God’s thunder in the wind of the storm

A cool storm? Jonathan Gainey

I have become wonderfully fascinated by the third chapter of Genesis. For the last three weeks, I have taught from this passage of text, and the insights that are coming about through my studies have given me a new perspective on the passage.

Before I explain, I want to share with you an illustration that Ray Vander Laan used in a recent seminar that I and a few friends attended in Matthews, North Carolina.

RVL explained that if a person spent nearly his or her entire life guarding a huge and beautiful chapel by standing on the inside of the entrance doors, he or she would know that chapel so well, that if anything was changed or out of place, it would be recognized immediately. That person could tell you exactly what was in that chapel, including the furniture, the carpet color and all the decorations. They would indeed know that chapel. However, if that person were suddenly given a new job of guarding the chapel from the opposite end, he or she would see things they had never even noticed from the earlier perspective. It would be exactly the same chapel with all the same furniture and decorations, but looking at it from a new perspective would add new insights and views to the one guarding it. Indeed, it would change the way that person saw this very familiar room.

I recently took a class at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. The class was Theology of the Pentateuch, with Dr. Jeff Niehaus as the professor. Dr. Niehaus is an amazing theologian and scholar who is fluent in at least eight languages including Ugaritic, Hebrew, Greek, German, Latin, French, English (of course), and one or two others that escape my memory.

In Dr. Niehaus’ book, God at Sinai, he gives amazing insight on Genesis 3:8 that helped me to “see the chapel from another end of the room.” Here, he explains, Adam and Eve, for the first time, are unable to stand in the presence of the glory of God. “Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden” (NIV). There are a few words in this passage that, if understood in their original language of Hebrew, reveal amazing pictures not fully expressed in English, or even in the ancient Greek writings of the LXX or the Latin Vulgate.

“In the cool of the day” is an ancient Hebrew phrase, which has been interpreted by early translators simply by guessing its meaning. Another ancient language sheds light on the meaning of this phrase. In Akkadian, “umu” has two meanings: “day” and “storm.” The Hebrew equivalent of “umu” is “yom.” Ancient gods of the Near East were often referred to as “Storm.” With this ancient Near Eastern understanding, it can be understood that “yom” has the same double meaning.

“In the cool” has been translated as such because the interpreters assume that this is a reference to the cool time of “day,” when it very likely should be translated as “in the ‘wind’ of the ’storm.’” And the “voice” of God would be translated as the “thunder” of God.

Once man is no longer sinless, God is unable to present himself before his creation in His full glory. Therefore, the storm theophany becomes the form in which Yahweh enters the presence of man. Adam and Eve hid in fear, not because they didn’t want God to see them naked, but because they are now fully exposed to the awesome presence of a perfect and holy God. Adam and Eve are exposed physically and spiritually because of their fallen nature.

It is the storm theophany that God uses to mercifully shield his presence from sinful humanity in the garden and from those who feared his presence at Sinai (see Exodus 20:18).  God presents himself as the storm that flooded the sinful earth (see Genesis 9:14), and the Psalms speak of the storm theophany of God (see Psalm 29 and 77).

In summary, allow me to share Dr. Niehaus’ translation of Genesis 3:8, which reads, “Then the man and his wife heard the thunder of Yahweh God going back and forth in the garden in the wind of the storm, and they hid from Yahweh God among the trees of the Garden.”

Now there is a reason to be afraid of exposure!

Writer: Capt. Jonathan Gainey was born in Jacksonville, FL in June, 1969. He has been married to Staci, the daughter of retired Salvation Army officers, for twenty years and they have four children ages 18, 16, 12, and 4. Jonathan was commissioned as an officer in June of 2002, and is currently serving in his third appointment in New Bern, NC, USA. He is working on a Masters of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is the creator and manager of the Flocks Diner website, where his passion for learning and teaching is expressed and shared through writing and a weekly podcast.

5 Comments to God’s thunder in the wind of the storm

1. What a fascinating exposition on a familiar passage of Scripture. For so long we’ve all held to the notion that Adam and Eve hid quietly while God serenely passes through a misty garden. How different this scene becomes as you’ve described. It makes complete sense, too. God cannot abide sin. Because of this, his crown creation, the humans would be in serious danger had they been exposed to God’s natural state. In his compassion for them, he protected them by providing the buffer of a storm.

   Thanks for this insight, Johhny!
Rob Reardon on May 16th, 2009

2. You are welcome, Rob. I am so thrilled to have had Dr. Niehaus as a teacher. His expertise in Genesis and in other A.N.E. texts is so incredible.

   To picture Adam and Eve running from a massive storm is truly an incredible insight to aid in our understanding of why they feared God’s presence in the garden. And to understand that God’s mercy is the point of the Storm Theophany is also wonderfully enlightening.

   In His dust,
   Johnny
Johnny Gainey on May 17th, 2009

3. It sounds like they were hiding from “the perfect storm.” I loved that new translation. Very interesting perspective, when you’re exposed to the original languages of the time, such insight occurs into ancient meanings. Isn’t it wonderful that we’re able to learn about these things - thanks for sharing what you’re learning these days!

   grace… Kathie
Kathie Chiu on May 19th, 2009

4. I agree!!!!

   WONDERFULL to have such interesting and ‘new’ exposition.

   Makes you wonder…. What other ‘new’ insights will come to light and old ideas challenged with this kind of exposition?

   I soooooo hope it continues…….

   Yours in Christ,
   Graeme.
Graeme Randall on May 19th, 2009

5. It will definitely continue. Much of what I have been studying for the past five years has not even been skimmed for my readers. It takes time to digest new perspectives for many, and I am careful not to push those of “brittle” faith.

   The Bible is full of mysteries that have only begun to be seen in the last fifty years due to the discoveries of antiquated texts such as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

   For more eye-opening, wonderful teachings like this, I suggest the following websites for starters:

   http://www.flocksdiner.com
   http://www.followtherabbi.com
   http://www.jcstudies.com
   http://www.ourrabbijesus.com

   And the first three books you should read are:

   Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus
   New Light on the Difficult Words of Jesus
   Our Father Abraham: Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith

   Happy reading.

   In His dust,
   Johnny
Johnny Gainey on May 20th, 2009

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