Archetypes In The Bible's Book Of Genesis
In the Bible’s Book of “Genesis” it is very clear how every archetype has distinctive characteristics which makes them unique. God has some of the most interesting characteristics. On the first page it becomes clear that God is in control. He doesn't play by the rules; He makes them. In some of the earliest books of “Genesis” it is shown that above all other characteristics, the God of the ancient hebrews is like a parent to the people He creates. Just like a parent God is disciplinary, insane, and trusting.
When God first creates Adam and Eve He puts a considerable amount of trust in them. Just like most parents, God trusts His children until the trust is broken. For a while Adam and Eve were doing exactly as God wanted, working hard and taking care of the Garden of Eden. God even trusted Adam and Eve to take care of the rest of His creations. He said in “Genesis” one:
“Be …show more content…
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish and sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (1: 28)
God says to Adam and Eve to “increase in number.” If God did not trust humans He would not have told them to repopulate, because He wouldn't want more untrustworthy humans populating His Earth. God trusts that they have good intentions. He then goes on to say “subdue it.” God is telling Adam and Eve to take control, make sure it's known that their in charge. These “creatures” are Gods most prized possessions, this is all He has created so far. The fact that God trusts Adam and Eve to the extent of letting them take care of His possessions proves that He had faith and trust in them. God doesn't beat around the bush, He flat out tells Adam and Eve to rule over everything else. He's giving them all these privileges, so it's obvious that He believes in their abilities as “rulers,” and that they are trustworthy. Of course all these privileges are taken away when this trust is broken.
While it may appear that God has good intentions, if a closer look is taken it is shown He's actually insane. Adam and Eve eat from a tree that God strictly forbids them not to. God then takes away their immortality by kicking them out of the garden, essentially causing their death. After God finishes punishing Adam, Eve, and the Serpent who deceived them into eating the fruit, He says:
““He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.”
(3:22-24)
The Garden of Eden is an archetype of its own. Gardens represent innocence, and that innocence Adam and Eve once possessed was taken away once they ate from the tree. When God learned of what Adam and Eve had done, He decided to take away their ability to “live forever.” He then “banished” them from the Garden. Adams punishment was to “work the ground from which he had been taken.” It is common for parents to show their children whos in charge, which He did, but God goes to the extent of taking away His childrens lives. Not only that but God didn't even tell Adam and Eve where the tree they were not supposed to eat from was. This is an irrational reaction because there are a million other ways to move past this problem or have had avoided it entirely. God could have kicked them out of the Garden but let them keep their immortality. He also could have told Adam and Eve where the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was. In a way this is very much Gods fault for not giving His children more information. God takes no responsibility in the situation, and He blames this entirely on Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. This proves that God is in fact insane.
Other examples throughout the Bible show a glimpse of Gods crazy side as well. In Noah’s Story, God once again resorts to killing. When God decides that He is unhappy with what He has created, He wipes out all living creatures with a flood.
“The LORD God regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said,
“I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race which I have created-and with then the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground, for I regret that I have made them.””
(6:7-8)
“Genesis” 6 shows when God is unsatisfied. Instead of giving His children a warning, threat, or punishment, He decides to “wipe from the face of the earth the human race.” Along with killing the humans He killed the innocent who lived alongside the humans, such as the animals. Gods impatience with His children perfectly illustrates the side of him that's clearly insane.
God makes the rules. He doesn't follow directions He gives them, and He expects things to be done correctly. God wants nothing less than perfection. He wants His people to be innocent and pure. In the story of Cain and Abel, when Cain gets angry and takes his brother Abel's life, God takes it upon himself to discipline Cain. Cain is no longer pristine and righteous. In order to teach him a lesson and set an example out of him for others to fear, God puts a curse on Cain. God says to him:
“Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened it's mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (4: 11-12)
Gods main reason for putting Cain “under a curse” was to teach him a lesson.
Consistency in discipline is important. If God let Cain get away with this behavior then others would think their actions would go without consequences. In this passage God is trying to make Cain feel sorrow and guilt about killing his brother. The punishment He gives has a deeper meaning than just making Cain’s search for food harder. When God says “your brothers blood from your hand” He wants Cain to be appalled and horrified at his sins, and God wants him to feel remorse. God punishes Cain by making him a “restless wanderer on the Earth.” In Cains point of view, this punishment is too much for him to handle. God then marks Cain so anyone who found him would know not kill him. This mark isn't just to make sure no one would kill Cain, it's so anyone who would find Cain would fear God. Cain was an example of how not to be, and a glimpse of what life would be like if one disobeyed God. Parents often discipline their children, although God disciplines his to higher degree. This is Gods way of showing He’s in
charge. God wants to make it known His people will be reprimanded for their actions. He disciplines His children as a way of shaping them into “better” people, although he doesn't go about it the right way. He trusts His children have good intentions until he learns otherwise. At some points throughout the Bible it seems like God has no compassion for them, this is because part of him is insane. He killed innocent animals for the mistakes of humans. God strives to be feared. Even though nowadays parents are not nearly as crazy as God, He is a parent to the people He creates. God does care about His children, although his expectations for their behavior might have been too high.
