cience,theile,andthePromiedLand

www.deiringgod.org
eptemer19th,2008

ThereiageniuinGenei1-3thatioftenconcealedmoderninterpretationofthe
text.Thegeniuoftheechapteritheprofoundigni cancethegivetothe
detinationoftheredeemedetalihingaunitetweenGod'workofcreationand
planofredemption.ManmoderninterpretationofGenei,unfortunatel,ocure
thigeniuaumingthattheixdaofGenei1areaoutthecreationofthe
entireunivere.Additionall,thiaumptionplaceGeneiindirectoppoitionto
whatappeartoetheolid ndingofmoderncienceconcerningtheageandcreation
oftheunivere.

"ecaueofthierror,"writeDr.JohnailhamerinhiprovocativeookGenei
Unound,"manChritianhavefelttornetweenanallegiancetotheileanda
recognitionofthe ndingofmoderncience--atearthatineithernecearnor
helpful"(Johnailhamer,GeneiUnound[iter,OR:Multnomahook,1996],p.13).
ThepurpoeofGeneiUnounditohowthatthitearinotnecearecaue"when
Genei1and2areundertooda...Moeintendedthemtoeundertood,nearlall
thedi cultiethatperplexmodernreaderintantlvanih"(13-14).

ailhamer'convincinganaliofGeneinotonlreolvetheapparentcon ict
etweencienceandtheile,utalo(and,Iwouldargue,moreimportantl)open
uptouthedepthofGod'plantoleHipeople.GeneiUnoundunveilthegeniu
ofGenei1-3thatioocuredmanmoderninterpretationandwill
conequentlmakeoumarvelatthewaofGodincreationandredemptionandgive
ouatrongercomprehenionoftheprofoundunitoftheile.

MpurpoeinthianaliofGeneiUnounditoetforththeundertandingof
Genei1-3thatailhamerarguefor(called"hitoricalcreationim"),whIelievethat
hiundertandingicorrect,andtomorefulldeveloptheamazingimplicationofhi
viewthatheringout.Forthireaon,thiwillnottrictleareviewoftheook,
utmoreofan"expanive"analioftheook.Mmotiveandpraerinthiworki
theameaailhamer'goalinwritingGeneiUnound,namelthat"ouwillcome
awawithanewappreciationforandundertandingofthegeniuofthee rttwo
chapteroftheile.WehouldeawedandgratefulthatGodchoetogiveuthi
remarkaleglimpeintoHimightworkatthedawnoftime!"(16).

Overview
GeneiUnoundidividedintofourpart.The rtpartexplainwhtheiueof
cienceandtheileiimportant.Parttwomarhalouttheevidenceforhitorical
creationimandwhitreolvetheapparentcon ictofcienceandtheile.Itithu
"theheartoftheook"(15).Partthreeeektoclarifthepicturetakingthereader
throughariefexpoitionofGenei1:1-2:4a.Auch,ituild"onthefoundationlaid
previoulintheook"inparttwo(16).Finall,partfouriwrittentogiveu"aetter
eneofthehitorical,philoophical,andinterpretiveiuethatroughtutowhere
wearetoda"(16).Ithowthatailhamer'viewinotnew,utwaheldman
eforetherieofmoderncience.Andithowwheretheerroneouinterpretationof
Geneicamefrom.

Inthianali,Iwillnottrictlfollowailhamer'format.Inteadofmarhalingout
theevidenceandthenclarifingthepictureintwoeparatetageaailhamerdoe,I
willeektoclarifthepictureaImarhalouttheevidence.Then,Iwilleektohow
theglorthatirevealedthegeniuofGenei1-3teppingacktoeholdthe
wholepictureaitrelatetotheretoftheile.

HowtoetForthYourCae

Therearetwomainwathatoucanetalihourcaeforomething.The rtwa
itouildourcaeaougothroughtheargumentforitandthenunveilitinit
entiretattheend.Inthimethodtheargumentfunctionalmotlikepieceofapuzzle
thatdon'tcometogetherintheirfullunituntiltheverend.Theene tofthi
methodithatitpreervemterandthuperhapagreater"aha"experiencewhen
thefullpuzzlei nallunveiled.utthedi cultithatitihardtodothiina
coherentwathatdoenot"loe"thereaderduetothelackofateminwhichto
placetheargumentaheread.
Theecondwatoargueourcaeitotateourview rtandthenargueforit.Thi
oftengivegreatercoherencetoourcaewhenouuildourargumentecauethe
readerwillhaveanoverallframeworkinwhichtoplacethem.Inotherword,hewill
notgetlotecaueouwillhavegivenhimamapthathowhimwhereheiheaded.
Thu,thereadercanmoredirectleehoweachucceiveargument tintothelarge
chemeofthing,howtheconnecttoeachother,andhowtheconnecttoour
overallaiminwriting.Thereultithatourcaewillgeneralleeaiertofollowand
willproaltimulatemoreconnectionetweenourargumentinthereader'
mind.

Thiitheapproachthatailhamertake.Herevealhiviewinitentiret rtand
thenackuptouildhicaeforit.Thii,Ithink,amajortrengthoftheook
ecaueitgivethereaderaframeworkinwhichtointegratetheargumentandthu
makeiteaiertoevaluatethem.ut,ofcoure,itrevealthatailhameri"neithera
cardharkorauccefulnovelit,"forahehimelfa,"rightattheeginningIwant
tohowoumhandandrevealomeofmetplottwit"(13).

HitoricalCreationimandthe"Uninding"ofGenei

ToeetheuniqueneofGeneiUnound,wemutrecognizethattherearethreemain
poitionontheapparentcon ictetweencienceandtheile.Creationim, rtofall,
teachethat,accordingtoGenei,Godmadetheunivereinixtwent-fourhourda
andthereforetheearthiveroung(incehuman,whowerecreatedontheixth
da,haveonleenaroundforperhap10to20thouandear).Thiviewdeclare
thatmoderncienceiwronginiteliefthattheearthioldandgenerallattemptto
provideitowncienti cevidencetocountertheevidenceforanoldearth.

econd,progreivecreationimteachethatthedaofGeneiarenottwentfourhour
period,utunpeci edperiodoftime(age)inwhichGodmadetheunivere.Thi
view,unlikecreationim,agreewiththecienti cevidenceforanoldearth,ut,like
creationim,doenotacceptevolution.Theiticevolution,ontheotherhand,teache
thattheearthioldandthatGoduedevolutiontocreatetheunivere.
ailhamer'view,calledhitoricalcreationim,a rmtheinerrancoftheile,uphold
thehitoricitofGenei,andrejectevolution--jutlikecreationimandprogreive
creationim.Aailhamerwrite,theauthorofGenei"doenotexpecttoe
undertoodawritingmthologorpoetr.Hiaccount,aheundertandit,ia
hitoricalaccountofcreation"(45).1Themaindi erenceithathitoricalcreationim
deniethethreecentralaumptionlingehindtheotherthreeview.Theethree
aumptionare, rt,"thatthechapter'primarpurpoeimereltodecriehow
Godcreatedtheworld.Anotherithatoriginalltheworldwaaformlema,which
Godhapedintotheworldweknowtoda.Athirdi'theland'whichGodmadeduring
theixdai'theearth'initentiret,aweknowittoda"(11).

TheearlchapterofGeneiare"ound"everaladtranlationinthenglih
ile"ecauethoeincorrectaumptionlieehindthenglihtranlationof
Genei1and2whichweuetoda.Likeitornot,Geneiinthenglihilei
'ound'thoeaumption.Amajorpartofmtakinthiookitolooethoe
ondandreleaethechaptertopeakforthemelve.Hence,thetitle"(11).What,
then,ithemeaningoftheeearlchapterinGeneithathaeen"ound"ooften
theeaumption?Tothiquetionwewillnowturn.

TheMeaningofGenei1and2

ailhamerarguethatGenei1and2recount"twogreatactofGod"(14).The rtgreat
actithecreationoftheentireunivere-ourplanet,theanimal,theun,moon,tar,
etc.Thiirecountedin1:1,whichdeclarethat"IntheeginningGodcreatedthe
heavenandtheearth."TheHerewwordtranlated"eginning"doenotmeanan
intantoftime,utan"inde niteperiodoftime."ince,then,Godcreatedtheentire
univereinanunpeci edperiodoftime,"wecannotaforcertainwhenGodcreated
theworldorhowlonghetooktocreateit"(14).Forthireaon,thecienti cevidence
foranolduniveredoenotcontradictGeneione.Andthiithecaeevenifwe
interpretthe"da"atwentfourhourperiodandnotageoftime.

TheecondgreatactofGodirecountedin1:2-2:24and"dealwithamuchmore
limitedcopeandperiodoftime.eginningwithGenei1:2,theilicalnarrative
recountGod'preparationofalandforthemanandwomanHewatocreate.That
'land'watheamelandlaterpromiedtoArahamandhidecendant...Accordingto
Genei1,Godpreparedthatlandwithinaperiodofaix-daworkweek.Ontheixth
daofthatweek,Godcreatedhumaneing.Godthenretedontheeventhda"(14).
Oneofthetunningtruththiringtolightithat"whenIraelwapromiedaland
inwhichtoliveoutGod'leing(Gen15:8),itwanotthe rttimeGodhad
preparedaplaceforthem.Fromtheeginning,GodhadpreparedthatplaceforHi
choenpeople"(p.92).Whenweundertandthi,weeethatthelandiacentral
unifingthemeofGod'actofcreationandredemption.

Inum,ailhamerarguethatGenei1:1refertothecreationoftheentireunivere
andthatGoddidoovertheperiodofanunpeci edlengthoftimethatcouldhave
eenoneearor fteenillionear.Thetextjutdoenota.Genei1:2and
following,whichrecountGod'actduringtheixda,thereforedonotrefertothe
creationoftheunivere.Thepeakofatimeafterthecreationoftheuniverewhen
Godpreparedaland(whichitheamelandlaterpromiedtoIrael)forAdamandve
whomhewatocreateontheixthda.AndthereaonthatGodhadtopreparethe
GardenforAdamandvewa,amongotherthing,ecaue"theearth[promiedland]
waformleandvoid[adeertedwilderne],anddarknewaovertheurfaceofthe
deep"(v.2).

Thiviewiveruncommontoutodaandoitwilltakemuchdefending.The
remainderofthianaliwillthereforeconitmainlinanunfoldingofthemain
argumentforhitoricalcreationim.Inotherword,nowthatthe"wholepicture"of
hitoricalcreationimhaeenunveiled,Iwillackupandarguetothewholepicture.I
will,however,avetheunpackingofomeofthegreatetimplicationofailhamer'
viewuntiltowardtheend.

