Introduction to Genesis 3 January 2010 1

Introduction to Genesis 3 January 2010 1

What is Genesis? Meanings: § “birth” § “creation” § “cause” § “beginning” § “source” § “origin” 2

Who wrote Genesis? Ø Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible Ø These have different names: § The Torah § The Five Books of Moses § The Pentateuch (Greek for "five containers, " which refers to the scroll cases in which books were being kept. ) 3

The Pentateuch 1. Genesis – traditions of the origins of mankind and the Hebrew race 2. Exodus – history of Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage and their establishment as a nation at Mt. Sinai (when the Law was given) 3. Leviticus – more laws to govern the nation 4

The Pentateuch 4. Numbers – census and genealogy of Israel, spies sent out scout the land, sin at Kadesh Barnea that caused 40 years of wandering 5. Deuteronomy – a series of sermons by Moses shortly before he died and before Israel went into Canaan to take the land 5

When did Moses write the Pentateuch? Ø During Israel’s 40 years of wandering in the desert Ø Perhaps some time between 1462 and 1422 B. C. ? 1445 and 1405 B. C. ? 6

Pentateuch Time Period Ø From creation (about 3975 B. C. , according to the genealogies given. ) Ø Until the time of Moses’ death (about 1422 B. C. , but this is only according to one dating theory. ) 7

Genesis Outline Ø Gen. 1: 1 - 11: 9 § Beginning of the human race § About 3975 – 1967 B. C. § About 2000 years? Ø Gen. 11: 10 - 50: 26 § Beginning of the Hebrew race § About 1967 – 1606 B. C. § About 360 years? 8

Beginning of the Human Race Ø Creation Ø Fall of man Ø First civilizations Ø The flood Ø The tower of Babel Ø Nations scattered 9

Beginning of the Hebrew Race Ø Abram called from Ur and obeys Ø Abram given an unconditional promise § Descendants (race) § Blessing (for separation from nations) § Land (forever) Ø Abram separates from Lot Ø Abram, Hagar and Ishmael (the beginning of Arab – Israeli conflict) 10

Beginning of the Hebrew Race Ø Abraham, Sarah and Isaac Ø Isaac, Rebecca, Esau and Jacob Ø Jacob deceives Isaac and flees for his life Ø Jacob obtains 4 wives and 12 sons Ø Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery Ø Joseph interprets dreams in Egypt Ø Joseph saves many from starvation 11

Bible Lands Overview 12

Bible Lands Overview 13

Garden of Eden Mediterranean Israel Egypt © EBible. Teacher. com 14

Noah’s Ark 1 Noah’s Ark Mediterranean Israel (Future) Mount Ararat (Turkey) Egypt © EBible. Teacher. com 15

© EBible. Teacher. com Mount Ararat Noah’s Ark 2 Turkey Mediterranean Sea Cyprus Israel NASA Photo 16

A view from space of Snow covered Mt. Ararat and Little Ararat inactive volcanoes located in eastern Turkey. Mount Ararat rises over 3 miles above sea level. Noah’s Ark rested somewhere near here. Noah’s Ark Mt. Ararat NASA Photo © EBible. Teacher. com 17

Tower of Babel Israel Tower (Future) Mediterranean of Babel Egypt © EBible. Teacher. com 18

Abraham’s Journeys Abraham’s Journey Mediterranean Egypt Canaan Haran & Ur of the Chaldeans (Iraq) © EBible. Teacher. com 19

Abraham’s Journey to Egypt Canaan Abraham’s Journey to Egypt Mediterranean Sea Nile Delta ile N Egypt © EBible. Teacher. com Sinai 20

Me dit er r anean S ea Abraham in Canaan Hebron Sodom Abraham’s pastures Lot’s pastures 21

Mediterr anean S ea Jacob left his Father’s home and went to Haran to flee from Esau and to get a wife. He had the vision of the stairway to heaven. Years later he returned along the same route. Wandering’s of Jacob Canaan Dead Hebron Sea Isaac’s Home The Wanderings of Jacob 22

Mediterranean Sea Canaan Joseph sold to caravan Nile Delta Potiphar ile N Joseph’s Journey to Egypt & Pharaoh Egypt © EBible. Teacher. com Sinai 23

Joseph’s Families Journey to Goshen Due to the Famine Joseph’s Family to Goshen Fertile Nile Delta © Egypt Canaan 24

O. T. Values for Christians Ø In the O. T. we see the mind, will, heart, and desires of the living God of the universe. Ø It still provides a spiritual guide. Ø It reminds us of promises yet to be fulfilled, especially messianic & millennial Ø It is useful for worship & praise 25

O. T. Values for Christians Ø The God of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and David is my God – what he said to them is of value to me Ø It points to the Messiah & is a witness to him and his reason for coming 26

O. T. & N. T. Contrasted “The New Testament lies hidden in the Old and the Old is made plain in the New. ” - Augustine of Hippo “. . . The Bible of the Apostolic church was the Old Testament; and. . . it was the OT that the first Christians turned to for guidance” - T. W. Manson 27

O. T. & N. T. Contrasted Ø O. T saints were saved by faith in Him who was to come in the future. Ø N. T. saints are saved by faith in Him who has come already. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. - Gal. 3: 29 NKJV 28

O. T. & N. T. Contrasted Ø The O. T. teaches us about God by showing us how He worked in and through the lives of individuals and nations, and what He expected of His people then. Ø The N. T. tells us about God and what He wants of Christians today. 29

O. T. & N. T. Compared Ø Both promise blessings for obedience Ø Both promise curses for disobedience 30

Blessings and curses “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse - the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God … the curse if you disobey. ” - Deut. 11: 26 -28 NIV 31

Blessings and curses “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ” - Mt. 7: 24, 25 NIV 32

Blessings and curses “But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash. ” - Mt. 7: 26, 27 NIV 33

Eternal importance of obeying God’s commands Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. -Ecclesiastes 12: 13, 14 NIV 34

What commands to obey Ø O. T. saints: O. T. commands § Timeless moral commands § Commands given through special revelation 35

O. T. commands “For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. ” - Mt. 5: 18 This means that 100% of the O. T. law was expected to be obeyed until Jesus accomplished His work on the cross. 36

What commands to obey Ø N. T. saints: N. T. commands § Timeless moral commands (mentioned in both the O. T. & N. T) § Other revealed commands (unique to the N. T. , but given by Jesus and the apostles) § Exclude obsolete O. T. commands (those not repeated in the N. T. , like circumcision, animal sacrifices, visiting Jerusalem three times each year, not working on Saturdays, etc. ) 37

Obsolete O. T. commands When there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. - Heb. 7: 12 NIV 38

Benefit of the O. T. today These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, . . . So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! - 1 Cor. 10: 11, 12 NIV 39

Be careful you don’t fall Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. - Rom. 11: 22 NKJV 40

Bibliography Special thanks goes to the following: § EBible. Teacher. com for their maps § NASA for their Satellite images § Bruce Wilkinson & Kenneth Boa for their information in Talk Thru the Bible § Walt Henrichsen for his wisdom and insight shared during Bible studies he has led and in books, articles and e-mails he has written § Edward Reese for his chronology and dating in The Reese Chronological Bible 41