In the Begining
This beautiful mind is the author of all reality who brings order and beauty out of dark chaos.
Who is God
Humanity faces a choice represented by this object.
What is the fruit from the tree of life(or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil)?
This corrupted human project symbolizes the civilization that redefines evil as good.
What is Babylon?
God promises a new people will come from this man and woman who come out of Babylon.
Who are Abraham and Sarah?
Jesus confronts this dark, mysterious evil that all humanity has given into.
What is temptation / evil / satan?
God crowns His creation with these creatures made as His image to rule the world on His behalf.
Who are humans?
If humans seize power and define good and evil on their own, God warns it will do this to them.
What is kill them?
God does this to the corrupted human project after it fails.
What is scatters it? (or exile)
If Abraham’s family succeeds in making the right choice, it will open up this for the rest of humanity.
What is a new way forward? (Or bless all nations/open the way)
Jesus teaches that real power is this, not self-rule.
What is serving others?
Humanity is commissioned to do this kind of work: harnessing creation’s potential to create more beauty and order.
What is meaningful, life-giving work?
They hear the voice of this dark, mysterious creature urging them to take the fruit for power and freedom.
What is the serpent? (or satan)
The prophets warned Israel that their choices would lead them back to this place as conquered captives.
What is Babylon?
The rest of the Bible story (after Abraham) is largely about this family/group.
What is Abraham’s family (or Israel / the Israelites)?
According to Jesus, these kinds of people actually rule the world.
Who are people who love the poor and love their enemies?
This is the Hebrew word for humanity used in the story.
What is ‘adam’?
After eating, humans become this way toward each other, leading to fractured relationships and violent power grabs.
What is selfish?
This happens to Israel exactly as the prophets warned.
What is they go into exile?
Despite God’s guidance, Abraham’s family gives in to this same temptation as the Babylonians.
What is redefining good and evil on their own terms?
This new symbolic “tree” represents humanity’s new choice in the story.
What is the cross?
This place God created and is full of life.
What is the garden?
Babylon has redefined these two terms.
What is evil and good?
Even with God’s personal guidance, this group fails to make the right choice.
Who are the Israelites (or Israel)?
The prophets promised God would send this to cover Israel’s failures and transform hearts.
What is a new leader (or the Messiah)?
Jesus overcomes the consequences of our evil, and His sacrificial love proves more powerful than even this.
What is death?