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BAB 111 Genesis
Questions and Answers
For Teaching in W. Africa
Rev. Jim Weaver, MTS
Miami International Seminary
CONTACT DETAILS:
627 Vance Neck Rd.
Middletown, DE 19709
(302) 378-6235 (office)
Lesson One Study Questions
1. What does the word Genesis mean? Where does it come from?
Genesis means “beginning” or “origin.” Genesis gets its name from the Greek translation of the
Old Testament, called the Septuagint. The Greek word appears in Genesis 2:4. Later Latin
translations of the Bible kept the title Genesis in a transliterated (sound alike) form.
2. How does the Bible affirm Moses as the author of Genesis? What are Moses’ qualifications
for writing Genesis?
The Bible affirms Moses as the author of Genesis in four ways:
First, Moses often appears as the main person God is speaking to in the Pentateuch.
Second, Old Testament authors say Moses wrote the Pentateuch, calling it the “Book of Moses”
(2 Chron. 25:4).
Third, Jesus credits Moses with writing significant parts of the Pentateuch (Matt. 19:7, 22:24,
Mk. 7:10, etc.). Jesus equates the Torah with that the Law of Moses (Lk. 24:47)
Fourth, Paul credits Moses for writing the Pentateuch (Rm. 10:5, 19; I Cor. 9:9, etc).
Moses grew up on in an Egyptian home where he received the best of an Egyptian education. He
had access to the other ancient myths and stories about the origins of the world. He became
God’s chosen deliverer and Israel’s model for future prophets.
3. What does it mean to say that Moses is the “essential author” of Genesis?
It means that Moses is primarily or “essentially”, but not exclusively, responsible for the
information we find in the Pentateuch. There is evidence of minor additions and some editing
after the time of Moses.
4. What is the “Documentary Hypothesis?” Who came up with it? What four important
factors led to the “Documentary Hypothesis?”
The “Documentary Hypothesis” says that the Pentateuch is (1) made up of four independent
sources, (2) that were written at four different stages of Israelite history, and (3) finally woven
together by a series of editors.
The “Documentary Hypothesis” was the work of Julius H. Wellhausen in 1883.
The four factors leading to the formulated of the “Documentary Hypothesis” are (1) the use of
different names for God (Yahweh and Elohim), the existence of repeating or similar sounding
stories (called doublets), differences in literary style, and differences in the way God relates to
man and man relates to God.
5. Who was Moses’ original audience, and what are the two main purposes he had for writing
Genesis?
Moses’ original audience were the Israelites living in the wilderness.
Moses wrote Genesis for two main purposes, historical and preparatory (instructive). First,
Moses wrote Genesis to put the faith of the Israelites on a firm historical foundation. Second,
Moses wrote Genesis to tell the Israelites they are destined by God to live in Canaan. Genesis
tells the Israelites how they are to live in Canaan.
6. What does eleh toledot mean, and why is it important to Genesis?
Eleh toledot means these are the generations. The phrase eleh toledot appears ten times in
Genesis to introduce a new section of historical narrative or genealogical list. Therefore, Genesis
has a prologue (1:1-2:3) followed by ten literary sections that begin with this formula.
7. What are the two large parts of Genesis? What chapters correspond to these parts?
Primeval History (1-11) and Patriarchal History (12-50).
8. What is the meaning of “organic inspiration,” and how does it differ from the Muslim view
of Quran?
Biblical inspiration is “organic inspiration”. Organic inspiration means the human authors of
the Bible were active and responsible for things like literary style, historical form, and even
words chosen to communicate the message. Yet the final product, by inspiration of the Holy
Spirit, was ultimately God’s word. Muslim’s believe the Quran was recited by the angel Gabriel.
Quranic inspiration leaves no room for the involvement of the human author’s in the composition
of the Quran. It is “divine dictation.”
9. How do we see the theme of creation in primeval and patriarchal history?
The primeval history of Genesis begins with the creation of the world and universe from nothing
and sees the re-creation of the world through the flood during Noah’s time. The patriarchal
history of Genesis begins with the creation of Israel in the calling of Abraham.
