Not Human
And Elohim said, “Let them swarm the waters a swarm of life . . .” Genesis 1:20 (my translation)
Swarm – Genesis 1:20 describes God’s formation of the life of the sea and the air and everything that creeps on the earth. We take it for granted that these creatures are distinctively different from human beings. But maybe we need to pay a bit more attention. Maybe we need to ask why these creatures are distinctively different. Answering that question pushes us to realize something about ourselves; something that warns us about ourselves.
Avivah Zornberg points out that the midrash concerning the Hebrew word sheretz (swarm) recognizes that the word describes any living thing that operates en masse. In other words, these are living things that survive, multiply and expand as an indistinguishable group. When the word is used to report the self-perception of the spies who return from Canaan (Numbers 13:33), sheretz reveals an utter lack of understanding about the uniqueness of human beings. “To breed, to crawl, these are the acts of the sheretz. At one pole of failure, the midrash imagines men as grasshoppers, who compulsively ‘climb up and fall back down’ into the jar, are incapable of learning from experience. To be trapped in the reality of ‘crawling between earth and heaven’ is to be doomed to repeat irrational patterns of the pack, the rhythmic movements generated by the blind urge simply ‘to be more.’”[1] God does not form Man as sheretz, but men are perfectly capable of living that way. Today our equivalent is “group think,” and “group think” is the biblical equivalent of insect existence. If you can’t imagine yourself as a bug, try applying this word to addictive behavior, the endless repetition of irrational patterns generated by a blind urge, crawling between earth and heaven. From a biblical perspective, men and women are perfectly capable of degenerating into swarms, into pack behavior. But this is not what God intended.
While it is true that the Hebrew worldview focuses on the community rather than the individual, it is not true that God does not intend or expect individual responsibility and action. God only points out that we are all connected, not that we are all one swarm. God has constituted each of us as responsible moral agents, standing (not creeping) between earth and heaven. That fact that our individual actions have communal effect does not efface the personal quality of our being in the world. Only we are able to make ourselves into swarms, into something not human. Zornberg notices that the swarm mentality is characterized by complaining about God’s design to stand as God’s representatives in the world. The “essential dilemma” of being human is how to deal with the urge to conform to the swarm, to lose ourselves in the herd mentality of blind behavior. Perhaps this is the concern of Jacques Ellul when he suggests that Christianity pushes the masses toward doctrinal conformity rather than individual authenticity. Perhaps it is just easier to be a blind, instinctual bug than a human being.
The young India woman said to me, “But everyone else throws litter on the street. What difference would my little bit make?” Sheretz. The divorced father said, “Yeah, I know she’s messing with drugs, but everyone her age does that.” Sheretz. I said, “Everyone says it’s no big deal, so why shouldn’t I try it.” Sheretz.
The greatest of all sins is determining for myself what is good and what is evil.
Topical Index: sheretz, swarm, group think, Genesis 1:20, Numbers 13:33
Thank you Skip, I’ve been foggy about the biblical use of the number 5 for some time and the term that has “stuck” in my head has been “strange flesh”. Now it’s been clarified, from the fifth day to the five I wills of lucifer it’s consistent. That helps, thanks again.
What are the 5 I wills of Lucifer?
Isa 14:12 ¶ How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Really good word, Skip.
This edition of Today’s Word illustrates why I am compelled to be a biblical counselor from a hebraic worldview. From the beginning of Scripture it is revealed how the universe works and how one can navigate what at times are treacherous waters. We are given principles that serve to guide us into a productive and effective life; continuing the creative process and restoring the Earth from its decay. Why am I me? What does it mean to be human? How did I get here? Where am I going? These are among the essential questions all addressed in the Beresheit – the Genesis. Anyone counseling clients, administering addicts, or rejoicing recovery would benefit from the principle unpacked in this article.
Oh, the women I counsel already know they are human. I don’t even meet them until they have already repented and called upon the Lord. We fight regret and how to press toward the mark of the highcalling in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit shows up and does a REALLY FINE JOB. Sometimes He recalls to my mind some verse I had quite forgotten. He always knows exactly what to say in the sessions. I enter the room with NO agenda, just a servant at His service.
Yes, He uses the foolish things of this word to confound the wise! All praise his Holy Name.
God bless you in your service in His kingdom.
Romans 16: 27
To be “fully human” is to pray and we never will be “fully human” until we discover the delights of prayer. Yeshua was (and is!) a praying Man, and it took the disciples (slow learners just like us) a while to “catch on” to the Source of this Man’s authority and then the desire of their hearts was verbalized to the Master: “LORD, teach us to pray.”
So what is the “gold standard” we hold so dear upon this planet? He who dies with the most toys wins? Get all you can- can all you get- sit on the lid and poison the rest? Life, according to the “Survivor” series on the HD box of lies found “preaching prosperity” in almost every household, declares (Yes, “preaches,” “win at any cost!” Whatever the cost, including integrity, by tooth or by claw- get to the top. Exceed, excel, outlast, outperform, -win. Be number #- and winner takes all.
And what are the tools, techniques, and tips to “get there?” – It all starts with using the right toothpaste, or drinking the right beer or driving the correct car. Multiple trips to the gym and the tanning bed and to the salon. Muscle up, muscle head. Thick as a brick.
