Episode four: we have human version 2.0 , pt 1?
Let’s revisit what full humanity is from Genesis 1.26-27. When humanity is together, there is the full expression of the image of God.
Here’s a little experiment….
What happened as you listened to the sounds in that file in the early minutes of the recording? What was your initial response? Why is that? What does it say about you? About us, humanity?
After Genesis 3 - It’s all downhill from Eden (literally and figuratively)
Overview of consequences: Cain, Lamech’s boasting, antediluvian context, had a good think with Noah, but only until Noah got drunk on a mountain, and the dispersion and decline continues (Genesis 7-11).
Then Abraham and Sarah, and God seems to take another path (Genesis 12)
The children of Abraham are not the “chosen of God” in a way that makes them special or part of an exclusive club. It’s more like Costco, less like the EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony Tracy Jordan wanted this) club.
Repairing the Damage
God provides multiple tracks to repair the damage of Eden.
One track: Abraham and Sarah will create a family of reconcilers bring the world together again.
A second track: The prophets, but Isaiah especially, will remind the people that the goal is not world-wide domination by means of some Judean People’s Front or the People’s Front of Judea (kudos to Monty Python), but as a “light to the nations’”. God’s unending goal is to get the family of humanity back together again
Isaiah 11; 42.6; Is 49.6; Is 60.3,
returning exiles from Babylon
plus returning the scattered children on Noah as described in Genesis 10).
This sheds new light on John 8.12 (as well as below in reference to Daniel 7)
Third track: The other track God pursues is reworking the whole adam thing again, but with a twist.
Read Daniel 7
Babylonian mythological beasts vs the Human One (aka the son of man)
1. Dream with four empires as beasts
2. A redeeming “human one” 7.13
3. Resulting a restored Eden-like relationship between people and earth
The Human One – Jesus’ main way of speaking of himself in the third person. Mat 8.20; 9.6; 11.19.
A little sidetrack on Kumbaya, see: https://www.npr.org/2012/01/13/145059502/when-did-kumbaya-become-such-a-bad-thing ; and https://youtu.be/Ca9s9UiHYvE?t=15
The image of God remains a possibility to be activated? Present, but latent? The image of God is actualized in reconciliation (Isaiah’s hope of bringing people together)?
Let us know what you think, and what questions you have. We are figuring this out as we go. Our huge disclaimer is that we are learning too, and that we might be wrong, but we believe that through conversation around the scriptures, with a community of faith, we can begin to discern. So, partnership with others is crucial in this adventure.
Musical intros, transition music, and the outro are by At the Speed of Darkness. You can support At the Speed of Darkness through purchasing his music on Bandcamp. https://atthespeedofdarkness.bandcamp.com/