10. Why should we should we look at Genesis in light of the Gospel and New Testament?
We should look at Genesis in light of the Gospel and New Testament because Genesis is the
beginning of a larger and more glorious story of redemption that finds its fulfillment in Jesus
Christ. Jesus taught his disciples that everything in the Scriptures, starting with the books of
Moses, concerned him (Lk. 24:27).
Lesson Two Study Questions:
1) How do the two accounts of creation in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 differ?
Genesis 1 is concerned with God’s activity in creation. Genesis 2 is primarily concerned with
man’s place in creation.
2) What are the different views of the meaning of “day” in Genesis 1?
The 24-hr Day View—God created the world in six normal length days that followed one right
after the other.
Analogical Day View—The days of Genesis 1 are “God’s Days” and comparable to man’s days.
Day-Age View—The days are long actually ages or long periods of time.
Revelatory Day View—God revealed to Moses how creation happened in six days.
Intermittent Day View—God created the world in six normal length days with long periods of
time between them.
Literary Framework View—The days are to be understood in an artistic or literary way and not
literally or scientifically.
3) How can the 24-hour Day View be supported?
1) Whenever the Hebrew word yom is used with a number in the Bible it refers to an actual day.
2) Whenever “morning and evening” are used together the reference is to a normal length day.
3) The language Moses uses in Gen. 1 fits the chronological flow of a normal historical narrative
and not Hebrew poetry.
4) The Sabbath commandment seems to rest on a literal reading of day in Gen. 1.
4) What literary structure is revealed in Days 1-6?
In Days 1-3 God is creating forms and in Days 4-6 he fills the forms with fullness in a
corresponding way.
5) What pattern does God follow in each day of creation, and what does it reveal?
God speaks, God separates, God names, God approves.
6) What is the simplest way to understand “the image of God,” and what significance did this
have for Moses’ original audience?
Man is God’s appointed ruler in this world.
7) What is the “covenant of works,” and how was it established in the garden of Eden?
The “covenant of works” is the name theologians have given to the relationship God had
with Adam before sin. In the covenant of works Adam is the leading representative or
head for the rest of the human race. The covenant of works promised life for perfect
obedience to God’s commandment the forbid him to eat from the tree of the knowledge of
good and evil.
8) How does Genesis 2 prepare Moses’ original audience for life in Canaan?
Genesis 2 reminded Moses’ original audience of the importance of being loyal to God through
keeping his commandments. The foundation of the Decalogue (10 Commandments) is already
being laid in Genesis 1 and 2. If God’s people were going to remain in the promised land they
would have to keep his commandments. Disobedience would mean expulsion from Canaan just as
disobedience meant expulsion from the garden. Genesis 2 also establishes work as part of God’s
original design for man. Work is not merely activity but service to God and others. Genesis 2 also
reminds Moses’ original audience of the equality and uniqueness of man and woman. Genesis 2
also reminds Moses’ original audience of God’s design for marital oneness.
9) What is the role of woman in creation, and how does that differ from the role of man?
The role of woman is that of “helper” to man. She is equal to man in dignity but different in the
role she plays as helper. Man is created in a position of leadership and authority over his wife.
10) What are some of the ways we see Jesus in Genesis 1-2 in light of the Gospel and
New Testament?
The New Testament teaches us that Jesus is the light of the world. Like light in Genesis 1, Jesus’
coming into this world signals God’s new creation activity in a world of sin and darkness. Jesus
is also the substance of the true Sabbath rest inviting people to rest from their efforts at self-
justification. There is a future Sabbath rest that remains for God’s people when Christ returns.
The New Testament teaches us that marriage is a picture of the relationship Jesus has with his
church tying Genesis 2:24 to our union with Christ (Eph. 5:31-32)
Lesson Three Study Questions
1. What literary pattern begins in Genesis 3 and repeats four more times in Genesis 4-11?
What does this show?
Sin, Words of Judgment, Symbol of Grace, and Judgment. This shows how all future sin is tied to
the first sin.
2. How is God’s goodness called into question by the serpent?
The serpent said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You must not eat of any tree in the
garden’”? The woman responds, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God
said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch
it, lest you die.” The woman is already imagining God to be restrictive and unreasonable. The
serpents words raise the suspicion that God is holding back something from man, something that
would benefit man or please man.
3. Define original sin and the fall of man.
Original sin is the name theologians have given to Adam’s sin in which all mankind fell from a
state of holiness and happiness into a state of sin, guilt, and shame.
