Ge n e s i s

We live in a world shattered,

Each step reechoes the cracking of broken glass,
Shards removed at first from aching feet
but then . . . finally . . . tolerated,
Longing to recover the tranquil garden of gentle grass.

Some days you might not feel it, but I bet that often Each night this brought back to us memories of a
you do. I call it “the longing.” Often, it is felt most on land that only a few humans had ever seen but that
days that are either best or worst. It happens when the all of us somehow yearn for, the land of Eden. This
world seems almost perfect (like a warm day at the sweet smell made us long to go back into the garden
shore with tall waves to ride and lavender sunsets), or with God, with peace. This is what we long for in the
when horror surrounds you (like hearing of the death best and worst of times.
of a friend). You long for the day at the beach to never Many centuries ago our first father began a sad
end. You long for your friend to rise from the casket. journey, the journey of his exile. His path leads through
You long for . . . it. the years to you . . . to today. As our father first stepped
Many have explained “the longing” in different out of the garden into a world cursed and fighting
ways. My favorite explanation came from the poet against him, he knew he had shattered the world.
Dante Alighieri. He said that winds blew out from He carried with him, however, one glimmer of
the top of the Mountain of Purgatory on the oppo- hope. He was promised that someday, Someone, a
site side of the world and made us long for “it.” (Don’t Seed would come and open the gates of the garden
get me wrong, there is no mountain in the Pacific like again. He could go back home again then. This is
this, but I still like the story.) The Garden of Eden was where the longing started.
set at the top of this mountain. These winds carried You stand at the beginning of another journey.
the scent of the Earthly Paradise out over the world. Before you is the first book of the Bible, Genesis. In it
and the many other books you will
be studying are wonders that you
can not now imagine. Come along
for the journey. Our destination is
set. We hope to see our ancestral
home once more, but first we have
to figure out how we got here.

In this detail from the fresco in the Sistene Chapel, we look back
to the dawn of Time and see the creation of the sun and moon.
2 O m n i b u s I

General Information Growing up in the Egyptian court during the New

Kingdom in Ancient Egypt, Moses (c. 1526–1406
Author and Context B.C.) would have been exposed to one of the most
Both Jewish and Christian scholars have his- sophisticated, wealthy, and powerful kingdoms the
torically maintained that Moses was the author of earth had yet seen. Under the tutelage of his adoptive
Genesis. While this has been questioned by mod- mother, most likely the powerful Hatshepsut, Moses
ern scholarship, Mosaic authorship or editorship is could have become a major player in Egyptian history.
quite reasonable. First, Moses was certainly capable However, he considered the “reproach of Christ great-
of writing the book, educated as he was in all the er riches than the treasures of Egypt” (Heb. 11:26)
learning of the Egyptians (Acts 7:22). Second, the text and numbered himself with the people of God, lead-
of Genesis is structured around ten sections1 which ing them out of bondage, revealing to them the pre-
begin with the Hebrew word toledoth, “These are the cious law of God, and bringing them to the brink of the
generations of . . .” (2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; Promised Land.
25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 37:2). It is likely that these were
written sources which the author edited and com-
Significance
piled into their present form. As a prince in Egypt,
Moses would have had access to such written re- Genesis is a masterpiece. Using a wide variety of
cords, whether among the Egyptians or the Israelites. literary genres (writing styles) and techniques, Genesis
Third, and most significant, both Jesus and the apos- successfully acquaints the sons of Israel with their fa-
tles assume that Moses was the author (e.g., Matt. 8:4; thers and enables them to see both their faithfulness
Mark 7:10; John 1:17; 7:22; Acts 3:22; Rom. 10:5; and weakness. As a result, it enables the Israelites to
etc.). Since Jesus was omniscient, that is He knew ev- depart from Egypt knowing their role in God’s plan.
erything and the apostles wrote under the inspiration Despite their own weakness, God would use them to
of the Spirit, the conclusion that Moses was the au- bless the nations if they would but love and serve Him.
thor follows quite naturally.2 The same holds true today for us who are the sons of
Abraham by faith (Rom. 4:16, 17).
Abraham welcomes heavenly visitors to a meal. The word Genesis means beginnings. Nearly all ideas,
events, and themes developed later in the Bible have their
beginning in this book. The frequent references to God
as Creator (e.g., Ps. 8; 19; Isa. 40:28; Rom. 1:25) drive us
back to Genesis. The ubiquitous or ever present nature
of sin which prompts the fall of Israel again and again
(Deut. 27:9–26; Judg. 2:11–23; 2 Kings 17:7–20; 24:1–5)
receives its explanation in the Fall. Our hope for deliv-
erance from corruption bases itself upon the repeated
promises in Genesis—the Seed of the woman who
would crush the serpent’s head (3:15), the Descendant
of Abraham through whom all the families of the earth
would be blessed (12:3; 22:18), the Lamb of God who
would take away the sin of the world (22:13, 14), and the
Ruler who would arise from the tribe of Judah (49:8–12).
The significance of Genesis is not limited to the
biblical text. Throughout history, Genesis has shaped
the thinking and imagination of millions. Writers
have imitated its stories. Scientists have used and
abused the creation account. Artists and musicians
have sought to capture its passion and emotion. It is
hard to overestimate the influence of Genesis.
 Genesis 3