IHitoricalCreationimNew?

eforeexpoundingandarguingforhitoricalcreationim,Ithinkthatoneoftheigget
tumlinglockneedtoeremoved-thatthivieweemnew,andthuproalin't
true.Forifomethingrealliintheile,itwouldehardtoarguethatthechurch
haentirelmieditfor2,000ear.
ailhamer'choiceofthenamehitoricalcreationimipartiallmotivatedhideire
tocallattentiontothefactthathiviewinotnew.Rather,mantheologianofthepat
heldtothecentralelementofailhamer'view.Hewritethat"theterm'hitorical'
pointtothefactthatthiviewoftheGeneicreationaccountcanetracedacktoa
waofreadingGenei1and2that ourihedeforetherieofcienceandituein
ilicalinterpretation.eforeprogreinnavigationandtranportationmadegloal
explorationofourworldpoile,ilicalcholarandordinarpeoplereadGenei1
withinaratherlimitedgeographiccope....conequentl,mviewioftenfoundin
earlierwork"(45).

videnceforthiithatmanJewihtheologianofthemiddleageelievedthat1:2 .
(" ."mean"andthefollowingvere")referredtothepromiedland,nottheentire
planet(214).Furthermore,

theemedievalJewihcommentatorwerefollowedomenotedChritian
cholar.AccordingtoJohnLightfoote-awidelreadilicalexegete,theologian,
andaChritiancholarofconideraletanding-theGeneiaccountofcreation
decrieGod'preparationofapeci careaoflandwhichheidenti edathe
gardenofden.Lightfooteheldthat1:1tatethatGodcreatedtheunivere,ut
from1:2throughtheendofthechapter,thepaagefocueonGod'
preparationofthelandthatwatoethegardenofden.Lightfoote'viewwa
developedfurtherlaterChritiancholar(216).

ManotherprevioucholarhaveheldthattheGardenofdenwawithinthe
promiedland.JohannHeideggeroftheeventeenthcenturioneexample.Another
exampleitheearlJewihraiwhothoughtAdamwacreatedfromthegroundthat
thetemplewauilton(220).

TheCreationofthentireUnivere:Genei1:1
TheMeaningof"Intheeginning..."

ailhamerarguethat
 TheHerewwordrehit,whichithetermfor'eginning'uedin[Genei1:1],
haaverpeci ceneincripture.Intheilethetermalwarefertoan
extended,etindeterminatedurationoftime-notapeci cmoment.Itialock
oftimewhichprecedeanextendederieoftimeperiod.Itia'timeefore
time.'Thetermdoenotrefertoapointintimeuttoaperiodordurationof
timewhichfalleforeaerieofevent(38).

Aevidence,herefertoJo8:7,whichuethewordtorefernottoainglemomentin
Jo'life,uttothe"earlpartofJo'life,eforehimifortuneovertookhim"(38).
Thoughnotpeakingtemporall,Genei10:10uethewordrehit(eginning)torefer
"totheearlpartofNimrod'kingdom"-notapeci cpointinthekingdom(38).
peciallgoodevidencecomefromthewaIraelpokeofthereignofitking.He
write:

ItwacommoninancientIraeltoegincountingtheearofaking'reign
fromthe rtoftheear--thati,the rtdaofthemonthofNian.Iftheking
aumedo cepriortothatda,awafrequentlthecae,thetimewhich
precededthe rtoftheearwanotreckonedapartofhireign.Thattime
wacalled'theeginning(rehit).Inafewilicalcae'theeginning'ofaking'
reignamountedtoeveralear.AccordingtoJeremiah28:1,forexample,the
'eginning'ofKingZedekiah'reignincludedeventwhichhappenedfourear
afterhehadaumedthethrone.InthicaetheNIVtranlatedtheword
'eginning'impla'earlinthereignofZedekiah'(39).

Finall,"itiimportanttorealizethatotherHerewwordwereavailaletotheauthor
toconvethetemporalconceptofa'eginning.'Infact,throughoutthePentateuchthe
authorueotherHerewwordtoexpreuchaconcept"(40).

Thu,"theeginning"inGenei1:1peakofanunpeci edlengthoftime,notaingle
intantoftime.AndwhatdidGoddointhi"eginning"?Thetextathathe"created
theheavenandtheearth."eforewecanmotclearleetheimplicationofthi,we
mutundertandwhatMoemeantthephrae"heavenandearth."Andinorderto
undertandthemeaningofthephrae"heavenandearth"wemutaloundertandthe
meaningoftheword"earth"and"k."Thenwewillcomeackandputthepiece
together.

TheMeaningof"arth"

Wemutecarefulnotto llupancientwordwithmodernmeaning.Whenwehear
theword"earth"inourcienti cage,wegenerallthinkoftheigjewelweareon
whichoritaroundtheun.utthetermdidnotgeneralluggetuchameaningto
thoeinthepre-paceagetimewhenGeneiwawritten,forthedidnotgenerall
knowofthe"gloal"dimenionoftheplanet.Thu,theterm"earth"(eretzinHerew)
inGeneidoenotuuallrefertotheentireplanet,uttoapeci cectionofland.
ometimeeretzdoerefertothewholeworld(Genei18:25).utmotoftenitdoe
not.Motofthetimeeretz("earth")refertoalocalizedegmentoftheplanet,ucha
the"landofgpt"(Genei45:8),the"drground"(Genei1:10),orthelandpromied
toAraham(Genei15:18).Intheecae,eretziettranlateda"land,"not"earth,"
amantranlationre ect.

TheMeaningof"Heaven"

Thewordtranlateda"heaven"(hamaim),likethewordforearth(eretz),uuall
refertoalocalizedarea.Inpre-paceagewriting,ituualldoenotmean"outer
pace"aweknowittoda,utuuallrefertoalocalizedectionofk-theareaaove
the"land."InGenei1:20,forexample,ititheplacewheretheird .Inuchcae,
itietrendereda"k"andnot"heaven."

TheMeaningof"Heavenandthearth"

Itiimportanttohavethigeneralundertandingoftheuageoftheterm"k"and
"land"inordertoundertandwhether"earth"carrietheamemeaninginvereone
("...Godcreatedtheheavenandtheearth")aitdoeinveretwo("Andtheearthwa
formleandvoid").ailhamerarguethatthedonot.Inveretwo,"earth"refertoa
localizedectionofland.utinvereone,thefactthatiticonnectedwiththeword
"heaven"howthatitieingueddi erentl.Thiiecaue"whentheetwoterm
[kandland]areuedtogetheraa gureofpeech,thetakeonaditinctmeaning
oftheirown.Together,themeanfarmorethantheumofthemeaningofthetwo
individualword"(55).Manwordcominationarelikethi.Forexample,theword
"lackoard"meanmorethanwhatthecominationoftheword"lack"and"oard"
ugget.lackoarddoenotimplmeanaoardthatilack.Itmeanaoardthat
onewriteonwithchalk.ometimethelackoardigreenorwhite,utitiuuall
tillcalleda"lackoard"ecaue"thetwowordtogethermeanomethingquite
di erentthaneachoneeparatel"(55).

Ititheamewiththephrae"heavenandearth"(thati,"kandland").Whenued
together,the"forma gureofpeechcalleda'merim.'Amerimcominetwoword
toexpreaingleidea.Amerimexpree'totalit'comingtwocontratortwo
extreme"(56).Weeethi,forexample,inPalm139:2whereDavidathatGod
knowhiittingdownandriingup.DavidipointingtoGod'knowledgeofthee
twoextreme-ittingdownandriingup-tohowthatGodknoweverthingaouthim.
inceGodknowDavid'riingandittingdown,Godmutaloknoweverthingin
etween.Thu,"theconceptof'everthing'iexpreedcominingthetwo
oppoite'mittingdown'and'mriingup'"(56).

Likewie,"k"and"land"repreenttwoextreme.Thu,"linkingtheetwoextreme
intoaingleexpreion-'kandland'or'heavenandearth'-theHerewlanguage
expreethetotalitofallthatexit.Unlikenglih,Herewdoen'thaveaingle
wordtoexpretheconceptof'theunivere';itmutdoomeanofamerim.The
expreion'kandland'thutandforthe'entiretoftheunivere'"(56).

Weee"kandland"uedinthiwa,forexample,inIaiah44:24:"I,theLord,amthe
makerofallthing,tretchingouttheheavenMelf,andpreadingouttheearthall
alone."GodillutratethefactthatHecreatedallthingpointingtoHicreationof
thetwoextremeofthekandtheland.

How"Theeginning"Relateto"TheHeavenandthearth"
Whenwetietogetherthemeaningofthephrae"intheeginning"and"heavenand
earth"weeethemainthrutofailhamer'view.WhenGenei1:1a,"Inthe
eginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth,"ititatingthatGodcreatedthe
entireunivereinanunpeci eddurationoftime.uingthemerim"heavenand
earth,"Genei1:1itatingthatGodcreatedeverthing.Anduingthephrae"inthe
eginning,"ititatingthatGoddidonotinanintantoftime,utinaperiodoftime.
Thu,Genei1:1itatingthatGodcreatedeverthingthereiinaperiodoftimethat
ileftunpeci ed.

TheRelationhipofGenei1:1totheRetoftheChapter

Thequetionthatthiraieiwhether"theeginning"includetheevendaofthe
followingvere(1:2-2:4)orwhether"theeginning"refertoaperiodoftimethat
elapedeforethedaofcreationrecordedinGenei1:2-2:4.Inotherword,i
Genei1:1("intheeginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth")atitletothe
entirechapterwhichummarizethecontentofthefollowingvere,oriGenei1:1a
ditinctactwhichequentiallcomeeforetheeventofthefollowingvere?

IfGenei1:1iatitleforthechapter,thenvere1and2togetherareaing,"Inthe
eginningGodcreatedtheheavenandtheearth.Nowwhatfollowintheretofthe
chapteritheaccountofhowhedidit."utifGenei1:1inotatitleforthechapter,
thenvere1and2togetherareaing,"IntheeginningGodcreatedtheheavenand
theearth.Afterhehaddonethi,hetooknoticeofthefactthattheland[wherehe
plannedtoplaceman,awewillee]wadeertedanddark.oGodegantoprepare
thiectionoflandforman'inhaitation.Firt,heaid'Letthereelight...'"

ailhameruccefullarguefortheecondalternative-that"theeginning"inotatitle
tothechapterutaditinctactofGodthatoccurredinaperiodoftimethatelaped
eforetheixdaenumeratedin1:2 .

Firt,heargue,Genei1:1inotatitleummarizingtheretofthechapterecaue
titleinHerewconitofimplephrae.utGenei1:1iacompleteentenceand
makeatatement.ThiinothowtitleareformedinHerew.Forexample,Genei
5:1,whichfunctionaatitletothefollowingvere,readlikethi:"Thiitheookof
thegenerationofAdam."

econd,Genei1:1cannoteatitlefortheretofthechapterecauethenextvere
eginwiththeconjunction"and."utif1:1wereatitleinHerew,"theection
immediatelfollowingitwouldurelnoteginwiththeconjunction'and.'"(103).The
factthatailhamericonideredanexpertinilicalHerewmakeonecon dentthat
heknowwhatheitalkingaouthere.

Thirdand nall,Genei1:1cannoteatitlefortheretofthechapterecauetherei
aummartitleattheconcluionofthethoughtuniteguninchapterone(Genei2:1).
Thiwouldmakeatitleattheeginningredundant.Itihighlunlikelthatthere
wouldetwotitletotheameaccount.

Fortheethreereaon,wemutconcludethat"theretofthechapterinotan
elaorationofGenei1:1;rather,itianaccountofadi erentanduequentactof
God"(103).Therefore,whilevere1tatethatGodcreatedeverthing,theixdathat
egininvere2andcontinuethroughtheretofthechapterareanaccountof
omethingotherthanthecreationoftheunivere.