4. Describe the effects the first sin had on Adam and his wife.
Man and woman are alienated, or separated, from one another and begin to hide their
nakedness. They are also alienated from God and begin to hide from him. We see in the judgment
that God issues that man and wife will live in pain—the pain of childbirth and the painful toil of
work. Sin also means that the woman will not wrongly desire the position of her husband and that
the husband will wrongly exercise his God give role as leader.
5. Why is Genesis 3:15 important? What is this verse sometimes called? How does the Gospel
and New Testament shed light on this verse?
In Genesis 3:15 is a signal of hope in an otherwise bleak chapter. Here God promises that the
serpent will one day be defeated by the seed of the woman. The verse is referred to as the
protoevangelion or “first pronouncement of the gospel.” The New Testament reveals Jesus to be
the promised seed of the woman who defeated Satan at the cross.
6. What symbol of grace does God provide to Adam and his wife in Genesis 3? What would
this have shown Moses’ original audience?
The symbol of grace are the clothes God makes for the man and woman. The clothes are
a reminder to Moses’ original audience that man cannot properly cover his sin and
shame and that atonement comes only through the shedding of blood. God makes the first
sacrifice for sin in the Bible to cover the sin of his people. In doing this he also meets a
very practical need brought about by life in a broken world—the need for clothes. Sin
creates opportunities to show mercy.
7. How does the punishment given to the woman in verse 16 correspond to her role in bringing
about the first sin?
The woman sinned by leaving her proper place as helper and not listening to her husband. The
punishment given to the woman is that she will now continually desire the position of her
husband.
8. What does the name Eve mean? What is the significance of Adam naming his wife Eve?
Eve means “mother of all living.” The naming of Eve shows that Adam believed the promise of
Genesis 3:15.
9. How does Genesis 3 serve as a prototype of Israel’s rebellion and a warning?
As a result of Israel’s sin in the wilderness, God promised that an entire generation
would not see the promised land. Through their rebellion they forfeited life in Canaan.
God promised the new generation that if they obeyed him they would enjoy “many years
in the land.” Canaan was an Eden-like place flowing with milk and honey.
10. Why is it correct to speak of Jesus as the “Last Adam?”
Just as Adam was a leading representative for the human race, Jesus also became a
leading representative for a new humanity. Adam led the human race into sin and death
by his disobedience. Jesus leads us into righteousness and life through his obedience.
Lesson Four Study Questions
1. What does the story of Cain and Abel illustrate?
The story of Cain and Abel illustrates the dire consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin in a single
generation.
2. Why was Cain’s offering unacceptable to God?
Cain did not offer God his best. His sin was tokenism. Moses hints at this by saying Abel gave
from the ‘firstfruits.’
3. What does the genealogy of Cain show?
The progress of culture and the progress of sin.
4. What five observations can we make from the genealogy of Adam given in Genesis 5?
Personal history matters, the genealogy is a symbolic and parallel to the genealogy of Noah after
the flood, people lived a long time, death was pervasive, there is life and immortality.
5. What are the three interpretations of “sons of God” in Genesis 6?
1) The “sons of God” are the godly line of Seth and the “daughters of Man” are the ungodly line
of Cain.
2) The “sons of God” are a special dynasty of cruel kings who came after Lamech who forcibly
took women into their harem.
3) The “sons of God” are angelic beings who are taking the “Daughters of Man” as their wives
and having children.”
6. How do we see the theme of worship illustrated in Genesis 4-11?
The first murder in this world centers around Cain’s unacceptable sacrifice in worship.
Worship sets the godly line of Seth apart from the wicked line of Cain. Noah’s first
recorded activity after leaving the ark is to build an alter and sacrifice some of all the
clean animals from the ark.
7. How is the story of Noah parallel to Israel’s experience in the Exodus?
At the time of the Exodus, God separated the waters of the Red Sea and allowed the Israelites to
cross safely while drowning the Egyptians who tried to follow them. In both the story of Noah and
the Exodus we see God’s judgment in water and God’s grace in carrying his people through the
water. God is acting at both points in Israel’s history to preserve the seed of the woman.
