Contents
Introduction
The book of Genesis is about beginnings, as the title suggests. In Genesis a universe begins. Humanity also gets a chance for a new beginning, and a new nation begins. All these beginnings were brought about by the mighty hand of God. Through many failures, trials, and difficulties God makes a way to continue with His plain. God also gives humanity second chances and enables people to do new and miraculous activities. We see stories of faith, forgiveness, and fallenness from chapter 1-50. Genesis is the introduction to the most amazing story humanity has ever seen, God’s redemption of all nations through one nation. In one way or another most of the Bible draws on Genesis.[1]
Context
Traditionally it has been held that Moses is the author of Genesis.[2] Genesis is part of a five-book collection in the Bible known as the Pentateuch.[3] The Pentateuch is referred to as the Torah by Hebrews whose tradition holds that Moses wrote this collection.[4] The book of Genesis can prove to be a barrier to the reader who does not approach it with a supernatural understanding of the events in the book.[5] Genesis has been the focus of much critical scholarship.[6] For those that hold to Genesis as the Word of God, the text will serve as great comfort.[7] Christians should look at Genesis through the eyes of the supernatural and witness God’s provision for His people.
Creation and Fall
At the very beginning of Genesis, we see God orchestrate the creation of all existence through just His words. In five literal days, God creates light itself, skies, oceans, land, plants, stars, the moon, and animals.[8] Then on the sixth day, God created his special creation mankind. God formed man out of the dust and breathed life into his lungs. God gave this special creation authority over all that was on earth. Finally, God seeing that everything was “very good” He rested on the seventh day.
Adam the man that God had created dwelt in the garden of Eden. Adam served the Lord in a painless service of taking care of God’s Garden.[9] In the middle of the garden resided the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave man permission to eat of all the abundance of the garden excluding these two trees. Then God saw that man was alone and created the woman Eve using a part of Adam’s side.[10] Both Man and Woman are created by specific divine action of God.[11]
Satan takes the form of a serpent and enters the garden to tempt Eve. The serpent opposes the Word of God in a cunning way and tells Eve they will have the knowledge of God if she eats of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.[12] Eve gives in to the temptation eats the fruit and gives some to Adam. Adam and Eve broke God’s Word and brought the curse of sin to all of humanity then and to come. Instead of being filled with Knowledge Adam and Eve were filled with shame.[13] The first humans hid from God because of their shame. God confronts them about their actions and kicks Adam and Eve out of the garden. God cursed the snake and cursed mankind with labor and childbearing pain. Humanity went from life to death, a pleasure to pain, abundance to a substance by toil, and fellowship with God to alienation from God.[14]
Adam and Eve went on to have two sons Cain and Abel. Cain begrudgingly gave an offering to God and Abel gave of the first fruits to God with an open heart.[15] God was pleased with Abel’s offering but did not respect Cains’s offering. Cain grew so angry that he could not be talked out of sin and killed his brother Abel.[16] God cursed Cain to be a wanderer and gave him a mark for protection. This story demonstrates sins continuing encroachment on earth.[17]
Flood
Iniquity on earth reached its height and integrity was no more to be found.[18] Wickless was deeply seated in the hearts of men and God was ready to erase humanity from existence.[19] There was alone one man who found favor with God; his name was Noah. Noah was not committed to the violence of his day and lived his life with integrity and morally upright conduct.[20] God tells Noah He is going to destroy humanity and gives Noah specific instructions to construct an ark approximately 73 feet wide and 44 feet high.[21] Noah was instructed to put his family and at least two of every kind of animal on the ark. God told Noah that it would heavily rain forty days and nights.[22] The flood comes and everything in the ark was saved from destruction. The ark came to rest and the water dried up. Noah, his family, and animals were able to dwell on earth once more. The world was now reset.[23] Through these events, God demonstrates a determination to destroy evil.[24] God also demonstrates his faithfulness to grace by promising to never destroy the earth with a flood.[25]
Abraham
Noah’s decedents spread through the earth and form civilization. Through their evil actions, God separates them by language. On to the scene comes a new man from the land of Ur. Abram a significant personality in the Bible is called by God from his homeland to start a new nation.[26] God gave Abraham a mission that will change the entire direction of Genesis.[27] Without explicit instruction, God points Abraham in the correct direction.[28] Abraham takes a step of obedient faith and does as the Lord commands.[29] Abraham takes his nephew, wife, and possessions and off they go.
