by Peter Leithart
"... John 1 is also tracking Genesis 1. He suggestively says that the
connection between creation and covenant, he says, is 'primarily with
respect to the Sabbath,' but leaves the point undeveloped. It might be
possible to explain the overlap of Genesis and Exodus in John by noting
the more extensive parallels between creation and tabernacle in Exodus.
As a number of commentators have noted,
the tabernacle texts of Exodus 25-31 are organized in seven speeches
that roughly match the days of creation. The sixth speech, for instance,
describes the new 'Adams,' Bezalel and Oholiab, equipped by the Spirit
of Yahweh with skill for making tabernacle furnishings (Exodus 31:1-11).
The sequence ends with a reiteration of the Sabbath command (Exodus
31:12-17). Then Israel turns from Yahweh and worships the golden calf
(Exodus 32), a fall scene that recalls Genesis 3.
In this sequence, the intercession of Moses on Sinai parallels the
protoevangelium of Genesis 3: Despite Adam’s sin, Yahweh promises
deliverance through the seed of the woman; similarly, despite Israel’s
idolatry, Yahweh promises to dwell among them and take them to the land
in fulfillment of His promise. The big difference between the two scenes
is the presence of a mediator: In the garden, Yahweh appears directly
to Adam to judge and promise; in Exodus Moses stands between Yahweh and
the offending 'Adamic' people.
Now, overlay this already complex sequence onto John’s prologue. What
does it tell us? It suggests that the tabernacling of the Word is a 'sabbatical' event. It also suggests that the tabernacling of the Word
involves a renewal of covenant after a fall. As in Genesis 1-3 and
Exodus 33-34, the full realization of the Creator’s presence with His
creation comes after a breach of covenant. In John 1, we’re told that
the Word came to His own, but they do not receive Him. Yet John assures
us that He tabernacles among us in spite of idolatry. He goes up with us
to the promised land, He takes us back into Eden."
"Jesus, Moses, Sinai, John" by Peter Leithart
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The reader should note that Paul follows the same "overlay" of Creation and Exodus in the imagery he used in Colossians 1. For more on the significance of this observation please see this article:
Covenant Creation: A Demonstration from Colossians
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