Genesis Re-Visited

So, this series is similar but not the same as lessons I have taught in the past – in case you were wondering if I would just say the same old things. It’s Genesis “re-visited” with a 21st century outlook, after even more years of experience and study. It is the same book --- the first book of the Bible, the first book of the “Torah”, the Jew’s book of instructions or teachings. Moses, the author, must have known that this would be a subject for study by millions in the years to come. He wrote with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, telling us the things we need to know…not necessarily all the things we want to know. It is not a science book and it is not exhaustive truth, but it is truth about God and about the beginning of mankind. It’s main message --- that we are created by God and for God --- reigns throughout the stories of people that are just like you and me, people that are flawed but faithful.

I always like to remember that Jesus was subject to instruction as a child. He was most likely sent off to study with the local rabbis, and I imagine him sitting on the dusty floor with other little boys his age, looking up in rapt attention at the respected teacher. He learned, as we do today, that the Torah consisted of five books: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Only the Hebrews didn’t call it “Genesis” but rather “Bereshith” which in their language means “Beginning”. (We get our word Genesis from the Greek word that means “origin” or “birth”. It’s the same root word that we use for words like genetics.)

I know that Jesus loved the book of Genesis because later, when He grew up, He referred to it on numerous occasions. He taught his followers about marriage by reminding them that “In the beginning the Creator made them male and female…and the two will become one flesh….Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6). When Jesus was questioned about life after death, he responded by describing God as the “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob…the God of the living!” (Mark 12:26-27) The men He mentioned are all major players in the book of, you guessed it, Genesis. Jesus tenderly healed and indignantly defended a crippled woman by calling her a “Daughter of Abraham” (Luke 13:16), again invoking the name of the man introduced in the book of Genesis. Noah and Lot, two men who lived in the midst of wicked situations described in Genesis, were spoken of when Jesus was explaining about the swiftness of judgment. (Luke 17:26-29). Even Lot’s wife is used as an example that we are not to follow --- “Don’t look back” (Luke 17:32). In the climactic statement Jesus used in defense of His ministry, Jesus exclaimed, “Before Abraham was, I am!” (John 8:58). Imagine…Jesus is claiming that His history precedes even the father of the Jewish faith! Did that get a reaction from His hearers? You bet it did!

The references to Genesis do not stop when Jesus’ earthly ministry was complete. The history found in the book of Genesis comes up again and again in the books of the New Testament. In fact, if you want to read a “Cliff Notes” version of Genesis then I suggest you read Acts 7:1-16. Here Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin shows that he was paying attention during his synagogue lessons. In fact, if you take a yellow highlighter and mark every reference in the New Testament to something that took place in the book of Genesis, your Bible (or e-reader) will have patches of yellow on practically every page. Interestingly, every single writer of books of the New Testament makes some sort of observation from Genesis. (That is, each author does refer to the first book of the Bible at some point in his writings, although not necessarily in every book or letter.) Do you still need evidence of the New Testament’s emphasis on Genesis? Take a look at Hebrews 11. Go through that “hall of faith” and check off how many of those mentioned are found in the first pages of your Bible.

I love what Paul and Barnabas said during their missionary journey to Lystra thousands of years after the events that took place in Genesis. When the crowds they were teaching mistook them for gods, they cried out, “We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.” (Acts 14:15) Paul (the chief speaker according to verse 12) told his hearers that the good news included the fact that God was the creator – the creator of heaven and earth and sea but also the creator of them! I don’t know about you, but for me that is fantastic news! I need to know that the one that is greater than anything in all the universe is the one that created me. It gives me value and worth to know this and it gives my life meaning. And where do I find this magnificent truth? Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Notice the repetition: He created, He created, He created. This is brought home in one of the most famous of the psalms: “Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His.” (Psalm 100:3) This is the truth that I hope can motivate you “to turn away from worthless things” and set your heart on the one who made you and cares for you and provides for you even now, as you are reading these words.

I don’t know about you, but I need to know why these stories about the beginning of faith are important for me today. Is it relevant? Will reading the book of Genesis give me the help I need to live my life in the 21st century? One of the things that I find in reading this book is the conviction that human nature has not changed. Here we find a compilation of characters who are real people trying to find their place in this vast and crazy world. None of these people are flat, lifeless names on a piece of paper but are multi-dimensional, complicated, and imperfect. Some of them are very imperfect. Some of them have great faith, but most are just searching for answers. Remember, this takes place when the world is young, before the Jewish law has been given. Life was chaotic for them, just as it is for you and me, and yet somehow God emerges powerfully and works in their lives, just as He does for us.

My favorite modern author, C.S. Lewis, wrote something that I believe summarizes the book of Genesis. “We were made not primarily that we may love God (though we were made for that too) but that God may love us, that we may become objects in which the Divine love may rest.” This book, which tells us of creation, of the fall and redemption of mankind, and the journeying of men and women who became “objects of Divine love” is compelling. Yes, we’ve read it before. Yes, some of us have known the stories since childhood. But I invite you to join me as we re-visit the book and find profound truths that will continually change our lives and equip us to live by faith. When I wrote my book on Genesis fifteen years ago, I concluded with these words: “This journey through the book of Genesis will not be my last. I will return often, each time learning more from the fascinating events that happened thousands of years ago. I will be moved, not just because of the people who lived long ago, but because of the God who still lives. He was there in the beginning, and He is here with me now.” This has proven to be true. In the end, as well as in the beginning, it’s all about God.

WORKSHEET

The first five books of the Bible are called ____ ____________.

The word Genesis in Hebrew is ______________________ which means ______________________.

Genesis was written by _______________________.

Hebrews 11 – The “Hall of Faith”

• The universe was _______________ (verse 3).
• Abel __________________(verse 4)
• Abel still _________________ (verse 4)
• Enoch was _________________ (verse 5)
• Noah __________ an ___________(verse 7)
• Abraham _______________ and _____________ (verse 8)
• Abraham became a ________________ (verse 11)
• Abraham offered _________________ (verse 17)
• Isaac _______________ his sons (verse 20)
• Jacob ________________ as he leaned on his staff (verse 21)
• Joseph spoke about the ___________________ (verse 22).

Every writer of the books of the New Testament refers to the book of Genesis. These writers are:

• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke
• __________
• Paul
• Hebrews author (?)
• ____________
• James
• ____________

We are bringing you ______________ ______________, telling you to turn….to the living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them. (Acts 14:11)

What does the quote by C.S. Lewis mean to you as you study the book of Genesis?

Next lesson: The New Never-Ending Story (Genesis 1-2)