Blameless

November 29, 2019

DAILY READINGS

Psalm 122
Genesis 6:1-10
Hebrews 11:1-7
This weekend’s scripture: Matthew 24:36-44

FIELD NOTES

Genesis 6:9 tells us that Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation.  Blameless: the Hebrew word, tamiym, comes from the verb: to be complete.

One was of interpreting this word is to see blameless/completeness as being done or being perfect.  In fact, many Bible translations simply read: and Noah was a righteous and perfect man.  And maybe Noah was perfect and that’s why he was chosen by God.  But if that’s the case, I can no longer relate/understand/keep up with Noah because I am far from perfect.

Luckily, there’s a second way of interpreting this word, blameless can also be understood as being whole/wholesome, as someone who has integrity.  And so Noah is someone, who unlike Adam and Eve who blamed everyone else for their problems (it was this woman you gave me, it was the snake you created) Noah as a person of integrity because he did not deny but he owned his shortcomings and mistakes and failings and sins.  And he pursued a relationship with God who could cover over his own imperfections.      

QUESTIONS FROM THE FIELD

• Which interpretation works better for you? Noah as this model of perfection to strive for or Noah as a model of integrity by owning his lack of perfection?

FAMILY FIELD TALK

• Why do you think we sometimes blame others when we make a mess?

PRAYER GUIDE

Perfect God, thank you for your forgiveness which covers over my lack of perfection AND for calling me to pursue your example of perfection. Amen.