Saturday 14 February 2009

Background

This is the first question we have from God to humanity in theBible.

When we ask similar questions of ourselves - "Where am I going inlife?" - or at more desperate times - "What is the purpose oflife?" - it is often a sign that we have lost our way. Some askthese sorts of questions as part of a midlife crisis and theychange their careers as a positive move, or their marriagepartners, leaving pain and heartache as they sort out their ownway.

Here God's question is directed at human beings who are alreadylosing their way and losing the way of God. The question is a veryhuman question but directed at human beings who are not as God hadhoped they might be. The question reminds us of Isaiah 55:8, "...nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord".

Verses 9-24 were, of course, written primarily to explain both thepain of childbirth and also the harsh farming conditions of much ofthe ancient Middle East.

The clothes are, some say, symbolic of the grace of God and,whereas some older translations rendered the Hebrew of verse 23 as"banishing" humanity from the Garden, the NRSV (New RevisedStandard Version) has God 'sending them forth'. This is as if theyhave come of age and are now seeking their own way. And yet verse24 shows that they cannot return either.

To Ponder

What would you like to go back and put right inyour life? What cherubim and swords prevents you?

When and why might you sometimes feel far fromGod?

What and who could help you at these times?