As we open up the book of Genesis we start with the History of creation, the start of the nation of Israel. The first few days of reading we are discovering the earliest history of the earth and mankind. We get to learn about how the earth was created, how man came to be, the relationship between God and man, the fall of man, the destruction of the earth as they knew it and how the nations, and different languages began. This is just what we find in the the frist 11 chapters. I have always found Genesis to be an exciting book full of of twists and turns at every flip of the page. We will start today in the first 4 chapters and see what there is to discover there.

  1. Genesis means origin, source, birth. “In the beginning God…”
    • That word beginning means the time of start. So we are reading when time began….this would be our time, not God’s time
  2. Genesis is the “seed plot” of the entire Scripture. It enters the very structure of the New Testament, in which it is quoted about sixty times in seventeen books. Its divine revelation and the fact that Moses is the author is authenticated by the Testimony of Jesus.
    • Read Matthew 5:17-30. Write down any key verses you read here that line up with this thought.
    • Read John 7:21-23. Write down any key verses you read here that line up with this thought.
      • Genesis tells us of the beginning of everything except God:
        • The beginning of the created world – Genesis 1:1-25
        • The beginning of man and woman – Genesis 1:26, Chapter 2
        • The beginning of sin – Genesis 3:1-7
        • The beginning of the promise of redemption – Genesis 3:8-24
        • The beginning of family life – Genesis 4:1-15
        • The beginning of civilization – Genesis 4:16-9:29
        • The beginning of nations – Genesis 10-11
        • The beginning of a chosen people – Genesis 12-50 (and other beginnings we will talk about as we read them).
  3. We are going to talk about the first part of Genesis these next few days: Chapters 1-11
    • The first part covers four major events:
      • Today: Creation – Chapters 1 & 2
      • Today: The fall of man – Chapters 3 & 4
      • Wednesday: The flood – Chapters 5-9
      • Thursday: The Babel crisis – Chapters 10 & 11
  4. The Creation: Chapters 1 & 2
    • This is not a human theory in this Scripture but a divine testimony – verse 1. There is no definition of God, no description of creation, no declaration of date. It is a declaration of divine truth. Accept the first sentence in Scripture and there will be little difficulty in accepting all of God’s Word.
    • The time and space between verse 1 and 2 is unknown. Verse 2 should read “the earth became without form and void…” The same word used here is also used in Genesis 2:7: “Man became a living soul”.
    • During the first four days no creative act is recorded. Only when we come to animals in verse 21 and man in verse 27 is the Hebrew word for “create” used.
    • We are the crown of His creation. Notice Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:7. Man was created in the image (representation or resemblance) and likeness (character or model) of God. No words can adequately express this but the fact that God breathed into man “the breath of life; and man became a living soul” is the best expression to be found. We are, then, body, soul, and spirit.
      • Write out 1 Thessalonians 5:23
    • The seventh day God rested – the Sabbath: Genesis 2:2-3.
      • God teaches us that we need to take time to rest and restore our mind, soul, and bodies. It is easy to always find the next thing that needs to be done – but even the God of the universe chose to take time to rest from work. This is important as we grow – rest is healthy.
        • Write out Hebrews 4:9-10
  5. The Fall of Man – Chapters 3 & 4
    • THE TEMPTING – Genesis 3:1-6 (note Satan casting doubt on God’s Word in verse 1, the first lie in verse 4, the appeal to pride in verse 5). Satan captured the ear, eye, and inward desire.
      • Write out 1 John 2:16 – here we see the natural man.
    • THE YIELDING – Genesis 3:6
      • Write out Romans 5:12
    • THE RESULTS – Genesis 3:7-24. Notice, now there is self conscience – verse 7; shame and fear – verse 10; sorrow – verse 17; cursed – verse 17; thorns – verse 18; sweat -verse 19.
    • THE GRACE OF GOD – Genesis 3:9, 15
      • God sought out Adam (verse 9)
      • The promise of a redeemer: Verse 15 – this verse may be translated into layman’s terms as follows:
        • And there will be intense hatred between Satan and Christ. Eventually Christ will crush the head of Satan and Satan will only bruise the heel of Christ.
      • THIS IS THE FIRST DIRECT PROPHECY OF JESUS CHRIST
        • Write out 2 Corinthians 5:21
        • Write out Isaiah 53:5
    • THE FRUIT OF SIN – Genesis 4: the Cain line or “the sons of man” – the first murder, and the birth of Seth, a spiritual seed.
      • Write out Genesis 4:3-5, 8
      • Write out Genesis 4:25

What things stood out to you today? What questions arose? Share what is on your heart and mind today.