8. What two new provisions does God give Noah after the flood?
The Death Penalty for murder and animals for food
9. How do we see judgment and grace in the story of the Tower of Babel?
We see judgment in God confusing the languages of the people so that they could no longer build
the tower. By the same action God shows grace to human beings by separating them into different
language groups to limit the amount of evil a unified race could bring to this world and to further
protect the seed of the woman.
10. How are the stories of the Tower of Babel and Pentecost (Acts 2) related?
In the story of the Tower of Babel, the promise of Genesis 3:15 lives on in one people
who share one language—Israel. At Pentecost God is reversing what was done at Babel
to bring the gospel of Jesus to the world.
Lesson Five Study Questions
1. What three promises are at the heart of the Abrahamic covenant? How are they fulfilled in
Abraham’s life?
The three promises that are at the heart of the Abrahamic covenant are Land,
Nations/Descendants, and Blessing. These promises are only partially fulfilled in Abraham’s life.
He secures a well and a burial cave in the promised land. He has a son, Isaac, through whom the
promise of becoming a great nation would one day be fulfilled. And God’s presence is with
Abraham wherever he goes to bless him. Even among his rival nations Abraham is blessed—e.g.
Egypt.
2. What did the story of Abram’s sojourn in Egypt mean to Moses’ original audience? What
was it a reminder of and how? The story of the Abram’s sojourn in Egypt would have reminded Moses’ original audience of the
Exodus. Both stories involve famine, deceit, sojourn, divine intervention/plague, prosperity, and
release. The story of Abram’s sojourn in Egypt would have reminded the Israelites that their
destiny was in Canaan.
3. What significance did the story of Abram and Melchizedek have for Moses’ original
audience? And what significance does the New Testament give this story?
The story of Abram and Melchizedek would have validated the priesthood and tithing. Abram’s
actions would have shown his acceptance of Melchizedek as a priest of God. In the Hebrews 7:16
the author establishes Melchizedek as a type of Jesus. Both where legitimate priests even though
neither was descended from Aaron.
4. Where do we find the words, “And he (Abram) believed the Lord, and he counted it to him
as righteousness”? Why are these words important for us today?
Genesis 15:6. The apostle Paul draws on these words in Romans 4 and Galatians 3 to speak of
the Christians righteousness which is by faith in the completed work of Jesus.
5. What is the significance of the ceremony involving the smoking firepot and flaming torch in
Genesis 15 for Abram? What meaning did this story have for Moses’ original audience? This is a covenant ceremony where God is swearing to keep his promises to Abram even unto
death. Moses’ original audience would have recognized the smoking firepot and flaming torch as
a familiar theophany. They resembled the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire that led the Israelites
out of Egypt and in the wilderness. The same God who confirmed his covenant with Abram was
the God that was making his covenant presence known in the Exodus.
6. What do Abram and Sarai do to help God in Genesis 16? What does this reveal?
Abram and Sarai take matters into their own hands by trying to conceive a child through a
surrogate mother—Hagar. This decision reflects faltering faith.
7. Why does God tell Abraham to be circumcised? What meaning did this have for Moses’
original audience? God tells Abraham to be circumcised as a sign of the covenant. The generation of Israelites that
followed Joshua into the promised land had not been circumcised. Their covenant loyalty would
be established by their willingness to be circumcised.
8. Why does God rescue Lot and his daughters from the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah? What special language does Moses use to communicate this perspective? Lot and his daughters are rescued from destruction because of Abraham’s covenant relationship
with God. Abraham interceded for Sodom and God responded by rescuing Lot. Moses says, “God
remembered Abraham.” (18:29).
9. Is the story of Abraham and Abimelech in Genesis 20 a doublet? Why or why not?
No. There are too many difference in the two stories to conclude they are the same story told two
different times. The story takes place in Gerar not Egypt. God speaks directly to Abimelech in a
dream. Sarah is never touched. Abraham prays for healing. Sarah is revealed as Abraham’s half
sister. Abimelech gives Abraham a thousand pieces of silver as a pledge of his innocence.
Abimelech invites Abraham to stay in the land.
10. What is the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith and what light do the Gospel and New
Testament shed on this event?
The ultimate test of Abraham’s faith is in Genesis 22 when God tells Abraham to offer Isaac as a
sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. Isaac is a type of Jesus. 2000 years later, on the same hill, God provided
the ultimate substitute sacrifice for our sins in the death of his one and only son, Jesus. Just as
Abraham figuratively received Isaac back from the dead, Jesus was received back from the dead.
