Beginning with God

Introduction

Why were the first five books of the Bible written?

Details of the writing

When

After the fall

After the Exodus

During the wandering

Who

By Moses

To Israel

Purpose

To set apart a chosen people through whom God would redeem the creation

Questions answered by the Pentateuch

Establish the identity of Yahweh (Who is God?)

Ex 3:14 “14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ””

Establish the Kingly reign of Yahweh (What does God do?)

Gen 12:2-3 “2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.””

Ex 20:1-3 “1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”

Establish the identity of the subjects of Yahweh (Who are his people?)

Ex 19:5-6 “5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.””

Establish the responsibility of the subjects of Yahweh (What do we do?)

Deut 6:3 “3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.”

Explain what went wrong in Yahweh’s good creation (What happened?)

Gen 2:25-3:1 “25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?””

Anticipate the restoration of God’s good creation (How will this get fixed?)

Gen 3:15 “15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.””

Genesis 1-2 as science

In our culture war obsessed world, Genesis 1-2 has become a battleground between secularists and Christians. How should this affect our approach to Genesis 1-2?

Bad Approaches

Some reject or spiritualize the creation account to avoid conflicts with modern science.

Some become so focused on the historical/scientific aspects of the text that they miss out on the theological purpose.

Right Approach

Belief in the Bible will always require belief in the supernatural. Compromising on Genesis 1-2 will not satisfy a skeptical world.

God’s revelation of himself through Scripture will be consistent with his revelation of himself through nature.

Harmony not tension

Hubble book

Both subject to our biases and errors

Don’t neglect the Spirit-inspired purpose of Scripture

Whether Genesis 1 teaches a young or old earth, direct or indirect creation, or literal or figurative days there is a theological purpose which is more important than those debates.

What, then, does Genesis 1:1 teach us about God?

He Is The Eternal God

“In the beginning...”

Defined

Eternity is not just a really long time. God exists outside of time.

He is independent. Contrast God’s timelessness with our dependence on time.

God does not wait

The transcendence of God’s timelessness contrasts with the immanence of the incarnation

Supported

Rev 1:8 “8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.””

Ps 90:2-4 “2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” 4 A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”

Jn 8:58 “58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!””

Ex 3:14 “14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ””

Applied

God’s eternality affirms his superiority over all things

God’s eternality demands we be patient with his timing

God is not in a hurry, he as plenty of time

God’s eternality gives us confidence in his presence

God’s eternality causes us to worship

He Is The Only God

“God”

Defined

God is uniquely 1 not 1 of many.

He’s not the winner of some competitions of gods, but is utterly unique from all other beings.

Supported

1 Ti 6:16 “16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”

Dt 6:4 “4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

1 Ki 8:59-61 “59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 61 And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.””

Joshua 24

Applied

As the one and only God, he is worthy of absolute loyalty

As the one and only God, he alone can providentially provide for all of our needs

There are other things which we look to for satisfaction, but as the one and only God, he is ruler over these things

He is Lord over health, money, people.

He Is The Active God

“Created the heavens and the earth”

Defined

God is not a passive force, but actively rules over his creation

His engagement did not end with creation, but continues in all areas of life

Supported

He speaks

He holds all things together

He forgives

He saves

Applied

Creation demonstrates the greatness of God, but also the intimacy of his care for his creation

The same God who hangs the galaxies in space fellowships with Adam and redeems Adam when he rebels

Conclusion

So what should we take away from this text?

God is king of creation

Because God’s unique greatness, he is worthy of faith, obedience, and worship