As we read Genesis, we need to understand how it fits into the Old Testament and within God’s plan.
Genesis is the first book of Moses, of the law, of the Pentateuch, of the Torah. How does Old Testament law relate to Christians? It applies in spirit and not in the letter.
“who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV)
For instance, we are circumcised of the heart, not the flesh.
“... True circumcision is something that happens deep in your heart, not something done to your body. And besides, you should want praise from God and not from humans.” (Romans 2:29 CEV)
None of us may have committed murder literally, but hatred and verbal abuse are the same spirit of murder.
“You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, Don’t commit murder, and all who commit murder will be in danger of judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell.” (Matthew 5:21-22 CEB)
Faithfulness to a spouse is laudable, but lust in our hearts is the spirit of adultery.
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27–28 KJV)
A day to rest to worship God is good, but the Sabbath only points to our true rest in Jesus.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NASB)
A day to rest and worship is wise, but a specific day is not commanded in the New Testament.
“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.” (Romans 14:5-6 NIV)
We are not to judge one another over such things as food choices and worship days.
“So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17 NKJV)
The Old Testament is built on a series of covenants: e.g. Noahic, Abrahamic, Sinaitic (Mosaic), the Davidic and Levitical covenants. As we read Genesis, let’s look at it as having two parts. First, human failure in sin along with God’s grace in continuing to provide for us, followed by a second part, the story of a covenant between God and the successors of four faithful generations.
Genesis 1-11 Sin & Grace
Finish reading Genesis 1-11. The first part of Genesis reveals God and a family line of people who loved Him. It also records sin, human corruption, disobedience, murder, lust, immorality, violence and how God dealt with these issues in two ways: punishment and grace. God’s punishment included being expelled from the garden, limited life spans, the flood, the tower of Babel and physical death. God’s grace included the death penalty often being withheld, Cain being protected with a mark, Noah being preserved, and despite sin God is still gracious, allowing people to reproduce and have rain to produce food.
2 Ways
We can discern two overall directions which people took: the way of Cain in which people became worse and worse (Genesis 4), and the way of Seth in which people called upon God’s name and walked with God.
“Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah’s rebellion.” (Jude 1:11 WEB)
The way of Seth and his descendants was different.
“When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the Lord by name.” (Genesis 4:26 NLT)
“Enoch walked with God. After Methuselah’s birth, Enoch lived 300 years; and he had other sons and daughters.” (Genesis 5:22 CEB)
Walking with God pictures a day of continual prayer, talking over every part of the day with God as a constant companion. These two ways, one of life and the other leading to death, are summarized so well in Psalm 1. Please take time to read it.
Genesis 12-50 Four Faithful Men
Read Genesis 12-50. God called Abram. What was required of him? Was it obedience, a responsive faith? Is that also required of us today?
The covenant promise to Abram is a narrative theme throughout the rest of Genesis. Why Abram? God did not do this for him or his descendants alone, but for all the families of the earth. Blessings are to be shared. God blesses His people today not for us to focus inwardly, but because there is work to be done (Genesis 13; 15; 17; 22), because He wants to see all people blessed. This is the gospel, according to Paul.
“Long ago the Scriptures said that God would accept the Gentiles because of their faith. That’s why God told Abraham the good news that all nations would be blessed because of him.” (Galatians 3:8 CEV)
Why are Genesis 10 and 11 out of time-order? Ancient writers were not always concerned with things being in perfect chronological succession, but in teaching sequential lessons. Perhaps Genesis 11 and 12 are together as a lesson. Why? In Genesis 11 people tried to make their name great, but God cursed their efforts. In chapter 12 God promised to make Abraham's name great.
We can summarize the promise to Abram as: descendants, a relationship with God, and a land. These three ingredients are expounded in the rest of the Pentateuch: 1. Genesis (Descendants), 2. Exodus & Leviticus (a relationship with God), 3. Numbers & Deuteronomy (the promised land).
God had to intervene so Sarah could bear a child. He created a people by divine election, just as today Christians are a people created by divine election. A main component of the covenant relationship was faith, a component Israel lacked. Being an Israelite or a physical descendant of Abraham is not enough. We must believe.
“Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham.” (Galatians 3:7 NIV)
Abraham's descendants Isaac, Jacob & Joseph were a partial fulfillment of the promise. When and how is the complete fulfillment of this promise?
“And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.” (Romans 4:11-12 KJV)
Genesis Postlude
The forensic evidence for God is ubiquitous. Creation provides overwhelming confirmation, and those who avoid this are living in denial of the obvious. Teleology is right. Design proves that there is a designer and a purpose. God is far more powerful than we could imagine.
Men and women are equals before God but created with mutually excelling differences for complementary roles.
Let’s learn to be satisfied with unexplained mystery and recapture the important hidden secrets behind the creation stories in Genesis. Let’s take God at His Word. Let’s have a change of heart and mind and believe the good news of God’s reign. You decide!
Resources for Further Study
We may have a chance to get into greater depth in Genesis in later lessons. In the meantime, here are some excellent resources.
Morris, Dr. Henry M. The Genesis Record. A Scientific and Devotional Commentary on the Book of Beginnings. Baker Book House. 1976.
R. C. Sproul, Norman L. Geisler, J. I. Packer. Explaining Biblical Inerrancy. Bastion Books. 2013. Available as a free PDF download from bastionbooks.com
Lisle, Dr. Jason. Understanding Genesis. How to Analyze, Interpret and Defend Scripture. Master Books. 2015.
Dr. Henry M. Morris, Dr. John C. Whitcom. The Genesis Flood. 50th Anniversary Edition. Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing. 2011.