Lesson Six Study Questions:
1. Why does Abraham send his servant to find a wife for his son among his own people in
Mesopotamia? What was the lesson for Moses’ original audience?
Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite wife because of the curse upon the Canaanites
in Genesis 9:25. The Israelites were also forbidden to marry Canaanites. God had warned that
Canaanite wives would turn the hearts of the Israelites away from God and to idols.
2. How are both faith and providence reflected in the story of Isaac and Rebekah?
All four characters in this story act in faith. Abraham decision is motivated by his faith in God’s
promises to make him a great nation. The unnamed servant reveal his faith through persistent
prayer and worship throughout his journey. Rebekah’s faith is evident in her willingness to travel
to Canaan and be Isaac’s wife without ever having laid eyes on him. And Isaac’s faith is reflected
in his marriage to Rebekah. Along with faith, God’s providence can be seen in how he guides the
steps of the servant to Rebekah. The servant’s prayers are answered when Rebekah offers to
water his camels. The expression, “And he lifted up his eyes” (24:63-64) in Genesis, signals
God’s providence.
3. What significance does the cave of Mechpelah have in the covenant history of God’s people?
The cave of Machpelah is the burial place that Abraham first purchased for Sarah in the
promised land. It represents a foot in Canaan.
4. Does God require obedience from his covenant partners? Explain.
Yes, the successful transmission of the covenant to Isaac is tied to Abraham’s obedience in
Genesis 26:5. God is reminding Isaac and the Israelites in Moses’ day that obedience is a
necessary condition if we are to participate in the blessings of the covenant. Abraham’s faith was
an active faith.
5. What does the “wife-sister” story of Genesis 26:6-34 teach us?
Though the patriarchs are faithful men they are not perfect men. This story shows the chronic
weakness of the patriarchs in their failure to trust God for protection and care as he had
promised in the covenant.
6. What does Genesis tell us about the character of Jacob and Esau and God’s attitude toward
each of them?
Jacob was a deceiver. Esau was a man driven by worldly passions. God chose Jacob over Esau
but not for anything good in Jacob.
7. What is Rebekah’s plan for securing the blessing for Jacob?
Rebekah dresses Jacob up as Esau to secure the blessing of Jacob. Her approach to securing the
blessing for Jacob was deceitful.
8. How does God use Rebekah’s plan to preserve the promised seed of the woman promised in
Genesis 3:15?
Though Rebekah’s plan is misguided, God uses it. Isaac, who is old and blind, unwittingly blesses
Jacob over Esau.
9. What is Esau’s response to being deceived by his brother?
Esau is angry and plots to kill Jacob.
10. How is Jacob’s life a model of election? What does this tell us about our being included in
God’s covenant? Jacob is chosen by God to be the heir of the covenant promise before he is born. God’s choice of
Jacob has nothing to do with goodness or worthiness, but that God’s sovereign purpose in
election might stand. In Romans 9:10-13 Paul uses the election of Jacob as an illustration of how
believers today are sovereignly elected to salvation.
Lesson Seven Study Questions
1. How are Isaac’s actions similar to Abraham’s actions when it comes to finding a wife for
Jacob? Isaac and Rebekah send Jacob to Mesopotamia to marry a wife from their own family. They did
not want Jacob to marry a Canaanite.
2. What does Jacob dream about at Bethel? What is the meaning of this dream? What
meaning does Jesus attach to this story in John 1:51?
Jacob dreams of a ladder touching heaven and earth with angels ascending and descending. The
dream means that the Lord stands sovereignly over the affairs of this world and sends his angelic
servants down to earth to accomplish his will. It was a reminder of God’s presence in Jacob’s life
to accomplish his plan. In John 1:51 Jesus references this story but says that he is the ladder.
3. How is Jacob deceived in the house of Laban?
Laban deceptively marries off Leah to Jacob instead of Rachel. Only after the marriage has been
consummated does Jacob realize he has married Leah instead of Rachel.
4. List all of Jacob’s sons by the mother who bore them.
Leah-Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun.
