Protected: Jacob and Esau
Why Only One Adam?
In the tropical wilderness of Costa Rica I randomly came across the most interesting book, A Treasury of Jewish Folklore. The book was discretely tucked away in the midst of a coffee shop library. For a week I found myself skipping about the book reading thought provoking and comical stories from Jewish Folklore.
A fitting posting for Valentines day, the story below is from the book and has remained in my memory.
Why did God create only one Adam and not many at a time?
He did this to demonstrate that one man in himself is an entire universe. Also He wished to teach mankind that he who kills one human being is as guilty as if he had destroyed the entire world. Similarly, he who saves the life of one single human being is as worthy as if he had saved all humanity.
God created only one man so that people should not try to feel superior to one another and boast of their lineage in this wise: "I am descended from a more distinguished Adam than you."
He also did this so that the heathen should not be able to say that, since many men had been created at the same time, it was conclusive proof that there was more than one God.
Lastly, He did this in order to establish His Own power and glory. When a maker of coins does his work he uses only one mould and then all the coins emerge alike. But the King of Kings, blessed be His name, has created all mankind in the mould of Adam, and even so no man is identical to another. For this reason each person must respect himself and say with dignity: "God created the world on my account. Therefore let me not lose eternal life because of some vain passion!"
An excerpt from A Treasury of Jewish Folklore. Copyright 1948 by Crown Publishers. "Why Only One Adam", page 6. Adapted from the Agada in the Talmud.
The article provides a thought provoking reason each person is unique. While I don't completely agree with the philosophy of all the points it is worth extending the article to include an additional thought.
Adam was created in God's perfect image and we share in Adam's fallen image, not God's perfect image. How amazing the love of God that Jesus the Messiah should come to redeem the children of Adam, which are but a poor reflection of the perfect image of Adam.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." -John 3:16 NIV
Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing by Charles Wesley
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise,
The glories of my god and King,
The triumphs of his grace!My gracious Master and my God,
Assist me to proclaim,
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of your name.The name of Jesus charms our fears
And bids our sorrows cease,
Sings music in the sinner’s ears,
Brings life and health and peace.He breaks the power of canceled sin;
He sets the prisoner free.
His blood can make the foulest clean;
His blood avails for me.Look to the Lord, who did atone
For sin, O fallen race.
Look and be saved through faith alone,
Be justified by grace.See all our sins on Jesus laid;
The Lamb has made us whole.
His soul was once an offering made
For every human soul.To God all glory, praise, and love
Be now and ever given
By saints below and saints above
The Church in earth and heaven.
When the wind blows, does it ever get lonely?
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8 NIV
In my mind the blowing wind has a negative connotation. The blowing wind scatters, stirs up, destroys, and disrupts where it passes by. Yet the wind can be a helpful and important force, spreading seeds, changing the landscape, and cooling sun parched land. The wind is an interesting metaphor for someone born of the Spirit. Jesus used analogies in a challenging way to try and related Spiritual things to earthly things.
When I was out windsurfing the verse above came to mind. Is the wind synonymous with being lonely? Usually when two winds meet a storm brews and the winds are chaotic. So if the day is nice and the wind is blowing does that mean the wind is, in a sense, alone?
I'm not going to change my theology based on physical characteristics of the wind but at the time because of where the wind was blowing, what was in my heart, and that verse the question arose.
Comments welcome.
We Fall Down…
Driving in the country with the windows down listening and singing to my favorite music is so releasing. Lately I've had the desire to try out a convertible car. I can't recall ever having ridden in one and I think it would be wonderful on a beautiful summer day like today.
Anyhow, back to the point. I was driving in the country listening to "We Fall Down" as performed by Kutless. As I sang and thought about what the lyrics meant to me I drove past eight 1990's era Corvette convertibles in the oncoming lane. It caught my attention that everyone in the procession looked to be over 60 years old. How foolish it would be to wish I could be in their position if it meant giving up the wonderful memory of singing praises while driving down the road with the windows down in a less than sporty vehicle.
