As all first chapters should, this one goes to the real beginning. In recent years the mythology of Marduk has been elevated to mystifying levels. In many liberals minds it has even become the basis for many Christian doctrines. Dr Leithart shows that this is beyond foolish.
What means does Dr Leithart use to prove this? Food. Adam needed food pre-fall and God is generous with His "table" from the beginning. Even in perfection man was made to be dependent upon man for his sustenance.
I'll quickly close this chapter with a thought I found immensely interesting. Post-fall, the things man ate were required to "die". Wheat for bread was removed from its growth and animals had to die. Even the blood "which contains life" could not be consumed. All of this points to the miraculous sustaining of life by what is dead.
In a hyper-symbolic sense, the consumption of food for life is a type of resurrection. But it isn't so "hyper-symbolic" when one realizes that those who eat and drink Christ have eternal life. He is the bread of life. He has water able to remove thirst. He is the ultimate death that sustains ultimate life.