Main Characters The book of Genesis treats its story like a chef
peeling an onion. Starting with a broad focus upon
The major character who pervades Genesis is the
the world at large, the book gradually, by removing
Triune God of heaven and earth, Yahweh. In the be-
one layer after another, highlights the selection of the
ginning He speaks the world into existence, creating
twelve tribes of Israel as God’s chosen people. The
all things “very good.” After the Fall, He repeatedly
book begins with the universe as it bursts upon the
evaluates the works of the sons of men. Eventually
scene, new and fresh from its Creator’s hands but soon
He chooses a people for Himself and preserves them
twisted by man’s rebellion. This rebellion reaps hor-
from certain destruction despite their foolishness
rendous consequences. Brother is set against brother
and treachery.
and in time all men rise up in rebellion against God.
The other characters are divisible according to the
Yet in the midst of this rebellion, God works to fulfill
two main sections of the book. Chapters 1 through
His promise to bring forth a Seed of the woman who
11 discuss the early history of the world, known as
would crush the serpent (Gen. 3:15). He delivers Noah
primeval history. During this period the major figures
and his family from judgment and brings them safely
are Adam and Eve, the first couple, Cain and Abel,
through the deluge. God then covenants with Noah,
the first siblings, and Noah and his three sons, Shem,
promising never again to destroy the earth in such a
Ham, and Japheth, the founders of a new humanity
fashion but to provide a stable environment in which
following the flood.
His Gospel promise would be fulfilled.
The second section of the book, chapters 12
As the book progresses, its focus narrows step
through 50, chronicles the beginning of God’s re-
by step. God’s promised deliverance will not come
demptive (the way He would save a people) program
through Ham and Japheth but through Shem. Yet it
through a single family. The three patriarchs—
will not come through all of Shem’s descendants but
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—figure largely in this story.
only through those of Terah, the father of Abraham.
Associated with them are a variety of other fascinating
And to Abraham the gospel promise is reissued, “in
characters. With Abraham, we see his wife Sarah, his
you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gen.
nephew Lot, his wife’s maid-servant Hagar, his child
12:3; cf. Gal. 3:8).
Ishmael, and his promised son Isaac. With Isaac we
But God has not finished narrowing the scope of
witness his wife Rebekah and his sons Esau and Jacob.
his redemptive purpose. Not all of Abraham’s chil-
With Jacob, renamed Israel, we meet his brother Esau,
dren shall be incorporated into God’s plan—Ishmael
his uncle Laban, his wives Leah and Rachel, and his
is passed over and the story focuses upon Isaac, whose
twelve children, the founders of the twelve tribes of
life is redeemed by the ram which God provides in the
Israel. Noteworthy among them are Judah and Joseph
thicket. Then Esau is left behind and the story of Jacob
who play pivotal roles in the last portion of the book.
becomes paramount. Jacob is renamed Israel and
his sons, the sons of Israel, become the twelve tribes
Summary and Setting through whom God’s redemptive purposes for the
world will be fulfilled.
Interestingly enough, Genesis has two different
The sons of Israel, however, fail to perceive their
historical settings. First, it has the original setting in
role in the plan of God. They quarrel and complain
which the events occurred: the Fertile Crescent and
and treat their brother Joseph treacherously, selling
Egypt from creation until the death of Joseph around
him into slavery in Egypt. But God’s promises can-
1805 B.C., the lion’s share of the material spanning
not be thwarted. He uses their jealousy and spite to
from the call of Abraham in 2091 B.C. (12:4) to the
change their character and preserve them in the land
death of Jacob around 1859 B.C. (49:33ff). Second, it
of Egypt; they meant it for evil, but God intended it
has the setting in which it was finally written: Israel
for good (50:20). And so the book ends, awaiting the
was either still in the land of Egypt or had just depart-
fulfillment of God’s promise to lead His people to the
ed under the leadership of Moses and the time was
promised land (50:24, 25; cf. 15:12–16).
around 1446 B.C.
4 O m n i b u s I

Worldview you would find that Bilbo is not your typical hobbit. It
seems that Bilbo has had some odd adventures, has
J.R.R. Tolkien’s superb The Lord of the Rings epic
actually been out of the Shire and is now fabulously
never fails to stir my imagination. It has spawned
rich as a result. You pause in your reading. “I’d like
whole industries. Book stores are lined with “Tolkien
to know about that adventure,” you say to yourself.
like” material (much of which deserves as little atten-
Suppressing this desire, however, you press on—you
tion as it receives). Hollywood produced three block-
want to read about Sauron and Isengard. But the de-
buster movies based on Tolkien’s epic. When these
sire continues to increase as tantalizing details from
movies came out they caused quite a stir, and many
the past leak out—a magic ring, a wizard, frozen trolls,
people were so inspired by them that they actually
the House of Elrond, and the son of Gloin. You get a
picked up the books and began to read. Or, better yet,
nagging feeling that you are missing an important
perhaps they picked up the books first and read them
piece of the puzzle. “Will I never have any peace?” you
before they went to see the movies.
ask yourself. So you decide to glance at the Prologue.
But imagine for a moment that you did watch the
And there you find mention of an earlier book, The
first movie and were so inspired by what you saw that
Hobbit, where many of these tantalizing details are
you picked up The Fellowship of the Ring and began
discussed. Heaving a great sigh, you decide to become
to read Tolkien’s tale. Let us pretend that you were
a true Tolkien aficionado. You close The Fellowship of
so excited that you decided to skip the prologue with
the Ring and go to the store where you pick up a copy
its extended discourse on the history of hobbits and
of The Hobbit and you begin to read at the beginning.
jump right into Chapter 1. You would, of course, im-
The point of this vignette is to illustrate that the
mediately bump into Bilbo Baggins. And as you read,
first book of a series often sets the stage for the en-
tire set. Frequently it reveals key information without
which the other books are cryptic or make no sense.
What is the basic story line or plot? Who are the ma-
jor characters? The heroes? The villains? What prob-
lems do the characters face? How will they overcome
these problems? The answers to these and other ques-
tions are often provided in the first book.
So it is with the Bible. The book of Genesis sets
the stage for the entire book—both Old and New
Testaments and for all of life. Without an understand-
ing of Genesis the reader of Deuteronomy, the Psalms,
or Matthew is going to be at a loss to understand fully
what is being discussed. On the contrary, the man or
woman who knows Genesis will both understand and
enjoy the latter books much more.
To understand this “introduction” to the Bible
and to all of life, one must understand the main
characters and the main problem that faces these
characters.
The reward for this grand epic, however, is unlike
reading the Rings trilogy or The Hobbit. Much more
is at stake; much more can be gained because this
epic is the story of your race. The great problem set
forth in Genesis is your great problem, and to grasp
God’s answer to this problem at Calvary you must
Scripture tells of a flaming sword outside of the understand Genesis.
garden to keep out Adam and Eve.
 Genesis 5

God Is Personal
The great main character of Creation Myths
this story is the Lord God of heav-
en and earth, Who is unlike any Many in academia refer to Genesis as a creation myth.
other being. While the Bible is not “mythological,” there are creation
One of the interesting aspects myths from vastly diverse cultures and civilizations.
of God’s personhood is that He The Sumerians held that the primeval sea existed
interacts with Himself. This in- first and within that the heaven and the earth were
dicates that God is Triune—He formed. The stars, planets, sun and moon were formed
is three persons in one nature. between heaven and earth. The Babylonian story is
While the full revelation of the similar: “When in the height heaven was not named,
Triune character of God comes in and the earth beneath did not yet bear a name,
the New Testament, Genesis con- and the primeval Apsu, who begat them, and chaos,
tains at least two clear allusions Tiamut, the mother of them both their waters were
to this central biblical doctrine. mingled together, and no field was formed, no marsh
First, within the first three verses was to be seen; when of the gods none had been
of Chapter 1 we have all three called into being, and none bore a name, and no des-
persons of the Trinity mentioned: tinies were ordained; then were created the
God, the Spirit of God, and the gods in the midst of heaven . . .”
Word of God. Second, God refers There are several creation myths in
to Himself in the plural, “Let Us Hinduism. One myth tells of Brahma
make man . . .” (1:26), “Behold the sitting in a lotus flower, floating
man has become like one of Us . . and tossing on the sea. He lifted up
.” (3:22), “Let Us go down . . .” (11:7). his arms and calmed the wind and
Some have argued that this use of the ocean. Then he split the lotus
the plural is the “plural of majesty” flower into three. He stretched
as when a queen says, “We would one part into the heavens, anoth-
like crumpets with our tea.” Others er part into the earth, and with
have argued that this is a reference the third part he created the skies.
to other heavenly beings such as In ancient Egypt several versions of
angels. However, in the light of lat- creation emerged. In one
In Hinduism, Brahma is the
er revelation it seems that the most there was the swirling supreme god whose essence
reasonable explanation is that this watery chaos from which pervades the entire universe.
is a foreshadowing of the Triune arose Atum, the primor-
character of God. dial god represented in
Genesis not only reveals the the form of a human and a serpent. He created the
Triune nature of God, it also as- gods, then men were created from his tears. In another
sumes that there is only one true myth, the god Ptah is the supreme deity and creator
God. In the context of Egyptian of Atum: “He who made all and created the gods . .
culture and belief, the opening . who gave birth to the gods, and from whom every
chapter of Genesis is revolution- thing came forth, foods, provisions, divine offerings,
ary. The Egyptians associated the all good things.”
various portions of creation with There have been many reports from missionaries
a multitude of different deities in the last century that pre-literate tribes often have
who each had their respective “sacred narratives” which are quite similar to, and pro-
sphere(s) of authority. Genesis vide a kind of echo for, the truth of Biblical creation.
overthrows this entire way of
6 O m n i b u s I