TheImplicationforcienceandtheile

Whenweconnectthefactthatthe"eginning"inwhichGodcreatedtheunivere
occurredeforetheixdaof1:2-2:4withthefactthattheHerewwordtranlated
"eginning"in1:1meananunpeci edperiodoftimeandnotaingleintantoftime,we
eethatGeneidoenottelluhowlongagoGodcreatedtheunivereorhowlongHetookto
doit.Hethereforecouldhavecreateditillionofearagoorthouandofearago.
Hemahavetakenaweek,orhemahavetakeneon.Thetextdoenota.The
criptureathatGodcreatedtheworldinaperiodoftimecalled"theeginning"ut
doenotahowlongthatperiodoftimewaorwhenitegan.Therefore,theileha
noquarrelwiththeoverwhelmingcienti cevidencethattheearthiillionofear
old.2AChritianifreetoeholdtheglorofGodinthetruthcienceiuncovering
aouttheuniverewithouthavingtoprotecttheefactfromcontradictingacertain
undertandingofGenei.
ThePreparationofthePromiedLand:Genei1:2 .
utifGenei1:1refertothecreationoftheentireunivereinanunpeci edduration
oftime,everalquetionarie.Firt,ifGenei1:2 .inotaoutcreation,thenwhati
itaout?econd,doeGenei1:2 .concernthewholeuniverelikevereonedoe,or
doeitrecordeventthatoccurredinaparticularectionoftheplanet?Third,ifitithe
later,whatitheidentitofthiectionoftheplanet?Theethreequetioncane
oileddowntoone:incethecreationoftheuniverei nihedeforetheixdaof
Geneioneeveregin,thenwhatiGoddoingfortheixdathroughouttheretof
thechapter?

Theanwerailhamergiveitheheartoftheook:GodipreparingthePromiedLand
fortheinhaitationofthehumanracehewillringintoexitenceontheixthda.Having
a rmedthatGodithecreatorofallthinginvereone,Moeimmediatelmoveon
inveretwotoemphaitheworkofGodinpreparingapecialplacewithinthi
creationforhicreature.Itithepreparationofacertainland,notthecreationofthe
entireunivere,thatirecountedintheixdaofGeneione.

Iwillnowackupandattempttohowthiinthreetepwhichcorrepondtothe
threequetionraiedaove.Firt,Iwillattempttohowthat1:2 .doenotconcern
theunivereorplanetearthaawhole,utalocalizedectionoflandwithintheearth.
econd,IwillattempttohowthatintheixdaofcreationGodipreparingthiland
formanandnotcreatingit.Third,Iwillattempttodemontratethatthilandithe
PromiedLand.

Whatimeant"earth"invere2?

ThereareeveralreaonwhichetalihthattheixdaofGeneirefernottothe
entireunivereoreventheentireplanet,utinteadrefertoalocalizedpieceoflandon
theearth.

Genei1:2narrowthefocuto"theland"
Firt,veretwoervetoalterthefocuofthenarrativefrom"theheavenandthe
earth"(i.e.,thewholeunivere),whichwathefocuofvereone,tomerel"theearth."
Thiievidentjutfromreadingthepaage:"IntheeginningGodcreatedtheheaven
andtheearth.Andtheearthwaformleandvoid..."Awewilleeelow,everthing
Goddoeintheixdaofchapteroneinvolvetranformingthelandoutofthitate
ofeing"formleandvoid."Inotherword,thefocuhiftfromtheunivereto"the
earth"inveretwoandthefocuremain"theearth"fortheretofthechapter.othe
chapterdoenot,then,refertoomethingthatGodidoingtothewholeunivereut
omethingthatheidoingontheearth.

That"theearth"ialocalizedectionoflandinveretwoandnottheentireplaneti
evidentfromwhatweawearlieraoutthemeaningoftheword"earth."Aweaw,the
wordtranlated"earth"inGenei1:2(eretz)didnotgeneralluggettothoeinMoe'
pre-paceagedathelargeallonwhichweareoritingtheun.Rather,eretzuuall
meanalocalizedectionoftheearth,notthewholeplanet,andthuiuuallet
tranlatedaland.

Thecontextofthecreationaccountitelfuggetthatwearetointerpreteretzinvere
twoa"land"andnot"wholeplanet."InGenei1:10,"land"[eretz]ide nedathedr
groundwhereAdamandveweretodwellaoppoedtotheea.ailhamerpointout
that"the'ea'donotcoverthe'land,'awouldethecaeifthetermmeant'earth.'
Ratherthe'ea'lieadjacenttothe'land'andwithinit"(49).Further,"land"ide ned
itcontrattotheea(Genei1:10)andk(Genei1:20)-notincontrattothetar
andplanetawouldethecaeif"land"(eretz)waeinguedtomean"planetearth."
Thu,thereigoodprecedentinthetexttoundertanderetzinaretrictedenein
vere2.Conequentl,inceveretworefertoacertainpieceoflandandnotthe
wholeplanet,theretofthechapter,whichdecrieGod'workonthilandtomake
itinhaited,inotaouttheentireplanetutaectionoflandwithintheplanet.

Genei2howthatthefocuofGenei1i"theland"

econd,thatthelocationofGod'activitintheixdaialocalizedectionoflandi
upportedthecloerelationhipetweenGeneichapteroneandGeneichapter
two.ItwaacommonliterartrategoftheHerewtogiveageneraldecriptionof
aneventfollowedamorepeci caccountofthatameevent.Forexample,Genei
10giveageneraldecriptionofthevariounationaccordingtotheirlanguageand
countrie,andthenchapter11ackuptoexplaintheoriginofthevarioulanguage
andcountrie.imilarl,Genei1giveageneraloverviewofGod'workandGenei
2giveamorepeci clookatthatamework.Thieemevidentevenfromaquick
readingofthechapter.

oiteemthatothchapterareaouttheameeventviewedfromdi erent
perpective.incetheettingofchaptertwoiclearlalocalizedectionofland,andnot
theentireplanet,itfollowthattheixdaofchapteroneconcernalocalizedegment
oflandandnottheentireplanetorunivere.

WhatGodidoingin1:2

Thiringutotheecondquetion:whatiGoddoingtothilandin1:2 .ifheinot
creatingit?Theanwerithat,thoughthelandwaalreadcreated"intheeginning"--
incethatiwhenGodcreatedeverthing("theheavenandtheearth")--,thelandwa
noteta tdwellingplaceforthehumanthatGodwatocreateontheixthda.It
wa"formleandvoid"(v.2).otheixdaaretheaccountofhowGodpreparedthe
landforman'inhaitation.Thereareeveralreaonwhichhowthi.

The owofthought

Firt,thiihownthe owofthought.Athenarrativeopeninvere2,thelandi
notnon-exitent,utuninhaited,coveredwater,andhroudedindarkne(v.2).
Then,invere1:3-2:1,"Godringlightanddrlandand llitwithfruittreeand
animal"-whichtakethelandnotoutofnonexitence,utoutoftheadconditionof
vere2.Thu,"theixthda,'theland'iauitaleplaceforthemanandthewoman
todwell"(30).Thelandgoefromdiordertoorderin1:2 .,notnon-exitenceto
exitence.Thiwillemademoreevidentelow.

Themeaningof"formleandvoid"
Theecondreaontoelievethat1:2 itheaccountofGodpreparingthelandifrom
themeaningoftheHerewphraetohuwaohuinveretwo,whichitranlatedin
motveriona"formleandvoid."ailhamerpointoutthattheearlnglih
tranlatoroftheilewerein uencedtoagreatextenttheprevailingGreekviewof
creationintheirdaandthereforethoughtthiphraemeantthat"Goddidnot
originallcreatetheworldintheconditioninwhichwenoweeit.Intead,Hecreated
theunivereaahapelemaofmaterial,onllaterformingtheworldwenow
know....Inthiwa,theilicalaccountofcreationcouldehowntoe'true'ecaue
itconformedtothegenerallacceptedGreekcomologie"(62).Therefore,the
tranlatedtohuwaua"formleandvoid."

ManJewih-Greektranlationofthemiddleagediagreedwiththitranlation.
Likewie,Jewihinterpreteraroundtheera300-200.C.renderedtohuwaohunota
"formleandvoid"uta"deolatewithouthumaneingoreatandvoidofall
cultivationofplantandtree"(64).Thiearlview,ailhamerargue,ieentiall
correct.Tohuwaohuconvetheideaof"uninhaitalewilderne"andnot"formle
andvoidchao."Thu,Genei1:2,inaingthatthelandwa"tohuwaohu,"iimpl
tatingthatitwaadeertedwilderne-andthunotet tformankind'inhaitation.
Thi,ofcoure,preuppoeitexitenceandfocuethereaderattentiononwhat
Godwilldotomaketheland tforman.

"Uninhaitalewilderne"ithemeaningoftohuwaohuthroughoutthecripture.
Forexample,itithiphraewhichdecriethewilderneinwhichIraelwandered
forforteareforeenteringthepromiedland(Deuteronom32:10).Ironicall,later
onJeremiah4:23-26uetohuwaohutodecriethepromiedlandafterIraelhaeen
exiledfromitecaueofdioedience.Vere23a,"Ilookedontheearth,and
ehold,itwaformleandvoid(tohuwaohu);andtotheheaven,andthehadnolight
(cf.Genei1:2)."ThefollowingvereinJeremiahdecriethelandaawilderne
(v.26-"thefruitfullandwaawilderne")thativoidofhumanandird(v.25-"there
wanoman,andalltheirdoftheheavenhad ed").Thu,thelandthatiaidtoe
"formleandvoid"idecriedaanuninhaitedwilderne.Whichmeanthatthe
landicalled"formleandvoid"ecaueitianuninhaitedwilderne.
Conequentl,"formleandvoid"inJeremiah4:23mean"uninhaitedwilderne"and
not"unformedma."JutathelandinGeneionewaawilderneeforeitwa
made tforman,oaloIraelwanderedthroughawildernetogettothelandGod
hadpromiedthem-alandwhichlaterecameawilderneaaconequenceofIrael'
dioedience.Awewillee,thiparallelpointtothefactthatthe"land"inGenei1i
peci callthepromiedland.Foritihardtoecapetheconcluionthat,incallingthe
promiedland"formleandvoid"aftertheexileofIrael,Jeremiahialludingto
Genei1:2tohowthatthijudgmentuponIraelreturnedthelandtothetateitwa
ineforemankindhadexited.

Inummar,thecorrecttranlationoftohuwaohuinot"formleandvoid,"aifthe
earthwaanunformedmathatGod'workofcreationroughttoitpreentform,
ut"deertedwilderne"-aphraewhichpreuppoetheland'exitenceandetthe
tageforwhatGodwilldotomakethelandinhaitale.Therefore,theixdaof
GeneionearetheaccountofhowGodtranformedthelandintoafruitfulhaitation
forman,nottheaccountofhowhehapedtheworldfromanunformedma.

