Introduction

The Title Genesis, which is Greek, means “origins,” and the first word in the Hebrew of Genesis is translated “in the beginning. These words indicate both the scope and the limits of the book.  It tells us the beginning of everything, except God.  Genesis tells only of beginnings, i.e. it only presents to us the initial truth on various subject-matters without giving us the final word on them.  The age-long Hebrew and Christian is that Moses, guided by the Holy Spirit, wrote Genesis.  This book closes about three hundred years before Moses was born.  He could have received his information only by direct revelation from God or from historical records handed down from his forefathers.

The Basic Foundation to all future revelations of God to man is supplied in Genesis.  As to the doctrine of God, Genesis presents God as Creator, King and determined Redeemer.  As to the study of the universe, Genesis declares that the whole universe came into being by the will and act of God.  As to the study of man, Genesis teaches that man is a mingling of dust and Deity by the will and act of God, placed under authority, having dominion over all things beneath him, and accountable to God.  As to the study of human societies, Genesis reveals the truth that the first circle of society is the family, based on the marriage relationship, and the true nation is made up of families which recognise their inter-responsibility under Divine government.  As to the doctrine of sin, Genesis affirms that sin in the case of man is failure of faith in the goodness of God, and consequent rebellion against His government.  As to the study of human races, Genesis records the break-up of the unity of the race, following upon an attempted confederacy of godlessness.  As to the doctrine of salvation, Genesis makes perfectly plain that human salvation must come from God, and through man in whispers, symbols and shadows.  To deny the accuracy of these fundamental teachings in Genesis is to reject the foundation, upon which all subsequent revelation is based.

Foundational to Christianity, therefore, is the book of Genesis (See Jn. 5:45-47 and Lk. 16:29-31 for the New Testament’s position on the crucial nature of the writings of Moses, which began with Genesis).  Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, there are many references to the writings of Moses but there are more references to Genesis than there are to any other.  It is the most “quoted-from” in the entire Bible – both Jesus and Paul quoted from it, and Christian doctrine is built upon its foundation.  Yet Genesis is the most scoffed at, mocked at, disregarded, allegorised, and mythologised book of all the Holy Bible!  Our Enemy has put in so much effort to attack this book simply because it is the most foundational book of the Bible (cf. Ps. 11:3).  As the Bible scholar, Henry M. Morris has said, “If the Bible were somehow expurgated of the Book of Genesis, the rest of the Bible would be incomprehensible.  It would be like a building without a ground floor, or a bridge with no support.”  The Satanic lie, called “Evolution,” today represents the most concentrated and pervasive attack on the teachings of Genesis in the name of Science.

If there were more Reverential Study, instead of so much argument about the book of Genesis, its truth would be clearer!  Our purpose in this study is to discover the truths and spiritual lessons God intends for us in this inspired record.  All discussions on the various theories and interpretations of difficult passages in Genesis will not be our focus but may be mentioned in passing, where it may be useful to know.  We can proceed with confidence that the Word of God definitely declares Genesis to be one of the living oracles delivered to Moses, to which the Messiah, our Lord Jesus set His seal on its infallible truth (Jn. 5:46-47).  Around its sacred pages is the protection of the Holy Spirit of God who inspired its words (2 Pe. 2:20-21).  Genesis gives us at least 2000 years of record.  It is not entirely history; it is a spiritual interpretation of history.  In two chapters, God flashes on the wall an account of creation of the world and man.  From there on, we see the story of redemption unfold – God is bringing lost man back to Himself.  In nine chapters, God tells us about the primeval world of man but from chapter 12 right to the end in chapter 50, He chose to focus His attention on one man, Abraham, and his descendants.  The reason is simple – God is chiefly concerned since the fall of man in the past, as He is now still, with the salvation of lost humanity.  This is the heartbeat of our Creator because He loves us.

There are many Fascinating Themes in the book of Genesis.  Genesis begins with “God” but ends “in a coffin.”  This book is a history of man’s failure but we find God meets every failure of man.  He is a glorious Saviour – “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” (Rom 5:20)

Seven Great Names and Messages 1. Bow with Abel at the cross of the slain lamb. 2. Catch step with Enoch and walk with God. 3. Believe God and launch out with Noah on God’s waters. 4. Go forth with Abraham in faith. 5.Dig wells with Isaac and get down to divine resources. 6. Climb ladders with Jacob and see God. 7. Be true like Joseph and live with God. .		Answers to Great Questions of the Soul 1. The eternity of God 2. Where did man come from? 3. Whence came sin? 4. How can sinful man get back to God (Abel’s sacrifice)? 5. How can man please God (Abraham’s faith)? 6.How can we have power with God and man (Jacob’s surrender)?
Hints of the Messiah in Genesis 1. Seed of the woman – 3:15 2. The entrance into the ark of safety – 7:1, 7 3. The offering of Isaace – 22:1-24 4. Jacob’s ladder 28:12 5.Joseph lifted from the pit to throne – 37:28; 41:41-44 6. Judah’s sceptre – 49:10		Outline of Genesis I. Primeval History: 4 Great Events A. The Creation (1:1-2:25) B. Man’s Fall (3:1-5:32) C. The Flood (6:1-9:29) D. The Dispersion (10:1) II. Patriarchal History: 4 Great Characters A. Abraham (12:1-20:18) B. Isaac (21:1-26:35) C. Jacob (27:1-37:1) D. Joseph (37:2-50:26)

There are TWO abiding and living Messages in the book of Genesis to us as we embark on its study.  The first message concerns the immediate relation between God and man.  It is at once evident from the opening pages of this book that God has to do with man; and man has to do with God.  Man is related to God, for He created him, and He alone perfectly understands him, and therefore only He can govern him.  It may be hard to imagine as we look into the proud faces and rebellious lives of the men and women living in our ungodly, modern societies.  Nevertheless, this book affirms that God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness (1:26).  The relation of man and God creates that consciousness of what sin is, and its terrible effects of separating the creature from the Creator, which fills the soul with fear.  To be without God is to be without hope.  Hence, it is because man loses his sense of essential relation to God that sin and sorrow continue.  Therefore, only when men and women of our generation, follow the deepest conviction of their sin, and sincerely return to Him, would sin and sorrow end, and holiness and righteousness be restored. 

The second message is as man is related to God by creation and government, the true secret for the realisation of his life is that of faith, expressing itself in obedience.  The story of the Fall is the story of the disintegration of Man’s confidence in God.  When trust failed, disobedience follows, sorrow and death results.  Thus, the fundamental truth is taught that man can only realise his own God-created life by trusting God, and walking in the way of His commandments.  This is consistently illustrated in the lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  Throughout all these examples, the supreme revelation is that of God seeking to restore men to obedience by restoring them to the main principle of life – faith in Himself.  Thus, Genesis reveal that fact that faith is the basis upon which God can work His will in man, and upon which man can realise the will of God.  To all who have fallen, or are excluded from their own life because you are out of fellowship with God, listen to the message of Genesis – that as you return, like the patriarch of ancient times, to the principle of faith in God, you would find your feet placed again upon the highway that leads you home.

by Brother Seethor Chee Keen, GLCC