Eddies of His Breath: Contemplations of the Word

By Eric Ribbens

Christianity is not a good old-time religion--safe and nostalgic. Instead, it is the most radical concept of our world that, if we choose to accept it, may cause us to be torn apart and painfully reshaped. It's authentic, relevant, and capable of standing up to every part of modern civilization.

In a collection of thoughtful musings about the Word of God, lifelong Christian Eric Ribbens explores key lessons in the Bible while sharing creative retellings of each story that encourage others to reason together with God, question the meaning behind the stories, and then embrace opportunities for learning. Each musing begins with a quote extracted from a Bible verse relevant to the speaker, and is followed by questions for discussion and contemplation that invite each of us to reflect on God's presence in our lives.

Eddies of His Breath is a collection of biblical reflections that builds on stories from the Bible and then encourages heartfelt discussion and contemplation about God's influence and His lessons that still apply in today's world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Mar 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781480873988

Eric Ribbens

Eric Ribbens is a lifelong Christian who teaches botany at Western Illinois University. He resides in Macomb, Illinois. Eddies of His Breath is his second book.

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Copyright © 2019 Eric Ribbens.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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ISBN: 978-1-4808-7399-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7400-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-7398-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019903246

Archway Publishing rev. date: 03/19/2019

For my Father, who shares my joy of words

Contents

Introduction

A Note for Bible Study Users

Creation: Genesis 1, John 1

Sorrow: Eve

Anger: Adam

Love: K’turah

Struggle: The Foreman

Bitter

Part 1: Rachel

Part 2: Leah

Philadelphia: Miriam

Manipulation: Hatshepsut

Wit: Rahab

Oppression

Part 1: Deborah

Part 2: Jael

Part 3: Sisera’s Mother

Chosen

Part 1: Samson

Part 2: Manoah

Happiness

Part 1: Naomi

Part 2: Boaz

Confusion

Part 1: David

Part 2: Abishag

Deceit: Gehazi

Misfit: The Ax-Wielder

Joy: Elizabeth

Christmas

Love

Part 1: Joseph

Part 2: Mary

Forgiveness: The Friends

Dilemma: Nicodemus

Miracles

Part 1: Lunch Boy

Part 2: The Disciples Moor the Boat

Healing

Part 1: The Samaritan Leper

Part 2: Grumbling Thomas

Family: The Children

Pain

Part 1: The Thief

Pain Part 2: Judas Iscariot

Helping: Tabitha

Politics

Part 1: Troop 412

Part 2: The Councilman

Suffering: Creation Groans

The Promise of the Word

Introduction

This is a set of musings about the Word. Each story is named after the speaker (or, as is true of a few, after one of the main speakers). Then I quote a Bible verse relevant to the speaker, which I have chosen because I think it ties into the idea or perspective I am attempting to explore. All Bible verses are from the New International Version. My imagination begins after the ribbon symbol that follows. I have attempted to remain close to the biblical description; the most significant deviation is in the story of Rahab. The man Rahab actually married was not one of the spies. I have invented new details; for example, we don’t know what Samson’s mother’s name actually was. But in each story I have tried to imagine what may have happened.

These stories are arranged more or less in order as they appear in the Bible. This has led to a few inconsistencies. For example, in Eve, Adam is dead, but the next story presents Adam telling the tragedy of Cain. Despite this arrangement, the stories are designed to stand alone and can be read in any order, although some tell different perspectives of the same story.

I’m not a visual artist, but I have found that there are many images that have helped me feel these stories more intently. I like the stories in and of themselves. However, it could be used as a guide for an individual or group Bible study. To that end, I’ve added discussion questions and occasionally some comments after some of the stories. I’ve always disliked Bible studies with strong directions toward preset conclusions, so my questions are designed to encourage thought, not to seek a right answer.

Eric

A Note for Bible Study Users

Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD. —Isaiah 1:18

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When I wrote each of these stories, I was trying to describe what may have happened. I wanted my characters to be authentic. I asked myself, How would I have felt? What could have made me feel that way? And the story had to make sense. For example, think of Rahab. She was a prostitute! I’ve seen pictures of a demurely chaste Rahab, only her face showing, bringing sheaves of straw to cover the two men. Yet somehow we need to integrate the Rahab whose faith is commemorated in Hebrews with the blunt fact that, as even Hebrews says, she was a prostitute.

