See Me! Hear Me! Divine/Human Relational Dialogue in Genesis

Fokkelman states, The Bible does not contain one single instance of

small talk.
This thesis examines relational dialogue between the Deity

and human individuals in Genesis by separating the conversations from

narrative through lines that most often inform biblical analysis. I am

interested in snapshots of character developed in intimate

conversations, when “face to face’ dialogue is allowed to take center

stage. These conversations then become surprising and unexpected. In

them the Deity talks with the first human to commit murder, not his

regarded brother; recognizes a foreign slave as a unique and valued

individual yet rebukes the chosen matriarch; potential heirs are

dismissed and a legitimate successor only promised. All the while

humans argue, cry, wrestle, laugh, express a limited worldview, while

demanding a response from their Deity. These conversations challenge

our opinion of a distant Deity and push the reader to redefine their

understanding of the Divine/Human relationship.