Zilpah-Gad, Asher
Rachel-Joseph, Benjamin
Bilhah-Dan, Naphtali
5. How would you describe Jacob’s family in general?
Dysfunctional and polygamous
6. How is God’s covenant blessing evident in Jacob’s life while working for Laban?
Laban prospers with Jacob’s help. Jacob also prospers despite Laban’s deceptive actions in
taking away the speckled and spotted goats and black lambs.
7. Is there an “Exodus Pattern” in Jacob’s life story? Explain.
Yes. Jacob sojourned a long time, worked for nothing, multiplied, left with great wealth, received
divine directives to leave, was pursued by Laban, and had God’s protection.
8. What happens to Jacob in Peniel? What is the meaning of this event for him?
Jacob wrestles with God through the night and receives his new name, Israel. In this event God is
graciously showing Jacob that he is the boss and that all his striving must be with the Lord and
with the Lord’s blessings.
9. How do Jacob and his sons’ responses to the tragedy of Dinah differ? What do these
responses reveal about each? Jacob does nothing about the assault on Dinah by Shechem. Three days after all the men of
Shechem were circumcised, Simeon and Levi strike them down with the sword. Jacob’s response
is too little, Simeon and Levi’s response is too much. Jacob should have led his sons to a more
just response.
10. How is Jacob’s repentance expressed in 35:1-4?
Jacob has his family put away their idols and change their garments.
Lesson Eight Study Questions
1. Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him?
They hated him because he gave their father a bad report, he was loved and favored by their
father, and he had two dreams showing that one day they would bow down to him.
2. What risky actions does Tamar undertake to preserve the promised seed of the woman?
She disguised herself as a prostitute and seduces her father-in-law, Judah, to conceive a child.
3. How can the Lord’s presence with Joseph be seen in Potiphar’s house, Prison, and
Pharaoh’s service?
In Potiphar’s house Joseph was put in charge of everything. In Prison he took charge of all the
other prisoners. In Pharaoh’s service he became second only to Pharaoh in all the land. Moses
reminds us that the “Lord was with Joseph.”
4. What are Pharaoh’s two dreams and what do they mean?
In Pharaoh’s first dream he saw seven fat cows being eaten by seven skinny cows. In his second
dream he saw seven fat headds of grain being eaten by seven skinny heads of grain. The meaning
of both dreams was that Egypt would see seven years of bounty followed by seven years of
famine. The doubling of the dream makes it a certainty.
5. How is Joseph’s faithfulness to the Lord demonstrated?
Joseph resists Potiphar’s wife’s advances, credits God for his ability to interpret dreams, and
gives his sons names that reveal his faithfulness to God—Manasseh and Ephraim.
6. How does Joseph test his brothers to see if they are changed men? What evidence is there
that they have changed? In which brother is that change most evident?
Joseph requires one of his brothers, Simeon, to remain behind while his other brothers were sent
home to get Benjamin. In this way Joseph was testing his brothers to see if they would abandon
Simeon as they had him. He also placed their money back in their sacks to see if they would
return with it. He also gave Benjamin a portion five times greater than his brothers to see if they
would be jealous and mistreat Benjamin. The ultimate test, however, came when Joseph put his
royal cup in Benjamin sack. Upon discovering the sack, Judah offered his life in exchange for
Benjamin’s.
7. What does the story of Joseph teach us about God’s providence? How is Genesis 50:20 a
fitting theme verse for the Joseph story? How does this verse explain your life?
The story of Joseph teaches us that God is working through the evil intentions and actions of man
to accomplish his plan for our lives. His plans cannot be thwarted. What Joseph’s brothers
intended for evil, God intended for good. God saved the promised family from starvation through
Joseph. Knowing this gives us a different perspective on the negative situations that have touched
each of our lives.
8. What common thread do we find in the death of Jacob and Joseph? What would this have
meant to Moses’ original audience?
Both men wanted to be buried in the Promised Land. This was a reminder to Moses’ original
audience that they too should journey to Canaan. Canaan was their destiny.
9. What special distinction does Jacob give Judah when he blesses his sons?
Jacob blessed Judah saying that “the scepter would not depart from him until tribute comes to
him, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples” (49:10). King David and Jesus would both
come from the line of Judah. Jesus is called the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” in Revelation 5:5.
10. How is Joseph a “type” of Jesus Christ?
Joseph is a “type” of Jesus for the following reasons:
1) Both were rescuers.
