Many religious have narratives like the
flood narrative that we have in the Bible. The Biblical flood narrative was
taken from the Babylonian flood narrative. There are few difference between
these two flood narratives.
In the Bible, at the end of the flood,
creation was renewed and God made God’s covenant with all creatures. This
passage depicts about God, God’s grace and the relationship between the grace
of the God and nature. Last Sunday, we have heard the reflection on Jal, Jamin
and Jungle, in line to that; I would like to entitle my reflection as Grace and
nature. I would also divide it into
three,
Firstly,
God who regrets (Gen. 8:21)
At the end of the flood, Noah built an
altar and offered burnt offerings on that. God smelled the pleasing odour and
spoke in heart. In the Hebrew bible ‘nihoah’ is used to explain this. This word
comes from the root word ‘Noah’ which means relief or rest. Noah comforted the
creator, why did he do so? The Lord felt sorry for making humankind on earth and it grieved God’s heart. Noah was a
righteous man, blameless in His generation and walked with God. Noah obeyed
God’s commandments in renewing God’s creation. Today also God’s heart regrets.
Secondly,
God who struggles (GEN. 8:21&6:7)
At the end God said in God’s heart, “I
will never again curse the ground because of humankind. Nor I will ever again
destroy every living creature as I have done”. This necessitated God has set
bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the covenant between God and earth. God is firm in that decision. Humanity
has abused the nature. God wants to destroy but God’s covenant restricts God to
do that. This makes God’s heart to struggle between these two ideas. But God’s
grace conquers the punishment that God wishes to give, which keeps us alive
even today. Our heart also struggle everyday between the decision to save or to
destroy. We need to abide decision of God’s heart. Then only we will have
fullness of life.
Thirdly,
God who respects the nature (Gen. 8:32)
God
respects the nature. In Gen. 8:22, God said that “As long as the earth endures
seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall
not cease”. This explicitly shows that God would never change the cyclic order
of the earth. It is important for all living creatures to survive on the earth.
They may abound on the earth and be fruitful and multiply on the earth. This is
the greatest gift of God. God claims that God is not responsible for the
changes of the cycle of seasons. This passage was compiled by J writer during
the period of David and Solomon. In that time, there was huge amount of
deforestation and building construction (1 kings 9: 15- 19). J writer calls to
preserve the earth as it is our responsibility. We can’t differentiate the
nature from the grace. We should give equal importance to the both.
According to the Tribal and adivasi
context, Jal Jameen and Jungle plays an vital role in their day to day life.
Nature is interlinked with everyone’s life. Precisely, Nature is God’s Gift.
God told not to destroy the nature. God is true in covenantal relationship.
Then what is the reason for tsunami, Kumbakonam fire accident. If we say that it
was the punishment of God, it is against the God who reveals God’s self in
Christ Jesus. God never destroys any one’s life. Jesus told that this is not
the punishment of GOD. If we do not repent, then will perish (Luke. 13:1-50).
We are having a dangerous life style which leads us to destruction. We need an alternative
life style. In Noah’s ark all creature (Lion, bear, goat, dove…) were able to
survive. Earth quake, global warming, cancer… are increasing day by day. We
need repentance. This is the root cause of all destruction.
Jesus is living with nature. Today as a
called out community, It is our responsibility as God’s servant to give
awareness to each and everyone in preserving our mother Earth. Let us start to
save our Jal, Jameen and Jungle.
May God bless these words. Amen.
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