The First Act of Courage and its Empowering Consequence

This coming Sunday’s lectionary includes an excerpt from Genesis 3. Exactly a year ago this month, I created a scripture rewrite of the entire 3rd chapter of Genesis for a devotional I wrote during the season of Lent for my church. I was inspired by many an author, theologian, and of course, the bible itself. I am expanding this idea, and creating more scripture rewrites, aiming to create a collection someday, all with hope for wholeness. The Bible cannot be the Living Word if it isn’t evolving as an incessant, dynamic revelation. Neither can we flourish in our spiritual growth if we insist on literalism and a rigid, unchanging God. Unfortunately, the latter view has caused a lot of harm. But isn’t it a marvelous thing, that we are Co-Creators…Isn’t it a healing wonder, that we can see anew…

On the subject of shame, I offer this Scripture rewrite of Genesis 3:

The First Sin and its Punishment The First Act of Courage and its Empowering Consequence

1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. But the serpent knew God’s hesitation to allow Their Children to be wise and free. It would be a vulnerable act of acceptance of God’s limited power, an honoring of individuality, a seed for potential. So the serpent, in its companionship, planned to help God, for the Divine was in all living things. The snake said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden?’” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.’ But it almost felt as though God told me this to spark my curiosity.” 4 The serpent said, “Your intuition serves you well. God knows you will not die, at least not right after you eat it. 5 God hesitates because They know that with wisdom and knowledge come consequences like pain and grief. Though your eyes will be opened, you will know good and evil.” 6 So the woman pondered the possibilities, and wondered if humanity could do more good in the world with such knowledge, even with the risks. She intuitively knew God really desired this. She courageously took of its fruit and ate; her role as the heroine of the story coming to fruition, and she also gave some to the man, who, in an amusingly passive way, was also with her, and he ate. 7 The eyes of both were opened, and they knew they were naked. They were in awe of the beauty of their bodies, and they noticed how all bodies are beautiful, in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They realized parts of their bodies were sensitive and needed protection, so now, being the practical humans they were, their labor un-gendered, both sewed clothes to cover themselves. Many years of creativity and self expression grew out of making clothing for beautiful bodies. Prophetically, future strings known as spaghetti straps were seen as just as lovely as what came to be known as sweaters. Colors, styles, and accessories were worn by all, now matter how they identified. Self control and responsibility for actions were never linked to what anyone was wearing.

8 They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they felt connected to God because they walked the ground, too. They were curious what God would say now that they had eaten from the tree of knowledge. 9 The Lord God called out to them joyfully with Their very first question to humankind, “Where are you?” 10 The man peered from behind a tree and said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden; I am wondering what you think now that I am more like you in what I know. I am also aware of nakedness.” 11 God replied, “Aren’t your bodies amazing?!” So you did eat from the tree I commanded you not to eat?” Then God said, “I confess, part of me really hoped you would eat from the tree. I wanted to protect you, but I also know what a gift it is to have this level of depth. While you will grieve deeply, you will bring forth imagination, innovation, intelligence, creativity, art, service, and meaning in ways I can’t wait to witness, but I hope you will do so with love as your guide. The snake hissed, “For be warned, if love isn’t a guide in human endeavors, evil will have its way.” 12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit from the tree. She deserves the credit.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “I knew you would be worthy of the serpent’s message. What do you think?” The woman spoke with clarity and authority, “The serpent informed me of your intentions, as well as your concern, all out of your hope and love for us. I pondered the snake’s message knowing I needed to be cautious; I took time to discern, and I trusted my own intuition.”

14 The Lord God said to the serpent,

“Little danger noodle, you are a truth teller. Your mischief threatens the status quo. Blessed are you among all animals and wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, because it is an easy way to glide along the earth. I hope you have fun slithering this way and that. You will always carry warning to others in this world, and your presence will be a reminder to pause and pay attention. 15 I will put kindness between you and all humans. Now humans will have greater respect for non-human animals, realizing they are animals, too- and consider your well being as fellow creatures in this sacred place.” The snake slithered away warning humans that a concept called, “Original Sin” would later be interpreted, but reminded them that it was never in Genesis 3.

