GENESIS The Book of Beginnings GENESIS 1250 Abraham and the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

GENESIS – The Book of Beginnings

GENESIS 12–50 — Abraham and the Covenant Family

What is Genesis?

Who wrote this book?

• Neh. 13:1 — On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people.
• Neh. 8:1 — And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told

Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.

• John 5:46 — For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.
• Luke 24:27 — And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the

Scriptures the things concerning himself.

What is the context?

• Redeemed slaves wandering in wilderness places coming to know their God, the One True God, and how He is ever

faithful to His promises.

What is the style?

• Theological History
• Meant to render a realistic picture of the world while also instructing about God, the origin of the

world, and the origin and purpose of His people

• Done through Poetry and Narrative

Covenant Structure of the Bible

LAW PROPHETS WRITINGS COVENANT LAW COVENANT HISTORY COVENANT LIFE PROLOGUE EPILOGUE

Genesis

Former: Joshua Judges Samuel Kings Latter: Isaiah Jeremiah Ezekiel The Twelve Matthew Mark Luke John Acts of the Apostles Paul’s Epistles

Revelation

Psalms Job Proverbs Ruth Song of Songs Ecclesiastes

Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy

Lamentations Esther Daniel Ezra Nehemiah Chronicles

Life in the Land Life in Exile

1, 2 Peter 1, 2, 3 John Jude Gen 1: Creation Gen 2: Marriage Gen 3: Fall into Sin – Satan Rev 21-22: New Creation Rev 20: Marriage of Christ/Church Rev 19: Defeat of Satan Gen 3:15 Promise of Redemption

* See A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the Old Testament, ed. Miles Van Pelt

How does God relate to His People?

Through Covenants

• A covenant is a bond in blood, or a life and death bond, sovereignly administered (see Robertson,

Christ of the Covenants).

• bond — intimate relationship
• in blood — life and death, permanent commitment
• sovereignly administered — God, as the sovereign Lord, dictates how we then relate to him

Covenants in Genesis

• Covenant of Works (Adam and Eve in the Garden; Gen 2-3)
• Covenant of Grace
• Adam and Eve after the Fall (Gen 3:21)
• Noah (Gen 8-9)
• Abraham (Gen 12, 15, 17)

His Covenants are His Promises

The Key in the Covenant Promise

• Gen 3:15 — I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her
• ffspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.
• The offspring in Gen 3:15 is the major figure in all of history — this is the Redeemer, the rescuer,

the Messiah and Savior of God’s people

Central Theme running through Genesis

• In many ways, then, the book of Genesis is about God’s unrelenting faithfulness to keep His

promises and protect this offspring, both from the evil of the serpent and the evil of sinful humanity.

• God’s promises to Abraham of a Place (being in the presence of God), of a People (offspring), of

Protection (perseverance unto the end), and of a Purpose (to bless the nations) cannot and will not be thwarted!