Genesis Framework Part 26

Genesis Framework

GF 26 Genesis 3.8 (2)
February 21, 2016
Part 26

NKJ Genesis 3:8
And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

Hebrew
And they heard the sound( voice ) of Yahweh-Elohim thrashing (hithpael- intensive causative reflexive, to traverse)

NKJ 1 Kings 19:12
12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

According to the descriptions of every instance in the Scriptures of theophanic advent of the Glory-presence of God coming for judgment, and in particular the characteristic quality of the voice( sound) of God announcing His arrival, they are consistently described in terms of being tremendously noisy, likened to that of loud trumpet blasts and tumultuous sounds of that sort, but for this one exception.

Last week I said that this traditional interpretation is likely an apparent exception, and is actually an anomaly which can be explained by taking a closer look at the Hebrew language. We have rightfully grown to appreciate the quality of consistency of God’s Word in revealing a true picture of the character and ways of the Lord, both in the past and in our expectation of His future interaction with His creation.

We have learned to expect this consistency of God’s character, and to question translations which might suggest otherwise.

A study by J. Lust, in the 1970s, vindicates this expectation.

Lust has shown that the key terms of the phrase… traditionally translated “still small voice”… carry a very different meaning from that to which we are accustomed. [J. Lust, “A Gentle Breeze or a Roaring, Thunderous Sound?” Vetus Testamentum 25 (1975) 110-115.]

Brent Strawn in his commentary [from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx? commentary_id=1082] also makes an obvious reference to the work of J. Lust on 1 Kings 19.12 by saying, “The Hebrew can be taken in more than one way. Indeed,
some scholars, appealing to the theophanic context, have suggested that the sound in verse 12b wasn't quiet at all but a thunderous and crushing sound.”

Meredith Kline, also referencing J. Lust, says, “but may be better rendered:“a roaring, crushing voice (sound).”

Let’s stand on these shoulders, and try to see farther.

and after the fire a still small voice?

Small still voice (sound)

Parent-Root

“gathering to the staff”

Action: to gather

Concrete: shepherd

Child-word

Action:

Concrete: voice, sound

Words derived from parent roots inherit the characteristic meaning of the parent, and therefore always retain some aspect of the original meaning by relationship.

Small still voice (sound)

Parent-Root

“back and forth liquid”

Action:

Concrete: blood

Abstract: likeness

Action: to resemble

Concrete:

Abstract: compare

To behold the result that a son from the blood of his father resembles his father.

Small still voice (sound)

Parent-Root

Action: to be or grow dumb, silent

Concrete: and Abstract:

As in a comparison or likeness to a man or animal when the blood is shed becomes silent, still.

Action:

Concrete: silent

Abstract: To behold the result of the action process of the loss of blood

The point here is that the word meaning “silent” carries with it an inherent relationship with the meaning of the “stoppage of blood flow.”

The persistence of the meaning “to stop blood flow” relative to the meaning “silent” would suggest that the idea “to be struck dumb” could have been used here to describe the kind of silence that would have resulted from the experience; short of being caused by a loss of blood, could actually have been realized by the stopping of his heart beat, as a figure for a “tremendous fear.”

So this kind of “silent” does not appear to be descriptive of the voice of God, but rather more consistent with the affect upon Elijah, expressed descriptively in the figure of a “heart stopping,” fearful event.

It was Elijah who was “struck dumb-silent” by the experience, as he became morbidly still, like a dead-man standing.

Let’s now weigh in on the final word which is a adjective used to descriptively modify( limit) the word “silent” so as to further indicate the quality of the silence.

Small still voice (sound)

Parent-Root

Action:

Concrete: veil, curtain

Abstract: fine

adj. thin, small, fine

Action: to crush, pulverize

Concrete:

Abstract:

is related to its sound alike “the moving back and forth in a cup”

The “palm of a human hand” is pictured, representing either a cup-shape or the functions of the hand; in either case, it denotes the characteristic function, as in when seeds are placed into a mortar or stone cup, and the pestle is moved by the hand, in back and forth motion around the cup to crush the seeds into a fine powder. This is where the notion of “small” comes from; namely, as beholding the result of having undergone a “crushing” process.

So, this adjective denotes a crushing quality that is attributed to the noun it modifies; namely, silent that itself has been brought about by having been dumb-struck by the theophanic voice( sound) of God who has arrived in judgment.

Let’s put this together…

Finally…

12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a crushing silence producing kind of voice.

NKJ 1 Kings 19:13
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

This second stage of the voice of God was similar to the prior experience during Elijah’s arrival night in the cave; here it is the word or speech of the Lord, and not the voice or sound of the Lord.

This is the sense in which Scripture describes the “voice of God,” as the sound of the shepherd that is recognizable to those that belong to His flock.

This sound-voice is a loud sound which is to be distinguished from the loud sounds generated by the Spirit-Presence that accompanies the arrival of theophany as it comes in full array for judgment.

Many will be surprised on the Day of Judgment when they discover that it was just as the Word of God says; only the righteousness of Christ is able to save you.All men are sinners and no one can save himself. God is just, so He must punish sin; but He is also merciful, moreover gracious, and offers His Son as the perfect sacrifice in order to purchase a place for you in heaven, which He offers to you as the free gift of eternal life. As we continue to examine man’s earliest duties with regard to the covenant of works, although they can be categorically divided into two distinct types of classes; one in relationship with God, and the other in relationship with fellow man, all covenant stipulations are expressions of the will of the Lord. The law of the covenant is the law of man’s image-sonship.

Jesus is God Incarnate

In order to pay the debt of our sins, He came from Heaven, having been sent by the Father, where He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father even unto the shameful death upon the cross in order to pay the debt of your sins.This gift must be received by faith, believing that Jesus’ perfect life and Cross Work was His complete and necessary Atonement for your sins, in your behalf.Faith is a gift that comes by the Power of God the Holy Spirit working in a person’s innermost being. The Holy Spirit has the authority and power to quicken your dead spirit, to make it come to life. If you have not done so before this moment, ask Jesus to forgive you your sins, tell Him you’ve stop trying to be your own savior, and ask Him to come into your life right now, and to give you eternal life. Then, in faith believing, thank Him for the gift that He is giving you, the one He paid for in full in your place, in Jesus’ name, AMEN