Art Reading Scripture

Noah's Ark, Quito School artist of Ecuador,1700's, Minneapolis Institute of Art

I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your son's wives with you. And of every living thing, of all flesh, you shall bring two of every kind, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Genesis 6:18-19

The story of Noah's has multiple layers. Two versions of the story mesh together, one of which talks of "two of every kind," and another that requires "seven pairs of all clean animals" in order to make sure enough animals were available for sacrifice after the flood. There are other indications of two meshed stories such as referring to "God" in one account and "the LORD" in the other, and varying amounts of time that it either rained or flooded the earth, as well as varying number of days before the flood subsided. One story, two who told it, and beyond of diversity of cultures which tell similar accounts of great floods and new creation.

The story is a difficult one, in spite of becoming the source for children's toys, ark, animals and the rainbow at the end, which endure in our imaginations. Some artists understood the tragic side of the story and painted scenes of devastation and trauma where people cling to rocks with their infant children as the flood waters rise around them. We do not include the tragic in the toys we give to our children. In the end even the LORD/God seems to regret the wanton destruction. God vows never to do that again. The story begins with God's judgment, "The LORD saw that the wickedness of humans was great in the earth and that every inclination of their hearts was only evil continually. And the Lord was sorry that he had made humans on the earth, and it grieved his heart." Genesis 6:5-7 The story ends with a different sense of regret and a promise of mercy. "I will never again curse the ground because of humans, for the inclination of the human heart is evil from youth; I will never again destroy every living creature as I have done." Genesis 8:21 (See also the parallel version of "God" judging (Genesis 6:11-13) and making a covenant with all living things (Genesis 9:8-17).

Among the many themes that run through the story is God's preservation of the entire diversity of created beings. Repetition of the phrase, "every living creature/thing" affirms God's intention to keep the original created diversity and goodness of all God made. Most art, and children's toys, depict that diversity through the creatures we know or are familiar with from zoos or domestic life; lions, elephants, giraffes, birds, dogs, cats, cows, camels, horses, etc. In the 1700's an artist from Ecuador based this painting on an engraving by Flemish artist Theodore de Bry, from 1609. The artist reimagined the engraving to include animals from a South American setting rather than only from an African/ European or Zoo setting. Armadillos, llamas, tapirs, capybara, anacondas, and turkeys are gathered as they enter the ark. The people with Noah dress in clothing typical of Andean peasants, rather than (except for Noah and ?God?) the imagined flowing robes of ancient Israel. Diversity is expanded from what we expect to include a greater fullness of creatures we might not expect. One might wonder what animals an artist from Australia, Oceania, or Japan would include. They might be unfamiliar to us but no less included in the diversity of creation.

God both preserves and celebrates diversity in creation. Over 6700 distinct mammals wander the earth. Over 35,000 species of fish swim in the waters. Over 11,000 species of birds have wings, some of which fly while a few do not. An uncounted but more immense number of insects essential to the survival of all else creep around. Tongue in cheek we wonder about venomous snakes and mosquitoes, sickening virus and bacteria, but they also are part of the diversity and goodness God imagined for creation. Diversity includes not only what we like or approve, but everything else as well. God created and preserved neither monocultures nor mono-peoples. Rather God saw in all living things/creatures, peoples, languages, races, music, food, and other diversities we might consider, something to celebrate, preserve and honor upon the earth. Nothing and no one is lost in the creative capacity of God's goodness.

Keep the faith. Say your prayers. Love like Jesus.

Pastor Tim Bauer