thinking by tracing the origin of everything to the their debauchery, and two of Judah’s sons are killed
creative power of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and for their “evil.”
Jacob. The gods of Egypt, Moses declares in Genesis 1, While God condemns ungodliness, He promises
are mere idols (cf. Ps. 115:1-8). to bless those who love Him and keep His
commandments. God’s treatment of those who serve
God is Sovereign Him is in sharp contrast to pagan deities who may
Like all good epics, the history of the world has a or may not be favorably disposed to those who seek
producer and director. their aid. The gods are foremost man’s enemies. In
As the Creator of all, the God of Genesis is also the contrast, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
Lord of all, or Sovereign. This means, first, that God is always works for the good of those who love Him
distinctly different from His creation. While God has and keep His commandments. He never punishes
existed from eternity, the world began to exist when the godly for following in His paths. Thus, He takes
God called it into being. God created the world ex nihi- Enoch to himself, He preserves the life of Noah, He
lo, out of nothing (cf. Rom. 4:17; Heb. 11:3). While God rewards the faithfulness of Abraham, and He blesses
is not dependent on anything for His own existence, the integrity of Joseph.
all of creation depends on Him.
God’s sovereignty extends over all the earth. The God is Covenantal
God of Scripture is immanently involved in His cre- This God who is unique and sovereign is also love.
ation, not passively and distantly watching all that The reason God works for the good of His people
transpires. The creation is His and He does with it is because He loves them. This love is demonstrated
as He sees fit. He destroys the earth with a flood, He by the fellowship God has with His people. First,
confuses the tongues at Babel, He destroys Sodom and He communicates with them. He does not leave
Gomorrah, He turns Lot’s wife into a pillar of salt, He them ignorant of Himself and His standards; He
chooses Jacob rather than Esau. The list could go on, reveals Himself via direct revelation, blessings,
but the point is the same: God acts in the world as He dreams, prophecies, angelic visitations. Second,
sees fit. He establishes a clearly defined relationship (or
God’s sovereignty would be frightening if it were covenant) with them, promising to bless them if
not simultaneously revealed that God is holy, righ- they will but love and serve Him but threatening to
teous, and good. His sovereignty is the power to do chastise and even destroy them should they rebel.
all those things which He wants to do. Of course, all We see this in His relationship with Adam (2:15–
that He wants to do is good and right because He is 17), in His covenant with Noah and his offspring
Goodness and Righteousness. When Abraham was (9:8–17), and in His covenant with Abraham and his
informed of the coming destruction of Sodom and descendants (17:1–14).
Gomorrah, he feared for the lives of the righteous In His covenant with Adam3 God gives clearly
within the city and asked, “Shall not the Judge of all defined privileges, expectations, and consequences.
the earth deal justly?” The ensu- He grants that Adam and Eve can eat from any tree
So the LORD ing conversation between God and in the garden, presumably even from the tree of life.
said, “I will Abraham reveals that God does However, God restricts them from the tree of the
destroy man indeed deal justly and mercifully knowledge of good and evil. He warns them that if
whom I have
with sinners. they eat of its fruit, they “will surely die.” Adam and
created from
the face of the God’s goodness, however does Eve despise the Word of the Lord and listen to the
earth, both not make Him too lax and indul- word of the serpent. As a result, God demonstrates
man and beast, gent to visit calamity on his en- His faithfulness—He fulfills His word of judgment,
creeping thing emies. Cain is cast out for murder, and mankind becomes subject to death and decay.
and birds of the the earth is flooded because of After the Fall, God sets in motion a plan to
air, for I
man’s wickedness, languages are save His ruined creation. His plan, much like
am sorry that
I have made confused because of pride, Sodom Tolkien’s Hobbit, involves some strange choices.
them.” and Gomorrah are incinerated for We might expect God to immediately wipe out the
 Genesis 7

wicked or raise up some army of the righteous. God God, symbolized by the flaming pot, passes through
often, however, chooses the few and the obscure, just the pieces and thus declares to Abraham—either I
as Tolkien calls on the frightened and apprehensive will fulfill my promise to grant you a son or I will die.
Bilbo to do great things and to set in motion the ac- The latter of course is impossible. What follows? God
tions far beyond his imagination. So God looks at will certainly grant a son. What a testimony of God’s
times to single families like Noah and his children. faithfulness!4
God calls Abraham to be the father of many nations. This testimony continues throughout Genesis as
Ironically, when God first comes to Abraham he is God fulfills His promises despite the foibles, trickery,
an idol worshipper who has been unable to have any and treachery of men. He blesses the faithful efforts of
children. What irony! His people and makes them successful. Likewise, God
God’s covenant with Noah likewise stresses God’s turns the evil actions of His own people to their even-
faithfulness. While we are accustomed to think of the tual good. While not excusing sin, Genesis emphasizes
regularity of the seasons as a matter of scientific neces- that God is faithful and does whatever is necessary to
sity, Genesis presents this regularity as a testimony of fulfill His promises.
God’s faithfulness. Why does the sun rise each morn-
ing? Why does winter turn to
spring? Why do birds fly? Apples
fall from trees? Why do cows moo?
The answer, according to Genesis,
is because God is faithful—He or-
chestrates both the mundane and
the spectacular events in the world
(cf. Ps. 104; Col. 1:17).
God’s covenant with Abraham
shines brighter than the sun.
Again and again God manifests
His determination to fulfill His
promises in the life of Abraham
and His descendants. Nowhere
is this portrayed more forcefully
than in Genesis 15. It was a com-
mon practice in the Ancient Near
East to establish covenants by
slaying an animal, cutting the ani-
mal in two and then placing the
two pieces opposite one another.
The participants of the covenant
would then walk through the
pieces as they recited the terms of
the covenant. The action symbol-
ized the covenanters’ vow either
to fulfill the terms of the covenant
or to become like the divided ani-
mal—dead. The remarkable part
of Genesis 15 is that, though there
are two parties to the covenant,
God and Abraham, only one of Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and
them walks through the pieces. of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
8 O m n i b u s I

