The first creation story (Genesis 1), God speaks all creation into being. After almost every created thing (the sky is an exception), God sees that it is "good." However, in ASL biblical storytelling, every version I have seen translates this response with the sign for satisfied. God saw what was created and was satisfied or content. These terms could be synonyms, but seeing that something is good and having a deeper sense of satisfaction somehow makes God's actions feel more intimate.
Genesis 1 gives voice to the power of words. Speaking and breathing life into being works well with storytelling. However, it can feel sterile. God creates from a distance, unlike the more hands-on version in Genesis 2 where God shapes creation, molding it into its unique forms. However, to say that God is satisfied by what God sees opens an interpretive door through which God doesn't just see an objective good, but has a visceral reaction to what has come into being.
Comments