Genesis — The Seed Plot of the Bible

Writer: Moses. The name Genesis is taken from the Septuagint (LXX), a Greek translation of the Old Testament made in Alexandria around 285–247 B.C. at the order of Ptolemy Philadelphus. Josephus tells us that 72 priests (six from each of the 12 tribes) produced this translation in 72 days. Christ and Paul both quoted from this translation.

Genesis means "origin," "source," "birth." Derived from the Greek verb gennao — "to beget" or "give birth to" — it is the book of beginnings and sources, and most particularly the book of births. It is the book of generations: the genealogy of heaven, earth, and man. Even the new birth is suggested in Genesis 3:15, which contains the first mention of a Redeemer.

Genesis is the book of beginnings: the beginning of creation, man, woman, the Sabbath, marriage, family, work, sin, murder, sacrifice, races, languages, culture, civilization, and redemption. It falls into two natural divisions — Genesis 2:4 (The Book of the Birth of Heaven and the Earth) and Genesis 5:1 (The Book of the Birth of Men). Key Word: Generations. Purpose: To give us the families — Genesis 12:3; 22:18; 28:13–14; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:6, 9, 16. The first 11 chapters cover a minimum of 2,000 years; from chapter 12 to chapter 50, the time is only 350 years. This contrast should arrest our attention — the record slows dramatically at chapter 12 because individuals become more important to God than world events. Comment: Abraham is more important to God than the universe. God devotes 39 chapters to 350 years of one family's history, while covering the first 2,000+ years of world history in only 11 chapters. In the four Gospels, the same principle appears: four chapters cover the first 30 years of Jesus' life, while 85 chapters cover the last three years, and 27 chapters cover the last eight days. The emphasis is always on what matters most — and in Genesis, that is God's redemptive plan through one chosen family. Genesis vs. the Babylonian Account: A comparison with the Babylonian tablets of creation reveals the superiority of the biblical record. The Babylonian tablets begin with chaos; the Bible begins with cosmos and perfection. The Babylonian account treats heavenly bodies as gods; the Bible presents them as matter. The Babylonian text is polytheistic; Genesis is monotheistic. The Babylonian tablets reflect the work of a craftsman; in Genesis, God spoke. The Babylonian account is characterized by puerility and grotesqueness; the Bible presents the grand and solemn realities of a holy Creator who is also a Savior. While the Babylonian account is out of harmony with science, the Genesis record is in accord with science — so much so that many scientists are believers.

