GENESIS: Snoopy's Short & Snappy Review

[Mendalla]

Genesis 11:1-9 is exactly what Bette had in mind. It really has "Just So" story feel to it about how humanity became divided by language.

There is, of course, no archaeological evidence for such a tower but it has been suggested by historians that the image of a tower reaching for heaven came from things like the ziggurats, huge pyramidal mounds in cities like Ur and the even older Uruk. Some of those are pretty high and are impressive even today, thousands of years later.

Of course, we have yet another long genealogy but one that has signficance given it ends with the move of Abraham and Sarah, along with Abraham's father and nephew, from Ur (note the mention of the site of one of the most impressive ziggurats) to Canaan, though it seems they found another place to settle en route.

 

[Mendalla]

The ziggurat of Ur as reconstructed in modern times:

 

[Mendalla]

And the ruin of the older one in Uruk (home of Gilgamesh according to the epic)

 

[paradox3]

I wonder how much progress the people had made on the tower when God came down and stopped them. (v. 5 - 8)

 

[Mendalla]

I wonder how much progress the people had made on the tower when God came down and stopped them. (v. 5 - 8)

We haven't found their Gantt charts yet, eh.

Day 23 - Completed fifteenth story.

Day 24 - God put a stop to the project and demolished work to date.

Handwritten aside: I have no idea what I wrote there. My language has suddenly changed.

 

[paradox3]

Genesis 11:1-9 is exactly what Bette had in mind. It really has "Just So" story feel to it about how humanity became divided by language.

So a story that's meant to explain a natural or cultural phenomenon? Unlike other myths which talk about the gods and their doings? Wait. Some myths do both.

Of course, we have yet another long genealogy but one that has signficance given it ends with the move of Abraham and Sarah, along with Abraham's father and nephew, from Ur (note the mention of the site of one of the most impressive ziggurats) to Canaan, though it seems they found another place to settle en route.

Genesis 11 marks the end of the primeval history.

Genesis 12 - 50 gets into ancestral history. Tomorrow we will meet Abram and Serai as they are still called. Chapter 12 will tell us about a little impropriety. Who knew,?

 

[Mendalla]

Little improprieties seem to happen to these patriarchs, eh (thinks of naked Noah and cringes).

 

[paradox3]

Little improprieties seem to happen to these patriarchs, eh (thinks of naked Noah and cringes).

I know, right? Naked and drunk, no less.

 

[Mendalla]

Babel, like the Flood and the Ark has become a major cultural reference and touchpoint even for those not necessarily Jewish or Christian.

For instance, one of the major works of speculative fiction last year was Babel; Or The Necessity of Violence by R.F Kuang. The story is set in a magical version of imperial Britain where translation and language are important for magic (along with silver). Kuang racked up a couple major awards for it. Babel in the story refers to the tower where the fictitious Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford works.

Babel, or the Necessity of Violence - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[GordW]

Why was God so unhappy with the tower to heaven?

Years ago my Hebrew Scriptures prof suggested that the text suggests that God is a little bit worried/anxious/afraid that if the people complete the tower "nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible" (vs7)

 

[Mystic]

One of my Harvard NT professors liked to say that the Pentecost outpouring of the Spirit in Acts 2 is a reversal of Babel.
At Babel the confusion of languages leads to the scattering of the people. In the Pentecost outpouring pilgrims come from all over the Mediterranean and hear the 120 speaking their country's languages, languages that the tongues speakers themselves don't understand.

 

[Mendalla]

I think I have heard that before and it makes sense, really.

 

[paradox3]

Babel, like the Flood and the Ark has become a major cultural reference and touchpoint even for those not necessarily Jewish or Christian.

Ditto for the Garden of Eden, I would say. Especially Eve and the forbidden fruit (usually depicted as an apple).

 

[BetteTheRed]

I'm especially touched by the hopes of the people. They build their tower in the hope that they will not be scattered. There is no suggestion that they know who god is or that what they are doing is wrong.

 

[paradox3]

Good morning! Here is Genesis 12:

Snoopy's Snappy Review: God picks Abraham. Who knows why?

