01-04-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
January 4, 2024
In Genesis 12, we find Abram and Sarai (they will have their names changed to Abraham and Sarah) on the move, choosing to leave behind everything they had known and go to the place where God would lead. The purpose of this journey is announced by God in vs. 3 where we read:

“…all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you” or it could be translated as “…all the families of the earth will find a blessing because of you.” 

As a side note, the word we translate as “earth” is the word adamah, which comes from the name for the first human adam. This makes sense, as the first human was, according to Genesis 2:7, drawn and formed from the soil, the earth.

When Genesis 12 speaks of “all the families of the earth,” it carries with it a double meaning. Yes, we are talking about all the families on the face of the earth, residing on soil/dirt. But it also points to that universal origin. There is no person who comes from a place of superiority, and someone else from a place of less importance. And even though our culture is moving further and further away from the earth, to point to soil as our origin was not a negative in the ancient world. And it shouldn’t be a negative for us.

We have forever been connected to the earth, for it is sacred life. Gracious God, provide us with the capacity to see that all the families of the earth are sacred life, and it is our task to help others experience the blessings of life, light and love. Amen.