In The Nature of Contemporary Criticism by Michael Pomazansky, he describes the complex notion that biblical scripture is uniquely a combination of both magnificent and ordinary. He alludes to the idea that biblical text is the most representative of the sacredness of God’s extraordinary work, although sometimes the message of God was transmitted through the authors and was not expressible in words (http://www.passaicrussianchurch.com/books/english/biblical_criticism_pomazansky.htm). Specifically, he states that biblical authors were “above common religious-moral level, capable of sensing and of absorbing the inspiration of the forces of grace and of rising to spiritual heights, of experiencing the illumination of mystical light” (http://www.passaicrussianchurch.com/books /english/biblical_criticism_pomazansky.htm). However, he also expressed that “these same Scriptures contain an abundance of ordinary material: sacred and popular traditions, genealogies, religious and civil law, historical events, pictures of everyday life” (http://www.passaicrussianchurch .com/books/english/biblical_criticism_pomazansky.htm). The book of Genesis is a perfect example of how the bible highlights certain genealogies, particularly focused on the family of Abraham and his lineage. Chapters 25-27 of Genesis are a great example demonstrating the extraordinary yet ordinary aspect of the bible because they describe the subtle and relatively ordinary life of a family who, even though they are sinners, experience the vastness of God and His ultimate influence.
These chapters of Genesis depict the story of Abraham’s son Isaac, and his two sons Hsau and Jacob. Originally, Isaac and Rebekah struggled to conceive a child as Rebekah was barren, but the Lord responded to Isaac’s pleas and Rebekah miraculously conceived twin boys. God told Rebekah and Isaac, “two nations are in thy womb, the one shall be stronger than the other, and the elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). Both boys grew up into very different individuals and received different attention from their parents (Rebekah loved Jacob and Isaac loved Esau). As the older son, Esau is prepared to receive the family inheritance and blessing from Isaac, but instead, Jacob disguises himself as Esau and serves his father on his deathbed. After Jacob receives Isaac’s final blessing, Esau resents Jacob and Jacob travels away to avoid Esau’s wrath. Ironically, Jacob then becomes the father of twelve sons and favors his one son Joseph as his father favored Esau. The story of Jacob then continues to involve betrayal, famine, forgiveness and is an ultimate example of God transforming evil into something good.
In the beginning of Genesis during the creation story, the phrase “and it was good” follows almost every creation (Genesis 1:25). This theme of God creating and transforming good from evil appears continuously throughout Genesis such as the story of Abraham and his lineage, the story of Joseph and his brothers, and the Tower of Babel. In all stories within the text, humans attempt to achieve autonomy from God, but God transforms their evil into good and saves His people.
Chapter 8 of When God Spoke Greek discusses the gradual demand for an English translation of the bible during the Middle Ages. Although English was once viewed as a servant/low class language, it developed into a “language of choice of a nation with increasing sense of national identity and shared purpose” (McGrath 30). Therefore, the spread of national pride and international status greatly influenced the demand for an English translation of the bible (McGrath 36). This notion that historically, religion was meant for certain individuals and was not accessible to all relates to Genesis 12:1-3 when God promised and blessed Abraham. God explained that through Abraham and his family, all nations and people of the earth would have God’s blessing. The text states “I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shall be a blessing, in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3). Therefore, scripture clearly states that God blessed all people of the world and everyone should be able to find God’s blessing. The historic limitation of scripture only accessible to certain classes, sophistication, and literacy clearly contradicts the scripture in which God states that all of His people have His blessing.
The two discussion questions relative to Genesis 25-27:
- “Two nations are in thy womb, and two manners of the people shall be separated by thy bowels; the one people shall be stronger than the other people, and the elder shall serve the younger” (Genesis 25:23). When God speaks to Rebekah and tells her that she is pregnant, he uses language describing two nations of people, which nations is God referring to?
- When Esau and Jacob were born, Esau was delivered first and Jacob was born holding onto the heel of his twin Esau. What is the symbolism/foreshadowing of this?
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