Unfortunately, Abraham’s journey is not without error. In Egypt, Abram lies putting Sarah at risk and bringing shame to others.[30] Abraham and his nephew lot have both grown too prosperous to live together. Abrahams lets Lot choose which land he would like to dwell in. Lot, with a covetous observation of the land, chooses the Jordan Valley a place full of rich vegetation.[31] The beauty of the land distracted Lot from the wickedness and he settles there.[32] Abraham later must rescue lot and bring him back after being captured. After returning Lot, we see a fascinating encounter between Abraham and Melchizedek the “Priest of God Most High.”[33]
Further mistakes were made by Abraham in variance from the Word of God, Sarah gave her servant Hagar to have a son with Abraham. Abraham and Sarah demonstrated defective faith regarding the method of God’s promise.[34] Hagar later birthed Ishmael. Almighty God blesses Ishmael and magnificently reminds Abraham of His promise.[35] The Lord later appears to Abraham in the form of three men and informs Abraham of Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction.[36] God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire but mercifully allowed Lot to flee the city before destruction.[37]
Later, God intervenes, and Sarah becomes pregnant.[38] Sarah gives birth to their first son, Isaac. Abraham demonstrates his faith once again when he promptly obeys the Lord’s command to sacrifice his son.[39] Isaac was spared by God and an alternative sacrifice was provided. Isaac marries Rebekah and Abraham dies shortly after at the age of 175 and gives all his possessions to Isaac. Isaac has two sons Esau and Jacob.
Jacob
Jacob by deceiving his dad receives the birthright which was supposed to be Esau’s. Jacob flees to his uncle Laban’s, and on the journey has a dream of a ladder to heaven to remind him of God’s providence and presence.[40] Jacob arrives at Laban’s land and immediately falls in love with Rachel.[41] Jacob works for seven years to earn the hand of Racheal from Laban. Laban with masterful tertiary switches out Racheal with Leah and deceives Jacob.[42] In a display of character, Jacob worked seven more years to marry Racheal.[43] Because of Laban’s deception, Jacob showed coolness to Leah.[44] The Lord intervenes and allows Leah to have Rueben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.[45] Then out of jealously, Racheal gave Jacob her servant Bilhah to have a son, Bilhah gave birth to Dan and Naphtali. When Leah saw this, she also gave Jacob her servant Zilpah to have a son. Zilpah gave birth to Gad and Asher. Leah later gave birth to Issachar, Zebulun, and a daughter Dinah.
Rachel then gave birth to Joseph. Jacob then leaves Laban’s land to settle in Canaan because of the growing animosity between Jacob and Laban.[46] Throughout the journey back to Canaan Jacob had to settle a dispute with Laban and wrestles with God.[47] Jacob with a spirit of humility reconciles things with his brother Esau.[48] Racheal later passed away giving birth to Benjamin. Isaac also passes away at the age of one hundred and eighty.
Joseph
Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son because Joseph was Racheal’s first son. Jacob’s unwavering favoritism toward Joseph drove his brothers to jealousy.[49] Joseph’s brothers became further disgusted when he shared dreams that indicated they would worship him.[50] The jealous brothers sold Joseph to Ishmaelite merchants as a slave. The brothers covered Joseph’s colorful coat in blood to convince Jacob that Joseph was dead. The traders sold Joseph into slavery in Egypt. Joseph worked for a wealthy man named Potiphar. God was with Joseph and Joseph had great success. Potiphar gave Joseph a position of high authority in his house. Potiphar’s wife tempted Joseph, but Joseph remained faithful to God and Potiphar and fled the temptation.[51] Potiphar’s wife lied to Potiphar and Joseph ended up in prison.
While in prison God was still with Joseph and Joseph was placed in charge of all the prisoners. The Pharos’s baker and cupbearer ended up in prison and they both had dreams. God had given Joseph the ability to interpret dreams and he correctly interpreted both of their dreams. The cupbearer, a while later, told the pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams. The pharaoh told Joseph to interpret his dream. Joseph interpreted that there would be seven years of great yield followed by seven years of famine.