From"deerted"to"good"

Third,thereianinteretingwordplaintheHerewwhichfurtheruggetthatwhat
Godidoingin1:2 inotcreating,uttranformingthelandfromawildernetoa
fruitfuldwellingforhuman.ailhamerwrite,"venaquickreadingoftheHerew
textrevealanoviouwordplaetweenthetermtohu('deerted')andto('good').
eforeGodeganHiwork,thelandwa'deerted'(tohu);thenGodmadeit'good'
(to)"-thati,theoppoiteofdeertedandthu tforman(64).Theland,thu,went
fromdeertedtoinhaited,notuncreatedtocreated.

ecaueoftheeandotherreaonwehaveeen,Ithinkitirighttoconcludewith
ailhamerthat"Goddoenotcreate'theland'inGenei1:2-2:4a;Hehaalreadcreated
thelandandtheretoftheunivere'intheeginning'inGenei1:1.Intheremainder
ofthechapter,Godiatworkpreparingthelandforhumanhaitation"(30).Thitruth
iperhapmademoreclearrie lookingatthedetailofhowGodpreparedthe
land.Thiwillproalaloanwermanquetionthatthiraie.
AnxpoitionofGenei1:2-1:31

Theneedforthelandtoeprepared

ToundertandthetructureofwhatGoddoetopreparethelandformanintheix
daofGeneione,wemutundertandthereaonthelandwanotoriginalluitale
forman'inhaitation.Aweawaove,veretwogivetheanwer:"Andtheearth
waadeertedwilderne[not'formleandvoid,'awehaveeen],anddarknewa
overtheurfaceofthedeep."Thati,thelandwa(1)awilderneand(2)uninhaited.
Ithadnolifeinit(wauninhaited)ecaueitwanot tforlife(itwaawilderne)-
whichiproalecaueitwadarkandcoveredwithwater.

God'methodofmeetingthineed

ThefollowingixdaexplainhowGodtranformedthelandfromthitateintoa
tatethatwauitaleforman'inhaitation.Theeixdamaedividedintotwo
part.Onthe rtetofthreedaGodroughtforthlight,preparedthekwith
cloud,gatheredtheeatogether,madethegrounddr,androughtforthvegetation-
allothatthelandwouldnolongereadiorderlwilderne.Ontheeconderieof
threedaGoddeclaredhipurpoeforthelightinthek, lledthekwithird
andwaterwith h,and lledthedrgroundwithanimal-allothatthelandwould
noteuninhaited.3

Itiigni canttorecognizethatonthe rtthreeda,whenGodringthelandoutof

itwildernetate,Hefocue rtonthek(the rtandecondda),thenonthe
ea(theecondda),andthenontheground(theecondandthirdda).Likewie,in
theecondetofthreeda,whenGod lltheland,Hefocue rtonthek(the
fourthand fthda),thenontheea(the fthda),andthenontheground(theixth
da).

The rtthreedaperiod:tranformingthewilderne
Daone.God'commandonthe rtda,"letthereelight,"wathedecreefortheun
torie.ailhamerwritethat,"Thephrae'letthereelight'doen'thavetomean'letthe
lightcomeintoexitence.'lewhereintheile,thiamephraeiuedtodecrie
theunrie(eexodu10:23;Nehemiah8:3;Genei44:3)"(113).ThatGod'command
ondaonedidnotconcernthecreationoflightievidentfromthefactthatthe
creationoflight,un,moon,andtarwouldallhaveeenincludedinthecreationof
"theheavenandtheearth"invereone.For,aweawearlier,thephrae"heavenand
earth"refertoallthatexit.Itiacon rmationofthiundertandingthat,inman
placeintheOldTetament,thephrae"heavenandearth"iexprelhown,it
eem,toincludetheun,moon,andtar(eeJoel3:15-16).

WhileGod,ofcoure,ringaoutallunrieHidecree,thiunriei
emphaizedtomakethepointthatanewworkofGodicommencing.Onthe rtda,
Godcalledforththeunlight,aHedoeeachda,inorderto"revealHiwork"(113).In
ringingouttheimplicationofthi,ailhamerhowjuthowwellthiundertanding
ofthe rtda twithGod'purpoeincreation(Genei1and2)andredemption
(Genei3-Revelation22).

ThedecriptionofthelandinGenei1:2 twellwiththepropheticviionof
thefuture.AfterGodcreatedtheunivere,thelandlaempt,dark,andarren.
ItawaitedGod'calltolightandlife.Jutathelightoftheunrokeinupon
theprimevaldarkne,hearldingthedawnofGod' tleing(1:3),oalothe
prophetandtheapotlemarktheeginningofthenewkingdomageof
alvationwiththelightthatreakthroughthedarkne(Iaiah8:22-9:2;
Matthew4:13-17;John1:5,8-9).Inthatage,God'peoplewillagainenjothe
leingoflivinginthepromiedland(Deuteronom30:1-5).

Laterilicaltextmakeitclearthatuchaviionwaalreadatworkinthe
compoitionofthe rtchapterofGenei.Thefuturemeianicalvation
wouldemarkeda oweringofthe'deert'wilderne(Iaiah35:1-2).Inthe
amewa,inGenei1Godturnedthe'wilderne'intothegardenofden.
 God' nalactofalvationarethuforehadowedinHiinitialactofcreation.
Thewilderneawaititretoration.Henceforththecalltoprepareforthe
comingdaofalvationwhilewaitinginthewildernewouldecomethe
hallmarkoftheprophet'viionofthefuture(Iaiah40:3;Mark1:4 ;Revelation
12:6,14f )(110).

Datwo.Ontheecondda,God"preparedthekwithcloudtoproviderainforthe
land.Therainwouldpreparethelandforproducingvegetationonthenextda"(122).
formingcloudfromthedenefogovertheland,Godmadeawideopenpace
etweenthewaterelowandthecloudaove.ThiiwhatGoddecreedtohappen
whenheaid,"Letthereeanexpaneinthemidtofthewater,andletiteparatethe
waterfromthewater"(1:6).Godcauedcloudtoformoutofthedeepwaterthat
coveredtheland,andetweenthecloudaoveandthewaterelowtherereultedan
openpacetokeepthemditinct-thek.

Dathree.ThipreparedthewaforGod'actonthethirddaofcauingdrlandto
comeforth.Hedidthiaing,"letthewaterelowtheheavenegatheredinto
oneplace,andletthedrlandappear"(1:9).Havingremovedtheotaclethewater
madetoman'inhaitationoftheland,Godcommandedthelandtoe lledwith
plantandfruittree.AareultofGod'decree,"theearthroughtforthvegetation,
plantieldingeedaftertheirkind,andtreeearingfruit..."(1:12).Thiwanotwhen
Godoriginallcreatedvegetation.Ithadalreadeencreated"intheeginning"(v.1).
Rather,onthidaGodcauedtheland,whichhadpreviouleenemptof
vegetation,toringforthvegetationothatitwouldnolongereawilderne.After
thidawaover,thelandwanolongerawilderne.

Theecondthreedaperiod:Fillingthepreviouluninhaitedland

Dafour.Ondafour,Goddidnotcreatetheun,moon,andtar(thehadeen
createdintheeginning,awehaveeen),utdeclaredthepurpoeforwhichHehad
createdthem.Thiimademotevidentfromcomparingvere6,whichpeakofGod
ringingintoexitenceanexpanethathadnoteenthereefore,andvere14,which
peakofGod'commandconcerningtheheavenlodiethathadeentherefromthe
eginning.WhilethetextinvereixclearlathatGodroughtaoutanexpane
thathadnoteenthereefore,invere14thentaxidi erent-whichuggetthat
Godidoingomethingotherthanringingaoutwhathadnoteenthereefore.

ailhamerwritethatthe"Herewveralcontructioninvere14iigni cantl
di erentfromvere6"eventhough

ournglihtranlationdon'talware ectthatdi erence.IntheHerewtext

ofvere14,Goddoenota,'Letthereelightintheexpanetoeparatethe
daandnight...'aiftherewerenolighteforeHicommandandafterward
thecameintoeing[whichithewaitwawiththeexpaneinvere6].
RatheraccordingtotheHerewtext,Godaid,'Letthelightintheexpanee
foreparatingthedaandnight...'God'command,inotherword,aumethat
thelightalreadexitintheexpane.Toeure,therehaeennomentionof
thee'light'earlierinGenei1,uttheirexitenceiaumedintheexpreion
'heavenandearth'inGen1:1.(131-132).

Thu,onthefourthdaGodwanotcreatingtheunandtar,uttatingthepurpoe
forwhichhehadalreadcreatedthem"intheeginning"-toprovidelightontheland
formanandtoemeaurementforkeepingtime.ItiamazingthatGodhadHi
purpoeformaninmindeonearlierwhenHecreatedtheeheavenlodie!

utweren'ttheheavenlodiealreadprovidinglighteforethefourthdaand
alreadcapaleofmarkingtimeeforethen?Ifo,in'titkindofuper uouforGod
todeclareHipurpoeforthemondafour?ailhamerexplain

certainlititruethattheun,moon,andtarwerealreadmarkingtheda
andnight.Potentiall,atleat,thewere ttomarktheeaon,da,andear.
utjutatheigni canceoftherainowwagivenlongafterithadeen
created(Genei9:13),oaloGodannouncedHipurpoeforcreatingtheun,
moon,andtar,onthefourthda-longafterthehadeencreated....
 ThefactthatGodannouncedthepurpoeforthelightonthefourthdadoe
notmeanthehadnotalreadeenperformingthatpurpoeince'the
eginning.'ThepointofthenarrativeitohowthatGodwaiteduntilthefourth
datoexplainHipurpoeforcreatingtheun,moon,andtarin'the
eginning'(134,135).

utwh,ailhamerak,didGodwaituntilthefourthdatodeclareHipurpoein
makingtheceletialodie?Therearetworeaon.Firt,Moe"iintentonhowing
thatthewholeworlddependonthewordofGod.Theworldowenotmerelit
exitencetothewordofGod,utaloitorderandpurpoe"(134).Theecondreaon
"lieintheoveralltructureofthecreationaccount"(135).Aweawaove,thereia
"parallelrelationhipetweentheeventofthe rtthreedaandthelatthreeda"
(135).Onthe rtetofthreeda,Godfocueonthek(daoneandtwo),thenthe
ea(dathree),andthenthedrground(dathreeandfour).Ontheecondetof
threeda,Godagainfocueonthek(dafourand ve),thentheea(da ve),
andthenthedrground(daix).Thu,ailhamerwritethat

Havingprepared,inconecutiveorder,thekie,theea,andthelandonthe
rtthreeda,God,onthelatthreeda,proclaimedthepurpoeforthoe
thingwhichwereto llthekie,theea,andtheland.Godwaited,therefore,
untilthefourthdatomakeknownHiplanfortheignthatwereto llthe
kie(135).

Afterdeclaringhipurpoefortheceletialodieinvere14-15,Moegoeontoa
"AndGodmadethetwogreatlight...Hemadethetaralo"(v.16).ailhamerwrite
thatthivere"lookacktoGod'creating'theunivere'inGenei1:1.Vere16could
etranlated,'oGod(andnotanoneele)madethelightandputtheminthek.'
ThidoenotawhenGodcreated'thelight,'utgiventheoverallmeaningof
Genei1:1,itinaturallaumedthatthewerecreated'intheeginning'"(134).

Da ve.Onthe fthdaGodpopulatedthekandeathathehadpreparedonda
twowithirdandeacreature.Awiththeceletialodie,theecreaturehad
alreadeencreated"intheeginning."utincethelandhadeenadeerted
wilderneupuntilthipoint,Godhadtoringforththeecreaturetopopulatethe
land.TheHerewexpreiontranlated"Letthewaterteemwithwarmofliving
creature"inGenei1:20ialofoundinxodu8:3todecriethe llingoftheNile
withfrogwhenMoetretchedforthhita .Clearlthiexpreioninxodu8:3
doenotmeanthatGodcreatedfrogforthe rttimeatthatpoint.Rather,itmean
thatHepopulatedtheNilewiththem.Likewie,theexpreioninGenei1:20neednot
meanthatGodcreatedtheeacreatureforthe rttimeonda ve.InlightofGenei
1:1,wemutundertandittomeanthatGodwapopulating"thepromiedlandwith
thevarioucreaturethatwerecreated'intheeginning'"(141).

