Genesis - 'The Book of Beginnings'
Genesis means 'beginning' and opens the Bible with the words "In
the beginning God..." If you accept this simple and profound
statement the rest of the the Bible is able to be believed,
affirmed, and obeyed as God's revelation of Himself and His ways.
God, our creator wants us to know Him, so He wrote a book to make
Himself known. God inspired over 40 individuals to write down every
word that would be a record of His purposes in and among the human
race.
God created the first humans and made them uniquely 'in His
image' (Genesis 2). This is not true of any other creature God has
made. Our first parents (Adam & Eve) sinned and thus passed
along to all who descended from them (you & me) a
characteristic and 'nature' that continues to sin against God and
is opposed to Him. (Genesis 3). Since the fall, God has been on a
mission to redeem and rescue individuals from the consequences and
effects of of sin. This was never plan 'B' but had its origins
(beginnings) in God Himself in the eternal past. From Genesis 3
onward the plan and purposes of God are unfolded and and worked out
among the 'sons of Adam' and 'daughters of Eve'. This plan centers
to Coming One, Messiah, Jesus Christ - but I get ahead of
myself. Genesis is the beginning point of all things. This is where
our journey begins.
Genesis - First book of the Bible - meaning
'beginnings'
Writer - Moses
Date - about 1446 BC
Outline
I. Chapters 1-11 - Four Major Events
- The Creation 1-2
- The Fall & Effects 3-5
- The Flood 6-9
- The Nations 10-11
II. Chapters 12-50 - Four Major Persons
- Abraham 12-20
- Isaac 21 -26
- Jacob 27-36
- Joseph 37-50