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Shoulda, woulda, coulda . . . been.
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That is how I felt as the first part of the long awaited series on the History Channel, "The Bible" aired "The Beginnings" tonight.
To the individual out there who has not read the Bible and Biblical accounts, this was probably an interesting interpretation of condensed material featuring the first two books of the Judeo-Christian Bible.
To one who has actually read the Bible (or at least those two books), it was a hearty disappointment that not only relayed some minor points inaccurately but skipped over areas and issues and reasoning behind God's overall master plan.
"The Beginnings" started with a brief introduction to Noah, ensconced inside the Ark with his family while being battered about by the Great Flood's torrential waves.
Well, Noah was in the Ark, the animals and his family were with him; nevertheless, the film's depiction of children confuses the Biblical reader's analysis since the Bible clearly states Noah and his wife, and Noah's sons and their wives. Yes, there might well have been the children of Noah's sons on the Ark, but the Bible makes no reference to them.
" 13 On that very day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, together with his wife and the wives of his three sons, entered the ark." Genesis 7:13
The next major element that affected all mankind which differentiates us even today is the Tower of Babel. This is where the people after the Great Flood once again refused and denied God's commandments and endeavored to control their own providence. He "confused their language" creating mass hysteria and chaos and division among the people.
Yet, "The Beginnings/The Bible" film that aired March 3 on the History Channel completely ignores the Tower of Babel, a very significant component to the history of all mankind.
Another significant segment left out of the story of Abraham was where and how he and his wife, Sarah, acquired Hagar who delivered his son, Ishmael. Abraham (or Abram) and his tribe had traveled to Egypt where he turned coward and claimed Sarah (Sarai) as his sister (point of clarification: she was indeed his half-sister). Then Pharaoh endeavored to take Sarah for his concubine/harem wife and the Lord struck them with a plague. After Pharaoh confronted Abraham, he released Sarah and sent him on his way with "everything he had." It is here that it is believed how Sarah acquired Hagar as a handmaiden. Fed up with waiting on God, Sarah encouraged Abraham to impregnate the handmaiden.
To view today's society, the children of Ishmael are mingled with the Middle Eastern tribes who hate Israel today and cause havoc throughout the world.
Other notations to make is the story of Lot and his family and the reason why Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. Unfortunately, this very important narrative as relayed in "The Beginnings/The Bible" was not only incomplete but highly Hollywoodized complete with martial arts angels and glowing swords.
"And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways." Genesis 19:1-2
One significant item was that Lot was sitting at gate of the city. This meant he was considered influential and a leader. Other factors are the obvious intention of homosexual gang rape, Lot's distorted solution to the irresolvable situation (offering his virgin daughters), Lot and his wife's standing in such a community, and Lot's family's internal decadent corruption that lasted even after the destruction of the city.
From here "The Beginnings/The Bible" becomes even more fragile excluding chunks of significant Biblical history such as the conflict of Jacob and Esau, Jacob (Israel) and his two wives, two concubines and 13 children (one was a daughter), and the overall significance of Joseph and how his brotherly conflict ended up saving the family from starvation. It jumped to Israel as slaves to the Egyptians and left out a lot of Moses' personal life.
Once again, "The Beginnings/The Bible" makes an interesting condescended impression of the Bible for individuals who have not read nor understand the reasoning for each specific segment of Genesis and Exodus. However, I would highly recommend to these to read the first two books of the Bible for the "rest of the story." It is not a disappointment and enlightens on how and where and why our world and humanity exists today.
As for "The Beginnings/The Bible," my only hope is that the segment relating to Jesus Christ is less condensed and more thoroughly explainable.
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