Prosperity, possessions, position, prestige, influence and affluence- these are things I desire. Oh, but friends,- don’t even be thinkin’ – this is all I want. No, no and no!- This man’s “want list” has no bounds. Even when I play the so-called game of monopoly, I won’t be “satisfied” until I own everything, including the bank. I promise, “honest injun”- my “want to” far exceeds my “get to!”
But, if my memory still serves me correctly, (that pesky conscience!)- there was a man who “had it all”. – And , according to “Biblical history,” (was there “really” a man named Solomon?- or is this just another “allusion” or “allegory?”) Or a real David, or a real Moses, or a real country called Egypt? or real pyramids or a real desert or did they really wander for forty years- and was it really forty years, (real years)of wilderness wandering? Things that make me wonder- was Solomon the wisest man who ever lived? The queen of Sheba (another mirage no doubt) wondered at his wisdom- and of course- his prosperity.
But these words were written by the Preacher of the Day- himself to leave a legacy and a word of warning to all who would follow in his footsteps… (if you can’t be a great example,- be a horrible warning!) Vanity of vanities, -all is vanity- a chasing after the wind. (Today’s encouraging word- vanity.)
Solomon’s game or goal was accumulation, much like we are today… How much money is enough money?- The answer echoes across the ages..-”just a little bit more..”- or as (sorry) Solomon discovered- “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity.” Poor guy, -should’ve “invested” in gold!
Solomon was the Bill Gates or George Zoros of his day. Top of the food chain, he climbed the ladder of success all the way to the top only to find it was leaning against the wrong building! – May we ask the question?- “Where” did we, (excuse me) “he”- go wrong? Would there possibly be an answer to be found in very words of God? What has been written for our instruction, that the so that the children of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work? Now these things were written for our examples..
What was Solomon’s story? “I” will build me gardens. “I” will accumulate “singers”. “I” will test myself with wine and with strong drink. “I” will have many wives (and many mother-in-laws!). Solomon, (along with many who are alive today) had “I”-trouble. Aye, that was it. Solomon’s father wrote- ~ Know that the LORD, He is God! It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture ~ (Psalm-song 100.3).
Solomon forgot, and so have we. “It is He who has made us- and not we ourselves.” ~Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above ~, Mr. Solomon. Don’t you remember who gave you everything? And God said, “I will give you..” Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the LORD’s command.~
What is the absolute “wisest” thing that we who belong to Him can possibly, even with our limited abilities, do? Anyone? -”obey God.” Where did Solomon go wrong? 20/20 hindsight tells us- he didn’t listen very well to the instructions of ADONAI. Well, how about that!- Neither did Adam, nor Moses, or Noah, or the disciples of Yeshua Himself. “Shema”- O Israel! Listen and obey. To obey is better than sacrifice. What father among us would not delight in or desire obedient children?
Solomon was distracted, and so are we. “All we like (distracted) sheep have gone astray.. ~ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful ~ (Mark 4.19)
What is the “cure” for these distractions? It is “focused attention” (in Hebrew,-”kavvanna”). Kavvanah is attentiveness to God,not the awareness of being commanded but the awareness of Him who commands; not of a yoke we carry but of the Will we remember; the awareness of God rather than the awareness of duty.” (looking unto Jesus!)
And friend, this “awareness” of God is a delight!- He is with us- always, even unto the end of the age.
Solomon sir, ~Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~ But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out ~ (Philippians 4:11) ~ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.~
~ We are His people, and the (well-fed, but rather spoiled) sheep of His pasture..~ We will enter His gates with thanksgiving in our hearts, and enter His courts with praise. We will be thankful unto Him and bless His Name- for the LORD is good, His mercy is everlasting and His truth endures/remains forever. Amen.
What really struck me today was the last sentence: “The greatest of all sins is determining for myself what is good and what is evil.”
Today I taught the youngsters at school about ethics. We looked at some of the utilitarians: Bentham and Mill, and at Kant, urging acting out of a sense of duty and not because you are striving for some goal. This all led to my faverite: Levinas, who stresses responcibility for the Other.
We came to the conclusion that without God there is no point of reference you can cling to. There is no way to really know what is good and what is evil. Our time is very much like the time of the judges: everyone did what was good in his own eyes. We must learn to ask Him: teach me what is good, Lord! Christianity has lost that by rejecting Tora.
Nice.
This topic has so many connections to other truths, as well. A surface reading of genesis seems like God is untruthful and the devil was right. But your last sentence is key to the whole thing.
“The greatest of all sins is determining for myself what is good and what is evil.”
–“The greatest of all sins is determining for myself what is good and what is evil.”–
And isn’t this exactly what our “not-so-great” grandparents did many moons ago in the garden? “self-determination” – they saw the fruit which appealed to the eye, and that it was good for food (the “practical” nature of sin- command that these stones be made bread!) and that it would make them wise -maybe even wiser than the ONE who created them! (as if!) The lust of the eyes, lust of flesh, and the pride of life- all present and accounted for during the very first temptation of Adam’s race, and it’s been the same three temptations- ever since!
With 20/20 hindsight, “what if” Adam would have said to the serpent’s question (“hath God said?”) – Yes, as a matter of fact- God did say that, and thank you for reminding me!