Outline of the Book of Genesis

1 1 Outline of the Book of Genesis Overview of Genesis The book of Genesis covers a span of approximately 2,450 years. The word Genesis means origin (Smith s Bible Dictionary pp. 211). Genesis gives the origins of creation, sin, and death in the first three chapters. A history of mankind is examined in the book with great emphasis being placed upon future redemption through Jesus and the development of various characters. The promised seed of Genesis 3:15 is the theme of the entire book. This promised seed is mentioned again in Genesis 12:1-4; 22:18; and 49:10. This promised seed is identified as Jesus Christ (cf. Gal. 3:8, 16). Matthew records, And she shall bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for it is he that shall save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). Redemption in Genesis Genesis records sin entering into the world and the subsequent dilemma of man (cf. Gen. 3:1ff). Man died spiritually that day and was in need of reconciliation with God ( :12; I Cor.)

2 15:21-22). God s plan, even before the foundation of the world, was to redeem man of their sins (Eph. 1:3-4; I Pet. 1:20) and give them a chance at eternal life (Heb. 9:12). We first run into the word redemption in the book of Genesis at chapter 48:16. The apostle Paul defines the word redemption as receiving the forgiveness of one s sins (cf. Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14). The first hint of man having the opportunity to receive the forgiveness of sins is found at Genesis 3:15 and confirmed at Genesis 12:2-3 when God said to Abraham, And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and be thou a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curses thee will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. The apostle Paul tells us that God was preaching the gospel to Abraham on this occasion (Gal. 3:8) and then explains that Jesus would be this seed promise (Gal. 3:16). Jacob, Abraham s grandson, knew of the coming blessings offered by God through the seed of Abraham.

3 Jacob s dying words concerning Judah illustrated his great faith in the promises of God to forgive man of sin (cf. Gen. 49:10). There are grand themes in Genesis ; however, the theme of man s redemption is one that we must not overlook if we want to make it to heaven. The Development of Various Characters The apostle Paul said, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through comfort of the scriptures we might have hope (Rom. 15:4). When Christian s today study the lives of Noah, Abraham, Jacob etc. we are left with a since of hope. We see real live people living in difficult days, forced to make difficult decisions, and suffering great emotional pains in this life yet remaining faithful. Genesis focuses on four primary characters; , Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph. Noah was a man that found favor in God s eyes because he was a righteous man (Gen. 6:8-9). Noah lived in trying days when all those around him were wicked (Gen.)

4 6:5). Noah followed God s instructions to build an ark and was saved by water when God destroyed all the wicked by flood. Noah was not without sin yet found favor with God due to his humility and obedient life (cf. Gen. 9:20ff). Abraham was a man that obeyed God s commands (cf. Gen. 15:6; 18:19; 22:17-18; Acts 7:2-3) yet he too was not without sin. Abraham believed in the reality of Jehovah God and built altars to Him as he worshipped (Gen. 12:7 [Shechem]; 12:8; 13:3-4 [Bethel]; 13:18 [Hebron]). Abraham is used often in the NT as an example of one who was a recipient of God s promises because he faithfully obeyed God s commands (Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3:6; Heb. 11:8ff; James 2:21-26). Jacob is revealed in the scriptures to be a spiritual minded man whereas his brother Esau was carnal minded (cf. Gen. 25:33-34; Heb. 12:16). Though spiritually minded, Jacob did sin. Jacob s life was one filled with sorrows and vexation of spirit. His brother Esau hated him, he had to work twenty years for the love of his life (Rachel), he saw Rachel die, he was told that his beloved son Joseph had been killed by wild beast, and he had to suffer through a daughter (Dinah) being raped.

5 When advance in years, Pharaoh of Egypt asked Jacob of his 2 age and the patriarch states, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years: few and evil have been the days of the years of my (Gen. 47:9). Jacob, like his fathers before him, was a man of worship (Gen. 28:18; 31:45; 35:14, 20). The faith of Jacob continues to stand as an example for all who would live lives of sorrow and vexation today . Joseph, Jacob s beloved son from Rachel, is another example of one who lived in trying circumstances yet his faith saw him through to the end. Joseph was sold by his own brothers into Egypt, falsely accused of sexual misconduct by Potiphar s wife, thrown into prison and forgotten. Joseph s faith never wavered. Whatever circumstance he found himself in he continued to work hard. Concluding Thoughts Whether one turns to Genesis to find the facts revolving around the origin of creation, to trace the beginnings of God s plan to save man from the consequences of their sins, or to look to Godly characters to influence them to live faithfully come what may in this life; one will certainly be enriched in their study.

