So It Begins: The Book of Genesis

Introduction:

It’s been said, “Genesis is the seed-plot of the whole Bible, and it is essential to the true understanding of every part of the Bible. It is the foundation on which Divine revelation rests, and on which it is built up...”

Without Genesis, the Bible would be incomplete. It covers more than half of the time of the Old Testament.

Genesis alone tells us the events that took place before Moses, the writer of Genesis.

It is the key to understanding the origin and earliest history of mankind.

Without a doubt, Genesis is a book that cannot be forgotten nor thrown out of the word of God.

For in it, the God of all is revealed and seen working.

In many ways, it may be the most important book in the Old Testament.

It is the foundation of all divine revelation, and it should be studied historically, prophetically, dispensationally, and spiritually.

And “So It Begins: The Book of Genesis.”

Before we begin our study this morning, let’s begin with a word of prayer.

As we begin this stud, lets first get an...

Discussion:

Understanding the Book:

The book of beginnings: Genesis comes from a Greek word meaning “origin,” and the book begins with the Hebrew word that means “beginning.”

It covers the first ages of world history and the period of the great patriarchs-Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.

The events recorded occured mostly between 4,000 and 1,700 B.C., from creation to the death of Joseph. That is more than half the time of the Old Testament alone.

When Moses penned Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, it is believed he wrote 1,7000-1,600 B.C, and the rest of the Old Testament was written in about 1,200 years.

Two Divisions: 1-11 & 12-50.

The two parts of this book are chapter 1-11 (the creation of the world and man, to Abraham), and chapters 12-50 (the history of the patriarchs).

Now, lets talk briefly about the four great events of chapters 1-11.

First, creation (), God is the creator of matter, space and time, and man is the crown of creation. God created everything and everyone.

Secondly, the fall. Because of his sin, Adam is separated from God, and God gives the first promise of the Messiah ().

Next, the flood. As man multiplies, sin does as well, and God is compelled to destroy all men with the exception of Noah and his family ().

Lastly, nations. Because of rebellion at the Tower of Babel, God confuses their language and scatters the people over the face of the earth ().

Now, lets briefly talk about the four great people in chapter 12-50. Here God focuses on one man and his descendants, through whom He would bless all nations.

First, Abraham. The calling of Abraham and God’s covenant with him are the pivotal points of the book and the foundation of God’s plan of salvation for all mankind.

Second, Isaac. God renews His covenant with Isaac as the spiritual link with Abraham.

Then, Jacob. God changes His name to Israel, the father of the twelve tribes.

Lastly, Joseph. Joseph delivers his family from famine and bring them out of Canaan to Egypt.

Key Verses: ; ; ; ; , ; .

So It Begins: Creation, , “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The God of the Bible is not effected time, space or matter. Instead, He created them.

Time, space, and matter is what we call a continuum. All of them have to come into existence at the same instant.

Because if there were matter but no space, where would you put it? If there were matter and space but no time, when would you put it? They must all come into existence at the simultaneously.

The Bible answers that in the first ten words.

“In the beginning…God...” There is time.

“God...created the heavens...” There is space.

“God....created the earth....” There is matter.

And the God who created them has to be outside of them. The God of Genesis is not limited to time, space, or matter, and so it begins: creation.

So It Begins: Mankind, , “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

In addition to man’s creation, the word of God tells us, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”

This is our origin. This is our beginning.

Created by God, created in His image, and created to have dominion, and created male and female. So it begins: mankind.

So It Begins: Sin, , “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.”

So It Begins: Prophecy, , “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

So It Begins: Abrahamic Covenant, , “Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

So It Begins: Messianic Lineage to Christ, , “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

The Purpose of the Book:

What Is the Purpose of the Book:

The Immediate Purpose: Written to Who & Why?

God’s immediate purpose in revealing these oracles to Moses, which he probably wrote during the wilderness wanderings, was to instruct the new generation of Jews before they entered the promise land.

It was necessary the children of Israel to have an accurate record of their national origin in Abraham and of God’s covenant with him and his descendants.

It was even of even greater importance that they remember their origin from creation and their spiritual relationship with God.

The Main THEME of Genesis: Man’s relation to God.

Man’s relationship to God is the central truth of Genesis. God made man in His image for the purpose of man’s walking with God and serving God with unending happiness.

After the fall of man, we see his complete failure, with few exceptions, to fulfill the God given design.

In Genesis, human failure is met with diving grace in the promised means of salvation from God, Jesus Christ. Here we have the record both of man’s sin and the initial steps taken by God for man’s redemption.

“Christ is coming,” the dominant message of the Old Testament, has its “beginning” in Genesis.

The Purpose for Us: The power of God, through Christ, unto Salvation.

We are spiritual beings, made in the image of God, and we can never find lasting happiness until the image is restored.

This can be accomplished only by man’s knowledge and acceptance of God’s divine revealed plan of redemption in Christ, “which is the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16).

Christ Revealed In Genesis:

Christ is the promised “Seed” of woman ()

Matthew 1:21–23 NKJV

And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

This promise is fulfilled in , “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.””

Also, tells us, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman...”

Christ is the promised “Seed” of Abraham ().

Consider the words of , “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.”

Christ is the promised “Shiloh,” the Prince of Peace that would come through the tribe of Judah ().

Consider the words of , “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah...”

Lessons for Us Today:

A Book of Faith: ; ; .

Genesis, as well as the entire Bible, is not a book of science or just history. It is a book of faith.

God’s word is the source of faith. tells us, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

It is by faith that we know how the worlds were made. tells us, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”

It is by faith that we know how the worlds were made

In addition, Genesis gives the history of Abraham, the great example of faith, and many other heroes of faith, such as Abel, Enoch, and Noah ().

Salvation is by an Active Faith: , , , ,

All of the examples of faith in Genesis are of submissive, obedient faith.

“By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain” ().

“By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death…[because] he pleased God” ().

“By faith Noah…prepared an ark for the saving of his household...” ().

“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” ().

Conclusion: