I repeat myself, but please know that what I write is not “gospel.” It is purely my opinion(S), I express. I am a naive student of religion only because I seek to better understand power and leadership. I see the Bible as a resource, as I do so many other books and authors.
So, the Biblical stories of Adam and Eve and Job I see as power issues. God gives power to Adam & Eve to make their own decisions about how to live their lives. With Job, God relents, leaving Job free to be Job and to live his life without God’s intervention.
I view both stories as ones regarding power. God gives power to all humans to be and live as each decides for themselves. Meaning that God will not interfere in the decisions humans make. Events, as they occur, are for humans to deal with. Like the story I have told about the man on his roof in a flood refusing life-saving assistance because he believes the God that he so believes in will somehow save his life. He drowns and is angry when he meets St Peter, who calmly reminds him that “God sent 5 boats, and you refused them all… Next!”
My read is that power is the issue and that God has given each and every one of us the freedom and power to be all and anything we choose to be. God does not give power to anyone to be and have power over another. that power is to be sought, fought, and to die for is a man-made concept.
The world may not survive because of humanity’s love and lust for power. History speaks loudly and clearly about this issue. Millions upon millions of humans have suffered and died as a result of the drive to be powerful over others. It is even a problem in many families, in the way many classroom teachers teach and in the ways a leader leads.
Sy