The Pattern of Judgments (A Cycle Beginning with New Creation and Ending with Judgment) - Part VI
The Parallelism of Genesis 1-3 and 7-9
Introduction
As stated in Part I, Genesis 1-3 contains a group of sixteen themes/events1 which combine to form a particular pattern that is repeated numerous times throughout the Bible. I call this the Pattern of Judgments. The Genesis 1-3 thematic pattern starts with Adonai (the Lord) initiating some form of New Creation, and ends with Him meting out judgment upon those who have transgressed His commandments in some egregious manner. In the meantime, actions are performed by either man or God to provide redemption, some type of healing or bridging of the gap between man and God. The first example of this full cycle can be seen in Genesis 1-7, where Adonai initiated the cycle with the creation of the heavens and earth (Genesis 1:1-2), and then the cycle is brought to an end with the judgment of Noah’s flood (Genesis 7). Thus, Genesis 1-7 is what I term a major cycle of this Pattern of Judgments. Chapter 8 then starts a new major cycle with a “New Creation” of the earth out of the chaotic waters of Noah’s flood.
For most of the articles in this series, I have used the following paradigm to trace the Pattern of Judgments through the narratives. Our method to understand how the pattern repeats itself, and to perceive this pattern when it occurs, is to always thematically connect the events in the Biblical narratives back to the sixteen foundational themes established in Genesis 1-3. My previous articles focused on understanding how to see the Minor Cycles (of which there are three) of the Pattern of Judgments found in Genesis 1-7. In this article I’d like to take a different approach. Instead of focusing on the Minor Cycles I want to focus on Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 7-9 together. Our task today is to show how Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 7-9, when read in parallel, present a pattern of how 1) Adonai will choose some representative from mankind to exercise authority in the earth in His name, 2) that representative will fail to fulfill his mission, 3) the failed mission will lead to a divine judgment, and 4) despite man’s failure, Adonai will successfully implement a divine plan of redemption to save those who are His.
You will remember that in an earlier article I taught you about one of the Bible’s most often used literary devices, the parallelism. A parallelism is a literary device used to tell a story in such a manner that the progression of themes in the first half of the parallelism matches the progression of themes in the second half of the parallelism in thematic content and order. The pattern is similar to this:
This is one of the most profound and convincing techniques the Bible uses to match themes for you in order to teach some lesson. My theory of the case is that certain themes in Genesis 1-3 are repeated in an orderly, chronological and planned manner in Genesis 7-9. It’s as if certain themes in Genesis 1-3 have pre-determined the thematic progression of events in Genesis 7-9 in an irresistible manner! This should not be a surprise to us, because the Bible is a supernatural, prophetic book, God-breathed and utterly inspired by the Spirit of Adonai. With that in mind, let’s see how it is Adonai’s intent for us to connect Genesis 7-9 to the creation account of Genesis 1-3. On the left side I am going to list a series of themes which occur in Genesis 1-3 in chronological order. Then, on the right side, I will show you how each of those themes is repeated in the same order within the narrative of Genesis 7-9.
There are ten themes in this parallelism labeled A-J. As you compare A to A and B to B (etc.) on either side of the page, you will easily see the thematic connections between the two stories. The parallelism is shown below. I have used bold, italicized print to emphasize the themes connecting the parallel passages. Lastly, notice how the ten themes in both stories occur in chronological order within their respective narratives, and yet each theme matches perfectly with each other when they are considered in a parallel arrangement!
The Parallelism of Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 7-9
Even just a cursory examination of the parallel themes in these two stories confirms the hand of Adonai at work in the recording of these stories. Let’s look at each of the ten thematic connections more closely.
Connection A
Genesis 1:2a—Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.
Genesis 7:17-23—Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth. 18 The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark moved about on the surface of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered. 20 The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man. 22 All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died. 23 So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.
Both the account of the flood and the account of creation record the usage of water in their narratives as a primary subject matter.
In Genesis 1:2a we are told that the darkness was over the surface of the deep, whereas in Genesis 7:18, we are told that the ark moved about on the surface of the waters.
The words translated as formless and void are the Hebrew words tohu and bohu, respectively. These words are used elsewhere in the Bible and convey the thought of utter destruction, chaos, desolation, devastation and ruination! Although the denotation of chaos and destruction may not seem evident in Genesis 1:1-2, it is certainly apparent in Genesis 7! It’s easy to see how the flood account of Genesis 7 is a perfect thematic match with the Hebrew words tohu and bohu (found in Genesis 1) and their meanings. The flood waters were waters of chaos, devastation and ruination as they destroyed all life on planet Earth except those huddled into the ark. The earth was in a state of desolation as the bodies of millions of people were scattered over the surface of the waters as a result of the catastrophic deluge.
