Genesis

Book of Genesis

First Impressions

- What do you see in this book that tells you about the Original Reader?

The Original Readers of the book of Genesis were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  One of Jacob’s sons was named Joseph.  In Genesis 50:24, Joseph told his brothers, “Soon I will die . . . but God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”  Earlier in the book of Genesis, the LORD said to Abram, “You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth.” (see Gen 15:13-14).  The original readers (or hearers) of the book of Genesis were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob who were being oppressed as slaves in Egypt. 

- What do you see in this book that tells you about the author?

According to the introduction of the book of Genesis in the Sourceview Bible, the author of the book of Genesis was Moses.  Additionally, it states that Moses wrote it around 1446-1406 BC and “relied on revelation from God and, perhaps, earlier oral or written records.”  The author must have relied on revelation from God in order to write authoritatively about the creation of the world.  Throughout much of the book of Genesis, the author writes in great detail about the family line of Abram/Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob/Israel.  For example, the author recorded what God told Abram in Genesis 13:14-17, “Look as far as you can see in every direction – north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession.  And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted! Go and walk through the land in every direction, for I am giving it to you.”  The author recorded many similar conversations between God and Abraham, God and Isaac, God and Jacob, etc.  The author was also familiar with the ways of the Egyptians.  For example, Abraham’s wife, Sarah, died when she was 127 years old in the land of Canaan.  Abraham desired to give his wife a proper burial; therefore, he said to the Hittite elders, “Here I am, a stranger and a foreigner among you. Please sell me a piece of land so I can give my wife a proper burial.” (Gen 23:1-4).  The author was very familiar with both the Hebrew and the Egyptian cultures. 

- What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what is a one sentence summary of the "main idea"?

God is our Creator.  He created the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1).  He created all of the plants  (Gen 1:11) and animals (see Gen 1:20; Gen 1:24).  God created males and females in His image (Gen 1:27).  God desires relationship with His people.  God makes and keeps covenants with His people.  For example, God made a covenant with Noah (see Gen 9:9-17).  The book of Genesis also records covenants made between God and Abram/Abraham, God and Isaac, and God and Jacob/Israel.  Another example can be found in Genesis 17:1-2 which states, “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, ‘I am El-Shaddai – God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life. I will make a covenant with you, by which I will guarantee to give you countless descendants.” God is who He says He is and He desires an intimate relationship with His people. 

- What is the primary reason this book was written?

The book of Genesis was written so that people may come to know and understand who God really is and His great desire to have an intimate relationship with us.  God is our Creator and He created us in His own image (Gen 1:27). He desires relationship with us.  God makes and keeps covenants with His people.  The book of Genesis was written so that we may come to know who our Creator God really is and His great desire to enjoy an intimate relationship with us. 

Theme Tracing

- What does this book show about the character and nature of God?

Genesis 1:1 states, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  God is our Creator.  He is the One who created light and separated it from the darkness (see Gen 1:3-5).  Genesis 1:6 states, “Let there be space between the waters, to separate the waters of the heavens from the waters of the earth.”  Genesis 1:9 states, “Let the waters beneath the sky flow together into one place, so dry ground may appear.”  Genesis 1:14-15 states, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.”  God is the One who created all of the vegetation on earth (see Gen 1:11-12).  God is the One who created all of the animals on earth (see Gen 1:20-25). God is the One who created human beings in His own image (see Gen 1:26-27).  God is our Creator.   God created us and He knows what we need.  For example, He knows that we need food to eat; therefore, He provided food for all of us to eat (Gen 1:29).  He knows that we need rest; therefore, he created the Sabbath.  Genesis 1:18 states, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”  God created us for relationships.  We have all been created to have relationships with God and with one another. We all need God and we all need each other.  We are not meant to live our lives apart from Him or apart from others.  God is the One who created us and He is the One who knows our needs and how to best meet those needs.  God is also the One who makes covenants with His people and keeps His covenants.  God is faithful.  For example, God made a covenant with Noah and with all of the living creatures on earth (see Gen 9:9-17) that He will never again use floodwaters to destroy all of the living creatures on earth.  In Genesis 35:11, God told Jacob (renamed Israel), “I am El-Shaddai – God Almighty.”  God is who He says He is!

- What does this book show about God's redemptive plan for mankind?

God desires relationship with His people.  As our Creator, God knows us and He knows what is best for us.  Throughout the book of Genesis, God makes it clear to His people what He expects them to do and what He expects them not to do.  For example, God warned Adam in the Garden of Eden that he “may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden – except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Gen 2:16-17).  Later in the book of Genesis, we read that Adam and his wife, Eve, disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden fruit.  As a result of their act of disobedience, God banished them from the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:23).  They no longer enjoyed the intimate relationship they once enjoyed with their LORD.  Adam’s sinful action led to more and more sinful actions among the men and women on earth.  Eventually, the LORD told Noah that he will destroy every living thing on earth (see Gen 6:7).  However, the LORD told Noah that he alone was righteous; therefore, He would save Noah and his wife along with their three sons and their wives (see Gen 6:13 – Gen 7:5).  God desires relationship with His people.  He desires that His people lead righteous lives – lives that are right with Him. 

Application questions

- Personal Application

As I have been studying the book of Genesis, I am reminded that God is who He says He is.  I am reminded that God is our Creator.  God is my Creator.  I am reminded that we are created in God’s own image.  I am created in God’s own image.  I am reminded that it is not good for man to be alone.  As a single man who is twenty-five plus years old, I am often reminded of this truth!  I am reminded once again just how vital it is for me to cultivate an intimate relationship with God and with other people. It is my heartfelt desire to grow in my relationship with God and with other people.  While studying the book of Genesis, I am reminded that God clearly communicates to His people. God clearly communicates to them what He expects them to do and what He expects them not to do.  I am reminded that there are very real consequences to our words and our actions.  Words and actions that are obedient to God tend to result in positive consequences (blessings) while words and actions that are disobedient to God tend to result in negative consequences (curses).  As a man who desires to grow in his relationship with God and with others, the book of Genesis reminds me just how vital it is for me to be obedient (not disobedient) to God and His ways. 

- Point of Passion

My point of passion is to know God and to make God known.  I strongly desire to know the truth and communicate the truth to others – especially among teenagers and young adults.  In the book of Genesis, I am reminded that God is who He says He is and we are who He says we are.  In Genesis 1:26-27, God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us . . . So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them . . .” The truth is that there is a God and God created us in His own image.  This truth is just one of the many truths that are contained within the book of Genesis.  My desire is to clearly communicate to others the truth of who God is and the truth of who we are.  My passionate desire is to know God and to make God known.