2. 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

3. Genesis – the Purpose This is written to a nation who had gotten out of Egypt and seeks to tell them how they got where they were.

4. Genesis – the Purpose Historically, Genesis answers the questions of a nation which had spent 400 years in Egypt: “Why were we ever there and why were we there so long?”

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

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

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

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

9. 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) 1. The creation of the man and the woman (2:4-25) 2. The fall of the man and the woman (Ch. 3) 3. The fall spreads: the account of Cain and Abel (4:1-16 4. The fall continues to spread throughout civilization (4:17-26)

10. 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) 1. The genealogy of Adam to Noah (Ch. 5) 2. The corruption of mankind (6:1-8)

11. 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) 1. The judgment of mankind by the flood (6:9-8:22) 2. The covenant to Noah about life and nature (9:1-17) 3. The shamelessness of Ham, the curse upon Canaan (9:18-29)

12. Genesis – the Development Genesis is a historical narrative and uses the placement of the material, the way the story is told, to make the point. For example…

13. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 34 After Shechem violated Dinah, Simeon and Levi were right to be angry and want justice, however…

14. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 34 The way they went about things involved deception. God did not want His covenant associated with deception.

15. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 34 Simeon and Levi, sons number 2 and 3, have brought shame on their father in their behavior.

16. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 35 God renames Jacob (“supplanter”) as Israel (“God rules”, “God judges”, “Triumphant with God”, “The prince of God”?).

17. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 35 The main point of renaming him seems to involve a guarantee of blessing from “God Almighty”.

18. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 35 Yet, following this event, his firstborn son, Reuben, like his brothers before him, show the corruption occurring among the heirs and he lay with his father’s concubine (vv. 21-22).

19. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 36-37 The next chapter gives what became of Esau, followed by the account of the favored son, Joseph.

20. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 36-37 This man, well-known to later Israelites and clearly destined for greatness in the passage, ends up being sold into slavery by his brothers.

21. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 36-37 The corruption of the heirs continues in Canaan and the selling of Joseph is led by Judah.

22. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 38 The account of Joseph is interrupted by a focus on Judah, the fourth son.

23. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 38 This account illustrates in detail the sad corruption of the line of Israel as they live among the Canaanites.

24. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 38 One thing emerges clearly from these chapters: The fathers of the nation are falling deeper and deeper into corruption in Canaan.

25. Genesis – the Development – Ch. 38 Something has to be done!

26. Genesis – the Book Genesis gives us a series of beginnings: The world Humanity Sin Israel

27. Genesis – the Book - #1 Genesis provides insight into what every human naturally perceives: The universe had a personal Creator!

28. Genesis – the Book - #1 The universe is not random chance. The universe, our world, and human beings are special and have purpose.

29. Genesis – the Book - #2 The world is best understood by the account of the Fall in Genesis.

30. Genesis – the Book - #3 The world shows the fingerprints of a personal Creator, but also something gone wrong.

31. Genesis – the Book - #3 The Bible’s explanation of humanity’s condition squares with what we see: we are not inherently good people.

32. Genesis – the Book - #3 There is much good in the world and in people, but we are fallen and prone to sin.

33. Genesis – the Book - #4 Genesis provides the basis of the uniqueness of Israel and her distinction from the Church.

34. Genesis – the Book - #4 Israel was a nation with her own Laws under a Theocracy.

35. Genesis – the Book - #4 Israel had promises that were not given to the Church.

36. Genesis – the Book - #4 Failure to recognize the distinction of Israel’s national character, her Laws, promises, and future has caused a great deal of difficulty.

37. Genesis – the Book - #5 The history of humanity revolves around the nation of Israel.