2) Both were sold.
3) Both forgave sinners and serve as a model of divine forgiveness.
4) Though he was certainly a sinner, Moses doesn’t mention any character flaw or weakness in
Joseph. Jesus was sinless.
5) God was working providentially through both of their lives to rescue a people
Answers to Exam One: Lessons 1-4 (Genesis 1:1-11:26)
1. How does the Bible affirm Moses as the author of Genesis? What are Moses’
Qualifications for writing Genesis? The Bible affirms Moses as the author of Genesis in four ways:
First, Moses often appears as the main person God is speaking to in the Pentateuch.
Second, Old Testament authors say Moses wrote the Pentateuch, calling it the “Book of Moses”
(2 Chron. 25:4).
Third, Jesus credits Moses with writing significant parts of the Pentateuch (Matt. 19:7, 22:24,
Mk. 7:10, etc.). Jesus equates the Torah with that the Law of Moses (Lk. 24:47)
Fourth, Paul credits Moses for writing the Pentateuch (Rm. 10:5, 19; I Cor. 9:9, etc).
Moses grew up on in an Egyptian home where he received the best of an Egyptian education. He
had access to the other ancient myths and stories about the origins of the world. He became
God’s chosen deliverer and Israel’s model for future prophets.
2. Who was Moses’ original audience, and what are the two main purposes he had for
writing Genesis? Moses’ original audience were the Israelites living in the wilderness.
Moses wrote Genesis for two main purposes, historical and preparatory (instructive). First,
Moses wrote Genesis to put the faith of the Israelites on a firm historical foundation. Second,
Moses wrote Genesis to tell the Israelites they are destined by God to live in Canaan. Genesis
tells the Israelites how they are to live in Canaan.
3. How do the two accounts of creation in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2 differ? Genesis 1 is concerned with God’s activity in creation. Genesis 2 is primarily concerned with
man’s place in creation.
4. What literary structure is revealed in Days 1-6 of Genesis 1? In Days 1-3 God is creating forms and in Days 4-6 he fills the forms with fullness in a
corresponding way.
5. How does Genesis 2 prepare Moses’ original audience for life in Canaan? Genesis 2 reminded Moses’ original audience of the importance of being loyal to God through
keeping his commandments. The foundation of the Decalogue (10 Commandments) is already
being laid in Genesis 1 and 2. If God’s people were going to remain in the promised land they
would have to keep his commandments. Disobedience would mean expulsion from Canaan just as
disobedience meant expulsion from the garden. Genesis 2 also establishes work as part of God’s
original design for man. Work is not merely activity but service to God and others. Genesis 2 also
reminds Moses’ original audience of the equality and uniqueness of man and woman. Genesis 2
also reminds Moses’ original audience of God’s design for marital oneness.
6. What literary pattern begins in Genesis 3 and repeats four more time in Genesis 4-
11? What does this show? Sin, Words of Judgment, Symbol of Grace, and Judgment. This shows how all future sin is tied to
the first sin.
7. Why is Genesis 3:15 important? What is this verse sometimes called? How does the
gospel and New Testament shed light on this verse? In Genesis 3:15 is a signal of hope in an otherwise bleak chapter. Here God promises that the
serpent will one day be defeated by the seed of the woman. The verse is referred to as the
protoevangelion or “first pronouncement of the gospel.” The New Testament reveals Jesus to be
the promised seed of the woman who defeated Satan at the cross.
8. What symbol of grace does God provide to Adam and his wife in Genesis 3? What
would this have shown Moses’ original audience? The symbol of grace are the clothes God makes for the man and woman. The clothes are a
reminder to Moses’ original audience that man cannot properly cover his sin and shame and that
atonement comes only through the shedding of blood. God makes the first sacrifice for sin in the
Bible to cover the sin of his people. In doing this he also meets a very practical need brought
about by life in a broken world—the need for clothes. Sin creates opportunities to show mercy.
9. Why was Cain’s offering unacceptable to God? Cain did not offer God his best. His sin was tokenism. Moses hints at this by saying Abel gave
from the ‘firstfruits.’