I. ENTRANCE OF SIN ON EARTH (Chapters 1–11) A. CREATION, Chapters 1–2 1. Heaven and Earth, 1:1 — "Create" (bara) occurs only 3 times (vv. 1, 21, 27) 2. Earth became waste and void, 1:2 3. Re-creation, 1:3–2:25 a. First Day — light, 1:3-5 b. Second Day — air spaces (firmament), 1:6-8 c. Third Day — dry land appears and plant life, 1:9-13 d. Fourth Day — sun, moon, stars appear, 1:14-19 e. Fifth Day — animal life (biology), 1:20-23 f. Sixth Day — fertility of creation and creation of man, 1:24-31 g. Seventh Day — Sabbath, 2:1-3 h. Recapitulation of the creation of man, 2:4-25 (Law of recurrence) B. FALL, Chapters 3–4 1. Root of sin — doubting and disobeying God 2. Fruit of sin — "Out of the heart proceed … murders …" (Matt. 15:19) C. FLOOD, Chapters 5–9 1. Book of generations of Adam — through Seth — beginning of man's history — obituary notices, Ch. 5 2. Antediluvian civilization — cause of flood and construction of ark, Ch. 6 3. Judgment of flood, Ch. 7 4. Postdiluvian civilization — after the flood, Ch. 8 5. Postdiluvian life — new beginning, Ch. 9 D. TOWER OF BABEL and confusion of tongues, Chapters 10–11 1. Ethnology — sons of Noah, Ch. 10 2. Tower of Babel, Ch. 11 (Contrast to Day of Pentecost) OUTLINE (according to genealogies): Gen. 1:1–2:6 Book of generations of heavens and earth — divine poem of creation — God's creative work Gen. 2:7–6:8 Book of generations of Adam (men, anthropoi) — Adam was created, but children born to him Gen. 6:9–9:29 Generations of Noah Gen. 10:1–11:9 Generations of sons of Noah Gen. 11:10-26 Generations of sons of Shem (Gentiles) Gen. 11:27–25:11 Generations of Terah Gen. 25:12-18 Generations of Ishmael Gen. 25:19–35:29 Generations of Isaac ("In Isaac shall thy seed be called" — Gen. 21:12; Heb. 11:8-9; Rom. 9:7) Gen. 36:1–37:1 Generations of Esau Gen. 37:2–50:26 Generations of Jacob (rejected line given first, chosen line last — cf. 1 Cor. 15:46) II. PREPARATION FOR THE COMING OF THE REDEEMER OF ALL MANKIND (Chapters 12–50) A. ABRAHAM (faith), Chapters 12–23 (Development of faith by seven appearances of God) 1. God's call and promise to Abram — his response by lapse of faith, Ch. 12 2. Abram returns to land from Egypt — separates from Lot — God appears third time to Abram, Ch. 13 3. First war — Abram delivers Lot; first priest — Abram blessed by Melchizedek, Ch. 14 4. God reveals Himself more completely to Abram — reaffirms His promises, Ch. 15 5. Unbelief of Sarai and Abram — birth of Ishmael, Ch. 16 6. God makes covenant with Abraham (Abram becomes Abraham) — confirms promise about a son, Ch. 17 7. God reveals coming destruction of Sodom to Abraham — Abraham intercedes, Ch. 18 8. Angels warn Lot — Lot leaves Sodom — God destroys cities of the plain, Ch. 19 9. Abraham repeats sin at Gerar about relationship of Sarah, Ch. 20 10. Birth of Isaac — Hagar and Ishmael cast out — Abraham at Beer-sheba, Ch. 21 11. God commands Abraham to offer Isaac — restrains him — reconfirms covenant, Ch. 22 12. Death of Sarah — Abraham purchases Machpelah cave for burial place, Ch. 23 B. ISAAC (the beloved son), Chapters 24–26 (Choosing of a bride compares with Christ and the church) 1. Abraham sends servant for bride for Isaac — Rebekah returns — becomes Isaac's bride, Ch. 24 2. Death of Abraham — birth of Esau and Jacob (twins) — Esau sells birthright to Jacob, Ch. 25 3. God confirms covenant to Isaac — Isaac misrepresents relationship with Rebekah — Isaac digs well in Gerar, Ch. 26 C. JACOB ("Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth"), Chapters 27–36 1. Jacob and Rebekah connive to get blessing intended for Esau, Ch. 27 2. Jacob leaves home — at Bethel God appears to him — confirms Abrahamic covenant, Ch. 28 3. Jacob arrives in Haran — meets Rachel and Uncle Laban — serves for Rachel — deceived into marrying Leah, Ch. 29 4. Birth of sons of Jacob — Jacob prepares to leave Laban — Jacob's bargain pays off, Ch. 30 5. Jacob flees from Haran — Laban overtakes him — Jacob and Laban make Mizpah covenant, Ch. 31 6. Crisis in life of Jacob: at Peniel a Man wrestles with him — Jacob's name changed to Israel, Ch. 32 7. Jacob meets Esau — Jacob journeys to Shalem, Ch. 33 8. Scandal in Jacob's family: Dinah defiled — brothers avenge by slaying men of Hamor, Ch. 34 9. Jacob returns to Bethel — Rachel dies at Bethlehem — Isaac dies at Hebron, Ch. 35 10. Family of Esau which becomes nation of Edom, Ch. 36 D. JOSEPH (suffering and glory), Chapters 37–50 1. Jacob dwells in Canaan — Joseph sold into slavery, Ch. 37 2. Sin and shame of Judah, Ch. 38 3. Humiliation in Egypt, Ch. 39–40 a. Overseer in house of Potiphar — tempted then framed by wife of Potiphar — imprisoned, Ch. 39 b. Joseph in prison interprets dreams of baker and butler, Ch. 40 4. Exaltation in Egypt, Ch. 41–48 a. Joseph interprets dreams of Pharaoh — made overseer of Egypt — marries Asenath — birth of Manasseh and Ephraim, Ch. 41 b. Jacob sends ten sons to Egypt for corn — audience with Joseph — leave Simeon as hostage — return home with corn and refunded money, Ch. 42 c. Jacob sends sons (Benjamin included) again to Egypt — entertained in Joseph's home (does not reveal his identity), Ch. 43 d. Joseph sends brothers home — arrested by steward — cup found in Benjamin's sack — Judah pleads for Benjamin, Ch. 44 e. Joseph reveals identity — tender reunion with brothers — invites Jacob and all family to Egypt, Ch. 45 f. Jacob with family (70) move to Egypt — Jacob and Joseph reunited, Ch. 46 g. Jacob and brothers dwell in Goshen — presented to Pharaoh — famine forces Egyptians to sell land — Joseph swears he will bury Jacob in Canaan, Ch. 47 h. Jacob on deathbed blesses Joseph's sons, Ch. 48 5. Death and burial of Jacob and Joseph, Ch. 49–50 a. Jacob gives deathbed blessing and prophecy for 12 sons, Ch. 49 b. Death and burial of Jacob in Canaan — death and burial of Joseph in Egypt, Ch. 50

• Genesis is called 'the seed plot of the Bible.' What beginnings introduced in Genesis do you see fully developed or fulfilled in the New Testament?
• God spends 39 chapters on 350 years of one family's story, but only 11 chapters on 2,000+ years of world history. What does this emphasis reveal about what God values most?
• Abraham's faith was developed through seven appearances of God, yet he stumbled multiple times. How does his example encourage you in your own journey of faith?
• Joseph experienced slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment before his exaltation. How do you see God's sovereign hand working through suffering in Joseph's life — and in your own?
• The Tower of Babel (Gen. 11) represents humanity's attempt to reach God on its own terms. How does this contrast with God's way of coming down to reach humanity through redemption?
• The first promise of a Redeemer appears in Genesis 3:15. How does recognizing Genesis as 'the seed plot of the Bible' change the way you read the rest of Scripture?