Tuesday 17 February 2009

Background

The story of Noah presents a challenge to the faith thatChristians proclaim in an all-compassionate God. God apparentlywanted to destroy not only all the wicked people, but also theentire animal kingdom. Is this the God who invites and inspireshuman beings into faithful relationship? It is important to readthe story with the understanding that from earliest times, naturaldisasters such as floods and earthquakes have taken people to thelimit of their questioning about the nature of God in the face ofsuffering. Such events continue to give rise to questions about theextent to which suffering and 'wickedness' are linked.

What is striking is that even in this early story of Noah, God isportrayed not as a vengeful warrior or angry destroyer, but as theCreator, deeply saddened and 'grieved to the heart' by that whichdivine activity has brought to birth. This is a picture of God who,in deep 'regret' for creating what appears to be flawed, continuesto accept responsibility for the outcome.

It is clear from archaeological and geological evidence, and fromother ancient 'flood narratives' (eg the Babylonian story ofUtnapishtim in the epic ofGilgamesh) that river and sea levels fluctuated, and thatflooding was a particular threat to communities and settlementsinhabiting fertile valleys. For this reason, water was stronglylinked with the constant threat of chaos and destruction.

In the New Testament water becomes linked with baptism, newbeginnings and the promise of eternal life. In the Gospel of John,Jesus engages in conversation with a Samaritan woman at an ancientwell of Jacob (John4:1-42). The promise of water to quench literal thirst becomesa powerful image of the 'living water' bubbling up from thewellsprings of faith.

To Ponder

How does the image of God 'grieving' help you torespond to challenges such as climate change, sustainability, andresponsible living?

When there are things in life that threaten tooverwhelm you - either as an individual or as a representative of aparticular community - how might the image of a sorrowing God bringcomfort and hope?

Water brings life, but can also destroy it. Inyour own faith life, what images of water are most powerful?