God is Merciful Man Reflects the Image of God

As in Tolkien’s epic where the weaknesses of even The other main character in Genesis is mankind.
a hobbit like Bilbo is eventually unmasked, the biblical Man begins his time on earth as a true and righteous
characters prove that they are sinners in need of grace. reflector of God’s glory. Man is like a mirror reflecting
During his adventure, as you might remember, Bilbo back to God the wonder of His own glorious love.
finds a “precious” magic ring. Eventually, he begins to fall Originally, man was made in the image of God.
under its powers, and we see his weakness. In the same What is he as the image of God? First, he is personal.
manner, the biblical heroes all have feet of clay. Noah Just as God speaks, acts and judges, so man speaks,
falls into drunkenness. Sarah laughs at God’s promise acts and judges. He has the capacity to think and rea-
of an heir. Abraham seeks to fulfill God’s promise in his son. He can analyze and assess.
own strength by fathering Ishmael. Isaac tries to bless Second, like God, man is initially sovereign, but in
Esau instead of Jacob. The patriarchs even sell their a limited way. He is sovereign, first, in the sense that
brother, Joseph, into slavery. All are in need of mercy. he is a mini-creator. Many creatures are like God
Genesis emphasizes the mercy of God alongside in this way. Beavers make dams; birds make nests;
His covenantal faithfulness. Though Adam and Eve bumble bees make honey. But man has the unique
rebel against Him, He does not completely disown them ability to create, not simply things that he needs, but
but promises to deliver them from the craft of the ser- frivolous things—things which have no apparent
pent (3:15), provides them with clothing to cover their link to his needs—bookshelves, video games, sculp-
shame and symbolize their forgiveness (3:21), and ex- tures, and Oreos. The reason man can and should
pels them from the garden lest they live forever in their create such things is because God did. God did not
fallen state (3:22–24). Though God destroys the world need the universe; He created it because He wanted
in a great deluge, He “remembers” (8:1) Noah and de- to. It delighted Him. And just as there is a fundamen-
livers Him. Though Sarai is brought into the harem of tal distinction between God and the universe, there is
Pharaoh, God delivers her and preserves her to bear also a distinction between the things man makes and
the promised child (12:10–20). The God of Genesis is a man himself.5
God who delights to show mercy. Man is also sovereign because God has invested
man with authority over the creatures of the earth.
“Then God said, ‘Let Us make man
in Our image, according to Our
likeness; and let them rule over the
fish of the sea . . . .’ And God said
to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply,
and fill the earth, and subdue it;
and rule over the fish of the sea . . .”
(1:26, 28).
Like God, man is covenantal.
God created man to live not in iso-
lation from but in relation to God
and other creatures. Man always
lives coram Deo, before the face
of God. God walks in the garden
and finds Adam when he is try-
ing to cover his sin (3:8–11). God
“comes down” to see what the men
of a particular region are doing

Isaac is shown mercy and a ram is

given for the sacrifice to God.
 Genesis 9

(11:7; 18:21). All men are in a covenantal relation- This expectation of obedience recurs again and again
ship with God. Some men acknowledge this relation- in Genesis. When God looked down upon the earth
ship, and others choose to suppress it (e.g., 19:9 cf. prior to the Flood, He “saw that the wickedness of man
Rom. 1:18–32), but everyone is accountable to God. was great on the earth, and . . . the Lord was sorry that
Man also lives in relationship with other people. In He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved
the opening chapters of Genesis, in His heart”
the covenant of marriage is cre- (6:5, 6). As a re-
ated by God as a perpetual statute sult, He judges
(2:24). Sons are identified in rela- man for his
tion to their fathers and nations in disobedience
relation to their father, or patriarch with the great
(10:1ff). Man is responsible to see deluge. God
that justice is upheld and to hold expected that
perpetrators of injustice, notably His law would
murder, accountable (9:6). Man al- be obeyed.
ways exists in covenantal relation However, as
with other people—in the family, a result of the
the church, and the state. Third, Fall, man no
Adam himself bore a special cov- longer had the
enantal relationship to the entire capacity to do
creation. Adam was appointed by good on his
God as the head of creation. When own initiative.
Adam sinned against the Lord, the Following the
earth was plunged into ruin and Flood, God de-
decay and all of Adam’s descen- clares that “the
dants were born in a state of moral intent of man’s
corruption. In other words, man is heart is evil
born into sin and born a sinner. from his youth”
(8:21). By na-
Man is a Distorted ture man ought
Reflection “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast
of the field which the LORD God had made.” to be holy, righ-
Early in the story of Genesis, teous and good,
however, Adam, the righteous mir- but he is not.
ror reflecting God’s glory, is shattered by sin. As a sin- Also man ought to be faithful both to God and to
ner man no longer perfectly bears the image of God, other men. Just as God is faithful to fulfill his covenant-
but he still bears God’s image. al obligations and promises, man ought to fulfill his.
This fall into sin creates the great problem for the Sadly, this does not happen. Beginning in the opening
human race. Adam was created “very good.” Sin, how- chapters of Genesis, man turns against his sovereign
ever, made man love evil and commit sin. For now, Lord. Although God created man to live in fellowship
because he is created in the image of God, there are with Him, man rejected this relationship. As a result,
certain things which man is but other things he ought man’s covenantal faithfulness to other men is also un-
to be but is not. dermined. Isaac endeavors to avoid the Word of the
Man ought to be holy, righteous, and good. God cre- Lord and give the blessing to Esau, forcing Rebekah
ated man to joyfully receive His commands and obey and Jacob to resort to trickery in order to fulfill God’s
them. He told Adam and Eve to abstain from the fruit prophecy. Laban treacherously betrays Jacob, forc-
of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. When ing him to work for seven years and then failing to
they disobeyed, He visited them with death and cast give Rachel in fulfillment of his promise. By nature,
them out of the garden. He demanded that they obey. therefore, man is a covenant breaker, always with
 10 O m n i b u s I

respect to God and frequently with acknowledgement of his sin (this pattern can be seen
respect to other men. as early as Genesis 4 with Abel). Finally, the faithful
Finally, man ought to be merci- man demonstrates his faith and gratitude by living in
ful just as God is merciful. God obedience to God’s law.
extends grace to those who are un- This pattern is evident throughout Genesis: See
deserving or weak. Ought not his Chart 1.
creatures then do the same? But Genesis sets the stage for the greatest epic, the real
in Genesis we learn that this is not history of the world in which God redeems Adam’s fallen
the case. Jealous of Joseph’s favor race through Christ. God’s story sets the stage for all fu-
in the eyes of their father, the sons ture history. It also sets the pattern for all great stories
of Israel plot to kill their brother. throughout history. As we recall Tolkien’s Hobbit, we
Their mercy consists in a decision see that he echoes Genesis in many ways. The insignifi-
not to kill their innocent sibling cant, like Bilbo of Bag End, are called to become great
but to sell him into slavery to some players in the history of their imaginary world. This, of
Midianite traders. This was their course, repeats the pattern of the patriarchs, who are
idea of mercy! The book is full of called to important roles in the history of God’s saving
examples of man’s cruelty to men. plan.
By nature man ought to be merci- The Hobbit also leaves us with the same sense as
ful, but he is not. Genesis. Both end leaving us in a state of hope and ex-
pectation mixed with foreboding. What will become
Man is a Restored of the Ring? What will happen to Bilbo? We haven’t
Sméagol— Image-Bearer seen the last of Gollum, have we? Now, we are ready to
or Gollum—
The problem of sin must be dive into the Fellowship with new understanding. In a
from Tolkien’s
epic The Lord solved and the shattered mirror of similar way, Genesis leaves us with the expectation that
of the Rings man must be restored. Fortunately, God will bring about great things through the family of
Genesis does not leave us with Abraham. We hope that we will again enter the garden.
what man ought to be by nature but is not. It leads us We long for the Seed of the woman to appear. This ex-
on to what man can be by grace. This basic distinc- pectation, however, is mixed with foreboding of coming
tion is set up in the garden, when God establishes a slavery and the fact that the problems of the Fall have
dichotomy between the seed of the serpent and the still left the world in pieces as we leave the book. God’s
Seed of the woman. The seed of the serpent are those original creative act has been distorted and corrupted,
who build up the kingdom of Satan and rebellious but God Himself has not been thwarted.
man. The Seed of the woman is ultimately Christ —Stuart W. Bryan
and also, in Him, those who build up the kingdom of
God and redeemed man. This redemption follows a
basic pattern. First, God extends his grace to a man. For Further Reading
Second, He speaks a word to him, expecting that he Jordan, James. Primeval Saints. Moscow, Idaho: Canon
will receive His word and believe it. Third, the man re- Press, 2001.
sponds by approaching him via blood sacrifice as an Leithart, Peter J. A House for My Name: A Survey of the
Old Testament. Moscow, Idaho: Canon Press, 2000.
Pages 17–70.
Chart 1: P a tterns of Obedi en ce
Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization. Eighth
NOAH Abraha m Edition. Boston, Mass.: Wadsworth, 2012. 1–35.
God’s Man 6:8 12:1
Veritas Press Bible Cards: Genesis through Joshua.
God’s word to the man 6:13 12:1–3
Man’s sacrifice for sin 8:20–22 12:7, 13:4
Lancaster, Pa.: Veritas Press. 1, 2, 5, 9, 17.
Man’s obedience 6:22 15:6
 Genesis 11

