Genesis, Book of Beginnings
02.09.22
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:1, 2)
We begin now what could be a very long study of the first book of the Bible. However, this series is a survey of the Bible so will we attempt to cover Genesis in two articles.
Genesis, being the first book, is pivotal, and extremely important. The first eleven chapters are foundational. The focus of the Book is God!
Moses is the author of Genesis. He was highly trained in Egypt and had many years to write while wandering in the wilderness.
A common question is, “How did Moses know about all the things that happened before he was born?” Of course, he had the guidance of the Holy Spirit, as did all the biblical writers. (2 Peter 1:21).
Furthermore, Moses would have had access to the information, or the ‘books’ written by Adam, Noah, Abraham, etc. (Gen 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; etc.). These men were the eyewitnesses to what is written in Genesis. Moses thus compiled Genesis using these resources under the direction of God the Holy Spirit. The first two chapters could have only come from God Himself.
Though Genesis spans about 2500 years, it is selective in what it covers. The first 11 chapters cover some 2000 years. They focus on the world at large, and specifically four events: Creation, the Fall, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel.
Chapters 12-50 cover the other 500 years. Their focus narrows upon Israel, God’s chosen people. Four specific people are in view: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph.
The first two chapters are the most God-centered chapters in the Bible. Yet at a glance they seem to be contradictory versions of Creation. However, the first chapter is a panoramic, formal view with God above His Creation. In chapter two God is near His Creation. It more intimately focuses on God’s highest creation, man and woman. The two chapters are united in the idea that earth has been created to be God’s dwelling place among mankind.
Chapters 1-11 are foundational to not only the Word of God, but human history. If one rejects the truth of these chapters, all of the Bible falls into a worthless pile of ash.
Since Genesis is the book of beginnings, most things find their origin in this profound book: the world, the human race, marriage, sin, death, the promise of redemption, government and civilization, and the Hebrew race.
Genesis should be understood as literal and factual history with real people, real events, and accurate numbers for the following reasons. First, the New Testament understands it as real history with real people (Matthew 24:37-39; Romans 5:12, 18, 19). Second, archaeology has consistently confirmed the historical accuracy of Genesis.
Third, everywhere one looks in Genesis, the Lord Jesus Christ is found. He is pictured in the promise to Eve, the coats of skin provided by God for man, the promise to Seth, and the Covenant to Abraham. Christ is typified in the Ark, Melchizedek, the offering of Isaac, and the person of Joseph.
We plan to take one more week to look at this grand book as we consider its major themes.