Genesis
Liberated Life Bible Commentary
Genesis
Liberated Life Bible Commentary
By the author: "Feminist scholars have criticised the Bible for being mostly oriented towards the male perspective. However, rather than reject the Bible for its innate gender bias, writing a commentary on Genesis made me realise that this might have been intentional. The story of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the three patriarchs of Israel, is so contrary to the ideals of masculinity grounded in notions of power and dominance, which are often perceived to be defining male qualities. When I think of the trouble being witnessed in the world under the influence of men, with religious leaders endorsing oppressive teachings, political leaders promoting violence and war, business leaders seeking profit over people, not to mention physical and sexual abuse, I see in the patriarchs a model of male leadership the world desperately needs.
Studying Genesis showed me that the patriarchs tried to live by the values of peace and relationship. For instance, while Abraham joined in one war to rescue his nephew, he then committed to living peacefully with those around him. While each of these leaders had been promised the land where they lived by God, none fought with those who lived there to acquire it, and neither did they impose their religious beliefs on them. Instead, they tried to build honest and supportive relationships, both personally and in business. Their spirituality was also personal. Isaac, for example, meditated in nature, while Jacob connected with God in his dreams. In all things, they learned to trust God and experienced prosperity by God’s hand, letting things naturally unfold as they were meant to.
These men grew in their relationship with God as they worked out how to live in relationship with others. While there were times when they lied out of fear, overall, they learned the importance of trusting in God’s provision. For me, the most powerful example was Abraham being asked to commit to God through the covenant of circumcision. This was a very visible sign of commitment, and it led to an important realisation: Sarah would only pledge to become the mother of nations once she had his reassurance that he would not abandon her, as he had done with Hagar. In this, I saw her power and right to be respected, which Abraham honoured. This challenged me in my own relationships, prompting me to consider how much I had been showing up for my own family. Reading Genesis was the first time I began to see how I could be better for the sake of all my loved ones. While each patriarch was not perfect, they were family-oriented first, and this is what determined them to live in peace with their enemies and formed the very basis of their relationship with God."
Published: February 11, 2025