6 Let us never neglect a study of Genesis or any of His word for that matter. God in Genesis 1. Just and Righteous: a. At Genesis 2:15-16, God gives man law regarding the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Though Eden was delightful, it was not a place where man could do as he pleases in all areas of life. Why would God create such a situation where man had the opportunity to sin? The answer is found in God s nature of justice and righteousness (cf. Jer. 9:24). Those who serve Jehovah must be as He is (Matt. 5:48; I Pet. 1:15-16; I Jn. 4:17). God desires that those who serve Him would be as He is (Rom. 12:1ff) (see study # 1; God s Creation is Designed to Separate the Faithful from the Unfaithful). b. When man disobeyed God he was promptly punished because God is just (Gen. 3:14ff). c. God punished the disobedient in the Tower of Babel incident (Gen. 11:1ff). 2. Merciful: a. When man failed the Lord by disobedience he was punished (banished out of Eden).

7 Though God again illustrated His just nature in promptly judging man s disobedience, He did not leave him without hope. God promised that the seed of woman would ultimately crush the head of Satan and end his reign of terror (Gen. 3:15). b. Jehovah saves Lot, his wife, and two daughters from the destruction of Sodom (Gen. 19:16). c. God saved Isaac from Abraham s knife and so He saves all of humanity by providing a sacrificial lamb in His Son (cf. Gen. 22:8, 14). 3. Grieved: a. During the days of Noah, man s thoughts were continuously evil. The condition of man caused God to be grieved (Gen. 6:5-6). 4. Sovereignty: a. The idea of sovereignty is the authority of choice. By God s choice He saved Noah by the use of water and by God s choice He saves man today by water (baptism) (I Pet. 3:20-21). b. God s sovereign choice was for man to go into the whole earth and repopulate it (Gen. 9:1). Man disobeyed God by building the tower of Babel (Gen. 11:1).

8 Man thereby challenged God s sovereignty and God passed the judgment of confusing their language. His will is to be followed. c. God chose Abraham to fulfill His promise of a Savior (Gen. 12:1ff; compare with Rom. 9:14ff). 5. Foreknowledge: a. God used the waters to save Noah and his family from His wrath against sinful men. The Lord s foreknowledge is illustrated in that He had ever planed for water to be the saving mode for man (I Pet. 3:20-21). b. God s foreknowledge of judgment is seen in His covenant made with man to never again destroy all flesh from the earth so long as it remained (cf. Gen. 8:20-21). 3 c. God s foreknowledge is seen in the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham to make him a great nation (Gen. 15:12-16). d. God had foreknowledge of the wickedness of the Amorites (cf. Numb. 21:21ff). It may be that Moses had in mind the whole of the Canaanites when he used the term Amorite and thus this justifies their extermination (cf. Josh.)

9 24:15; Judg. 6:10). e. God s foreknowledge of man s salvation, through a new covenant, is depicted in the allegory of Paul s in Galatians 4:21ff concerning Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, Ishmael, and Isaac. 6. Omniscience (all knowing): a. God knew that man sinned (cf. Gen. 3:9ff). b. God had foreknowledge of the purpose of water salvation (cf. Isa. 46:9-10). 7. Omnipresent (present everywhere): 8. Omnipotent (all powerful): a. God spoke and the universe came into being in six days (24 hour periods of time) (Gen. 1:6, 9, etc.). b. God breathed life into man (Gen. 2:7). c. God commanded and the floods came upon the whole world (Gen. 7:4). d. Jehovah is termed God Almighty (El Shaddai) (to be strong) at Gen. 17:1 to illustrate the fact that He is powerful enough to cause Abraham at 100 and Sarah at 90 to have a child. e. There is nothing too hard for God to do (Gen. 18:14 / compare with Jer. 32:17, 27). 9. Existing from all eternity: a. The Bible begins with the eternity of God saying, In the beginning (Gen.

10 1:1). b. Abraham refers to Jehovah as the everlasting God (Gen. 22:33). 10. God s promises (grace) are conditional (Gen. 18:19; 22:15-18; 26:4-5). a. God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham s seed (Gen. 12:1). At Genesis 12:7, Moses writes, And Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I GIVE this land: Though God gave the land of Canaan to Abraham s descendants it was gained through years of faithful bloody warfare (cf. Josh. 21:43ff). Worship in Genesis : Cain and Abel (Gen. 4:1ff compared to Heb. 11:4) Noah (Gen. 8:20) Abraham (Gen. 12:7, 8; 13:3-4, 18; 21:33; 22:4-8) Isaac (Gen. 26:24-25) Jacob (Gen. 46:1) Covenants in Genesis : 1. God makes a covenant to save man from the consequences of sin at Gen. 3:15; 6: 2. God makes a covenant with man that He would never again destroy all of mankind on the earth with a flood. The rainbow is the visual token of this agreement (9:8ff). 3. God makes a covenant with Abraham to bless him with the land of Canaan (15:18).