In the Beginning

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The Interwoven Beginning

All things begin at Genesis 1:1-2

The rest of Genesis, and the Bible, begin with Genesis 1:1-2

Genesis as a whole mirrors Genesis 1:1-2, as it is the book of beginnings

The history the faith is interwoven into Genesis through:

the telling of creation,

rebellion,

catastrophic judgment,

the beginning of the spread of humanity across the earth,

the beginning of languages,

the selection of one man, Abram,

the beginning of the promises,

the beginning of the covenants,

the beginning of the fathers of the faith,

and, at the core, the beginning of Israel, and all of history is happening around God’s plan for the descendents of Abraham.

Through our understanding of Genesis, we have the core of where our God started our faith, and where it will end.

Some facts about Genesis:

In the Old Testament

Adam is mentioned by name in Deuteronomy, Job, and 1 Chronicles

Noah is mentioned in 1 Chronicles, Isaiah, and Ezekiel

Abraham is mentioned by name in fifteen books

Jacob is mentioned in 20 books

Israel is mentioned, knowing it was the new name given to Jacob, along with his sons, the twelve tribes, numerous times

New Testament

Abraham is mentioned by name in 11 books

Jacob is mentioned by name in at least seventeen books

Israel is mentioned, knowing it was the new name given to Jacob, along with his sons, the twelve tribes, numerous times

The New Testament is just as, if not more-so, dependent on Genesis as the Old Testament with 165 nearly quoted or clearly referred to passages just from Genesis. With allusions to Genesis, this number jumps to 200.

Genesis as a whole, and 1-11 more specifically, is the object of the most skepticism and attacks than any other area of Scripture.

Yet, there are over 100 quotes or direct references to Genesis 1-11 in the New Testament.

Every New Testament author alludes or quotes Genesis 1-11

Jesus quotes or refers to Genesis 1-11 in some capacity six times, “including specific reference to each of the first seven chapters”

At no time was Genesis referred to as myths or allegories.

Genesis as a Historical Document:

Who wrote Genesis?

Moses

When was it written?

~1600 BC?

How was it written?

We don’t know. Either God directly spoke to Moses, or Moses uses other documents or histories with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to write it.

Why was it written?

To speak of God’s authority and creation, even of Israel. This would have kept Israel unified and confident about where they came from.

Who was it written to?

Israel

What is the genre of Genesis?

Historical Narrative

Why is this important to know?

What is the structure of Genesis?

The Genesis Record A scientific & devotional commentary on the book of beginnings

Gen 1:1-2:4a The generations of the heavens and the earth

Gen 2:4b-5:1a The book of the generations of Adam

Gen 5:1b-6:9a The generations of Noah

Gen 6:9b-10:1a The generations of the sons of Noah

Gen 10:1b-11:10a The generations of Shem

Gen 11:10b-11:27 The generations of Terah

Gen 11:27b-25:19a The generations of Isaac

Gen 25:19b-37:2a The generations of Jacob

Gen 37:2b-Ex 1:1 The generations of the Sons of Jacob

What does this tell us about Genesis?

1. We can trust the historicity of Genesis

2. If we doubt (e.g. through allegorizing Genesis) Genesis, or change it in any way, the rest of the Scriptures comes into question.

3. We know where we came from and who created us.

4. We know who is in charge, who the Authority is.

5. We know God owns everything.

The Text: Genesis 1:1-2

Genesis 1:1–2 NASB95

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

“In the beginning”

Why is this a problem?

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1

bere’shith, typically translated as “in the beginning.”

This phrase serves as both the historical document’s title and thesis.

Commentary on the Old Testament The Creation of the World

creatio ex nihilo

Commentary on the Old Testament The Creation of the World

the very first beginning, the commencement of the world, when time itself began.

What were some things that began in the book of Genesis?

At this point in time all beginnings started.

At this point, all of time began

Refer to Henry Morris’ “The Genesis Record A scientific & devotional commentary on the book of beginnings” for many of these thoughts about origins.

Origin of the Universe

Origin of order and complexity

Origin of the solar system

Origin of the atmosphere and hydrosphere

Origin of life

Origin of man

Origin of marriage

Origin of evil

Origin of language

Origin of government

Origin of culture’

Origin of nations

Origin of religion

Origin of the chose people

Others:

Origin of the promise

Origin of the covenant

Origin of the oath

Origin of race

Corresponding Verses:

Psalm 102:25 ““Of old You founded the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.”

Isaiah 40:21 “Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?”

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

If there is a beginning, there will be an end.

Revelation 4:11 ““Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.””

