Guiding Questions: Genesis 1

This is part of the Tanakh Yomi Project.

  1. If this is a history of Jews (and/or Judaism and/or Israel) why begin with “universal history” – that is, the creation of the world (or the universe)?
  2. What was there before “God began to create” or “in the beginning God created”?
  3. And if there was “no place”, where was that which existed prior to the creation of place?
  4. Does the text indicate that there was no “material substance” prior to the “creation” – or does it say that there was substance which was “all confused” or does it specify that there was “creatio ex nihilo”, that is, “something from nothing”?
  5. What is the appellation of Divinity in the opening passages?
  6. If God is omnipotent, why the gradualism in creation (6 days or 6½ days) and, further, if the Divine is all knowing, why is it necessary first to “create and then observe”; would that not have been known before – along with everything else that was knowable?
  7. Or, are we dealing with an author, and an approach, which is considerably different from the idea of the Divine as omnipotent, omniscious, and thoroughly “monotheistic” in view?
  8. Is there any significance in the sequence of “creation”; is the preparatory unfolding setting the stage for a climax or does it reflect some other principle or approach?
  9. Why would God “want” to create anything – is a reason given?
  10. If there is no “beginning” and time is infinite – where does one start seeking to understand the unfolding of history – and can one so seek?
  11. And as to the specifics –
    • Does the author equate light with the sun?
    • If there is water above and water beneath, was the earth already there, only to be uncovered?
    • In the sixth day’s narration, does “male and female” mean 2 creatures or hermaphroditic – and is Adam “man” or “humanity”?
    • And does creation end on day six or day seven?
    • How does God “rest”?
  12. Most important: do any of these questions (and hundreds more that could be and have been asked) really matter, and/or in any way impact on the basic thrust of the author’s message: whatever God “may be understood to be” there is no way to understand ultimate origins, universal sovereignty and purposeful nature without God?

Author

  • Exploring Judaism

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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Perek Yomi materials originally produced by the USCJ and Dr. Morton K. Siegel.
We are grateful to be able to share this material.

Author

  • Exploring Judaism

    Exploring Judaism is the digital home for Conservative/Masorti Judaism, embracing the beauty and complexity of Judaism, and our personal search for meaning, learning, and connecting. Our goal is to create content based on three core framing: Meaning-Making (Why?), Practical Living (How?), and Explainers (What?).

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