Another aspect of these Bible stories that intrigues me are the apparent contradictions. Again, think of the Rahab story. Joshua picked two men as spies. Why didn’t he pick Israelites? Presumably, he would have picked people who should have been good at being spies; yet quickly after they get into Jericho, people know they are spies. Oops! What were they doing visiting Rahab? Probably not politely asking for information about Jericho’s weaknesses.

So these musings are at best my reasoning with God. How could it have happened? What might have been the rest of the story? And what should I be learning? That’s the question I want to discuss with you. What should you be learning? I don’t have a theme or an agenda. I’m not trying to convince you of a theological argument or teach you the basics of Christianity. In fact, while I think you could still use this book as a Bible study if you are a beginning Christian, you should also be reading other writings.

I’ve been in many Bible studies, and I’ve taught a few. I teach biology at a secular college and watch my students express confusion when they learn that I am a scientist who goes to church every Sunday. And I have noticed three things about people, especially young people, as they encounter Christianity.

First, they strongly dislike heavy-handed paternalistic just-do-this teachers. Whether they really are good at thinking for themselves or not, they think they are, and approaching them where they are is the only effective way to reach them. So if you are a discussion leader, don’t try to keep the discussion tightly constrained down the path you think it should have gone. The best discussion leaders often say very little—just dropping a provocative statement here or there to keep the conversation moving.

Second, people are longing for an authentic experience. That’s a catch-word with a lot of meanings, but among the big meanings is that Christianity should be true, should be relevant, and should be powerfully influential in shaping one’s life. Christianity is the blood pounding through your body, not a decorative earring you wear when you feel like showing it off. So don’t be afraid to challenge: what does this story have to say about me today? Am I bitter like Leah? Am I clumsy like the Ax-Wielder? And if so, what should I do about it?

Third, although many people can’t articulate it well, is integration. When I was a teenager, we asked if God was dead. Same idea. How does Christianity mesh with the rest of the world? This is obvious in biology. How can Christianity and evolution both be true? And sadly, our church too often sets its young people up for failure. Every year I watch earnest Christian fundamentalists who are taking my biology class as they bash their heads against evolutionary theory and usually end up rejecting one or the other, a crippling mental limitation.

Christianity is not a set of nice bedtime stories. It’s not that good old-time religion—safe and nostalgic. It’s not a wishy-washy Jesus hopefully knocking on a door. It’s the most radical concept of our world, and if you accept it, you will be torn apart and painfully reshaped. It’s authentic. It’s relevant. It’s capable of standing up to every piece of modern civilization.

So my challenge to you in these stories and in the discussion questions I’ve added after each story is a simple one: come, let us reason together. And reason together with God. Let’s begin with the premise that God is real, and the Bible is real stuff about a real God. What can we learn from these stories? God is longing to know you and for you to know him. Don’t be afraid of what-ifs. We cannot indulge in ridiculous speculation or dismissive contemptuousness, but we can approach these stories with the expectation that we can reason through them.

If you are using this for a Bible study, every story begins with a quote. I’d begin by reading that. Then I’d have someone read my story out loud with as much expression as possible. Then you might want to give the group an opportunity for unfocused feedback. What did you like? What does it make you think of? You might want to go back and read the entire Bible passage. Then ask the discussion questions. Don’t expect every question has a right answer, and don’t think that you as leader should summarize each question, tell your opinion, and wrap up with a neat moral. Let the group explore. You can always come back to other questions next time.

I’ve arranged these stories in approximate biblical sequence. That’s not the only way to read them. If you are a group leader, I encourage you to jump from story to story as you think best. For example, the first one slams directly against the wall many Americans have erected against evolutionary theory. Not easy and not one for a beginning group still unsure of itself.

God is God, and I am not. I’m sure that when he read what I wrote, he shook his head occasionally, winced here and there, and probably smiled indulgently on occasion. But it is my prayer that the Holy Spirit has worked through me so that through these pieces of constrained fiction you