Daix.Finall,ontheixthdaGodpopulatedthegroundhehadmadedronthe
thirddawithlivingcreature.Anditiimportanttorememerthatthepurpoeof
God'commandforthelivingcreatureto llthek,ground,andea"inotthe
creationofvariouanimaloveralltheearth,utthepeci ctakofpopulatingtheland
Heipreparingformankind"(139).

utthiraieaprolemwhenitcometothecreationofhumaneing.inceGenei
1:1teachethatGodcreatedtheunivereandallitcontain(uchathepecieof
animalwhichpopulatethelandondaix)"intheeginning,"itwouldeemthat
humanalowerecreatedatthitimeandthuexitedeforeGodcreatedAdamand
veontheixthda.ailhamer,however,rightlpointoutthatGeneimakeclear
thathumanareexceptedfromwhatGodcreated"intheeginning."Thiiecaue,
amongotherreaon,nogenealogieinGeneigoackeforeAdam,utintead
preuppoethathewathe rtman.Alo,veireferredtoa"themotherofallthe
living,"whichuggetthatallhumanareultimateldecendantofher.

Howlongweretheda?

AtthipointonemawonderwhetherailhamerelievethedaofGenei1toe
twent-fourhourperiod,or"age."Whilehedoenotdealwiththiquetioningreat
detail,hedoeelievetheixdatoetwent-fourhourperiod.Thereigood
evidenceforthiundertanding,epeciallincethedaaremarkedo eveningand
morning.
However,therearealogoodreaontoelievethattheixdaareintendedMoe
toeundertoodaageofunpeci edduration.Onthiview,the"eveningand
morning"iundertoodmetaphoricall.Inmarticle,"DoetheileTeachaYoung
arth,"Ietforththeevidenceforthiview.Whilethievidenceiperuaivetom
mindatthipointintime,Iamnonetheleopentotheundertandingthatthedaare
intendedtoetwent-fourhourperiod.

Ithouldepointedout,however,thatthepoitiononeadoptatothelengthofthe
dahanoearingonwhetherailhamer'viewicorrect.Ifthedaaretwent-four
hourperiod,thenGodpreparedthePromiedLandinixolarda.Ifthedaare
actuallage,thentherewouldenoprolemina rmingthatGodpreparedthe
PromiedLandoveraperiodofixageofunpeci edlength.itherviewoftheda
workwithhitoricalcreationim.

TheLandofGenei1-2IthePromiedLand

NowthatwehaveeenthatGenei1:2 .iaoutthepreparationofaparticularlandfor
man'inhaitationandnotthecreationoftheentireunivereorplanet,weareina
poitiontoak,"Whatitheidentitofthiland?"

Aweawaove,Genei2ianaccountoftheameeventaGenei1fromamore
peci cperpective.4Thu,inceGenei2concernthelandwhichcontainedthe
Gardenofden,itfollowthatthelandofGenei1ithelandinwhichGodplacedthe
Gardenofden.uttheanwergoeevendeeperthanthi.ailhamermakeaolid
caethatthelandinGenei1ipeci callthePromiedLand.TheGardenofden
walocatedintheamelandthatGodpromiedtogivetothedecendantofAraham,
anditithepreparationofthilandthatwearetoldaoutinGenei1.Toetalihthi,
Iwilletforthmanoftheargumentailhamergivetogetherwithomeofmown
thatIhavedicoveredinmexaminationofthecripture.

Theorderaretheame
Firt,theoundarieofthelandpreparedforAdamandve(Genei2:10-14)arethe
ameatheoundarieofthepromiedland(Genei15:18).Thimeanthatthe
promiedlandithelandthathadeenoriginallpreparedforAdamandve.
ailhamerummarizethiwell:

Thegardenofdenextendedfromthe'riverthat owthroughallthelandof
Cuh[theGihon]'tothe'Riveruphrate.'inceinGeneithelandofCuhi
linkedtogpt(Genei10:6),theecondriver,theGihon(Genei2:13),wa
apparentlundertoodtheauthora'theriverofgpt'....

WhenwemovetoGenei15,we ndthatthelandpromiedtoAraham-the
promiedland-imarkedo theeametworiver,theuphrateandthe
Riverofgpt(Genei15:18)....Whenthegeneraloundariearecompared,it
ecomeclearthatthewriterofthePentateuchintendutoidentifthetwo
locationwitheachother.God'promieofthelandtothepatriarchithu
textualllinkedtoHioriginal'leing'ofallhumanitinthegardenofden
(72).

Whatievenmoreatoundingithat,incethelandoriginallpreparedforAdamand
vewathelandlaterpromiedtoAraham,"theeventof[Genei1-3]forehadow
theeventoftheremainderofthePentateuch"andOldTetament(15).InGenei1-3,
GodpreparedalandforHipeople,Adamandve,andgaveittothemoncondition
thatthewouldoehim.ThedioeandarethuexpelledfromtheGarden.Later,
GodpromietoAraham'decendantaland,andgiveittothemuponcondition
thattheoehim.ut,athePentateuchpredict,theeventualldioeand,like
Adamandve,areanihed.NotuntilGodringforththeNewCovenantwillGod'
people nalleretoredtotheland,remainfaithfultoGod,andthereforeremainafe
inthelandforever.

Thelocationwithrepectto"theeat"aretheame
ThefactthatjudgmentirepreentedgoingeatfromoththeGardenofdenand
thepromiedlandindicatethatthearetheameland.Intheauthor'mind,the
GardenandPromiedLandeemtorepreenttheleingofahomelandecauethe
arepreparedaplacewhereHipeoplewoulddwellinleingandpeace.Likewie,
eatoftheGardenandPromiedLandeemtorepreentthejudgmentofexilefroma
homelandecaueititotheeatthatGodexiledothAdamandIraelfor
dioedience(Genei3:24;Jeremiah52:12-16).Thu,itwouldeemthattheparallelthe
authorofthePentateuchidrawingiintendedtohowthattheGardenandPromied
LandaretheamelandecauethewereothpreparedahomelandforGod'
people,andexilefromothtakeonetotheeat.

Thicanemadeevenmoreevident.Thecitofalon,whichitotheeatofthe
promiedlandandiwhereIraelwaexiledto,haareputationintheilefor
wickedneandjudgment.ItgainedthireputationinGenei11ecaueitwauilt
outofhumanit'pridefuldeiretomakeanameforthemelve(Genei11:4).It
retainedthireputationuntiltheend(Revelation17).Likewie,thePromiedLandhaa
reputationintheileforpuritandleing.Ithathireputationecaueitiwhere
GoddeiretoplantHifaithfulpeopleandmakethemproperiftheoeandkeep
themelvepure(Deuteronom30:16).Thecontratingreputationofalonandthe
PromiedLandhelpueewhGodleeHipeoplekeepingthemintheland
whenthekeepthemelvepurethroughoedience,andjudgeHipeople
removingthemfromthelandwhenthemakethemelveimpurethrough
dioedience.

Whatiigni canthereithat,likethePromiedLand,thelandGodpreparedforAdam
andvewaalandfortheirleingiftheremainedpure.Andjutaalonithe
peci ccitwhichitotheeatofthePromiedLand,oaloalonwauiltwhen
humanitmovedeatfromthelandthatithefocuofGenei1-11.InGenei11:1we
read"thewholeearthuedtheamelanguageandtheameword.""Wholeearth"here
doen'tmeantheentireplanet,ut"wholeland"ecaueveretwopeakofthem
journeingeat.Itwouldindeedeoddforthiveretoread"Anditcameaoutathe
[thewholeplanet]journeedeat,thatthe[thewholeplanet]foundaplainintheland
ofhinarandettledthere."Thu,iteemthat"wholeearth"in11:1ietundertood
a"wholeland."
utwhatlanditheauthorpeakingof?Iteemitithelandthathadeenprepared
formaninGenei1and2ecaueitappearGenei11iintendedaaparalleltothe
expulionofAdamandvefromtheGarden.Jutatheinnedandwerecatout
eatward,oalothepeopleofthelandtraveledeatwardtomanifettheirin
makinganameforthemelve.Thu,iteemthattheauthorhereundertandalon
toeeatofthelandGodhadoriginallpreparedforAdamandve.incealoni
alothecitwhichieatofthePromiedLand,iteemthatthePromiedLandithe
landthathadoriginalleenpreparedforAdamandve.

TheentrancetooththeGardenandthePromiedLandwereguardedanangel

Next,itiign cantthattheentrancetooththeGardenofdenandthePromied
Landiguardedanangel.WhenAdamandvewerecatout,Godtationedatthe
eatofdena"cheruim....toguardthewatothetreeoflife"(3:24).Likewie,when
JacoreturnedtothepromiedlandfromtheeathewametangelofGod(Genei
32:1-2),and nallhadtowretlewithanangelinordertoreentertheland(32:22-32).
Finall,Johuaaloencounteredangelaheenteredthepromiedland(Johua5:13-15).
ItihardtoecapethenotionthattheauthormarkedtheexitoftheGardenofdenand
theentranceofthePromiedlandwithanangeltohowthattoenterthePromiedLand
ito"returntoden."Thu,God'givingofthePromiedLandtoIraelaimat
retoringhumanittoHioriginalpurpoeforu.

Jeremiah4:23-26eethepromiedlandinGenei1

Jeremiah4:23-26refertothetateofthepromiedlandafterGod'judgmentonIrael
fortheirin,whichinvovleddetroingthelandandcatingIraelawafromtheland
intoexile.Thatthivereiaoutthepromiedlandievidentfromthecontext,which
concernthedetructionthatGodiringinguponthelandwhereIraeldwell--not
thewholeplanet.Thu,duetothecontext,"earth"inthipaagemutmean"promied
land."

WhatiatoundinghereithatthedecriptionofthepromiedlandinJeremiah4:23-26
afterithadeendetroedonaccountofmanparallelthedecriptionof"theland"in
Genei1:2eforeithadeenpreparedforman:
 "Ilookedontheearth,andehold,itwaformleandvoid;andtotheheaven,
andthehadnolight"(Jeremiah4:23).

"Andtheearthwaformleandvoid,anddarknewaovertheurfaceofthe
deep...ThenGodaid,'Letthereelight';andtherewalight"(Genei1:2-3).

Thephraetranlateda"formleandvoid"inJeremiah4:23itheamephrae
tranlateda"formleandvoid"inGenei1:2.Thiiatrikingparallel,epeciall
whenwerecognizethatinothpaagethephraeiuedtodecrie"theearth."
Further,likethepromiedlandinJeremiah4:23,thelandinGenei1:2ialoaidto
edark.Thedi erenceithatwhenGodpreparedthelandforAdamandveitwent
fromdarktolight,utwhenHeexiledIraelfrom"theland"itwentfromlighttodark.
TheexileofIraelfromthelandwaareveralofthepreparationofthelandforAdam
andve.