Connection B
Genesis 1:2b—And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
Genesis 8:1b—And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.
The Hebrew word for spirit is ruach, and it can mean either breath, wind or spirit. Therefore, we can easily see the connection between the Spirit of God and the wind which passed over the earth, for they are one and the same Hebrew word.
Connection C
Genesis 1:6-7—Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,
and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.Genesis 8:2—The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.
Notice in Genesis 1 that Adonai used the firmament to divide the waters from the waters in the newly created heavens! Thus, there was water above the firmament (heavens) and waters under the firmament. The flood account also mentions water above and below, in that water gushed from below the earth and from above the earth, providing a plentiful source of water to inundate the earth.
Connection D
Genesis 1:9-10—As the waters were brought together, dry land appeared; Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.”
Genesis 8:3-5—As the waters receded, dry land (mountain tops) appeared; And the waters receded continually . . . the tops of the mountains were seen.
Both passages mention the appearing of land as waters divided!
Connection E
Genesis 1:11-12—After the waters were brought together revealing land, it began to sprout vegetation; Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so.
Genesis 8:10-11—After the waters receded revealing dry land, the dove brought back evidence of vegetative growth; Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth.
These two passages have the common theme of the bringing forth of new vegetation from an earth that had been covered with the waters of chaos.
Connection F
Genesis 1:14-19—Creation of the luminaries; Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years.
Genesis 8:13-14—And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. 14 And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried.
These two passages are thematically connected through the theme of calendar dates. In Genesis 1:14-19 we read about the creation of the sun, moon and stars. Furthermore, we are given instruction about their purpose—to allow the determination of signs, seasons, and for days and years. Genesis 8:13-14 specifically revealed the year, month and day that the waters were dried up from the earth!
Connection G
Concerning Genesis 1:24-29: For the first time animals and man (with the breath of life) appear on the earth; the man was commanded to rule over the animals (and the rest of creation; man and the animals were commanded to be fruitful and multiply; Adonai commanded Adam concerning what was food, what was proper to eat and what was improper to eat (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil); Adonai “created man in His image, in the image of God.”
Concerning Genesis 8:15-9:7: Breathing creatures and man appear on an earth that was devoid of breathing creatures; concerning the animals, Adonai told Noah to “order them out” as he and his family emerged from the ark; Adonai said, “let them teem on the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth”; Adonai commanded Noah concerning what was food, what was proper to eat and what was improper to eat (meat with the blood in it); Adonai stated “for in the image of God He made man.”
The first connection between these two passages pertains to the land creatures populating the earth. The Genesis 1 account records the first time animals were created and walked upon the earth. The Genesis 8 account records the first time animals walked upon the newly “created” earth after the flood.
The second connection regards Adam exercising his authority over the animals of creation. In Genesis 1:28, Adam was told have dominion over all the animals of the heavens, earth and sea. This is thematically connected to Genesis 8:17, where Noah was literally told to “order” the animals out of the ark! This sense is lost in the English translation, but can easily be seen in a Jewish translation of Genesis 8:17. Here’s a comparison of the relevant phrase from the NKJV and the Artscroll Stone Edition of the Chumash translations where you will be able to see a firm connection as I've described above.
Genesis 8:17—Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” (NKJV)
Genesis 8:17a—Every living being that is with you of all flesh, of birds, of animals, and all moving things that move on the earth—order them out with you, and let them teem on the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth. (Artscroll Chumash)2
In both passages, God’s regent over the earth is commanded what he can and cannot eat.
Both passages mention how man is created in the image of God.
Finally, both Adam and Noah were commanded to be fruitful and multiply.
Connection H
Genesis 2:1-3—Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
Genesis 9:12-17—And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
The sign of the Sabbath is thematically connected to the sign of the rainbow. In order to see the connection, we simply need to make a thematic connection between the institution of the Sabbath in Genesis 2:1-3 and what Adonai said its purpose was when He commanded Israel to keep it.
And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 13 “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. 14 You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 15 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 16 Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed’ ” (Exodus 31:12-17).
Connection I
Genesis 2:7-8—And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed.
Genesis 9:20—Noach, the man of the earth, planted a vineyard (Chumash).
Both passages make mention of the planting of seeds to bring forth vegetation.
Both passages thematically connect to remind us of the fact that man was destined to return to the dust of the ground. Genesis 9:20 refers to Noah as a man of the earth. Genesis 2:7 states how man was formed from the dust of the ground.
Connection J
Genesis 3:1-21
Genesis 9:21-25—Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. 23 But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness. 24 So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. 25 Then he said: “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his brethren.”
In both stories, our main protagonist unfortunately sins by partaking of something grown in a garden (forbidden fruit vs. wine).
Both stories relate how God’s regent became naked.
