Fretheim’s The Pentateuch God as Creator God as Creator God as Electing God God as Electing God God as Savior God as Savior God of the Covenant Promise God of the Covenant Promise God as One who Blesses God as One who Blesses God as Lawgiver God as Lawgiver God as Judge God as Judge God as Relational God as Relational Human Beings as Good and Responsible Creatures Human Beings as Good and Responsible Creatures Human Beings as Sinful Creatures Human Beings as Sinful Creatures

Genesis 1:1 NIV In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. NIV In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. TNK When God began to create heaven and earth -- TNK When God began to create heaven and earth -- NRS In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, NRS In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,

Genesis 1:2-5 …the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind (Spirit) from God swept (hovered) over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. …the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind (Spirit) from God swept (hovered) over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Day 1 Light (Day and Night) Day 2 Waters and sky Day 3 Dry land and vegetation Day 4 Sun, Moon, and stars Day 5 Sea creatures and birds Day 6 Earth creatures and humanity

1. The God of Israel is the creator of the cosmos. One God (not pantheon, like Babylon). No cosmic battle here. The “deep” (tehom) is not a goddess. God CREATES the sea monsters (cf. Leviathan in Job 41 and Ps. 104) 1. The God of Israel is the creator of the cosmos. One God (not pantheon, like Babylon). No cosmic battle here. The “deep” (tehom) is not a goddess. God CREATES the sea monsters (cf. Leviathan in Job 41 and Ps. 104) 2. Sun (Marduk) and moon are deities in Babylon (and in much of the ANE). Not in Bible. Sun and moon are created by God, and are created as secondary beings (light exists before their creation). 2. Sun (Marduk) and moon are deities in Babylon (and in much of the ANE). Not in Bible. Sun and moon are created by God, and are created as secondary beings (light exists before their creation). 3. The world is good! Whatever happens later, the world is a good creation. And God wills life. 3. The world is good! Whatever happens later, the world is a good creation. And God wills life.

4. Sabbath is the crown of creation. Important for Israelite identity. Profound act of trust – that God will provide. 4. Sabbath is the crown of creation. Important for Israelite identity. Profound act of trust – that God will provide. 5. Purpose of humans: 5. Purpose of humans: (in ANE) – to do the work, slaves, made out of blood of slain god (in ANE) – to do the work, slaves, made out of blood of slain god (in Israel) – for companionship, for imaging God, God calls forth someone to love. Created as image of God and filled with God’s breath. (in Israel) – for companionship, for imaging God, God calls forth someone to love. Created as image of God and filled with God’s breath. The only image of God in creation is humanity! (Look at prohibition in Ex. 20 and Deut. 5; cf. Is. 40:18ff. and Ps. 115) The only image of God in creation is humanity! (Look at prohibition in Ex. 20 and Deut. 5; cf. Is. 40:18ff. and Ps. 115)

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27) So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. (Gen. 1:27) You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them… (Ex. 20:4-5a)

Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they make no sound in their throats. Those who make them are like them; so are all who trust in them. (Psalm 115:2-8)

Gen. 1:11-12 And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation: seed-bearing plants, fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it." And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that this was good.

Genesis 1:20-25 God said, "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and birds that fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." God created the great sea monsters, and all the living creatures of every kind that creep, which the waters brought forth in swarms, and all the winged birds of every kind. And God saw that this was good. God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth." And there was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, "Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth."

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

Made in the image of God, we are called to care for the earth as God cares for the earth. God’s command to have dominion and subdue the earth is not a license to dominate and exploit. Human dominion (Gen 1:28; Ps 8), a special responsibility, should reflect God’s way of ruling as a shepherd king who takes the form of a servant (Phil. 2:7), wearing a crown of thorns. ELCA Statement: Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice and Justice

Genesis 2:7-8 Then the LORD God formed the man (adam), dust from the ground (adamah), and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. And the LORD God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till (avad) it and keep (shamar) it.