Pharaoh placed Joseph as second in command of all of Egypt. Joseph was tasked with gathering food during the seven years of prosperity for the seven years of famine. Joseph gathered food for seven years and when the famine hit Egypt had more than enough. Meanwhile, Joseph’s brothers were starving because of the famine and Jacob sent them to Egypt to gather food. In the fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams, Joseph was reunited with his brothers.[52] Pharaoh with incredible generosity and respect for Joseph allows all of Jacob and His son’s families to settle the land of Goshen.[53] Jacob died at one hundred and forty-seven and his family buried him near Abraham in the land of Canaan. Joseph a little later died at the age of one hundred and ten and was buried in Egypt.
Conclusion
The account given above is only a summary of Genesis. This paper did not cover many of the finer details of the book. There are many details and shorter stories that bring more life to the book. Christians are encouraged to read the book of Genesis. Reading the book will encourage the believer in their walk and help them get to know the character of God better. Throughout the pages of Genesis and the rest of the Bible God’s miraculous provision for his people is witnessed by the believing reader. What a wonderful blessing it is to have the Words of God to read and study.
Bibliography
Allen, Ronald B. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988 [Logos].
Barry, John D., David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, et al., eds. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016 [Logos].
Calvin, John, and John King, Commentary on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010 [Logos].
Fee, Gordon D., and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., eds. The Eerdmans Companion to the Bible. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2011 [Logos].
Hamilton, Victor P. The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 1A. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990.
Hamilton, Victor P., The Book of Genesis Chapters 17-50, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 1B. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990.
Henry, Matthew and Thomas Scott. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997 [Logos].
Mathews, Kenneth A. Genesis 1-11:26, The New American Commentary, vol. 1A. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1996.
Mathews, Kenneth A. Genesis 11:27-50:26, The New American Commentary, vol. 1B. Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1996.
Parker, Joseph, Genesis, Preaching Through The Bible, vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1978.
Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, vol.1. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985 [Logos].
[1] Walvoord, John F. and Roy B. Zuck, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, vol.1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 15 [Logos].
[4] Barry, John D., David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, et al., eds., “Torah” The Lexham Bible Dictionary (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016)
[5] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, 15.
[6] Mathews, Kenneth A., Genesis 1-11:26, The New American Commentary, vol. 1A ( Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1996), 63.
[7] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[8] Ibid, [Logos].
[9] Matthews, Genesis 1–11:26, 209.
[10] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapter 1-17, 178.
[11] Ibid, 179.
[12] Matthews, Genesis 1-11:26, 226.
[13] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1–17, 191.
[14] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[15] Parker, Joseph, Genesis, Preaching Through The Bible, vol. 1 (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1978), 146.
[16] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[17] Matthews, Genesis 1-11:26, 258.
[18] Calvin, John, and John King, Commentary on the First Book of Moses Called Genesis (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010), [Logos].
[19] Ibid., [Logos].
[20] Matthews, Genesis 1-11:26, 358.
[21] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1–17, 282.
[22] Ibid., 288.
[23] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[24] Parker, Genesis, Preaching, 160.
[25] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[26] Allen, Ronald B. “Abraham.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1988)
[27] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[28] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17, 370.
[29] Mathews, Kenneth A., Genesis 11:26-50:26, The New American Commentary, vol. 1B (Nashville: Broadman and Holman Publishers, 1996), 118.
[30] Matthews, Genesis 11:26-50:26, 128.
[31] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapters 1-17, 392.
[32] Matthews, Genesis 11:26-50:26, 136.
[33] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[34] Calvin, First book of Moses, [Logos].
[35] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[36] Ibid., [Logos].
[37] Ibid., [logos].
[38] Matthews, Genesis 11:26-50:26, 266.
[39] Ibid., 291.
[40] Henry, Matthew and Thomas Scott, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997), [Logos].
[41] Fee, Gordon D., and Robert L. Hubbard Jr., eds., The Eerdmans Companion to the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2011), [Logos].
[42] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[43] Hamilton, Victor P., The Book of Genesis Chapters 17-50, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, vol. 1B (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1990), 264.
[44] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[45] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapter 18-50, 265.
[46] Henry, Concise Commentary, [Logos].
[47] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapter 18-50, 330.
[48] Walvoord, Knowledge Commentary, [Logos].
[49] Fee, Companion to the Bible, [Logos].
[50] Matthews, Genesis 11:26-50:26, 690.
[51] Fee, Companion to the Bible, [Logos].
[52] Ibid., [Logos].
[53] Hamilton, The Book of Genesis Chapter 18-50, 608.