Introduction to Genesis

3 January 2010

What is Genesis?

Meanings:

“birth”

“creation”

“cause”

“beginning”

“source”

“origin”

Who wrote Genesis? Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible

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.)

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

The Pentateuch4. 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

When did Moses write the Pentateuch?

During Israel’s 40 yearsof wandering in the desert

Perhaps some time between 1462 and 1422 B.C. ?1445 and 1405 B.C. ?

Pentateuch Time Period

From creation(about 3975 B.C., according to the genealogies given.)

Until the time of Moses’ death(about 1422 B.C., but this is only according to one dating theory.)

Genesis Outline Gen. 1:1 - 11:9

Beginning of the human race

About 3975 – 1967 B.C.

About 2000 years?

Gen. 11:10 - 50:26

Beginning of the Hebrew race

About 1967 – 1606 B.C.

About 360 years?

Beginning of the Human Race

Creation

Fall of man

First civilizations

The flood

The tower of Babel

Nations scattered

Beginning of the Hebrew Race Abram called from Ur and obeys

Abram given an unconditional promise

Descendants (race)

Blessing (for separation from nations)

Land (forever)

Abram separates from Lot

Abram, Hagar and Ishmael(the beginning of Arab – Israeli conflict)

Beginning of the Hebrew Race

Abraham, Sarah and Isaac

Isaac, Rebecca, Esau and Jacob

Jacob deceives Isaac and flees for his life

Jacob obtains 4 wives and 12 sons

Joseph’s brothers sell him into slavery

Joseph interprets dreams in Egypt

Joseph saves many from starvation

Bible Lands Overview

Bible Lands Overview

Bible Lands Overview

© EBibleTeacher.com

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Garden of Eden

Noah’s Ark 1

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MountArarat

(Turkey)(Turkey)

Noah’s ArkNoah’s Ark

IsraelIsrael(Future)(Future)

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CyprusCyprus

TurkeyTurkeyMountArarat

NASA Photo

© EBibleTeacher.com

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Noah’s Ark 2

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.

NASA Photo

Mt. AraratMt. Ararat

© EBibleTeacher.com

Noah’s Ark Mt. Ararat

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Abraham’s JourneyAbraham’s JourneysAbraham’s Journeys

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Haran & Haran & Ur of the Ur of the

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Abraham’s Journey to EgyptAbraham’s Journey to Egypt Abraham’s Journey to Egypt

Abraham in Canaan

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Wandering’s of Jacob

The Wanderings

of Jacob

Jacob left his Jacob left his Father’s home and Father’s home and went to Haran to flee went to Haran to flee from Esau and to from Esau and to get a wife. He had get a wife. He had the vision of the the vision of the stairway to heaven. stairway to heaven. Years later he Years later he returned along the returned along the same route.same route.

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Joseph’s Journey to EgyptJoseph’s Journey to Egypt

Joseph sold Joseph sold to caravanto caravan

Potiphar Potiphar & Pharaoh& Pharaoh

Joseph’s Journey to Egypt

Joseph’s Families Journey to Goshen Due to the Famine

Fertile Nile DeltaFertile Nile Delta

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Joseph’s Family to Goshen

O.T. Values for Christians In the O.T. we see the mind, will,

heart, and desires of the living God of the universe.

It still provides a spiritual guide. It reminds us of promises yet to be

fulfilled, especially messianic & millennial

It is useful for worship & praise

O.T. Values for Christians

The God of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and David is my God – what he said to them is of value to me

It points to the Messiah & is a witness to him and his reason for coming

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 churchwas the Old Testament; and . . . it was the OT that the first Christians turned to for guidance” - T. W. Manson

O.T saints were saved by faithin Him who was to come in the future.

N.T. saints are saved by faithin 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

O.T. & N.T. Contrasted

The O.T. teaches us about Godby showing us how He workedin and through the lives of individuals and nations, and what He expected of His people then.

The N.T. tells us about God and what He wants of Christians today.

O.T. & N.T. Contrasted

O.T. & N.T. Compared

Both promise blessings for obedience

Both promise curses for disobedience

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

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

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

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

What commands to obey

O.T. saints: O.T. commands

Timeless moral commands

Commands given through special revelation

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.

What commands to obey

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.)

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

Benefit of the O.T. today

These things happened to themas examples and were written downas warnings for us, ... So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! - 1 Cor. 10:11,12 NIV

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

Bibliography

Special thanks goes to the following:

EBibleTeacher.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