INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS IStructure & Themes

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS IIScience and Civilisation

Hebrew History ~2000 BC ~1500 BC ~1000 BC ~500 BC400 year

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EgyptIndiaChina

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Abraham

PATRIACHS

Exodus

Moses

PROPHETS

Empire

David

PRINCES

Exile

Isaiah

PRIESTS

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Genesis : The Book of Beginnings

Beginning of - the Heavens and the Earth

Chap 1- Man Chap 2- Sin Chap 3- Murder and Death

Chap 4- Marriage

Chap 2- Nations Chap

10- Languages Chap

11- Jewish History, Abraham

Chap 12

Genesis : The First Book of the Pentateuch(Jews call the Pentateuch Torah)

Books of the PENTATEUCH1. Genesis2. Exodus3. Leviticus4. Numbers 5. Deuteronomy

Moses is attributed to be the author of the Pentateuch

HIGH LEVEL STRUCTURE

History of Mankind(Genesis 1-11:26)

History of the Jews(Genesis 11:27-50:26)

Superimpose on this high level outline are the sections defined by “generations” (KJV) or “account” NIV

e.g. Gen 2:4

(KJV) These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

(NIV) This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.

Each section tells the story of a man and his descendants

History of Mankind(Genesis 1-11:26)

History of the Jews(Genesis 11:27-50:26)

PART 1 PART 2

Generations/Accounts of

1. Heavens and the earth 2:4-4:262. Adam 5:1 – 6:83. Noah 6:9 – 9:294. sons of Noah 10:9 – 11:95. Sons of Shem 11:10-26

Generations/Accounts of

6. Terah 11:27- 25:117. Ishmael 25:12-188. Isaac 25:19-35:299. Esau 36:1-37:110. Jacob 37:2-50:26

The number of accounts/generations – 10 is significant. OT books are commonly structured in some numerical way with numbers 3,7,10,12 for e.g.

The account and genealogy of those chosen always comes after those that were rejected

e.g. Cain’s history before Seth (Gen 4:17; Gen 4:25-5:32)

Lamech

Jabal Raise livestock

Tubal Music Harp & Flute

(Adah) (Zillah)Tubal-Cain Bronze and Iron tools

Murderer and 1st Polygamist

Cain Enoch Irad Mahujael Methushael Built City

The Pride of Man

WEALTH TALENT KNOWLEDGE

The account and genealogy of those chosen always comes after those that were rejected

e.g. Cain’s history before Seth (Gen 4:17; Gen 4:25-5:32)

Seth Enosh Kenan Mahalalel Jared Enoch Walked with God and God took him away

Methuselah Lamech Noah

What is key feature in genealogy? “.. had other sons and daughters”

Seth’s generation fulfilled what God wanted for men – Gen 1:28

Cain’s generation worked to show independence from God*easier for camelto enter the eye of the needle than a rich man to enter to kingdom of God Matt 19:23

Be fruitful and multiple

The account and genealogy of those chosen always comes after those that were rejected

Other examples

Japheth’s and Ham’s genealogy (10:1-20) before Shem’s (10:21)

Ishmael’s account (25:12) before Isaac’s account (25:19 )

Esau’s account (36:1) before Jacob’s (37:2)

How many days did God take to create planet Earth?

Symmetry in sequence of creation

Day 4 Creation of different lights in the sky - greater light, lesser light and the stars

Day 5 Creation of creatures in the “expanse” /”firmemant”

Day 6 Creation of creatures in the land including Man.

Day 1 Creation of light Separated light from darkness

Day 2 Creation of “space” to (“expanse” / “firmemant”) separate the waters above and below the sky Day 3 Separation of the water from the land. Creation of plants on land

Man’s Inadequacy without God

3 Main Relationships

Natural Relationship (Chap 1,2)- Our interaction with the natural world

Human Relationships (chap 3-6)- Our interaction with one another

Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)- Our interaction with God told through 5 men Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph

Genesis tells how these relations fall apart when God is out of the picture

Man’s Inadequacy without God

Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)- Our interaction with God told through 5 men Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph

What are 3 things we seekRighteousnessPeaceJoy

Unseen and unconscious goals of life

"The kingdom of God does not mean food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17)

Only God imparts real righteousness, peace and joy

Man’s Inadequacy without God

Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)- Our interaction with God told through 5 men Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph

Noah RegenerationAbraham Justification … by faithIsaac SonshipJacob SanctificationJoseph Glorification

Man’s Inadequacy without God

Spiritual Relationships (chap 6 – 50)- Our interaction with God told through 5 men Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph

Noah RegenerationAbraham Justification … by faithIsaac SonshipJacob SanctificationJoseph Glorification

Jesus in Genesis

Joseph – he is only character who has only strength and no weaknesses in OT. Only other person in the Bible with similar characteristics is …

The ancestry of Jesus is traced back all the way to Seth (Luke 1)

Isaac- was brought to Mt. Moriah to be offered ( Gen22:2). Moriah is the same mountain Golgotha- ~ 30 years when offered - ram offered, caught with thorns (thicket) round his head.

Jesus in Genesis

Melchizedek (Gen 22)

- A King and a Priest of God at the same time. Only example in OT- Brought bread and wine for Abraham (v18)- see Heb 7:11 . Jesus, a priest in the order of Melchizedek.

He will crush the serpent’s head (Gen 3:15)

Presence at creation- “Let us make man …” Gen 1:26 cf John 1, Col 1: 15-17