified in this passage?
* How might this passage aid or hinder the debates today of climate change, globalization, and the like?
* How do we make this passage relevant in our age of enlightenment?