Creation: Elohim vs. Some of the Other Creation Stories

“Most of the stories in Genesis 1-11 are not mentioned anywhere else in the Hebrew Bible. This suggests that they were either not well known, or were created later than most of the other biblical materials. The Hebrew Bible also contains references to the origins of the universe that differ substantially from the Genesis stories."

The first creation narrative is Genesis 1-2:4 and uses the word "Elohim" for God. "The Yahwist narrative may have been responsible for the backbone of the event line in Genesis involving the creation of humanity, the first rebellious impulses, and the turn to Abraham. This sequence set the parameters of God’s challenge to create a people obedient to him. The Elohist source supplemented this story line, and the Priestly writers added their own episodes and created continuity to the event line by using genealogies" (Brandastra).

When compared with other passages of creation, we see some similarities and some differences. The other accounts of creation can be found in these verses:

• Isa 51:9
• Job 9:4-14
• Job 26:7-14
• Job 38:1-11
• Psalms 8:1-9
• Psalms 74:12-17
• Psalms 89:8-10
• Psalms 104:1-9
• Psalms 136:1-9
• Proverbs 8:22-31

The similarities I found were:

• The use of commanding and using spoken words to create 
• The separation of waters from the lands
• God rules the sun, the moon, and the stars
• Humanity is created in God's image to rule over Creation
• God is described at wind

The differences I found were:

• The conquering of mythological creatures (Rahab, Leviathan) 
• God as warrior conquering chaos in order to control

Being charged with writing a creation narrative using the differences, I came up with this:

The deep sea consumed everything. 

Rahab ruled all. 

God struck and tamed all things.

The waters stilled. 

They could not go farther than the Lord commanded. 

God flowed the waters out revealing the mountains. 

God commanded the sun to rise.

God commanded the moon and stars to shine.

Nothing can do anything with out God's command. 

God created humanity.

Give thanks. 

If I could write the Bible...

As an editor of children's curriculum, I get to write parts of the Bible for children. As best as I can, using the scope and sequence the editing team has crafted, I place the stories in context and use language that is easy to understand. We do not ever touch on stories like the incestual rape of Tamar with children (Though, I also wonder how many adult lessons actually talk about this?). It's violent and sad and very upsetting. You'd first have to explain what sex is to a child, and then you'd have to talk about consensual sex and how sometimes people are forced into giving their sacred bodies to someone else. I can't imagine having that conversation with a child. However, I also can't imagine sending a child out into the world without knowledge of these horrific stories. How can you protect yourself from something you do not know exists?

The ending of Tamar and Amnon's story is just as violent as the rape. Tamar's full brother (Amnon is her half-brother.), Absalom, has Amnon murdered at a dinner in front of all of the male siblings. Vigilante justice is delivered. But is this really justice? Does this "fix" what happened to Tamar? Amnon was sick over his lustful love for his sister. He was so sick over it, his cousin Jonadab noticed Amnon's torture. It wasn't until Jonadab suggests the whole plan to get Tamar into Amnon's room alone, that Amnon even allows his thoughts to become a reality. I wonder what would have happened if Jonadab had kept his mouth shut. Tamar might have never been raped, then Amnon would never had been murdered.

We were asked by Dr. Lester to reflect then add to, change, or delete from the story of Tamar's rape and Amnon's murder. (You can read it here.) I am not sure that I want to do anything to it. This story creates a space for discussion--Is this okay behavior? How might Amnon have dealt with his feelings and desires in a way that honored his body and his sister's body? How do we empower those who have been victimized by rape and rape culture? How do we rehabilitate those who have raped another? What sorts of treatment need to happen so these people can live full graceful lives? What is the role of parents in educating their children in matters of sex? How can we protect ourselves from sexual violence?

I wish that we were already in the midst of God's Kindom, but we aren't. Rape, violence, and murder go on all around us. If the stories in our Bible are meant to help us as people of faith deal with living, we have to have stories that deal with the hardest stuff. Otherwise, victims stay victimized. Things stay in the dark. If we cannot talk about them, then we can do nothing to stop it.