Further,Jeremiah4:25announcethatafterGod'judgmentonIraelthepromiedland
wadeerted:"Ilooked,andehold,therewanoman,andalltheirdoftheheaven
had ed."Likewie,eforethelandofGenei1:2hadeenpreparedforman,itwa
deerted.WhenGodeektolemanintheland,thelandimadefruitful(cf.Iaiah
35:1-10;51:3;zekiel36:35;Genei1:2-2:1).utwhenmaninandringdownGod'
cure,heiexiledfromthelandandthelandimadeintoawildernelikeitwaefore
ithadeenpreparedforman:"Ilooked,andehold,thefruitfullandwaawilderne"(v
26;cf.Genei3:17-19,24).

Thu,incethelandinJeremiah4:23-26ithepromiedland,itilikelthat,duetothe
parallelwithGenei1:2,thelandinGenei1:2ialothepromiedland.Iteem
that,alludingtoGenei1:2,JeremiahitringtohighlightthetragedofIrael'in
pointingoutthatthejudgmentofGodonIraelfortheirinputthepromiedland
ackintothetateitwaeforeithadeveneenpreparedforman.Irael'iniagreat
tragedecaueitreultedintheirhomelandeingmadeaiftherewerenohumanto
le--jutatherewerenohumantoleetinGenei1:2.TheexpulionofIrael
fromthePromiedLandiareveralofthepreparationofthelandforAdamandve.
Itialoigni canttonotethatjutaeforeAdamandveinhaitedtheGardenitwa
a"wilderne"(Genei1:2),Irael'timeofwaitingtoenterthepromiedlandi
depictedaawanderinginthe"wilderne"(Deuteronom32:10).Aailhamerdraw
out,"God'peoplemutgothroughthewildernetoreachthepromiedland.Likewie,
whenIraeldioeedandwaexpelledfromtheland,itonceagainecame
'uninhaitale'(tohu)(Jeremiah4:23-26)"(65).

Jeremiah27:5eethePromiedLandinGenei1

Jeremiah27:5aloundertandGenei1aanaccountofthepreparationofthe
promiedland.Inthivere,whichcholargenerallrecognizeaareferencetothe
accountofGenei1,Goda,"Ihavemadetheearth,themenandtheeatwhich
areonthefaceoftheearthMgreatpowerandMouttretchedarm,andIwill
giveittotheonewhoipleainginMight."

Firt,itievidentfromthetatement"Ihavemadetheearth"thatthivereia
referencetotheeventofGenei1and2,forthatitheaccountwhereGodmakethe
earth.econd,weknowthatthipaage"refertoGen1:2-2:4aandnotGenei1:1"
ecaue"JeremiahuedtheHerewterm"tomake"(aah)andnottheterm"tocreate"
(ara)"(54).Thu,thipaageinotareferencetothecreation(ara)oftheheavenand
earth(Genei1:1),uttothepreparation(aah)of"theearth"(Genei1:2 ).

Third,"theearth"hereinotareferencetothewholeplanet,uttothepromiedland.
Thiievidentfromthecontext.Invere3-4,GodtellJeremiahtohaveameage
enttothekingofdom,Moa,Ammon,Tre,andidon.Thecontentofthi
meage,whichegininvere5andcontinuethroughvere14,iaicallthattheir
landwillegiventoNeuchadnezzarandthatthemutumittohim.ecaueofthe
faleprophetwhoareaingthatthewillnothavetoervethekingofalon(vv.9-
10),GodetaliheattheeginningofthemeagethereaonHehatheauthoritto
givetheirlandovertoNeuchadnezzar(v.5).ThereaonHegiveithatHe"madethe
land"andtherefore"willgiveittotheonewhoipleainginMight."Thu,iteem
thatincevere veetalihethereaonGodhatheauthorittogivethelandofthe
kingmentionedinverethreetoNeuchadnezzar,the"land"mentionedinverethree
ithelandwherethekinglitedinverethreereide.Andariefglanceatailemap
revealthatthatlandithepromiedland.

ThicaeitrengthenedvereixwhereGodidenti ethelandthathepokeofin
vere vewiththelandthatHewagoingtogivetoNeuchadnezzar.Whereavere
veetalihedtherightGodhatogive"theland"towhoeverHewant,vereixa
thatGodactualligoingtogive"theland"toNeuchadnezzar.Thu,thelandpoken
ofinvereixappeartoetheamelandwhichGodaidHe"made"invere ve.And
thelandpokenofinvereix,whichhewaaouttogivetoNeuchadnezzar,wathe
"land"ofMoa,Ammon,Tre,andidon.Allofthee"land,"awementionedaove,
areactuall"land"withinthepromiedland.Thu,thelandofvereixthatGodi
goingtogivetoNeuchadnezzar(andthereforethelandofvere ve,whichitheland
GodpreparedinGenei1)ithelandofAmmon,Tre,idon,dom,andMoa,which
ithepromiedland.Further,weknowfromlaterilicalhitor(uchaJeremiah
52:12-16)thatthelandwhichGodgavetoNeuchadnezzerwapeci callthe
PromiedLand,forhewatherodofGod'judgmentuedtoremoveIraelfromtheir
landfordiodience.Thu,whenJeremiah27:5lookackontheeventofGenei
one,iteethemaanaccountofthepreparationofthepromiedland.

xodu20:11eethePromiedLandinGenei1

Itiecomingapparentthat"laterinterilicalinterpretationclearlawthepromied
landathefocuofthecreationaccount"(53).xodu20:11ietanotherverewhich
undertandtheixdaofGenei1aareferencetothepreparationofthepromied
land:"ForinixdatheLordmadetheheavenandtheearth,theeaandallthatiin
them,andretedontheeventhda..."

Itmight rtappearthattheoppoiteithecae,fordoen'ttheterm"heavenand
earth,"aweawearlier,refertotheentireunivere?Anddoen'tthivereathat
Godcreatedthe"heavenandtheearth"inixda,notanunpeci edperiodoftime?If
thiwathecae,itwouldclearlmeanthattheixdaofGenei1aretheaccountof
God'creationoftheentireunivereandnotpreparationofthepromiedlandaI
maintain.
xodu20:11doenotteachthattheentireunivereithecopeofGod'workinthe
ixdaofGenei1.ailhamerreolvetheapparentdi cultraiedthereference
tothe"heavenandtheearth"inxodu20:11verwell.Hewrite:

...thipaageinxodudoenotuethemerim'heavenandearth'todecrie
God'workofixda.Rather,itgiveualitofGod'ditinctworkduring
theixda....ThatlitrefertoGod'workinGenei1:2-2:4,nottoHicreation
oftheunivereinGenei1:1.xodu20:11doenotaGodcreated'theheaven
andearth'inixda;itaGodmadethreethinginixda-thek,theland,
andtheea-andthen lledthemduringthatameperiod(106).

Thu,xodu20:11doenottatethattheixdaconcerntheentireunivere,utthe
"k,theland,theea,andallthatiinthem."Itiinteretingthatthelitoffourthing
inx20:11correpondexactltowhatGodmadeinGen1:2 .Firt,hepreparedthe
k.ThenHepreparedtheea.AndthenHepreparedtheground.Thiwathe rt
threeda.Thicorrepondtothetatementthat"inixdatheLordmade[notthe
heavenandtheearth,ut]theheaven,theearth,theea..."Intheremainingthree
da,he lledtheethreething.Thicorrepondtothetatementthatafterpreparing
thek,theland,andtheeaGodmade"allthatiinthem."

xodu20:11doenoteetheixdaofGenei1acreation,utaprepration.o
weeethatxodu20:11inottatingthatGod'creationoftheentireunivereoccured
overaixdaperiod,utthathiworkonthek,ground,andeaoccurredoveraix
daperiod.Thatthiiareferencetothepreparationofthek,land,andeaforman
andnottheircreationievidentfromtheirueoftheword"made"andnot"created."
Theword"created"iuedinGenei1:1.uttheword"made,"whichiuedhere,

meantheameathenglihexpreion'tomake'aed.lewhereintheile
theameHerewwordiuedtodecriecuttingone' ngernail(deut21:12),
wahingonefeet(2amuel19:25),andtrimmingone'eard(2amuel
19:24)....Thewordmeantoputomethingingoodorder,tomakeitright.Thu,
x20actualleemtoupporttheviewthatGen1:2 .refertothepreparation,
notcreation,oftheland.
xodu20:11eethecopeofGod'workintheixdaofGenei1athePromied
Land.Havingeen,then,thatxodu20:11doenoteetheixdaofGenei1athe
creationoftheunivereutthepreparationofthek,ea,andground,thequetion
ecomewhetherthetextpeci callidenti ethelocationofGod'workduringthee
ixdaathePromiedLand.ThatitdoeievidentcomparingitwithJeremiah
27:5(whichwewilleealotrengthenourcaethatJeremiah27:5iareferencetothe
promiedland).

AftercommandingIraeltokeeptheaathinxodu20:8-10,Godthengivethe
reaoninvere11:"ForinixdatheLordmadetheheavenandtheearth,theeaand
allthatiinthem,andretedontheeventhda..."Thenextcommandment,givenin
vere12,itohonorone'fatherandmother.Andthereaonforthicommandmenti
"thatourdamaeprolongedinthelandwhichtheLordourGodgiveou."The
"landwhichtheLordourGodgiveou"ide nitionthepromiedland.

oweeethatthecommandtokeeptheaathiaedonthefactthatGoditheone
whomadethek,land,andground.Andwealoeethatthekeepingofthecommand
tohonorone'fatherandmotheritoemotivatedthefactthatGoditheonewho
givethepromiedlandtowhomHewant.owhatlandiatthefoundationofthe
commandforaaathret?Motlikel,theamelandthatlieatthefoundationofthe
nextcommandtohonorone'fatherandmother-namel,"thelandwhichtheLordour
Godgiveou,"whichithepromiedland.Inotherword,thek,ea,andground
ofvere11arethoeofthepromiedlandwhichireferredtoinvere12.

ThecorrelationinJeremiah27:5etweenGod'preparingthelandandGod'givingthe
landiigni cant:"Ihavemadetheland...andIwillgiveittotheonewhoipleaingin
Might."Thieemtoetheamecorrelationwe ndinxodu20:11-12.God
preparedtheland(v.11)andGodgivetheland(v.12)LikeJeremiah27:5,xodu20:11-
12treethatGodmadetheland,andGodgivetheland.Thu,ifoneofthee
paageireferringtothepromiedland,iteemthattheothermuteawell.

TheThemeofthePetateuchrevealthelandtoethefocuinGenei1:2
Thewordtranlated"earth"in1:2(eretz)notonlnormallmean"land"inteadofthe
wholeplanet(awehavealreadeen),ut"uuallreferpeci calltotheland
promiedtoAraham(Genei15:18)"(50).Iteemthatareaderfamiliarwiththe
themeofthePentateuchwouldnaturallundertand"land"inthieneinGenei1:2
ecaue"thecentralthemeofthePentateuchitheinaiCovenantandGod'giftofthe
land"(52).

Andifthe"land"inveretwoithepromiedland,thenitfollowthattheixdaof
creationaretheaccountofGod'activitonthiamelandecaue,aweawaove,
veretwo"etthetagefortheaccountofGod'actionintheremainderofthe
chapter.Itturnthereader'attentionawafromtheunivereaawholeandontothe
promiedland,whichithecentralettingoftheremainderofthePentateuch"(109).
"Unfortunatel,"hewriteelewhere,"notrenderingeretzinGenei1:1-2a'land,'
ournglihtranlationhavelurredtheconnectionoftheeearlvereofGeneito
thecentralthemeofthelandinthePentateuch"(52).