“God”

Elohim - the first time God’s name is used in Scripture. It is known as a “uni-plural” noun. What does this mean? It means that though it is written as a plural noun, it’s meaning “is a plural name with a singular meaning....thereby suggesting the uni-plurality of the God head. God is one, yet more than one.” (The Genesis Record, Henry M. Morris, 39)

1 “God”

This first occurrence of the divine name is the Hebrew Elohim, the name of God which stresses His majesty and omnipotence. This is the name used throughout the first chapter of Genesis. The im ending is the Hebrew plural ending, so that Elohim can actually mean “gods,” and is so translated in various passages referring to the gods of the heathen (e.g., Psalm 96:5).

However, it is clearly used here in the singular, as the mighty name of God the Creator, the first of over two thousand times where it is used in this way. Thus Elohim is a plural name with a singular meaning, a “uni-plural” noun, thereby suggesting the uni-plurality of the Godhead. God is one, yet more than one.

Henry Morris, The Genesis Record

From the word itself, it beings us to the reality that God is more than one person, however, He is One being.

“God Created”

Why is this a problem?

Because God did it

Because only God can create

What are the implications of God being the Creator?

One’s belief in the origins of man has implications on:

Human value

Murder

Abortion: The murder of the unborn children.

Infanticide: The murder of infants or offspring.

Senicide: Also known as geronticide or gerontocide, is the practice of murdering the elderly.

Euthanasia: Murdering to eliminate pain and suffering.

Value of Animals above people

Population Management

Identity

What is the goal of man?

What is man’s purpose?

What should man do with his life?

History, Science, and much more.

It means that God owns what He creates:

Psalm 89:11 “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all it contains, You have founded them.”

Acts 17:24 ““The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands;”

Romans 1:20 “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

Job 38:4 ““Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding,”

Isaiah 42:5 “Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,”

God took ownership of all of His creation. He owns the material world, the spiritual world, how all things work, how He communicates, and what He does.

This is not talking just about His possession of all things.

This is talking about the processes in how things take place.

He takes responsibility for His creation.

He knows when to judge, when to have mercy. He chooses it all, and all of it is according to His good nature and character.

God created and used wisdom in creation:

Proverbs 8:22–31 ““The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. “From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. “When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no springs abounding with water. “Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills I was brought forth; While He had not yet made the earth and the fields, Nor the first dust of the world. “When He established the heavens, I was there, When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, When the springs of the deep became fixed, When He set for the sea its boundary So that the water would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth; Then I was beside Him, as a master workman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, Rejoicing in the world, His earth, And having my delight in the sons of men.”

“the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep,”

At this point in time, all matter began, and was perfect.

God brought all the material things that would be created into being. The matter used to create you, some 6,000 years later, was created at this point.

Creation points to a creator.

Some propose that there is a dichotomy between science and creation with the Creator. Is this separation between science and Genesis 1, let alone the rest of the bible, a true dichotomy?

Corresponding Verses:

Hebrews 1:10 “And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of Your hands;”

Hebrews 11:3 “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”

Jeremiah 4:23 “I looked on the earth, and behold, it was formless and void; And to the heavens, and they had no light.”

Job 38:9 “When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band,”

“and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.”

The “Spirit of God” is demonstrative of the plurality of the personhood of God, but still His singularity.

The tri-une God was present at the beginning.

There was a joining of the Triune God to create all things.

Corresponding Verses:

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Psalm 104:25–35 “There is the sea, great and broad, In which are swarms without number, Animals both small and great. There the ships move along, And Leviathan, which You have formed to sport in it. They all wait for You To give them their food in due season. You give to them, they gather it up; You open Your hand, they are satisfied with good. You hide Your face, they are dismayed; You take away their spirit, they expire And return to their dust. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground. Let the glory of the Lord endure forever; Let the Lord be glad in His works; He looks at the earth, and it trembles; He touches the mountains, and they smoke. I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. Let sinners be consumed from the earth And let the wicked be no more. Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!”

Isaiah 40:13–14 “Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding?”

Application:

How does knowing these things help in life? How do we apply this?

In the beginning:

Understanding this should give us historical context for the world we live in.

This should lead us to fear God, and be humble before Him.

The fact that He communicated this to us, should demonstrate His goodness.

God Created, and God owns all things:

We need to own what we create, manage, and are responsible for.

The God-head includes the alignment and perfect working out of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

If the Trinity works together, and they are perfect, shouldn’t we attempt to do the same?

God used wisdom in Creation:

If God created all things, shouldn’t we seek His wisdom?

He tells us we can ask for His wisdom: James 1:5 “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Worship:

We need to join with the angels and worship Him:

Revelation 7:11–12 “And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.””