Only the beginning, only just the start… Creation Creation of man The Fall The Flood The Tower of Babel Genesis 1-11 The story of the lives of four men Genesis 12-50

The purpose of the Bible To explain God’s attempt to establish His kingdom on earth.

Genesis – the Purpose To explain Israel’s beginning and purpose in the establishment of God’s rule on earth.

Genesis – The Structure Genesis is divided by markers in different sections, each highlighted by a certain Hebrew word.

Genesis – The Structure This word can be translated with the phrase, “What became of…”

Genesis – The Structure – 2:4-4:26 We have looked at what became of The heavens and the earth Adam Noah the Sons of Noah and specifically Shem, who brought us to… Terah and now Abram.

Genesis – The Structure – 6:9-8:22 The author has led us to understand both how and why Israel was a necessity and why they had to be a separate people in a separate land.

Genesis – The Structure – 6:9-8:22 The necessity of Israel and their unique place in the program of God makes Scripture understandable.

Genesis – The Structure – 6:9-8:22 Failure to see Israel’s unique standing has caused many confused and confusing interpretations of the Bible.

Genesis – The Outline I. Early Events (1:1-11:26) A. Creation of the Heavens and the Earth (1:1-2:3) B. What became of the heavens and the earth (2:4-4:26) C. What became of Adam (5:1-6:8) D. What became of Noah (6:9-9:29) E. What became of the Sons of Noah (10:1-11:9) F. What became of Shem (11:10-26)

Genesis – The Outline II. The Stories of the Patriarchs (11:27-50:26) A. What became of Terah 1. The making of the covenant with Abram (11:27-15:21)

Genesis 12:1-9 – The Birth of Israel “Abram was middle age, prosperous, settled and thoroughly pagan”. Ross (Class notes)

Genesis 12:1-9 – The Birth of Israel And, yet, he believed God and left everything!

Genesis 12:1-9 – The Birth of Israel 1. The Call 12:1-3 2.The Obedience 12:4-9 The calls has purpose, the obedience has blessing.

Genesis 12:1-9 – The Birth of Israel God told Abram to leave and be a blessing. God would then…

Genesis 12:1-9 – The Birth of Israel 1.Bless those who blessed him 2.Curse anyone who would treat him lightly 3.Bless the families of the earth through him

Genesis 12:1-9 – The Birth of Israel To bless or curse Abram was to bless or curse his God.

Genesis 12:1-9 – The Birth of Israel Failure to see Israel’s place in God’s program, and in Scripture, has caused many problems.

Malachi 4:4-6 – “Are you talking to me?” Israel is told that: 1.They should remember the Law 2.Elijah will come before the Day of the Lord 3.He would turn the hearts of fathers to their children, children to their fathers

Luke 1:13-17 – The Birth of John the Baptist John would: “turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” and “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah”, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’”.

Luke 1:13-17 – The Birth of John the Baptist John the Baptist, then, was the fulfillment of the Elijah prophecy in Mal. 4.

Matt. 3:1-12 – They didn’t remember the Law Israel has not done what they were told to do: Remember the Mosaic Covenant and keep the Law.

Matt. 3:1-12 – They didn’t remember the Law John’s role was to turn them back.

Matt. 11:7-14 – The offer to Israel Jesus offers and explains to Israel that John’s role was up to their acceptance.

Matt. 11:7-14 – The offer to Israel …but they did not.

Matt. 17:10-13 – The Explanation The disciples see Jesus transfigured as the King ready for His kingdom and can’t put things together.

Matt. 17:10-13 – The Explanation “Wasn’t Elijah supposed to precede the Kingdom?”

Matt. 17:10-13 – The Explanation Answer: He was, he did, and he will.

Matt. 10:5-6 – The Explanation The focus of Jesus’ ministry was clearly Israel. Matt. 15:21-28

Matt. 10:5-6 – The Explanation This focus extended into the book of Acts. Acts 2, 3

The Explanation Many unnecessary problems have come from people reading the OT and not understanding commands directed to people in a Theocracy.

The Explanation The “God of the OT” is the same as the God of the New.

The Explanation The “God of the OT” is the same as the God of the New.

The Explanation The “God of the OT” is the same as the God of the New.

The Explanation What changes in the Bible is not God; what changes is the situation with humanity, who He is addressing, and the situations they are in.

The Explanation We are often guilty of “reading someone else’s mail” when we take passages addressed to or about Israel as though to us today. For example…

The Explanation – Mark 1:1-14 John is preaching to Israel the good news of the Kingdom.

The Explanation – Mark 1:1-14 He is telling Israel what he was prophesied to do: “The time is here! Remember the Law and believe the good news of the Kingdom coming!” In other words, this is basic Malachi 4 truth.

The Explanation – Mark 1:4-5 Israel has agreed to keep the Law. They had broken their promise. John was getting them right with God to prepare them for their King and the Kingdom. Then, they would be more prepared to deal with Jesus (1:6-11; Acts 19:4).

The Explanation – Mark 1:1-14 We make the basic mistake of reading our 21 st Century understanding back into this passage.

The Explanation – Mark 1:1-14 And, it all starts with understanding the relationship with God of Abraham and the Covenant made with him.