WHY WE STUDY GENESIS?

Have you ever been on a trip, trusting your GPS to get you where you want to go?  You get in the car.  Turn on the GPS.  You look at the first set of instructions, and say to yourself, “That doesn’t make sense?”  That is what it is like when you skip Genesis.  Without correct initial information, the rest of the Bible doesn’t have the proper context. 

Not reading Genesis is like not watching a TV pilot and then watching all its episodes, or reading the second book in the series without reading the first one.  It doesn’t take long to realize that you have missed something.  Writers often add in some of the missing information, but you still don’t really have the complete picture.

Studying the Bible is about context.  First, we need to understand the Bible by looking at it as one complete message from God.  Then we look at each individual writing, ie. Genesis, Exodus, etc., within the context of the entirety of Scripture, to gain insight for understanding God’s message to us.  Please remember, men inserted book, chapter, and verse designations so that we can more easily converse about the writings.  Originally, writings would have been on scrolls, without these designations.  Inside each book (writing), God has given specific information to allow us to understand Him, His eternal purpose, and our place in His plan.

Grave errors in teaching have come when one or two verses are pulled out of context.  Thus, the necessity to study Genesis!   

Genesis provides us with foundational information.  Genesis is quoted throughout the entire 66 writings of the Bible.  

God wants to build a relationship with you. Genesis builds the foundation for that relationship with our Creator.  

Genesis sets the basis for our sense of personal worth.

Most importantly, God reveals Himself to us through this writing.  

Genesis sets the tone and gives direction for the rest of the Biblical writings.  It gives us direction, so that we can navigate life, “successfully”.

It contains principles and promises we can trust and depend upon.

It is a book of beginnings. 

• Beginning of God’s creation, including mankind
• Beginning of God’s personal relationship with His creation
• Beginning of mankind’s rejection of God and God handling that rejection
• Beginning of God’s plan of mankind’s eternal salvation
• Beginning of His chosen people
• Beginning of marriage
• Beginning of the family
• Beginning of God’s promises to His people
• Beginning of people living by faith in the unseen God
• Beginning of the Gospel message

AUTHOR  

Moses is credited with writing Genesis.  Consider how amazing that experience must have been for him!  He got to hear firsthand from God about His creative work!  He was taught about his ancestry, and given a view of the future.  Historical facts that he had learned (the flood, Abraham, etc.), now had perspective from God.

DATE WRITTEN

Approximately 4000-1410 BC

ORIGINAL AUDIENCE

God’s chosen people – the Israelites

SETTING

• The book takes us back to before God created our universe and world. 
• Geographically, it is set in the region of the Middle East.  
• Chapters 1-11 are in Mesopotamia
• Chapters 12-36 are in the Promised Land
• Chapters 37-50 are in Egypt

GOD’S OVERALL MESSAGE       

He is our loving, merciful, and gracious Creator.  People are made in His image, and He desires an active relationship with each of us.

BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES/PROMISES 

• God created us to love and serve Him.
• True relationships are formed through mutual commitment.
• Satan is a liar.  God’s people need to be discerning based upon God’s Word.
• God judges evil.
• Obedience to God’s commands results in His blessings.
• God will ask His people to do challenging tasks.
• God rescues His people.
• Truthfulness is a mark of one’s character and integrity.
• God does the impossible for His people.

CUSTOMS OF THE DAY

• Hospitality
• Marriage within one’s family or tribe
• The Laws of Hammurabi guided some of the actions of God’s people prior to His giving of the law through Moses.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS

But God…He knows the hardness of people’s hearts!  In His gracious way, He has provided a way to “prove” that the Bible is dependable.  Archaeology!  For many years now, archaeologists have unearthed various items that give support to facts presented in Scripture. 

You can check for such discoveries that support the writings in Genesis in the following cites:  

https://answersingenesis.org/archaeology/6-archaeological-finds/

7 Archaeology Proofs for the Book of Genesis You Need to Know!

https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/.premium.MAGAZINE-archaeology-confirms-book-of-genesis-on-israel-s-arch-nemesis-the-edomites-1.7855111

SOME VERSES FOR PONDERING

• Genesis 1:1
• Genesis 1:27
• Genesis 1:31
• Genesis 2:24
• Genesis 3:11
• Genesis 3:15
• Genesis 15:6
• Genesis 18:10-14
• Genesis 22:1, 8
• Genesis 50:20

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

• God is eternal:  Genesis 1:1 
• God is omnipotent:  Genesis 12:17-20
• God is omnipresent:  Genesis 3:9
• God is omniscient:  The story of Joseph Genesis 30-50
• God is merciful:  Genesis 6:5-8
• God is gracious:  Genesis 15

Copyright 2020 Donna Shappy

All rights reserved.  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – without the prior permission of the author.