Bible Gateway passage: Genesis 12 - New English Translation

The Obedience of Abram - Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. Then I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will make your name great, so that you will exemplify divine...

www.biblegateway.com

God calls Abram to leave his home and promises to bless him and make him a great nation. We don't know why Abram is chosen but he does what God asks of him.

Abram and Serai travel throughout the region of Canaan. God appears and promises the land to Abram and hus descendants. They travel by stages down to the Negev.

A severe famine tales place so they move to Egypt. Since Serai is beautiful, Abram knows the Pharaoh will want her and he fears he will be killed. They claim to be brother and sister and Serai goes to live with the Pharoah. Many gifts are given to Abram.

God is not pleased and sends diseases to Pharaoh's household. Abram and Serai are expelled from Egypt.

 

[paradox3]

Snoopy wonders a few things. First of all, does anyone remember the campfire song, Father Abraham?

Why did Father Abraham have such an unfortunate beginning to his life in Canaan? Famine, the flight to Egypt and his wife taken by the Pharoah? You might expect such an important figure to meet with success from the get-go.

What is it with these biblical characters and beautiful women? Snoopy is reminded of the angels in Genesis 6 who interbred with the beautiful daughters of men.

Why is exile such a common theme in the Bible?

 

[unsafe]

Why did Father Abraham have such an unfortunate beginning to his life in Canaan?

This is from the Amp Bible ---

Abram Journeys to Egypt​

12 Now [in Haran] the Lord had said to Abram,

“Go away from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;

Abraham disobeyed the Command ----as he took his nephew Lot with him ----and then lied about Sarai being his wife out of fear for his own life ----so we see here Abraham was disobedient and had a selfish motive when he met Pharoah ----

11 And when he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “Listen: I know that you are [c]a beautiful woman; 12 so when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me [to acquire you], but they will let you live.

13 Please tell them that you are [d]my sister so that things will go well for me for your sake, and my life will be spared because of you.”

Disobedience and wrong motives don't sit well with God -----for either Abraham or Pharoah -

What we see here though is the Patience - Grace and Mercy God shows to Abraham and His wife ---as He could of easily blotted them Out and said I am done with you both---but He doesn't as He sees Abraham's faith in action when he obeyed His Command to leave his homeland and to follow Him ---and God knows the heart of a person -----

Why is exile such a common theme in the Bible?

Exile plays an important Part in God's plan in the Old Testament ------Exile serves as a punishment for disobedience and sin ----it separates people from access to God ---as God's Face is turned from sinners ----and it can spur repentance -----it brings one to reflect on their sinful acts when they have experienced God's Grace and Mercy in their life -----

 

[Mystic]

"By faith Abraham believed when he was called to set out for a place where he was to receive an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8)."

The call of Abraham is a major source of inspiration for viewing life as a spiritual journey with unforeseen stages, trials, adventures, and lessons.
St. Augustine famously expresses the essence of this journey: "Understanding is the reward for faith. Therefore, do not seek to understand in order to believe, but believe so that you may understand." Augustine taught us to launch out in faith passionately but provisionally, asking the hard questions and letting new insight guide an ever evolving overview of God and the life of faith. The alternate approach of expecting God to meet our standards of intellectual inquiry and proof just does not work; we must respond to God's call on God's terms, not ours, and then see which interpretation makes the best sense of all the relevant data of our experiences, insights, and lessons.

 

[paradox3]

@unsafe
Did God mean for Abram's wife to accompany him, do you think? I was a bit confused about Lot in the reading. He is mentioned twice. Is there only one Lot (the nephew)?

Yes, Abram was deceitful when he lied about Serai being his sister. Interesting that God intervened and Pharoah released them.

I'm curious about why God picked Abram in the first place. We know God chose Noah because he was a righteous man. Maybe the same should be assumed here.

 

[unsafe]

@unsafe
Did God mean for Abram's wife to accompany him, do you think? I was a bit confused about Lot in the reading. He is mentioned twice. Is there only one Lot (the nephew)?

Yes I would say God wanted Sarah to accompany him as when the wife cleaves to the Husband they are ONE -----

There is only one Lot who is the nephew of Abraham --I don't see Lot mentioned twice in Genesis 12 -------Lot has big trouble come upon himself down the road here because of his bad choice -----