16 To the woman God said, 

“Brave and courageous one, you are beloved. Thank God that you…(God paused…), well, thank you for breaking out of the boring in-between world. Remember that the pain of childbirth reveals how mighty the female body is, and the incredible things your body can do. The pain, paired with your powerful ability to bring forth new life, work together in a way your female wisdom and empowerment will understand. You will not just conceive in this way, but many conceptions and ideas will come forth from you. You will experience desire and deserve it. How you “mother” in any manner, will not always be easy. I have learned this now, for even God is learning, but I will be with you. You are so strong. You have full autonomy over your body, and you shall know your own self worth alone, even as you have so much to offer in relationship.” 

God had a vision about another way this story might have been written, “I will make your pangs in childbirth exceedingly great; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” God thought, “How might have humanity missed that very warning of a punishing patriarchy, and instead misinterpreted that as something I desired.” God chuckled, “Even if written that way, its a good thing the woman ate from the tree of knowledge so humanity wouldn’t be so dense as to miss such an important point.”

17 And to the man God said, 

“You were wise to listen to the woman. You will lead and work with her with mutual respect in an egalitarian society. 18 You are beloved. You too, have much to offer with your unique skills and characteristics. You deserve to live into all of your human emotions, tears, strength, and vulnerability as signs of healthy masculinity. You will play an important role as a father, or in fathering roles, and you will experience the joys and challenges of parenting/mentoring, and I will be with you.

19 To both of them God said, 

“Look to nature to see the diversity of life, and manifestations of the Divine. Thanks to the woman, you will no longer be stuck in a world of sameness. More ways of loving will manifest, adding to the glory of creation and my divine way of being through all of humanity. You will reap bountiful harvest when you work the lands with energy and community, sharing the nourishing plants you grow. But you will need to rest while you work and create, and know that it is an important part of your well-being. Take care not to allow production to become priority, self centered, or exploitative. Notice as you work the land, play, or rest among the trees, that you are part of the earth. While we are now co-creators in great privilege and responsibility, remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Do not be afraid just because you are conscious of your mortality. May death’s natural inevitability provide perspective in your calling as you live in brevity. Look to the trees when they let go of their leaves. It is hard for you to let go, but the leaves that die become nourishment for the soil.

20 The man, recognizing the treasure of a human this woman was, asked if she liked the name, “Eve”. She did. She was indeed a Matriarch, the mother of all the living. 21 Matriarchy thrived. God said to Eve, “Every woman will know that behind her; behind every strong woman, is her sacred female bloodline.”

22 God said to the other gods, as this story was one of many in folklore, with multiple deities in ancient Syrian texts, “See the humans have been made like one of us and now they might reach out their hands and take also from the Tree of Life, eat, and live forever. But now that they have knowledge, may they hold the mystery of what the Tree of Life symbolizes, and may they discover connection to many traditions where the Tree of Life reveals itself, never pitting one against the other.” 23 God looked at humans with love and ache in Their heart, knowing liberation would be an ongoing struggle toward justice. Then God set a cherubim, appropriately made of human and non-human animals, with a flaming sword to symbolically mark the presence of the Tree of Life. 24 The sword was not a symbol of violence, for God despised weapons and their false sense of power, but it signified wisdom in cutting away ignorance to reveal Truth, which was indeed a painful, but necessary endeavor. The Tree of Life was a sacred symbol; a Trinity of rootedness, grounded-ness, and heavenly reaching. The tree’s qualities were remembered by all humans as qualities they also embodied, and they lived with gratitude for life, the earth, creation, each other, and for God’s grace. They celebrated and supported each other in community. Shame was rare in form, lest any man, overcome by evil, ever tried to blame woman for boldly eating and sharing of the tree of knowledge…