The words “go” and “turn” in Genesis speak to hope. They are both indicators that something is going to happen that couldn’t have happened if there was no going or someone did not turn. Fantastically, they also indicate someone with hope enough in the world to risk.
To go
Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” Genesis 4:8
There is a lot of going in the Bible and for humans this begins when Cain invites his brother to take a walk. We know that this walk out into the field ends with the first murder. The first murderer and the first person slain.
This “going” as Meriam-Webster defines “to move on a course,” is not a ambling ramble but has a beginning place and an end place in the Bible, as in life. The going has intention for the person or god inviting, and the person setting out.
So there is intention. There is also a disturbance, a movement, an energy, a change, a risk.
It is not by accident that the frequent and earliest words in the Bible are verbs. To fully engage in the world you must act, in this case by going so as to meet each other. And our true selves. And that ultimate reality that lies beyond our full reach. If your hope is shaky starting out, it can only get stronger as you risk going forward.
But as the first Hebrew story of going tells us, there are risks, so do not take it lightly. It could end in death as it did for Abel.
To turn
The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. He said, “Please, my lords, turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet; then you can rise early and go on your way.” Genesis 19:1-2
As with Cain and Abel, we know what happened to the city of Sodom. Sodom and Gomorrah. Total destruction except for Lot, his wife and two daughters.
But before that well known outcome, the story begins with two angels who at Lot’s bidding “turn aside” from their going and enter Lot’s house, thereby saving Lot and his family from death.
To turn is an incredibly potent action in the Bible, both in the Hebrew and New Testament. What is destined to happen, because of the direction the person or people are going, is disrupted and now there are new possibilities for life. In the case of Lot and the two angels, the angels turn aside from their intended course and Lot and his daughters turn away from Sodom, thereby opening up the possibility of life.
Going and turning beyond Genesis
Genesis has lots of coming and turning, but what about the New Testament?
I once started a list of all the references to Jesus’ movements. But I quickly decided it was enough to know it was a lot.
It is easy to think of these comings and goings only as the way to reach more people with the new message. But after seeing in the Hebrew Bible that when someone went out or changed course, something big happened, it seemed wise to look deeper into the purpose in Jesus’ movements. What part did hope play in these decisions to go or turn aside?
Looking closer at these movements of Jesus, his disciples and first Christians could make for an interesting conversation. Maybe as you go on that long car trip. Just download a Bible concordance first.
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