Bad Boys of the Bible:. Barbara J. Essex
YHWH Elohim said, “See, [adam] has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—therefore YHWH Elohim sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. YHWH Elohim drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden YHWH Elohim placed the cherubim, and a sword flaming and turning to guard the way to the tree of life. (Gen. 3:22–24)
While God did indicate that the tree of life was off limits, God can no longer trust the humans to leave it alone. God evicts them from the garden after giving them suitable clothes to cover their nakedness. Even in the midst of the mess, God extends divine mercy and care. But the humans are exiled from the place of harmony and innocence. They can never return—this is, in a sense, a death sentence!
ADAM DOES NOT SPEAK either to argue with God or to nurture or console the woman. He plays a passive role again. Adam is elevated to the wise “first” man, but such designation is a stretch. While adam shows some creative and imaginative leanings in naming the animals and birds; and he shows tenderness and compassion in composing his love song to the woman, he is fairly passive. He does not communicate directly with the woman. He does not correct her understanding of the command given specifically to him by God. He does not enter the theological discussion with the serpent. He does not refuse to eat the fruit when offered.
When adam does speak, it is to whine to God about the woman he had been given as a partner. He has gone from a lovely love ballad in Genesis 2:23 to an unhealthy whine in Genesis 3:12. His gratitude has changed into scapegoating. Adam takes no responsibility for his silence or his decision to eat. He exhibits no care or defense for himself or for the woman. He passes his responsibility off to her and accuses her and God of making him disobey the commandment. And adam pays a heavy price for his transgression and silence.
Of course, we might wonder if adam has been set up to fail. In both creation stories, it is God who sets the agenda. If humans are truly created in the image and likeness of God, then they have the capacity to choose. In creating them, God has left open the possibility that they will choose against the divine will and purpose. That is, God must live with the freedom given to the humans. So God should not be surprised or dismayed when the humans exercise their freedom, and the humans should not be penalized for exercising this freedom.
Further, God placed the possibility of death in the midst of creation. In the place where humans live, breathe, and have their being, there is also the specter of death. God has given the humans both freedom and limits. It is not clear how the humans are to distinguish between the two; as creative, thinking, active beings, they will push boundaries to the limit. The judgment of God is quick and unequivocal—and may seem too harsh to our sensibilities about punishment fitting the crime. But remember that the shapers of the tradition have a larger theological message to convey; complete and total reliance on God results in good choices and a good life. Disobedience brings alienation, separation, disunity, and disharmony. Disobedience disrupts creation and all relationships. Instead of open, caring, and loving relationships, now we must deal with suspicion, distrust, anger, shame, and hostility.
God did not make it easy for adam. But adam did what he did and paid the price!
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1 What is your reaction to the fact that there are two creation stories? Which do you prefer? Why?
2 What kind of person is adam? What are his strengths? His weaknesses?
3 How is authority exercised in each of the two creation stories? Who exercises authority? In what ways?
4 How do you exercise authority? When? Where? Over whom? For what reasons and toward what ends?
5 What message do you think the shapers of these stories wanted to send to those who would hear them?
6 What advice do you offer adam about his life? About his leadership skills?
7 God created humans in the divine likeness and image. How, then, should we behave in our relationships at home? At work or school? In our communities?
8 Under what conditions are you self-assured and most self-confident? Explain.
9 Have you ever hesitated or failed to express your opinion when you disagreed with someone? What can you do to be more assertive?
10 How do you understand God from the two creation stories? What are God’s strengths? Weaknesses?
11 How do you handle fear? Embarrassment? Explain.
12 Have you ever been a scapegoat? How did you feel? What did you do?
13 Have you ever blamed someone else for something you did? What happened?
14 Is there someone you need to forgive? What prevents you from doing so? What support do you need in order to forgive someone?
15 Is your work a blessing or a burden? Explain.
16 What is your mission in life? Be specific. Are you fulfilling your mission? If so, how? If not, why not?
17 Does God’s punishment of the serpent, woman, and man fit their “crimes”? Explain.
18 The man is silent in the face of the woman’s power and strength. Does this happen today? Explain.
19 How are you created in the image and likeness of God? Where do you fall short? Explain.
20 In Paul’s first letter to Timothy (1 Tim. 2:12–15), he explains why women should be silent: “I permit no woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she is to keep silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing, provided they continue in faith and love and holiness, with modesty.” Explain how Paul misinterpreted the Genesis texts.
21 There is little interaction between the man and woman in the text. What advice do you offer them concerning a healthy marriage?
22 How do you develop and strengthen your own leadership? The leadership of others?
23 What is mentoring? How are you mentoring others in the various areas of your life?
24 Adam does not question the woman’s choices or her understanding of their “world.” What does this suggest about his leadership abilities? What advice do you offer him?
*In this book, “YHWH” designates the Hebrew for “LORD” and “YHWH Elohim” designates “LORD God.”
2
CAIN: “AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?”
Read Genesis 4:1–16.
Cain is a man tied to the land who rightly worships God by bringing of his bounty. But he pouts when God rejects his offering. He is horrified because God also rejects him. Rather than deal with God, Cain takes out his anger and frustration on his hapless brother, Abel, whose very name suggests one who is transitory, fleeting. When God confronts Cain, Cain lies, and becomes petulant. He basically tells God that if God is so concerned about Abel, God should be keeping him rather than expecting Cain to do so. God makes Cain pay, and Cain complains that the punishment does not fit the crime: that he was concerned about his life but had no concern for his brother Abel’s. A man tied to the land is forced to roam the countryside, although his descendants will build cities. Both Adam and Eve are absent from the story—Cain is left to fend on his own. God maintains a relationship with him, though, and provides for his safety.
The story of Cain and Abel is foreshadowed by tragedy: the Adam and Eve debacle. We are prepared to envision life outside the Garden of Eden as marred by bad choices and subsequent consequences. Cain goes down in infamy as a bad boy because he is the first recorded murderer in the Bible. After killing his own brother, he utters perhaps one of the most convicting questions ever: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This question has haunted theologians, poets, novelists, sociologists, anthropologists, and screenwriters.