genesis 1-2:3

what it means to be human

creation

1. light / dark

2. sky / waters

3. land / seas

4. sun, moon, stars

5. birds, fish

6. beasts, HUMANS

7. rest

days 1-3

separates

• light from dark

• sky from waters

• land from seas

days 4-6

fills

• light/dark with sun, moon, stars

• sky with birds, oceans with fish

• land/sea with beasts & humans

chiasm

literary device, like a treasure map

1. ABC | D | CBA (inverted around D)

   1. D is most important point

2. ABC | ABC (parallel)

genesis was originally written in

hebrew

Genesis patterns of seven

• seven hebrew words in Genesis 1:1

• seven days

• “it was so” - 7 times

• multiples of 7 (# of words in verses)

Genesis patterns of 7

• “to make” - 10 times

• “according to its kind” - 10 times

• “and God said” - 10 times

  • 3 times, talking about PEOPLE

  • 7 times, talking about creatures

• “let there be” - 10 times

  • 3 times, referencing heaven

  • 7 times, referencing earth

chiasm #2

mo’ad(im)

mo’ad(im)

“season(s)” or “sacred times”

• festival / party - taking a break

• first hearers = Isrealites

  • context → Moses would have told this to the Israelites

• the day starts with rest in the evening → you’re not defined by what you do, you are valued because of you are human

  the first lesson God wants to teach the Israelites out of slavery is to take a break

day 7 - rest doesn’t seem to end

the supremely good creations are full of potential to flourish and grow

storytellign and data is not an

either / or

data doesn’t change behavior

emotions do