Session I: Prelude Some of the answers are as follows:

Mary: This is a popular choice for many.
The Mystery of Michelangelo’s Romaine takes this position. Since the Early
Creation of Man Middle Ages, Mary was given the title Mother
of God. This title was originally given to clar-
This is the famous fresco painting by Michelangelo
ify the fact that Jesus Christ was really God.
that is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. It shows the
By the time the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel
creation of man spoken of in Genesis. This, of course,
was being painted, Mary was being vener-
shows a very unbiblical picture of God. He is not a grey
ated. Still, why is Mary watching Adam? She
haired old man. The cherubim are not pudgy little ba-
is not part of the God-head. She did not pre-
bies. This, however, is not the controversial part. Look
exist her own birth.
behind God. One character is not like the others. Just
Some feminine aspect of God: Some
under God’s left arm is a beautiful woman (who is not
feminist theologians might be tempted to
like the cherubs). Artists and art historians dispute her
answer in this manner, but it is really out of
identity.
step with the theology of that day. If this
Write a para-
was a female deity (or aspect of God) why
graph explaining
wouldn’t she be older (a wise, gray-haired
who she is (Hint:
woman)?
on another part
Eve: Even though the Eve in the other part
of the ceiling Eve
of the painting looks different, some think
is pictured but she
that this is still the best choice and some
does not look like
think that that they really do not look that
this woman).6
different. It would seem, however, that the
woman under God’s arm looks fragile and
Detail of
Eve from The feminine, whereas Eve looks more burly.
Temptation Also, when Adam is created, Eve has not
and Expulsion.
12 O m n i b u s I

yet been created. What is she doing behind While the image of God remains after the
God when she does not yet exist? Compare Fall, the Fall did introduce an anomaly into
our mystery lady with the very muscular Eve man’s position. Adam was created “very
shown in the detail below the fresco. good.” He was free in the fullest sense of
Sophia (Wisdom): This does not mean a that word since he had no predisposition
feminine aspect of God. Wisdom in Proverbs to choose evil. While not as fully developed
in pictured as a woman. It would seem as he would one day potentially be—even
appropriate to have wisdom pictured during Adam was to grow in righteousness, to
the creation of man. It seems this is the most advance from a position of goodness to one
likely answer. of greater goodness—he was pure. The Fall
altered this and created a tragic dilemma for
Discuss or list short answers to the following questions: man in the image of God. For now, because
he is created in the image of God, there are
Comprehension Questions certain things which man is but other things
1. When and by whom was Genesis written? he ought to be but is not.
Genesis was written by Moses just prior to or 7. What is a covenant? With whom did God enter
shortly following the Exodus of the people into covenants in Genesis?
of Israel from Egypt in 1446 B.C. A covenant is a solemnly established and
2. What does the word Genesis mean? clearly defined relationship between two
The word Genesis means “beginnings” and or more persons. When God enters into
appropriately describes the overall theme of covenant with people, He promises to bless
the book of Genesis. them if they will but love and serve Him, but
3. How would one divide Genesis into a two part threatens to chastise and even destroy them
outline? should they rebel. We see this in His relation-
Genesis can be roughly divided into the fol- ship with Adam (2:15–17), in His covenant
lowing two part outline: with Noah and his offspring (9:8–17), and in
1-11 Primeval History (Early History of the His covenant with Abraham and his descen-
World) dants (17:1–14).
12-50 History of the Patriarchs of Israel
4. What purpose does the word toledoth serve in Reading Assignment:
Genesis? What does it mean? Genesis 1:1–11:26 (This reading is the
The word toledoth is a Hebrew word mean- Toledoth 1–5 mentioned in the Author and Context
ing, “These are the generations of . . .” It section.)
indicates that Moses used previous written
documents in compiling Genesis and serves
as an organizational tool for the book itself.
There are ten toledoth sections. Session II: Debate
5. Make a list of the things we learn about God from Genesis 1:1–11:26
the book of Genesis.
According to Genesis there is only one living A Question to Argue
and true God who is (1) personal, (2) Triune, How long did it take for God to create the world?
(3) sovereign, (4) transcendent, (5) authori- Use this question as a discussion-starter.
tative (immanent), (6) holy, righteous, and Teachers should look for opportunities to intro-
good, (7) covenantal, (8) faithful, and (9) duce other questions as the students’ answers
merciful. This list is by no means exhaustive. open doors to deeper, probing questions.
6. Why did the Fall introduce a distinction between
what man is as the image of God and what man
ought to be?
 Genesis 13