Tomakethiargumentmore rm,twothingmutemademoreevident.Firt,we
muthowwh,ifthecentralthemeofthePentateuchithegivingoftheland,itwould
leadonetoconcludethatitithiamelandthatireferredtoinveretwo.econd,we
mutetalihthatthegivingofthelandiindeedthecentralthemeofthePentateuch.

HowthethemeofthePentateuchuncoverthemeaningofGenei1:2.Firt,the
reaonareaderfamiliarwiththecentralthemeofthePentateuchathegivingofthe
promiedlandwouldeethe"land"mentionedin1:2athepromiedlandiecaue
Genei1-3"preentageneraldecriptionoftheworldinwhichtheuequent
hitoricaleventwilltakeplace.Theetthetage"fortheeventoftheremainderof
thePentateuch(81).

Theechapteretthetagefortheremainderofthechapterecaue,attheendofthe
ixthda,Adamandvehaveeenprovidedwithahomeland.Thiioviouwhether
ornotoneviewchapteroneandtwoaareferencetothepromiedland.utthe
conceptofahomelandforGod'peopleiatthecenterofoththeCovenantwith
Araham(Genei15:18)andtheCovenantmadeatinai(Deut5:32-33).otheconcept
ofa"homeland"iacentralconcernofthethreemajoreventofthePentateuch:
Creation,theArahamicCovenant,andthexoduandinaiCovenant.incetheame
homelandiinviewintheelatertwoevent-theArahamicCovenantandinai
Covenant-itwouldnaturallfollowthattheamehomelandialoinviewinthe
creationaccount.

Inotherword,itwouldnaturallfollowthatthecreationaccountiettingthecontext
inwhichtoundertandtheothertwomajoreventthatconcerna"homeland"-
epeciallincehadmannotlothihomelandtoeginwithhewouldnotneedtoe
providedwithahomelandthroughthecovenantwithArahamandthecovenantat
inai.Thu,ailhamerdrawouttherelationhipetweentheeventofcreationand
thethemeoftheinaicovenantathegivingofalandforGod'peopleuponthe
conditionthattheoe:

achoftheecentralthemeoftheinaiCovenant nditinitialtatementin
theopeningchapterofGenei.TheCovenantigroundedintheeventof
creation.TheauthorforGenei1wanttohowthatthetretchoflandwhich
GodpromiedtogiveIraelintheinaiCovenant-thelandwhereArahamand
hifamilojourned,thelandofCanaan-watheamelandGodhadprepared
forthematthetimeofcreation.ItwainthatlandthatGod rtleed
mankindandcalleduponmenandwomentooehim.Itwainthatlandthat
theTreeofLifeoncegrewandGodprovidedforman'goodandkepthimfrom
evil.InthenarrativeofGenei1,wearethugivenandaccountofGod'
originalpurpoewithhumanit"(83).

econd,areaderfamiliarwiththethemeofthePentateuchwouldundertand"theland"
inveretwoathepromiedlandecauetheameprocethatleadtothi
undertandingof"theland"inveretwoiintendedtoleadtotheproperundertanding
of"God"invereone.

Like"theland"inveretwo,"God"invereoneileftlargelunde ned.Weundertand
whattheauthormeanGodinvereonelargelfromourundertandingofwhatwe
aretoldaoutGodintheretoftheile.ojutathereaderito lltheword"God"
in1:1withthemeaningthatigiventhiwordthroughoutthePentateuch,oaloit
eemthattheauthorintendthatweundertandthe"land"invereinlightofthe
centralthemeofthePentateuch.ThementionofGodinvereonewouldpromptthe
quetion,"Whoithat?"Theanwericlearl,"TheOnewhoithecentralfocuofthe
retoftheookofGeneiandtheretofthePentateuch."Thiwouldpromptthe
realizationthatGodinotonlGodofAraham,Iaac,andJaco,utaloGodofall
creation.Likewie,thementionof"theland"inveretwowouldpromptthequetion
"Whichland?"Andtheanwerwouldlikewieeemtoe,"Theonethatithecentral
focuoftheretoftheookofGeneiandtheretofthePentateuch."Thi,then,
wouldprompttherealizationthatwhenGodpromiedalandtoArahamandhi
decendant,itwanotthe rttimeGodhadoughttolemankindinaland.Rather,
GodwatakingactiontoetalihoneofHioriginalgoalincreation.

ThegivingofthePromiedLandiacentralthemeofthePentateuch.Fromtheetwo
reaonitievidentwh,ifacentralthemeofthePentateuchithegivingoftheland,a
readerfamiliarwiththiwould,attheauthor'deign,undertandthe"land"inGenei
1:2 athePromiedLand.ThatthePromiedLandiacentralthemeofthePentateuch
ievidentfromthefactthatthetwomaincovenantwithwhichthetorlineofthe
Pentateuchfocueon-theArahamicandinaiCovenant-havethegivingofthe
PromiedLandattheircenter.Thu,iteemthattheauthorintendthatareader
familiarwiththethemeofthePentateucheethe"land"inGenei1:2athePromied
Land.

TheGloriouUnifingFunctionoftheLand
Foralloftheereaon,iteemolidtoconcludethathitoricalcreationimicorrect.
Genei1:1declarethatGodcreatedtheentireunivereinaperiodoftimethatileft
unpeci ed.Genei1:2hiftthefocufromtheunivereaawholetothePromied
LandatomepointafterGodhad nihedcreatingtheunivere.TheixdaofGenei
one,therefore,aretheaccountofGodpreparingthePromiedLandformankind.

ThirevealthatoneofthemainaimoftheauthorinGeneioneandtwoito
etalihthattheGodofthecovenantitheGodofcreation.TheGodwhopreparedthe
landpromiedinthecovenant(1:2 )itheameGodwhocreatedtheunivere(1:1).
Therefore,thememerofthecovenanthaveamightGodwhoiaoveallother
god.
makingtheconnection--meanoftheland--etweencreationandthecovenant,
GeneionethroughtwonotonlcallattentiontothegreatneofGod,utaloetthe
tageforwhattheretoftheilehatoaaoutthegreatneofGod.ecauethe
landinotonlaunifingthemeamongthecovenant,utalowhatuni ethe
covenantwithcreation(ecauetheallconcerntheameland),thereiadeeperunit
amongGod'purpoeincreationandredemption.Whenweeethi,agloriou
tapetrofGod'mightworkintheileunfoldeforeouree.

Inanattempttoeholdthiglor,IwillrehearethemaineventGoduedtoring
IraeltothePromiedLand.Doingowillnotonlhighlightthegloriouimplication
thecentralitofthelandinothcreationandredemptionha,utwillaloerveto
con rmourconcluionthatthegivingofthelandiacentralthemeofthePentateuch.

TheCovenantwithArahamandtheLandPromiedinitiCentraltothetorof
thePentateuch

Thiievidentfromageneralknowledgeofalvationhitor.GodcallArahamoutof
hilandofidolatr(Genei12:1)tolehimothathewillealeing(v.2)andaa
meantothipromietomakehimagreatnation(Genei12:2).Thipromiei
initiallful lledinthecreationoftheearthlnationofIraelfromAraham'
decendant,whoerveathemaincharacterinthePentateuchfromGenei12on.In
additiontothi,thepromieofalandwaakeelementofthecovenant(Genei12:1,
7)-whichievidentfromthefactthatfromGenei12toDeuteronom32themain
torconcernhowGodroughtIraeltothiland.

ThemeanGoduedtoringIraelintothelandpromiedtothemianintricatetor
whichrevealGod'widomandwhatHiultimategoalintheArahamiccovenanti.
WhenGodoriginallmadethecovenantwithAraham,heinformedhimthatefore
hiearthldecendantwouldeleedofGodinthepromiedland,thewould rt
"etrangerinalandthatinottheir,wherethewilleenlavedandoppreedfour
hundredear"(Genei15:13).
Thiprophecwanotmerelapredictionofwhatwouldhappen,utadeclarationof
whatGodwoulddo.Thiievidentfromtheeventthatfollowed.WhenAraham'
grandonJaco,throughwhichthenationofIraelwatocome,haddecendant
numeringaoutevent,Godroughtaoutaeverefamineinthelandathemean
ofpoitioningIraelingpt.HavingalreadentJoephtogptfaraheadoftimea
themeanofmaintainingagreatreerveoffoodothatmanwouldepreervedalive
(Genei50:20),GoduedthefaminetoringtheotherdecendantofJacotojoin
JoephingptecauegptiwherethefoodwathatGodhadprovidedtokeep
themalive.ItitrikingtorealizethatGoddidthi,andeventoldthemtogo(Genei
46:3),eventhoughHehadalreadaidthatthewouldeventuallecomelaveinthe
land(Genei15:13;xodu1:11).TheimplicationithatIrael'laveringptwa
orchetratedGodtoputIraelinaplacetoeholdthemightworkofGodontheir
ehalf.

TheinaiCovenantoughttoringIraelintotheLandPromiedintheArahamic
Covenant

Thu,GoddidnotforgetHipromietoringthenationofIraeltothePromied
Land.HetillrememeredHicovenantwithAraham,Iaac,andJacoafterfour
hundredear(xodu2:24)andraiedupMoetodeliverIraelfromlaveringpt
andringthemintothepromiedland(xodu3:8).AfterringingIraeloutofgpt,
hemadeacovenantwiththemwhichcenteredontheookofthelaw(xodu22:7-8)
andinwhich,aailhamerwrite,He"vowedtogivethemthe'land'Hehadpromied
totheirforefather.Hepromiedtoletheminthatland,togivethemretandpeace,
andultimateltodwellwiththeminthatland."

Thu,thegivingofthelandwaacentralpromieoftheinai(orOld)Covenant
(Deuteronom1:5-8).ThatthelandicentraltotheinaiCovenantialohownthe
factthatIrael'oediencetothelawgiveninthatcovenantwa"theonlcondition
Godplacedontheirenjomentoftheland.Ifthedioeed,Iraelwouldecatout
ofthelandandgointoexile(Deuteronom4:25-26)."utiftheoeed,thewould
livelongintheland(Deuteronom30:16-20).TheprolemwiththeOldCovenantwa
thatIraeldidnothaverenewedheartthatwantedtooeGod(Deuteronom29:4).
Thu,eventuallIraelwaperitentldioedientandthucatoutoftheland.Thii
theamereaonthatAdamandvewerecatoutoftheGarden(Genei3).

TheNewCovenanttalihedtheAimoftheArahamicCovenantandecureUin
theLand

otheOldCovenantwanotenoughtokeepIraelinthelandecaueitwanotale
toeful lledduetothehardneofthehumanheart.Thididnot,however,aort
God'purpoetogivethedecendantofArahamtheland.Intead,itrevealedwhat
God'truepurpoewaallalongintheinaiCovenant-tohowourinfulneothat
wewouldeetheneedfortheNewCovenant.

