God’s unfolding story thread. Genesis 1:1 is usually translated “In the beginning, God created.” But is it saying something more? Walk this way . . .

 

This series is related to a spiritual call (started in the early 90s) for me to walk a bridge—from the Judaic camp reaching out to the Messianic/Christian camp and then vice versa—crisscrossing it, realizing and later sharing who and what the real bridge is. Walk with me to discover God’s revelations and passionate plan for our souls.

 

© desireofmysoul.faith (.com & .org) & SoulBreaths.com. All rights reserved.

 

HIGHLY SUGGEST FIRST READING: Beginnings within Beginnings [Part 1]

 

READING TIME: 3 MINUTES.

 

Discussions—heated or otherwise—span the ages regarding the Genesis 1:1 wording, which is often translated “In the beginning, God created.” But considering a point of Hebraic grammar, is that what it’s really saying—and how does any of that fit into God’s redemption-focused story thread?

 

Some scholars and/or grammarians say those first words aren’t exactly as traditionally translated. There’s no “the” in the Hebrew text. So they translate with a one-word shift: “In a beginning.”

 

A stirring literal translation on a gazillion levels. And how that ups the game on God’s story line. This in-a-beginning view has been discussed many times over the years at Torah study tables—and always sets my mind spinning in a thrilling, isn’t-God-amazing way.

 

Three other views help us branch that concept even further . . .

 
 

 
 

THE BEGINNINGS STORY THREAD: A FEW STEPS MORE

 

Stephen Rayburn points out in his 2009 “D’var Torah: Bereshit” article, that Rashi (esteemed medieval rabbi/Talmudic commentator) regarded the word b’reshit as a statement not about “the absolute beginning of everything” but when “God turned His attention to our own world.”

 

Now add a point of biblical consistency—discussed in this two-minute Genesis 1:1 Hebrew grammar note—the construct in Genesis 1:1 (needing a noun) would be translated . . .

 

“In the (or a) beginning of God’s creating.”

 

And lastly, factor in this intriguing view from Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser . . .

 

Back in October 2011, Reb Jeff wrote in his blog post (“Bereshit: In the Beginning of What?”) a more illustrative translation based on the grammatical analysis and infusing spiritual innuendos of timelessness.

 

He says the “world never stopped being created” since it “has a beginning, but it is a beginning that has never ceased.”

 

Goldwasser’s Genesis 1:1 translation goes like this:

 

“In the beginning of the beginning that is always beginning, G-d created the creation that is still [beginning and creating].”

 

The Creator is always creating. He “rested” from His earth project but never really stopped creating—everything He creates is in a forward, unfolding, beginning-within-a-beginning motion. Contracting, reaching down, extending out . . . beginning anew.

 

God IS the beginning.
 

The One who has NO beginning.

 

Yet WITHIN HIM is the beginning within a beginning within a beginning that is unfolding and still beginning and creating.

 

Simply complex, right? In light of creation alone, we’re talking about the mind-bending, humanly incomprehensible dunamis power of our holy God.

 

QUESTION FOR YOU

 

What was going on with these beginnings within beginnings . . . when there was absolutely no beginning because God has no beginning and no end?

 

We know He birthed creation with a WORD. Scripture confirms it. Even rabbinic teaching says that the WORD God spoke in the creative process did the creation.

 

I couldn’t agree more.

 

In fact, it’s the apex—the critical story thread—linking God’s beginnings within beginnings and the reveal of the redemptive gift to humanity.

 

So let’s climb that summit to discover what has been waiting there for us all along.

 

READ THIS NEXT: Beginnings within Beginnings [Part 3].

 

GOT TWO MINUTES?

Read quick examples of God’s many beginnings, those in the past, those in the works now, and those on the horizon.

Side Bar [Many Beginnings]

 
 

PHOTO CREDITS for this Beginnings series:

Cloud/Light by Marcus Dall Col on Unsplash.com

Steam Punk Minister w/Bible by Nathan Bingle on Unsplash.com

Steps with child by Jukan Tateisi on Unsplash.com

Follow the Line on asphalt photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash.com

Woman in jeans with Bible by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash.com

 
 

 

God unfolds many beginnings with humanity since Genesis 1:1. And He’s not finished.

 

This side bar is related to the God’s Story Threads: Beginnings series

 

© desireofmysoul.faith (.com & .org) & SoulBreaths.com. All rights reserved.

 

HIGHLY SUGGEST FIRST READING: Beginnings within Beginnings [Part 1] and its Part 2 followup.

 

READING TIME: 2 MINUTES.

 

Beginnings don’t necessarily mean an ending is around the corner. At least with God. He’s the true Creative who sets in motion a perpetual stream of beginnings.

 
 

Since God’s Genesis 1:1 opening that underscores His unfolding redemptive creation story, He’s been birthing new things all the time—and will continue beyond our era, beyond our world, per His sovereign desire.

 

Here are just a few of His “new beginnings” examples that birthed even more beginnings . . .

 

GOD CALLS FORTH ABRAM

He makes a covenant with him, changes Abram’s name to Abraham,

forms a people for Himself to carry His truth to the world. —Genesis 17

 

HE GIVES THE LAW

And He gave to Moses . . . two tablets of the testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. —Exodus 31:18

 

MUCH LATER, A FUTURE PROMISE

He’ll write the Law on our circumcised hearts. —Jeremiah 31:33/32

 

Says, “I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King . . . behold I’m doing a new thing.” —Isaiah 43:19

 

AND A MESSIANIC PROMISE

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,

when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch

and he shall reign as king and deal wisely

and shall execute judgment and justice in the land.

In his days, Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely,

and this is his name that he shall be called,
The LORD is our righteousness. —Jeremiah 23:5

 

ANOTHER MESSIANIC PROMISE

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

righteous and having salvation,

humbled and mounted on a donkey,

on a colt, the foal of a donkey. —Zechariah 9:9

 

FUTURE RESTORATION

I will give her vineyards

and make the Valley of Achor (trouble) a door of hope . . .

And in that day, declares the Lord,

you will call me ‘My Husband,’

and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal’ (owner/master) . . .

And I will betroth you to me forever.

I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice,

in steadfast love and in mercy.

I will betroth you to me in faithfulness.

And you shall know the Lord.

—Hosea 2:15-16, 19-20

 
 

THE RESURRECTION PROMISE

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth [the dead]

shall awake—some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting reproach and contempt.—Daniel 12:2

 

(Have you read John 5:28-29? The same promise is given.)

 

THE “END” OF THIS AGE—NEW BEGINNING, AGAIN

After the 1,000-year Messianic Age, God’s love story is far from over. He’ll create and unfold new things—birthing the coming new heaven, new earth, and new Jerusalem.

 

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth,

and the former things shall not be remembered

or come into mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever

in that which I create;

for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,

and her people to be a gladness.

—Isaiah 65:17-18
 

(Have you read Revelation 21? The same promise is given.)