Read the three views of Creation held by Christians in the Objections

church today outlined below. Then discuss or write short re-
Objections to the S e v e n 2 4 -H o u r D a y s
sponses to the objections to each view, thinking through how
Position:
advocates of each view would seek to defend their position.
1. How can you know that days 1–3 are “normal 24-
T h e H i s t o r i c S e v e n 24-H o u r D a y s hour days” if the sun and moon had not yet been
Position. created?
This view takes Genesis literally. It states that God cre- While it is true that the sun and moon were not
ated the world in six days. Each day was a 24-hour pe- created on these days, the God who is going to
riod. It holds that this creation happened in the order create the sun and the moon is telling us the
set forth in Scripture and that God rested the Seventh story. He uses the term that would be most eas-
Day. This view also holds that all death was the result ily understood to be a 24-hour period, and He
of the Fall. This pattern of work and rest set up the would know because He was there.
weekly paradigm that we are all to follow. 2. How can you hold this view since modern science
has found that the earth is about 4 billion years old?
The Day Age Position. Modern science is fallible. When it comes to
This position asserts that the “days” in Genesis are not comparing the authority of modern science to
24-hour days, but that each Day represents an age that of the most clear and consistent reading
that could have been years or even millennia long. It of Genesis, one should read the text and let
bases its interpretation of the Hebrew word yom (day) the chips fall where they may. Modern science
on verses like Psalm 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8. It looks at has a prejudice against the supernatural, so it
the Sabbath rest of God on the Seventh day as His rest will consistently conflict with Scripture. Trying
from His creative activity which continues to this day. to make my reading of the Bible fit modern
This view does believe that animal death occurred be- science’s conclusion gives too much authority
fore the Fall. to fallible men and demonstrates too little
faith in the Word of God. As science moves
The Framework Position. out of its present anti-Christian bias, it should
This view believes that the seven days of creation are be that its adherents will increasingly see that
not to be taken as literal, twenty-four hour days, but the natural world should be interpreted in
are instead figurative, topical descriptions of God’s cre- light of Scripture and not vice-versa.
ation of the world. As evidence they point to the fact
that there is a pattern in Genesis 1 in which God creates Objections to the D a y -A g e P o s i t i o n :
realms in days 1–3 (light and dark in the heavens, the 1. In the few Old Testament passages in which the
sky and sea, and dry land) and their rulers in days 4–6 words day or days are not to be taken literally (nor-
(sun and moon to “rule” the day and night, birds and mal 24-hour days), doesn’t the context determine
fish to rule the sky and sea, animals and finally man this meaning? What in the context of Genesis 1
to rule the dry land). This view asserts that the Genesis tells us that day does not mean what it normally
language offers snapshots of the divine creativity, but means (i.e., a normal 24-hour day)?
that this language is by nature metaphorical. The chief We should know this because of textual
thing not to be taken literally according to the frame- evidence and the findings of science. First,
work position is the chronological sequence. This view the sun and the moon were not even cre-
does not, however, commit to any specific time frame ated until day four. What is a day without
for creation; neither does it commit itself to any spe- the sun? Also, those who hold to the Seven
cific order of events. It also allows for the possibility of 24-Hour Day Position set science and the
death in all but man (who bears God’s image) before Scriptures at odds unnecessarily. The word
the Fall and points to the Sabbath as God’s eternal en- day can mean a longer period of time. As
thronement over creation, and the eternal rest to which we look at the world around us, it seems
all creation ultimately points and is fulfilled in Christ. through carbon dating that the world is
14 O m n i b u s I

older, so why not learn from science how 2. Do you think that this complicated theory is really
God created the world? what God was trying to convey with the language
2. Isn’t your view just an attempt to force the conclu- of Genesis 1 or is this just another attempt to make
sions of modern science into the biblical text? our Bibles fit the conclusions of modern science?
Well, it does eliminate a lot of unneces- Many times the Scriptures say more than
sary conflict between the two, but it is not is realized by those that hear it or even by
an attempt to squeeze evolution into the those that wrote it down. The prophecies
Scriptures. God tells us the story of creation about Christ were read in the synagogues
making sure that we know that He created every week, but few believers were ready
everything and that the material world that for His appearance. Many doctrines have
He made was good. He is not giving us a developed by the Church looking back at
science text that lets us in on the details. the text and dealing with controversies that
He has given us the ability to look at things have flared up in a particular time. In our
and learn how He made the world. It seems day with the rise of evolutionary theory,
as if He made it over a long period of time Christians have had to think more about the
(according to science) and the text allows for doctrine of creation. While some people’s
that reading. positions are clarified by the writings of
theologians like Meredith Kline, there are
Objections to the Framework Position: examples of people in the ancient church
1. It can be said that the language of Genesis 1 points who believed that the language of Genesis
to a poetic structure (i.e., Realms on Days 1–3 and is metaphorical. The Framework Position
Rulers on Days 4–6). While this seems clear, why neither affirms or denies any particular time
does this pattern prove that the language is figura- frame.
tive? Or, put another way, why couldn’t God have Write a paragraph promoting which view of creation you
done his creative work in a poetic pattern? think is correct.
He certainly could have done the work in It seems that it is only fair to let you know
this poetic chronology, but that does not where this writer stands. I am an advocate
seem to be what the text is trying to make of the Seven 24-Hour Days Position because I
us see. When days 1–3 are said to have “eve- think that this is the most consistent reading
ning and morning” without sun or moon, it of the Scripture and because inspired writ-
should be clear that these are not “normal” ers interpreted it that way (see. Ex. 20:11,
days. When we realize this, the next question 31:17). I fear that some of my brethren
that we should ask is what is God trying to who hold to the other positions (Day Age
communicate with this figurative and meta- and Framework) have let the ever chang-
phorical language? It seems that He is giving ing winds of science effect their reading of
us clear snapshots of what creation was like, the text. I do, however, recognize that some
but not tying it to a specific time frame. really believe that the Bible is teaching these
These snapshots do, however, set the pattern other views. I pray that God brings us all to
of work and rest that He wishes us to follow. more of one mind on this issue.
 Genesis 15

As you consider the doctrinal positions 3. Why did Adam eat? (See 1 Timothy 2:14 if you
of your school and the families in the class, need some clarification)
make sure that you point children to their We do not know Adam’s positive motive, but
pastors and parents for more guidance. we do know that he was not deceived. Adam
My concern in the essay is that they would sinned knowingly.
defend their position well and show charity 4. What punishments resulted from Adam’s sin?
toward their Christian brothers and sisters Eve was cursed by having great pain in child
while arguing strongly and courageously. birth and by desiring to usurp the role of her
husband. The ground was cursed because of
Reading Assignment: Adam. Adam also was cursed with having to
Genesis 11:27–37:1 (Toledoth 6–9) fight against nature instead of it cooperating
with him. He also was cursed with death, which
was visited on him and on all of the people that
he represented (i.e., the entire human race).
Session III: Discussion 5. What curse does the ground receive because of
Genesis 11:27–37:1 Adam?
The ground is cursed so that it produces
A Question to Consider thorns and thistles. In the Garden, nature
Should someone ever be punished or rewarded for the cooperated with and provided for man. After
actions of another? Adam’s sin, nature was set at odds with man,
Use this question as a discussion-starter. so that it is not cooperating with him. Paul
Teachers should look for opportunities to intro- says that the creation groans under this curse.
duce other questions as the students’ answers 6. What curse do Adam and Eve receive because of
open doors to deeper, probing questions. Adam’s sin?
They are punished with a painful and futile
Discuss or list short answers to the following questions: life and ultimately with death.
7. How do we know that this curse is carried on to
Text Analysis their children?
1. What one prohibition did God give to Adam in The rest of biblical history (and our own
Genesis 2? observation of the obituary pages, as well)
God told Adam in Genesis 2:17 that if Adam tells us this. The first striking evidence is the
ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good first murder, recorded in Genesis 4.
and Evil that he would surely die.
Cultural Analysis
2. Why did Eve disobey God and eat the forbidden 1. In athletic events, if one player does something
fruit? wrong (e.g., drops an easy fly ball in the bottom of
Sadly, Eve was deceived by the serpent who the ninth inning, allowing two runs to score and
told her that she would be like God if she his team to lose), is it fair for his whole team to be
ate the fruit. punished for it (i.e., lose the game)?
16 O m n i b u s I

