Genesis The Book of Beginnings © John Stevenson, 2009

Title for the Book The Hebrew Title: BeReshyth; “In the Beginning” Greek Title: Genesis - “Beginnings”

“These are the generations…” Hebrew: Elleh toledoth Ten sets History of account follows: “These are the things that followed…” Adam Abraham Adam Genesis 2:4 – 11:26 Genesis 11:27 – 50:26 5 Toledoth from Adam to Abraham 5 Toledoth from Abraham to Israel

Genesis 1 - 11 Genesis 12 - 50 Events Predominant Creation Fall into sin Flood Tower of Babel Persons Predominant Abraham Isaac Jacob Joseph The human race as a whole The family of Abraham Over 2000 years Around 250 years

Beginning & Ending Genesis begins with God: “In the beginning God created…” Genesis ends with a corpse: “…in a coffin in Egypt”

Unformed Unfilled Day 1: Light Day 4: Light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) Day 2: Water & sky divided Day 5: Fish & birds to fill water & sky Day 3: Dry land & vegetation Day 6: Land animals & man Day 7: Sabbath Rest

Genesis 1:26-27 The God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. (Genesis 1:26-27).

Genesis 1:26-27 In the Image of God Federal Headship God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” (Genesis 1:28). In the Image of God Federal Headship Stewardship and a basis for Ecology

The heavens and the earth are created in six days. Genesis 1 Genesis 2 The heavens and the earth are created in six days. Creation of the man and woman (no time element mentioned). Panorama of creation as a whole Detailed focus on one aspect of creation Centers on God creating the heavens and the earth Centers on man as the crowning act of God’s creation

Creation complete: Heavens & earth created; God finished His work (1-3) Man created: Formed from dust (4-9) Trees & Rivers in garden given names (9-14) Man assigned task of guarding & keeping the garden (15) Forbidden fruit (16-17) Man in need of a helper: not good to be alone (18) Animals in garden are given names (19-20) Woman created: Formed from rib (21-24) Creation complete: Man & woman naked & unashamed in presence of God (25)

Seed of the Serpent Seed of the Woman Cain Abel & Seth Enoch Lamech Noah Ham Shem Canaan Abraham

Adam & Eve cast out of the garden. Judgment Way of Salvation Adam & Eve cast out of the garden. Redemption promised through the seed of the woman. Cain banished for murdering his brother. God marks Cain so none will take vengeance. Flood brought upon the earth. Eight souls saved in the ark. Languages confused and nations dispersed. Abraham to be a blessing to the nations.

The First Three Patriarchs Each is given a series of promises A Seed A Land A Blessing A Blessing to the nations Each lives as an alien in the land Each has a barren wife who gives birth Each deals with rivalry among his sons

 Haran  Ur

Genesis 15 & The Covenant Ceremony “To Cut a Covenant”

The Isaac Narrative His name: “Laughter” The offering of Isaac: “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.” (Genesis 22:2).

The Jacob Narrative His name: “Heel-grabber” The Birthright. The Blessing. Jacob’s Ladder. Sojourn in Haran.

 Haran

The Jacob Narrative His name: “Heel-grabber” The Birthright. The Blessing. Jacob’s Ladder. Sojourn in Haran. The Esau Incident

The Joseph Story A problem of favoritism Deception with garments and a goat Departure from the land Egypt in the days of Joseph Joseph’s Imprisonment Joseph’s Exaltation Israel’s Entrance into Egypt

A Pattern of Israel’s Purpose Altars & Worship A Sense of Purpose Unity Racial & Religious Purity

Seed of the Serpent Seed of the Woman Abraham Ishmael Isaac Esau Jacob Whose Seed are You?