Both Adam and Noah had their eyes opened to see/realize something they had not seen/realized before (Adam realized he was naked vs. Noah realized what his son had done to him).
Both Noah and Adam were the recipients of an act of grace when someone clothed them, covering their nakedness.
In both stories, someone is cursed (the serpent vs. Ham).
In an unmistakable manner, Adonai has shown us that Noah’s flood is intimately connected to the creation account of Genesis 1-3. So what are we to learn from all of the connections in this parallelism?
My study has led me to the following conclusions about studying thematically (thematic analysis). Thematic analysis is a Scripture interpretation technique that involves gaining an understanding of the overall or general theme of a passage. The reason we try to understand the general theme of a passage is so that we can make thematic connections to other Scriptures. We make thematic connections when we make objective connections or associations between passages of Scripture that share similar words, phrases, themes, events, situations and/or circumstances.
Adonai is constantly trying to get us to make connections and associations between Scriptures, i.e., make thematic connections, so that He can teach us His ways. He tries to get us to make thematic connections through similes, metaphors, word/phrase studies, parallelisms, chiastic structures, and thematic connections between Scriptures. Just take a moment to think of how often the Bible uses similes and metaphors! And this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are two principles you need to learn about why thematic connections exist:
1) To show equivalence between people, places, things, events, situations and circumstances.
2) To show equivalence between people, places, things and events so that we can learn/understand or see something we may not have been able to learn/understand or see apart from the thematic connection.
Once you find a thematic connection between two passages, your task is to compare and contrast the two passages. It is this process of comparing and contrasting that will bring forth new Scriptural revelation!
Let’s apply these two principles now. Although we could use all the connections above, let’s just focus on going deeper into one of them—connection J. As stated above, thematic connections exist to show equivalence between people, places, things, events, situations and circumstances. So, as we compare and contrast Genesis 3:1-21 with Genesis 9:21-25, who is thematically connected to whom? Clearly, Noah is thematically connected to Adam. In other words, using principle #1, Noah is equivalent to Adam! Many of the other themes lead us to the same conclusion. Now the question is why? Applying principle #2, what do we learn by seeing that Noah is equivalent to Adam? I think it’s plain to infer that Noah is a new Adam! Adam was God’s man to rule under His leadership over the earth. Adam failed and now Adonai has started anew with Noah, giving him the same authority and commission as He’d given Adam. Just as Adam ruled over a beautiful new creation which had been forged out of the waters of chaos, so likewise, Noah was given rule over a beautiful “new creation” which had been fashioned out of the chaotic waters of the flood!
As I have been mentioning throughout this series of articles, the creation account in Genesis 1-3 is a pattern that will be repeated numerous times throughout the Scriptures. As of Part IV in this series, we completed the first major cycle, Major Cycle #1, progressing from new creation to judgment. Therefore, what awaits us? Another new creation! The next article will start us off with Major Cycle #2 and we’ll repeat what we did in Major Cycle #1. We’ll break it up into minor cycles, examine the connections to Genesis 1-3, and see what we can learn about how Adonai is interacting with mankind. The ultimate goal will be to apply this pattern to events that are soon to take place on the earth, the Revelation of Yeshua. And, in order for you to understand 1) what’s going to happen on this earth, 2) how it’s going to happen, 3) why it’s going to happen, and 4) most importantly, your role in these great events that will soon burst upon the earth, you will need to understand Adonai’s Pattern of Judgments. Because what has happened before will surely happen again!
Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it (Isaiah 46:9-11).
Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come (1 Corinthians 10:1-11).
Here is a list of the 16 themes:
Genesis 1:1-25 – New Creation of the Universe
Genesis 1:26-28 – Man, God’s Image-Bearer, Commissioned to Exercise Dominion Over Creation
Genesis 1:29-31 – Man’s Diet
Genesis 2:1-3 – The Sign of the Sabbath
Genesis 2:4-9 – Man’s Work in His Ancestral Plot of Land
Genesis 2:10-14 – Natural Riches of the Creation
Genesis 2:15-17 – The Choice Between Life and Death
Genesis 2:18-25 – A Virginal Bride for the Man
Genesis 3:1-7 – Fall into Sin
Genesis 3:8-13 – Adonai Investigating Sin
Genesis 3:14 – The Curse on the Serpent
Genesis 3:15 – Enmity of the Seed
Genesis 3:16 – Pain in Childbirth
Genesis 3:17-19 – Curse on the Land
Genesis 3:20-21 – Acts of Redemption
Genesis 3:22-24 – Judgment
Scherman, Rabbi Nosson and Zlotowitz, Rabbi Meir, editors. The Chumash. ArtScroll Series/Stone Edition (Hebrew/English translation), Mesorah Publications, 1993, p. 39.