Our culture has little objection to this (except for them. Christ represented His people
for Red Sox, Cubs and Phillies fans). We in the same manner as Adam represented
understand that team play demands that the the entire race. The Bible says little about
players be treated as a united or covenantal Adam’s relationship to us, but we can learn
unit, where one player’s actions are reck- about this relationship by understanding
oned to the entire group. The players chose that it is like the relationship between Christ
to be on the team, so our culture thinks that and His people. Jesus died for His Church on
it is fair. the cross and won salvation for them. His
2. If a child robbed a store, what would our culture work was credited to us. None of His people
say about sending the parents of that thieving hung on the cross and paid for their sins,
child to jail? only Jesus did this, but His payment covered
Our culture would not like laws like this one the sins (or atoned for the sins) of all of
because they do not like reckoning a family His people. In the same way, Adam’s one
as a unit, but as a group of individuals who sin covered or was credited to all of those
bear little responsibility for each other. I whom he represented. As Christians will
think that a lot of our objections are based receive the eternal reward that Christ won
on the fact that we do not get to choose our for us, so all who are sons and daughters of
family members. Adam deserve (and unless God saves them)
3. Why does our culture react differently in these cir- will receive the punishment that this sin
cumstance? Is this biblical? deserves (i.e., all the pains of this life, death
Our culture seems content with covenantal itself and the pains of Hell forever). We,
thinking so long as it is reckoned only in however, do not stop with Adam’s sin, but
places where we make a conscious informed we continue to sin because we live in rebel-
decision about being part of the covenant. lion and crave evil.
God, however, reckons this covenant unity 2. In Romans 5:12, why did death spread to all men?
both in situations where a conscious com- It spread because all of us sinned in Adam.
mitment has been made (e.g., marriage He sinned and earned cursing as our repre-
covenants) and where one has not been sentative for all of us.
made (e.g., families, nations and as a race in 3. In Romans 5:13–14 how were the sins of those
Adam). that lived between Adam and Moses different
than (not in the likeness of) Adam’s sin?
Biblical Analysis Adam sinned by breaking the law of God
Read Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 thoughtfully out (Gen. 2:17). After Moses received the tab-
loud. These passages can be difficult to understand so make lets, men sinned by breaking the law spoken
sure you have your Bibles open while you discuss it. by God and written on tablets. The men
The teacher should have the answers readily between Adam and Moses did not have this
available so he can help students through verbal law to disobey. They did not sin in the
the answers. In a homeschool setting, make “likeness” of Adam. They did, however, sin
sure that you have the answers available by breaking the law written on their con-
and do not spend too much time on any one sciences (see Romans 2:15).
question. 4. What does Romans 5:18–19 make clear about
Adam’s sin?
1. In both of these passages to what is Adam’s sin Adam’s sin brought us condemnation, and
compared? we became sinners when he sinned.
This is the most important point to see. 5. In 1 Corinthians 15:22, what happen to all men in
Adam’s sin is compared with the salvation Adam?
that Christ won for His people by dying As a result of his sin, we died.
 Genesis 17

Summa 2. One theologian has said that God’s covenant is

basically a relationship (or bond) of life or death
Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating
significance ruled over by God.7 What do you see
what you have learned from the material above.
in these two passages that supports this view?
Is it righteous to punish or reward some
God’s covenant in Genesis 9 is concerned
people for the actions of another? What does culture
with His promise to never cut off all life with
believe and what does Scripture teach?
a flood. The covenant in Genesis 15 is con-
Not only is it righteous, but it is the only
cerned with Abraham’s heir and inheritance.
way of salvation. In Adam our entire race
fell into sin. Each one of us, however, has Biblical Analysis
added immensely to the punishment that
What are the essential parts of a covenant?
we deserve through our own sinful actions.
Answer the questions in Chart 3.
God in mercy visited the punishment so justly
deserved by His people upon His Son. Christ
absorbed this wrath, and we receive the
reward of eternal life. This is just, but justice
is not even the beginning of it.
Session V: Discussion
A Question to Consider
Reading Assignment: Can God accomplish His will by using sinful peo-
Genesis 37:2–50:26 (Toledoth 10)
ple in the process?
Use this question as a discussion-starter.
Teachers should look for opportunities to
introduce other questions as the students’
Session IV: Analysis answers open doors to deeper, probing
Genesis 37:2–50:26 questions.

A Question to Consider Discuss or list short answers to the following questions:

What is a covenant?
Use this question as a discussion-starter. Text Analysis
Teachers should look for opportunities to 1. Does God ordain that sinful actions take place?
introduce other questions as the students’ Consider Genesis 45:4–8; 50:19, 20; Exodus 4:21;
answers open doors to deeper, probing Matthew 26:54; Luke 22:22; Acts 2:23; 4:28.
questions. Joseph very plainly ascribes his descent into
Egypt to two causes: God and his brothers.
Discuss or list short answers to the following questions: God sent Joseph into Egypt through the
wickedness of his brothers. In so doing, how-
Text Analysis ever, God desired something that was good.
Reread: Genesis 9:1–17 and Genesis 15 He used the sinful actions of the brothers
1. According to the similarities of these passages, to accomplish His inscrutable purpose. The
what is a covenant? other passages reinforce this theme. God tells
We see in these cases that a covenant is an Moses to speak to Pharaoh but also announc-
agreement between at least two parties. es that He Himself will harden Pharaoh’s
One party makes a promise or promises, heart and cause him to refuse to heed God’s
usually gives instruction or law, speaks of word (Ex. 4:21). Jesus notes in Matthew that
the blessing of obedience to this law, and his murder was decreed ahead of time by
demonstrates their earnest by giving a sign God through the Scriptures. The passages in
of the covenant. Luke and Acts make this even more explicit.
18 O m n i b u s I

2. Does this remove man’s responsibility for his sin? things violate God’s revealed law? Yes. It
Consider the above passages, Ecclesiastes 7:29 is helpful in this connection to distinguish
and Romans 9:19–26. between God’s decretive and prescriptive
God’s sovereign decree does not remove wills. His decretive will is His secret and
man’s responsibility. Joseph, remember, sovereign council whereby He has deter-
ascribes his descent into Egypt both to God mined infallibly whatsoever comes to pass.
and to his brothers. As far as his brothers are His prescriptive will consists of the commands
concerned, their action was evil. It is true and laws He has entrusted to man expressing
that God overruled their evil intention in His that which is good and right in His sight.
sovereign mercy, but the text continues to God’s prescriptive will is the standard for our
hold them accountable for their evil. They obedience (Deut. 4:5–8); his decretive will is
themselves acknowledged that the calami- that which establishes whatsoever comes to
ties which were coming upon them were a pass (Eph. 1:11).
result of their sin (42:21–22). Why then does God still find fault? If He
God made man upright but he sought out decrees all that takes place, including the
many devices. When God created man, he sinful actions of men, how can He hold men
was very good. Man’s decision to rebel was responsible for the sinful actions they com-
his own responsibility. Did this catch God by mit? Paul’s discussion of God’s sovereignty
surprise? Had God intended something else in Romans 9 raised the same objection. His
in his secret, decretive will? No. Did these answer? “On the contrary, who are you, O

Chart 2: Part s o f a C o ven a n t

Asp ect of
Cove nant Noah A b r aha m
Promise Never again shall all flesh be cut I will be a God to you and your children (17:7). You will
off by the waters of the flood; receive a Seed (15:5). Your descendants will be like the
never again shall there be a flood stars (15:5). You will receive a land (12:8). I will bless the
to destroy the earth. (9:11) world through you (12:3).