ThattheinaicovenantwanottheCovenantthatGodintendedtouetoringthe
promieofleingandalandforAraham'decendanttoultimateful llmenti
evidentfromGalatian3,whichteachethattheleingofArahamialvation
throughChrit,andthatitithroughtheArahamicCovenant,nottheinaiCovenant,
thatthileingcometou(Galatian3:8,17-18).Theinaicovenantwaaervantto
theArahamiccovenantecaueitwaour"tutor"tohowuourinfulneandthu
leadutojuti cationfaithinChrit,whowatheeedofAraham(3:24).Auch,
itwaonleverintendedtoetemporarandameantodemontratingtheupremac
oftheArahamicCovenantwhichhadeenmadeeforeit(3:15-19).

TheArahamicCovenant,then,inotful lledtheOldCovenant.Rather,theOld
CovenantwaintendedtopointtoanotherCovenant-aCovenantinwhichthe
ArahamicCovenantwouldeful lled.

ThiNewCovenantinotexplicitlmentionedinthePentateuch,utiforehadowed
inthefactthattheinaicovenantipredictedtofailatkeepingIraelintheland
(Deuteronom31:14-22).Afterthifailurecametopa,theNewCovenantwa
promiedintheookofzekiel,Jeremiah,andIaiah.
LookingackonthefailureoftheOldCovenant,whichwamadewithethnicIrael,
andtheucceoftheNewCovenant,whichwamadenotwithethnicIraelutthoe
whoelieveinChritandaimatful llingthepromiemadetoAraham,muchlighti
hedonexactlwhatGodwapromiingintheArahamicCovenant.Firt,weeethat
thetruedecendantofArahamarenotthoewhoarephicalldecendedfromhim,
utthoewhoelieveinChrit(Galatian3:7).Thu,God'promieintheArahamic
CovenantwanottogiveallphicaldecenantofArahamtheland,uttogivethe
landtoallofthoewho,likeAraham,elieveinChrit.Thiionereaonwhthe
failureoftheOldCovenanttokeepethnicIraelinthelanddidnotaortGod'purpoe
intheArahamicCovenant.

econd,weeethatthelandwhichGodaimtogivetothepiritualdecendentof
Arahaminotmerelanearthldwelling,utaheavenldwelling.Thelandpromied
toArahaminotmerelaectionoflandthatiofthicreation,itiaectionofland
thatwewillpoeinthenewcreation-thati,oncetheheavenandtheearthare
renewed!ThepromiedlandithelandthatGodoriginallpreparedforAdamandve.
utitithatlandaitwilleonceGodrenewthicreationfromthee ectofthefall
andjoinheavenandearthtogetheraone(Revelation21-22).

Toeethi,noticetheparalleletweentheelementofGod'covenanttoArahamin
Genei17,andtheelementoftheNewCovenanttatedinJeremiah32.TheNew
CovenantcontaintheamepromieathoeoftheArahamiccovenantecaueiti
thetrueful llmentoftheArahamicCovenant.uteeinghowthepromieto
ArahamconcerningthelandiinterpretedinthepromieoftheNewCovenant,a
oodoflightihedonthelandGodhadactuallpromiedintheArahamic
Covenant.

ThecovenantwithAraham."AndIwilletalihMcovenantetweenMeand
ouandourdecendantafterouthroughouttheirgenerationforan
everlatingcovenant,toeGodtoouandtoourdecendantaferou.AndI
willgivetoouandtoourdecendantafterou,thelandofourojourning,all
thelandofCanaan,foraneverlatingpoeion;andIwilletheirGod"(Genei
17:7-8).
 TheNewCovenant."AndthehalleMpeople,andIwilletheirGod;andIwill
givethemoneheartandonewa,thatthemafearMealwa,fortheirown
good,andforthegoodoftheirchildrenafterthem.AndIwillmakean
everlatingcovenantwiththemthatIwillnotturnawafromthem,todothem
good;andIwillputthefearofMeintheirheartothatthewillnotturnawa
fromMe.AndIwillrejoiceoverthemtodothemgood,andIwillfaithfullplant
theminthilandwithallMheartandwithallMoul"(Jeremiah32:40-41).

The rtpaageaoveconcernGod'covenantwithAraham:"IwilletalihM
covenantetweenMeandouandourdecendant."Theecondpaageconcernthe
NewCovenant:"AndIwillmakeaneverlatingcovenantwiththem."Thiithe
covenantpokenaoutinJeremiah31:31-32ofwhichGoda,"ehold,daare
coming...whenIwillmakeanewcovenantwiththehoueofIraelandthehoueof
Judah,notlikethecovenantwhichImadewiththeirfatherinthedaItookthemthe
handoutofgpt,Mcovenantwhichtheroke."TheNewCovenant,then,replace
theOldCovenant(cf.Herew8),utdoenotreplacetheArahamicCovenant
ecaue,liketheNewCovenant,theArahamicCovenantiaidtoeeternal.What
thimeanithattheNewCovenantitheful llment,orperhaprea rmation,ofthe
ArahamicCovenant.Therefore,wehouldexpectthattheincludetheamepromie.
Thiiexactlwhatweeeintheetext.

InothCovenant,GodpromiethatthedecendantofAraham(whichweknow
fromGalatian3toeChritian,notethnicJew)willeHipeopleandthatHewille
theirGod.ThattheNewCovenantimadewiththedecendantofArahamievident
fromJeremiah31,whichatheNewCovenantimade"withthehoueofIraeland
thehoueofJudah."Noticealothattheetwocovenantarenotonlothmadewith
thedecendantofAraham,utothcontainthepromieoftheland.

TheNewCovenantaitiexpreedinJeremiah32explainhowitithatGodwill
keepufaithfultoHicovenantothatwewillnevereexpelledfromtheland,a
happenedtoIraelundertheOldCovenant.GodwillkeepufaithfulecaueHewill
putthefearofHimelfinourheartothatwewillnotturnawafromHim.AndHe
promietoneverturnawafromu.ThiiwhattheOldCovenantlacked-thepower
tofollowGod.utthepowerthattheOldCovenantdidnotgiveigiventheNew
Covenant.Therefore,theOldCovenantdidnotkeepethnicIraelintheland,utthe
NewCovenantwillkeeppiritualIraelinthelandforever.

Finall,theexpreionoftheNewCovenantinJeremiahhedfullerlightonthe
identitofthelandGodhadpromiedtoAraham.Noticethatititheameland
promiedtoArahamthatGodpromieonceagaintoplantHipiritualdecendant
in.utfromtherevelationoftheNewTetament,weknowthatGodinotmerel
goingtogiveChritianthelandofIrael.Rather,weknowthatHeigoingtorenew
theentireunivere,the"heavenandtheearth,"cleaningitfromallwickedneand
makingallthingnew.Thu,the"land"thatGodpromietogiveuforeverinJeremiah
32ithepromiedlandaitwilleintheNewHeavenandNewarth.Thiithe
dwellingGodpromietogiveChritian.AndincetheNewCovenantringto
ful llmenttheArahamicCovenant,theothhavetheamelandinview.Thu,the
landpromiedtoArahamithelandfromtheuphratetoRiverofgptaitwille
intheRenewedHeavenandarth!God'plantoretoreHipeopleintherenewed
heavenandearthtothelandthehadlotatcreationwaalreadrevealedwaackin
HipromietoAraham!

TheDeepUnitofGod'Plan

Whatdoeallthihow?IthowthatGod'purpoeremaintheamefromcreation
throughredemptionandintothenewcreation.God'purpoehaveneverchangedand
willeetalihed.AndthefoundationofthitruthilaidinGeneione."
etalihingaconnectionetweenthepromiedlandandthegardenofden,the
GeneinarrativerevealomethingquiteimportantaoutGodandHipurpoein
creation.ThetelluthatGod'purpoeremaintheame.WhatHehaaccomplihed
increationHewilldoagaininHicovenantpromie"(p.73).TheauthorofGenei
accomplihethiinhowing"thattheinaiCovenantandGod'callofArahamhave
atheirultimategoaltheetalihmentofGod'originalpurpoeincreation.God
intendedfromtheeginningthatHipeople ndleingandpeacein'theland'He
providedforthem"(p.84).
Thitietogetheringreaterunitthecovenantofredemptionwiththeoriginaltateof
manandhiconequentfallfromthattate.Whenmankindfellfromfellowhipwith
God,GodtookactiontoredeemmanandretoreHimtothelandthroughHi
covenant.ThecovenanteektoredeemmanfromHifallringingGod'redeemed
peopleackintothelandwhichhehadlotinhifallinarenewedcreation!

The rtthingwereadofintheileiGod'creationoftheentireunivere.Thenext
thingwereadithat,aftertheuniverewa nihed,thelandGodhaddetinedfor
Adamandvewaadeertedwilderne(Genei1:2).Godthenpreparedthipecial
landformankindtodwellin,uttheoonfellfromarightrelationhipwithGod
throughdioedienceandwereexiledfromtheland.

Thouandofearlater,intheArahamicCovenant,Godpromiedtoretore
Araham'piritualdecendanttothiland.AfterlettingIraeleenlavedingptfor
hundredofear,Godegantoful llthipromieandledthemtotheland.Andjut
athelandwaadeertedwilderneeforeithadeenpreparedforAdamandve,o
aloIraelwanderedthroughthewilderneeforeenteringtoconquer(prepare?)the
land(Deuteronom32:10).

TheOldCovenantthuroughtGod'peopleacktothelandforatime,utoon
reultedinarepetitionofwhathappenedtomankindthe rttimehehadeengiven
theland.IraelinnedperitentlagaintGodandwathuexiledfromtheland,tothe
eat,injudgment-jutahadhappenedtoAdamandve.ThefallofmaninGenei3,
thu,forehadowedwhatwouldhappenintheOldCovenant.Hence,weeethatGod'
planfortheOldCovenantwatopointthewatotheNewCovenanthowingthata
mightworkofGodonourheartinecearforouralvation.

InthiNewCovenant,then,whichwapurchaedChrit'death,Godiringingto
infallileful llmentthepromietoArahamthathadnoteenuccefullful lled
theOldCovenant.AndthatpromietoArahamwaGod'promietoretore
Araham'decendanttothelandthehadlotinthefall.
TheunitGodhaetalihedetweencreationandredemption,meanofthe
PromiedLand,trulmagni ethericheofhiwidomandtheincrutailitofhi
wa.AndundertandingtherichhitorofthePromiedLandnotonlin
redemption,utcreationawell,thelandwhereweareheadingaChritianand
wherewewillworhipChritintherenewedheavenandearth(Iaiah2:1-4;66:18-24)
takeonamuchmoreprofoundandfacinatingigni cance.

Note
1eehiexcellentdefeneofthia rmationinAppendix1,pp.227-245.

2eemarticle"TheDaofCreation"foraummaroftheevidenceforanoldearth.

3Irecognizethattheecategoriemaetoorigid.utIthinkthatthedo,ingeneral,

demontratethetructureofthepaage.

4ailhamerwritethat"Itilikelthattheauthorintendedaconnectiontoedrawn

etweenGod'furnihingthelandwithfruittreeinchapter1[vere9-11]andHi
furnihingthegardenwithtree'goodforfood'inchapter2.Thiietanotherclue
thatthetwoaccountinGenei1and2areindeedaouttheameworkofcreationand
thatthe'land'ofchapter1houldeundertoodathe'garden'ofchapter2"(127).

Unleotherwieindicated,allcripturequotationarefromtheNewAmericantandard
ile,copright1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1975,1977,theLockman
Foundation.