ROOM FOR FORGIVENESS

QUESTION: Good morning Priest and others. I have one question and it comes from 9:6.if one murders and he/ she is mudered and also this one is murdered how will it be. Isn’t there a room for forgiveness?.Thank you. Nicholas

RESPONSE: The question of forgiveness in the Bible is a big one. There was a time when believer detested the Old Testament (OT) accusing it of teaching unforgiveness and promoting what is know as an eye for an eye.

Later after studying the OT we have come to an understanding that forgiveness actually is one of the most prominent theme in the OT. First however let us look at the accusation and its justification.

Retribution Concept in the OT

When you read the Old Testament literary you will realise that unforgiveness takes charge whenever there is guilt…lets lick a few incidences as they are mentioned.

When the first couple ate from the forbidden tree they were never given a second chance but banished from the Garden (Genesis 3). When Cain killed his brother he was cursed and spell placed on him not to escape through death his brother-killer haunt (Genesis 4)

When people sinned in Genesis 6 they were wiped away with floods by God (Genesis 7) I will skip Genesis 9 which we are addressing and say the same happened to the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19.

Later when the nation and religion of Israel is formed we are taught through the book of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy about the justice system of the OT where forgiveness is not GIVEN but EARNED utmost. What is earned is not forgiveness in the context of the New Testament (NT) but rather what we have in the OT is utmost pardon and restitution.

A CRIME and A TORT: In the OT there are two categories that either attract punishment or pardon and these are: a)-Crime and b)- a Tort.

According to Biblical encyclopedias, A crime is an offense directly or indirectly against the public, of sufficient gravity to be dealt with through judicial proceedings, brought by representatives of the public interest. A tort, on the other hand, is an offense against an individual for which the latter may recover damages for the injury incurred.

Time and space won’t allow but in the OT we have a limited understanding of the first recipients of the revelation of God and that is Judaism who JUSTICE understanding has no room for forgiveness as we know it but accountability demanded from the guilty party.

We must understand, however, that our role as we study the text, we must seek its scripture so that we can understand the will of God. The will of God in this retribution (getting what you deserve). The retribution concept, therefore, is the justice system of the OT where a sinner is punished for wrongdoing and the Saint rewarded for their right doing. In such belief, therefore, there is no room for forgiveness.

Genesis 9:6: The contextual Meaning

The question we are addressing comes from a context of Genesis 9:1-7 where blood is equivalent to life and whoever eats blood feeds on life and whoever takes another man’s life, his life as well must be taken to ensure the dignity of life.

The text here is not concerned with punishing he who takes another person’s life as it is interested in installing the significance of blood. The biblical contextual meaning of Genesis 9:6 then is the significance of blood and not the punishment of the killer. The significance of blood is life for the life of the flesh is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11); for it is the life of all flesh (Leviticus 17:14); …for the blood is the life (Deuteronomy 12:23).

Secondly, the significance of blood in the Bible first introduced to us (in the sacrifice of Abel in contrast to that of Cain) in Genesis 4 and reemphasised in Genesis 9:1-7 is its role in dealing with a sin/sinning that concerns life or puts life at stake. So one who takes another’s blood, can only pay with blood. In the OT, BLOOD GUILT (which includes both Crimes and Torts) is resolved with BLOOD this blood can be the culprits blood or an accepted sacrificial animal’s blood. The sacrificial system of the OT therefore, is a response to any threat to the culprit’s blood (read life).

It is for this reason that for God to save man from a BLOOD GUILT He had to get incarnate, become man, spill his blood on behalf of the guilty blood of the men he wanted to save. That is why we are told: And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:22.

So in Genesis 9:6 the ROOM for REAL forgiveness is the BLOOD and that blood cannot be of animals but of God himself: For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 10:4.

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption [for us]. Hebrews 9:12

Only the blood of Jesus Christ saves: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1John 1:7

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Mathew 26:28

I wish I could continue,

God bless you, I invoke Truth, Wisdom, and Faith
Priest M.I.T White
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship
Questioning to Believe, Believing to Live