Law Protecting the image of God Walk before me and be blameless (17:1)
seems closely related to this cov-
enant. (9:1–7)
Blessing Food, multiplication and safety. Seed, land, wealth, blessing to the world. See
(9:1–4) above.
Sign Rainbow (9:13 ff) Circumcision (17:9 ff)
 Genesis 19

Chart 2, continued: Pa rts o f a C o ven a n t

As pe ct of
Covenant S cri pture R ef eren ce Q u e s t i on
Promise John 17:1-3, Matt. 28:20 What does Christ pray for? What does He promise for His
Church?
Christ prays that those who believe in Him should have
eternal life. Christ says that He will always be with His
people.
Law Rom. 13:9, Gal. 3:13–14; What is this Law in this passage the same as? What does
this tell you about God’s rules of righteousness?
The Law in the New Testament is exactly the same as the
Ten Commandments given in the Old Testament. This
shows us that the only standard of righteousness is the
unchanging character of God.
Blessing Rom. 4:12–14; 1 Pet. 2:4–5 Whose blessings has the Church inherited? How has this
promise expanded? If we are what 1 Pet. 2:4–5 says, is
the Church still his people?
The church has inherited the promises of Abraham. The
promises to Abraham have expanded. He was promised
the Land of Canaan. The church is promised the world.
Peter calls us a holy priesthood. If the church is a holy
priesthood, it is certainly His people.
Sign Matt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 11:24–26 What are the signs of the New Covenant? How do they
relate to the sign of Circumcision and Passover given to
Israel?
The signs of the New Covenant are Baptism and the Lord’s
Supper. Baptism is like Circumcision because it marks a
person’s entrance into God’s people. The Lord’s Supper
is like Passover. It marks the continuing communion that
God has with His people.

man, who answers back to God?” God is Summa

sovereign. He has authority to do with the
Write an essay or discuss this question, integrating
world as He sees fit (see Romans 9:19–26).
what you have learned from the material above.
Biblical Analysis How can God accomplish His purposes
through the sinful actions of human beings and still
1. What does it mean that God is sovereign? Consider
be holy, just, and good?
the following Scriptures:
God’s control over the Universe is complete.
• He accomplishes His will (Ps. 115:3; 135:5–7;
He brought the Universe into being. All
Dan. 4:17, 34, 35; Eph. 1:11)
actions are under His control, even sinful
• He brings about trivial things (Ex. 34:24; Prov.
actions. Sins, although they are against
16:1, 9, 33)
God’s law, are still used by Him to bring
• Calamity is under His rule (Isa. 45:7; Lam. 3:37, 38)
20 O m n i b u s I

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn. Jacob Blessing

the Sons of Joseph. 1656. Oil on canvas. Staatliche
Kunstsammlungen, Kassel, Germany.

about His plan to redeem His people. Ephraim and Manasseh.

Because He controls all things, we can face 2. Where in Genesis is this scene described?
every circumstance with confidence that all Genesis 48
circumstances come from the hand of a lov- 3. What is Joseph endeavoring to do with Jacob’s
ing God. hand?
Joseph is endeavoring to move his father’s
hand from the younger son, Ephraim, to the
older, Manasseh.
Optional Session 4. Does Rembrandt capture the emotion which the
biblical text ascribes to Joseph at this point? What
Analyzing the Art emotion is portrayed?
Begin class by analyzing this painting by Rembrandt. The biblical text says that Joseph was “dis-
1. Who are the characters in this painting? pleased.” The Joseph in this picture, how-
Jacob, Joseph, his wife Asenath, and his sons, ever, looks rather placid and calm.
 Genesis 21

5. Which of the boys appears the more pious? Why? Endnotes

The boy to the right is shining with light. 1 Technically there are eleven sections. The two toledoth sections
about Esau have been combined (36:1–8 and 36:9–37:1).
Joseph’s coat creates a sort of halo over 2 The identification of Moses as the primary author of Genesis
the boy’s head. His position is reverent in does not exclude some later editorial revisions or additions.
contrast with the other who is staring off For instance, Genesis 11:31 associates Ur with the tribe of
the Chaldeans, a group of people who did not emerge until
into space and rather disconnected with after Moses’ death. For a fuller treatment of Mosaic author-
the event. ship consult Raymond B. Dillard and Tremper Longman,
6. What event does this blessing recall from Jacob’s III, An Introduction to the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan, 1994) pp. 38-48.
own life? 3 Some people are uncomfortable describing Adam’s relation-
Jacob, like Ephraim, was the younger and ship with God as a covenant. However, Scripture explicitly
was blessed by God. identifies this relationship as a covenant (Hos. 6:7), and all the
elements of a covenant are present: privileges, expectations,
7. Rembrandt’s painting changes a number of things blessings, consequences, etc. For a fuller treatment, see O.
in the biblical text, both by addition and omission. Palmer Robertson, The Christ of the Covenants (Phillipsburg, NJ:
Can you identify them? Why do you suppose he Presbyterian & Reformed, 1980) chapter 5.
4 Hebrews 6:13–20 discusses this passage in Genesis 15 and
did this? uses it to encourage us to trust in God’s faithfulness through
Rembrandt omits the crossing of Jacob’s hands; His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
he places Ephraim and Manasseh in opposite 5 This point is related to the Nicene Creed’s statement that Jesus was
genitum non factum (begotten, not made). Jesus is the only begot-
positions relative to the biblical description
ten Son of God, meaning of course that Jesus has the same nature
which places Ephraim on Joseph’s right and as God Himself (Jesus is divine). We are adopted sons of God. We
Manasseh on his left; he adds Joseph’s wife do not have His nature because we are creatures. Nevertheless,
through Christ, we receive all the benefits that He as the Son of
Asenath to the scene; and, as noted above, he
God deserves. For example, we shall inherit the earth.
alters Joseph’s emotion. It is difficult to deter- 6 For a fascinating discussion of this question, see James
mine with certainty why he did so. Rembrandt Romaine’s chapter on Creativity in: Ned Bustard, ed. It was
Good: Making Art to the Glory of God (Baltimore: Square Halo
painted some of the most vivid and alluring
Publishing, 2000) pp. 159-201.
depictions of biblical scenes. A plausible rea- 7 O.P. Robertson, Christ of the Covenants (Phillipsburg, NJ:
son for the change is that he wanted to make Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 1980) pp. 3-15. This
gives the definition for covenant, saying that it is a bond in
the picture accord more with Dutch customs
blood sovereignly administered. For the adventurous student or
at the time and what would be a typical death the inquisitive parent this chapter of this book does a great job
bed scene in Holland. explaining covenants.