When God first creates Adam and Eve He puts a considerable amount of trust in them. Just like most parents, God trusts His children until the trust is broken. For a while Adam and Eve were doing exactly as God wanted, working hard and taking care of the Garden of Eden. God even trusted Adam and Eve to take care of the rest of His creations. He said in “Genesis” one:
“Be …show more content…
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish and sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (1: 28)
God says to Adam and Eve to “increase in number.” If God did not trust humans He would not have told them to repopulate, because He wouldn't want more untrustworthy humans populating His Earth. God trusts that they have good intentions. He then goes on to say “subdue it.” God is telling Adam and Eve to take control, make sure it's known that their in charge. These “creatures” are Gods most prized possessions, this is all He has created so far. The fact that God trusts Adam and Eve to the extent of letting them take care of His possessions proves that He had faith and trust in them. God doesn't beat around the bush, He flat out tells Adam and Eve to rule over everything else. He's giving them all these privileges, so it's obvious that He believes in their abilities as “rulers,” and that they are trustworthy. Of course all these privileges are taken away when this trust is broken.
While it may appear that God has good intentions, if a closer look is taken it is shown He's actually insane. Adam and Eve eat from a tree that God strictly forbids them not to. God then takes away their immortality by kicking them out of the garden, essentially causing their death. After God finishes punishing Adam, Eve, and the Serpent who deceived them into eating the fruit, He says:
““He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.”
(3:22-24)
The Garden of Eden is an archetype of its own. Gardens represent innocence, and that innocence Adam and Eve once possessed was taken away once they ate from the tree. When God learned of what Adam and Eve had done, He decided to take away their ability to “live forever.” He then “banished” them from the Garden. Adams punishment was to “work the ground from which he had been taken.” It is common for parents to show their children whos in charge, which He did, but God goes to the extent of taking away His childrens lives. Not only that but God didn't even tell Adam and Eve where the tree they were not supposed to eat from was. This is an irrational reaction because there are a million other ways to move past this problem or have had avoided it entirely. God could have kicked them out of the Garden but let them keep their immortality. He also could have told Adam and Eve where the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was. In a way this is very much Gods fault for not giving His children more information. God takes no responsibility in the situation, and He blames this entirely on Adam, Eve, and the Serpent. This proves that God is in fact insane.
Other examples throughout the Bible show a glimpse of Gods crazy side as well. In Noah’s Story, God once again resorts to killing. When God decides that He is unhappy with what He has created, He wipes out all living creatures with a flood.
“The LORD God regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said,
“I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race which I have created-and with then the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground, for I regret that I have made them.””
(6:7-8)
“Genesis” 6 shows when God is unsatisfied. Instead of giving His children a warning, threat, or punishment, He decides to “wipe from the face of the earth the human race.” Along with killing the humans He killed the innocent who lived alongside the humans, such as the animals. Gods impatience with His children perfectly illustrates the side of him that's clearly insane.
God makes the rules. He doesn't follow directions He gives them, and He expects things to be done correctly. God wants nothing less than perfection. He wants His people to be innocent and pure. In the story of Cain and Abel, when Cain gets angry and takes his brother Abel's life, God takes it upon himself to discipline Cain. Cain is no longer pristine and righteous. In order to teach him a lesson and set an example out of him for others to fear, God puts a curse on Cain. God says to him:
“Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened it's mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (4: 11-12)
Gods main reason for putting Cain “under a curse” was to teach him a lesson.
Consistency in discipline is important. If God let Cain get away with this behavior then others would think their actions would go without consequences. In this passage God is trying to make Cain feel sorrow and guilt about killing his brother. The punishment He gives has a deeper meaning than just making Cain’s search for food harder. When God says “your brothers blood from your hand” He wants Cain to be appalled and horrified at his sins, and God wants him to feel remorse. God punishes Cain by making him a “restless wanderer on the Earth.” In Cains point of view, this punishment is too much for him to handle. God then marks Cain so anyone who found him would know not kill him. This mark isn't just to make sure no one would kill Cain, it's so anyone who would find Cain would fear God. Cain was an example of how not to be, and a glimpse of what life would be like if one disobeyed God. Parents often discipline their children, although God disciplines his to higher degree. This is Gods way of showing He’s in
charge. God wants to make it known His people will be reprimanded for their actions. He disciplines His children as a way of shaping them into “better” people, although he doesn't go about it the right way. He trusts His children have good intentions until he learns otherwise. At some points throughout the Bible it seems like God has no compassion for them, this is because part of him is insane. He killed innocent animals for the mistakes of humans. God strives to be feared. Even though nowadays parents are not nearly as crazy as God, He is a parent to the people He creates. God does care about His children, although his expectations for their behavior might have been too high.