January 21, 2018

Genesis

An Overview of the Book of Pentateuch Our Approach Jan. 21 – Genesis Jan. 28 – Exodus Feb. 4 – Leviticus Feb.11 – Numbers Feb. 18 - Deuteronomy

REVIEW The Pentateuch Name for the first 5 books of the Bible. Written by Moses

Did Moses use sources?

Sources Genesis Sources/ Oral tradition MOSES + Inspiration = Written text Preservation Inspired Editing Post-Mosaica Genesis Witness/ Experience

Meaning - Purpose Before we can talk about understanding what a text means to us today, we have to discern the author’s original meaning. “Moses wrote the book of Genesis to teach his readers that leaving Egypt and possessing Canaan was God’s design for Israel.” (He Gave Us Stories, Pratt, pg. 281) Genesis 50:24 - Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land he swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

The “Toledoth” Formula 1. Prologue Creation of the heavens and earth 1:1-2:3 2. Genesis 2:4 These are the records of the heavens and the earth 2:4-4:26 3. Genesis 5:1 …the family records of Adam 5:1-6:8 4. Genesis 6:9 These are the family records of Noah 6:9-9:29 5. Genesis 10:1 These are the family records of Noah’s sons 1:1-11:9 6. Genesis 11:10 These are the family records of Shem 11:10-26 7. Genesis 11:27 These are the family records of Terah 11:27-25:11 8. Genesis 25:12 These are the family records of Abraham’s son Ishmael 25:12-18 9. Genesis 25:19 These are the family records of Isaac son of Abraham 25:19 -35:29 10. Genesis 36:1 These are the family records of Esau (that is, Edom) 36:1-37:1 11. Genesis 37:2 These are the family records of Jacob 37:2-50:26

Narrative Structure Genesis can also be divided based on its content. The Primeval History (1:1-11:9) The Early Patriarchal Period (11:10-37:1) The Joseph History (37:2-50:26)

Christ in Genesis We see the following pattern in Genesis in response to the repeated cycles of sin: Sin Judgement speech Token of grace judgment

Gen 1 - Creation Creations stories were not to answer questions of science, but to answer questions about a people’s God. In Genesis 1 and 2 Moses is writing to provide a counter statement to other existing creation narratives, SO THAT Israel will know that creation is the work of their God alone. There is no conflict and He has no rivals.

Sabbath - Completion and blessing Gen 1 - Creation Day Form/Realm Fill/Rulers 1 Light 4 Sun and Moon 2 Sky and Water 5 Fish and Fowl 3 Land and Vegetation 6 Beasts and Humans Sabbath - Completion and blessing

Gen 1 - Creation There were other well know creation accounts. Enuma Elish - Babylonian creation text, written in Akkadian “The biblical account presents on God, who alone is God, who created the world. This one God created unopposed. But in the Mesopotamian and related Canaanite accounts the cosmos came into existence by means of conflict. According to Genesis, conflict is introduced into the world not by the gods but by humanity’s rebellion.” (How to Read Genesis, pg. 79)

Gen 1 - covenantal significance The world begins with chaos and God brings order and shalom and it was very good. Adam and Eve were images created to rule. God would/will not let humanity fail.

Gen 1 - Application/covenant life Leaving Egypt is God’s plan The Sabbath Ultimate rest

Genesis 2:4-3:24 – The Fall Literary Structure In Garden (2:4-17) Flourishing Work Humanity’s Condition Enhanced (2:17-25) Alone: “It is not good…” Eve Condition Cursed (3:1-21) Temptation Fall Out of Garden (3:22-24) Death Driven out of the Garden

Genesis 2:4-3:24 – The Fall Examples of symmetry after the fall Location: Inside paradise (2:8) Outside paradise (3:24) Trees: tree of knowledge (2:17) tree of life (3:22-24) Vocation: Work prospers (2:15) Work is toil (3:23)

Genesis 2:4-3:24 – The Fall Relationships: (2:18-25) and (3:1-21) in contrast after the fall Human-Divine relationship: Harmony (2:18) Disharmony (3:8) Human-Human relationship: Euphoria (2:23) Strife (3:16) Human-Evil relationship: Absent (2:10-25) Struggle (3:15)

The Fall – Covenantal Significance The Garden and the Land One of Moses’ central concerns was identifying Eden with Canaan. Covenant Loyalty Eden was a place of blessing, but it was holy and required the to be holy Fruit of Covenant Disobedience

The Fall - application/covenant life Christ as the Second Adam (Rom. 5:14-19) Continued Loyalty (2 Corinthians 11:3, James 1:12-15) “Maranatha”

Joseph (Gen. 37:2 – 50:26) The Brothers: Division and Disharmony (37:2 - 41:57) The Brothers in Harmony (42:1 – 47:27) The Brothers’ Future (47:28–50:26)

Joseph (Gen. 37:2 – 50:26) Typology Typology is when and OT event, person, etc. pre-figures aspects of Christ as revealed in the New Testament. “All things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” – Luke 24:44

Joseph (Gen. 37:2 – 50:26) Joseph as a Type of Christ Gen 50:20 Acts 2:23 Acts 4:28

Joseph (Gen. 37:2 – 50:26) Joseph Jesus Jacob's beloved son   God’s beloved Son Matthew 3:17 Jacob's firstborn by Rachel Genesis 30:22-24 God’s only Son sent out to retrieve his brothers Jesus came His own hated by his brothers Jesus hated and killed by Jewish leaders Mark 14:61-65 Joseph betrayed by his brothers Gen 37:27-28 Jesus betrayed by Judas Matthew 26:14-16 Joseph is tempted but does not sin Gen 39 Jesus tempted without sin Mt. 4; Hebrews 4:15 Joseph accused and condemned on false charges Gen 39 Jesus accused and condemned on false charges Luke 23:2,3 Joseph forgives and restores his sinful brothers, making them citizens of his kingdom (Gen 46-50) Jesus forgives Luke 23:32 - 34 Both are to bring all under rule of the King. Genesis 47:19-2 Ephesians 1:10-12 Both are Savior Genesis 47:25 Acts 13:23

Joseph - Covenantal significance Covenant loyalty to God God's grace to Israel God's blessings through Israel (to others)

Joseph - Application/covenant life Loyalty Grace God’s blessings through Israel

REFERENCES An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach, by Bruce K. Waltke How to Read Genesis, Tremper Longman III The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition and Interpretation, John H. Sailhamer An Introduction to the Old Testament: Second Edition, Tremper Longman III and Raymond B. Dillard “The Primeval History”, Dr. Richard L. Pratt, Jr. The Book of Genesis (New International Commentary on the Old Testament Series), Chapters 1-17, Victor P. Hamilton He Gave Us Stories: The Bible Student's Guide to Interpreting Old Testament Narratives, Richard L. Pratt Jr. The NIV Application Commentary Genesis, John H. Walton Genesis: A Commentary, Bruce K Waltke