10. How do we see judgment and grace in the story of the Tower of Babel? We see judgment in God confusing the languages of the people so that they could no longer build
the tower. By the same action God shows grace to human beings by separating them into different
language groups to limit the amount of evil a unified race could bring to this world and to further
protect the seed of the woman.
Answers to Exam Two: Lessons 5-8 (Genesis 11:27-50:26)
1. What three promises are at the heart of the Abrahamic covenant? How are they
fulfilled in the Abraham’s life? The three promises that are at the heart of the Abrahamic covenant are Land,
Nations/Descendants, and Blessing. These promises are only partially fulfilled in Abraham’s life.
He secures a well and a burial cave in the promised land. He has a son, Isaac, through whom the
promise of becoming a great nation would one day be fulfilled. And God’s presence is with
Abraham wherever he goes to bless him. Even among his rival nations Abraham is blessed—e.g.
Egypt.
2. What did the story of Abram’s sojourn in Egypt mean to Moses’ original audience?
What was it a reminder of and how? The story of the Abram’s sojourn in Egypt would have reminded Moses’ original audience of the
Exodus. Both stories involve famine, deceit, sojourn, divine intervention/plague, prosperity, and
release. The story of Abram’s sojourn in Egypt would have reminded the Israelites that their
destiny was in Canaan.
3. What is the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith and what light to the Gospel and the
New Testament shed on this event? The ultimate test of Abraham’s faith is in Genesis 22 when God tells Abraham to offer Isaac as a
sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. Isaac is a type of Jesus. 2000 years later, on the same hill, God provided
the ultimate substitute sacrifice for our sins in the death of his one and only son, Jesus. Just as
Abraham figuratively received Isaac back from the dead, Jesus was received back from the dead.
4. Why does Abraham send his servant to find a wife for his son among his own people
in Mesopotamia? What was the lesson for Moses’ original audience? Abraham did not want Isaac to marry a Canaanite wife because of the curse upon the Canaanites
in Genesis 9:25. The Israelites were also forbidden to marry Canaanites. God had warned that
Canaanite wives would turn the hearts of the Israelites away from God and to idols.
5. What is Rebekah’s plan for securing the blessing for Jacob? Rebekah dresses Jacob up as Esau to secure the blessing of Jacob. Her approach to securing the
blessing for Jacob was deceitful.
6. What does Jacob dream about at Bethel? What is the meaning of this dream? What
meaning does Jesus attach to this story in John 1:51? Jacob dreams of a ladder touching heaven and earth with angels ascending and descending. The
dream means that the Lord stands sovereignly over the affairs of this world and sends his angelic
servants down to earth to accomplish his will. It was a reminder of God’s presence in Jacob’s life
to accomplish his plan. In John 1:51 Jesus references this story but says that he is the ladder.
7. What happens to Jacob in Peniel? What is the meaning of this event for him? Jacob wrestles with God through the night and receives his new name, Israel. In this event God is
graciously showing Jacob that he is the boss and that all his striving must be with the Lord and
with the Lord’s blessings.
8. How can the Lord’s presence with Joseph be seen in Potiphar’s house, Prison, and
Pharaoh’s service? In Potiphar’s house Joseph was put in charge of everything. In Prison he took charge of all the
other prisoners. In Pharaoh’s service he became second only to Pharaoh in all the land. Moses
reminds us that the “Lord was with Joseph.”
9. How does Joseph test his brothers to see if they are changed men? What evidence is
thee that they are changed? In which brother is that change most evident? Joseph requires one of his brothers, Simeon, to remain behind while his other brothers were sent
home to get Benjamin. In this way Joseph was testing his brothers to see if they would abandon
Simeon as they had him. He also placed their money back in their sacks to see if they would
return with it. He also gave Benjamin a portion five times greater than his brothers to see if they
would be jealous and mistreat Benjamin. The ultimate test, however, came when Joseph put his
royal cup in Benjamin sack. Upon discovering the sack, Judah offered his life in exchange for
Benjamin’s.
10. How is Joseph a “type” of Jesus Christ? Joseph is a “type” of Jesus for the following reasons:
1) Both were rescuers.
2) Both were sold.
3) Both forgave sinners and serve as a model of divine forgiveness.
4) Though he was certainly a sinner, Moses doesn’t mention any character flaw or weakness in
Joseph. Jesus was sinless.
5) God was working providentially through both of their lives to rescue a people.
