This is a story we think we know. But the truth is…many of us never really hear it.
Today we read a creation story. Now most of us have got an idea of “the Biblical creation story” in our heads. But actually…today we read the second creation story in our Bible. We usually mash the two together, and end up not really hearing what each one has to say. The first begins with chaos… and through poetry, creates order. In the first day God created…and it was good. In the second day God created…and it was good…and so on and so on. The earth is created…then the skies and waters, the plants and animals…and then humankind is created in God’s image…male and female. And everything is good. And then…God takes Sabbath…to enjoy all the goodness of creation.
But this second ancient creation story begins when there are no plants yet or any living thing. It begins when there is only dirt. And God scoops up dust…dirt…from the earth –in Hebrew, “ha adamah” — and breathes into its nostrils (I love that detail)…the breath of life…to make a human being – in Hebrew, “ha adam”. The word Hebrews used to talk about humans, “adam”…..was simply a derivation of the word for earth. Really, a better translation would be that God scooped up dust from the earth to make an earthling.
So what does that mean? The stuff that is us…is the same stuff that is under our feet. We are part of the earth. It makes up our DNA. It means we are connected — our lives, our health…are intertwined with the life and health of the earth. From the beginning. This is how creation starts….how God designed things.
And then…after creating the earthling…God plants a garden. And out of the garden flows the waters…the four rivers… that give life to all their known world. But, in contrast to the first story…there is something in this creation that is not good. It is not good that the earthling…the human being…is alone. So God decides to make a helper and a partner…in Hebrew, and “ezer-neged”. Now when we think of a “helper”…we often think of it as a subordinate. Someone who assists…like “mothers little helper”. Or we think of the “The Help” in the way people have often referred to those who do their menial work and who they believe are inferior to themselves. (Some of you may have read the book). But the Hebrew word “ezer” that we translate as help is used 21 times in the Old Testament. In every instance it refers to one who rescues Israel…usually in the midst of war. Sixteen of those times it refers to God. “O God…you are a very present help/ezer in times of trouble”. “The Help” in this case is not a term of subjugation…but rather it is a term of strength. This help is heroic…it saves. And the word that is translated partner here…is “neged” in Hebrew simply means “equal to”. What God intends to create is an equal partner for the earthling, to rescue and save them…from what? From being alone. It is Not Good for humans to be alone.
So then what happens next? Then God creates all the living animals — birds, cattle, every living creature. In the Hebrew, it says the animals were also created from the “ha adamah”…earth. And God also gives them a spirit…”nephesh”. God creates all these living things…just as God created the earthling…why? To save the earthling from loneliness. Living creatures were not created for the earthling to use and abuse….but as partners in this shared life. It’s true, they were not found to be “ezer-neged”…helpers equal to the earthling…but still…that was why they were created…and given spirits and souls.
I am struck by how much this ancient creation story echoes the Native understanding of creation. Here we have the earth as our source, our mother…and all living creatures as our brothers and sisters. We are connected to everything…and God’s Spirit pervades it all. As people of the Book, readers of the Bible….as Christians…we should be as passionate as Native Americans in our respect for the earth and all animals. We should be just as aware of our interconnectedness. We should be just as concerned about the health of the rivers and the salmon — the buffalo and the frogs…the soil and the air. It is stunning that the supposedly “Christian” white settlers were the ones who ignored the voices of the Native Americans that insisted, over and over, on our intrinsic interdepence and kinship with the earth. Because this is our story…our creation story too. But again…it is one that so many people think they know…but have never really heard.
The story continues, of course…and finally…in God’s desire to find someone to save the earthling from their loneliness….God puts them to sleep. And the way the story gets told here, is that God takes a rib and makes it into a woman. The Hebrew word is “zela”. Lord knows how people started translating it as rib. Nowhere in the ancient Hebrew is it used to mean “rib’. It is only used to refer to the side-wall of a building. So God took a side wall of the earthling….split the earthling in two, basically…because that was the only way to create an equal partner…to save them from their loneliness. And the earthling declares himself to be “ish” – “man” at that point…and the other to be “isha” – “woman” ….flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. In this one…the human sees their own self. In you I see me. Flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. And this is what saves us.
And they were naked…and unashamed.
This is a story about how we are saved. We are saved…by recognizing that we belong to each other. That we are part of one another. We are saved when we find joy and delight in caring for one another, helping one another, living life together.
We are saved when we have nothing to prove…no axes to grind…no grudges to hold…no power to wield. When we are naked and unashamed…when we simply know we are enough just as we are…you are enough…good…just as you are..
Of course, everything goes south in the next chapter. Sin enters the picture. Wanting to be God. Wanting to know good and evil….not just the good that is God but the evil that is greed and power and concern for only oneself. Luther called sin “in curvatus se”…a curving in on one’s self. Instead of seeing ourselves interwoven in the fabric of creation…we see ourselves as most important…the only ones that matter in creation. Instead of seeing ourselves in others — flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone – we separate the welfare of others from our own. We look out for number one. And we are lost.
But this story…this story…should remind us every day…of who we are made to be. What God intends for us.
It is not good for us to be alone. Most of the heartbreak I hear…is from people who feel alone. Who have no one to listen. No one to share their day with. No one to hold their hand. If you ask me why church matters…that is huge part of it. We are here to make sure that no one is alone. We are here, to look at one another…and say…you are part of me. Flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. You matter. When you are hurting…I am hurting.
We are here to be reminded that we really are one body…we really are interconnected…this whole human family. No person matters less than any other person. No part is inferior or “less than”. We are here…to listen…to share…to hold each other’s hands. We are here to laugh together and cry together…to hold each other up…to lift each other up. That is what church is about. That is what life is about. This is our story. May we truly hear it. And may we live fully in its goodness. Amen
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