Genesis: In the Beginning
Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
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Since it is normally my practice to preach expository sermons through whole sections or books of the Bible, many of you have been asking me what book we will study next. And after much personal prayer and study I think that it would be a most helpful thing for us to go to the beginning, the book of Genesis.
Most of you know that the Bible is a compilation of many books penned by men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. It is God’s revelation of Himself to mankind. All of God’s word is significant and beneficial for us. Yet the book of Genesis stands out among them because it is the foundation for all the rest of the Bible.
The Bible is, through and through, a historical revelation. It is the account of God’s activity in history. As such, it must have a beginning. The book of Genesis gives us our historical point of reference, from which all subsequent revelation proceeds. Henry Morris wrote that if we didn’t have Genesis, “the rest of the Bible would be incomprehensible. It would be like a building without a ground floor, or a bridge with no support.”
Both the Old and New Testaments are built on the foundation of Genesis. The New Testament contains at least 35 direct quotations from Genesis and about 200 references or allusions to Genesis, 63 of those are to the first three chapters of Genesis. Studying Genesis will help us to understand the rest of the Bible.
The Title
The title “Genesis” is a transliteration of the Greek word which is the title of the book in the Septuagint, the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament. The word Genesis translates the Hebrew word toledoth (תּוֹלְדוֹת) which is repeated at least 10 times in the book of Genesis translated “this is the genealogy of,” or “this is the history of” (cf. Gen. 2:4; 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 36:9; 37:2). The title speaks of the origins and generations.
Gen. 2:4, This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Gen. 5:1, This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.
The Hebrew title is simply the first word of Genesis 1:1, Bereshith, (בְּרֵאשִׁית), translated by the phrase, “In the beginning.” The titles give us a clue as to its contents. Genesis is a book of origins, a book of generations, a book of beginnings. In it we find not only the beginning or origin of the created world (Gen. 1:1) with all its order and complexity, but also: the origin of life (Gen. 1); the origin of humanity (Gen. 1-2); the origin of the seven-day week (Gen. 2); the origin of marriage (Gen 2); the origin of human sin and death (Gen. 3); the origin of families (Gen. 4-5); the origin of culture (Gen. 4); the origin of nations (Gen. 10-11); the origin of languages (Gen. 11); and the origin of God’s chosen people, Israel (Gen. 12-50).
Genesis is the beginning point of theology. It lays the foundation for the doctrine of God, the trinity, revelation, mankind, sin, judgment, redemption, justification, faith, covenant, election, promise, sacrifice, prayer, worship, angels, kingdom, missions, and eschatology (just to name a few). Scripture is progressive revelation. “The major themes of Scripture may be compared to great rivers, ever deepening and broadening as they flow; and it is true to say that all these rivers have their rise in the watershed of Genesis,” (J. Sidlow Baxter, Explore the Book).
The Author
The authorship of the Book of Genesis is anonymous, like the other books of the Pentateuch (the first 5 books of the Bible). Traditionally it has been ascribed to Moses by both Jewish and Christian scholars. It would appear from internal evidence (e.g., Exodus 17:14; 24:4; 34:27; Leviticus 1:1; 4:1; 6:1,8,19,24; 7:22,28, etc.) that Moses wrote at least parts of the other books of the Pentateuch. So while the author does not identify himself in Genesis and the book ends almost 3 centuries before Moses was born, both the Old Testament (Ex. 17:14; Num. 33:2; Josh. 8:31; 1 Kin. 2:3; 2 Kin. 14:6; Ezra 6:18; Neh. 13:1; Dan. 9:11, 13; Mal. 4:4) and the New Testament (Matt. 8:4; Mark 12:26; Luke 16:29; 24:27, 44; John 5:46; 7:22; Acts 15:1; Rom. 10:19; 1 Cor. 9:9; 2 Cor. 3:15) attribute the Pentateuch to Moses. Therefore I find it hard not to conclude that Moses wrote most all of the Pentateuch including Genesis (Bob Deffinbaugh).
Put yourself in Moses’ shoes. It is 1406 B.C. You are the leader of over two million refugees who have come out of slavery in Egypt and are about to enter Canaan, a land God has promised to your forefathers. But there are giants in the land who must be conquered. The people in the land are idol worshipers, immoral beyond description. You know that you are about to die, so you won’t be able personally to lead your people in the conquest of that land. Somehow you must instill in them the resolve to take the land and to remain morally and spiritually pure in the process. How would you do it?. The first five books of the Bible were written for that purpose (Steven Cole).
Historical Context
When we are reading Genesis we need to remember that it really has two historical contexts. The first, as I just described, is that of the original audience, the Israelites during the time of the exodus when Moses wrote Genesis for those who were ready to take their inheritance in the promised land. Israel had just escaped the oppressive polytheism of Egypt’s temples and pyramids with its gods of the sun and moon. The Egyptians taught pantheism with elaborate myths of love affairs and reproduction among the gods and of warfare in the forming of heaven and earth.
In the Pentateuch Moses writes a polemic against these gods and all false gods. In the opening line, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” Moses provides a radical and sweeping affirmation of monotheism. Genesis forever establishes a true understanding about God, the world, and humanity.
The other historical context is the Ancient Near East at the time in which the narratives take place. Genesis covers approximately 2500 years of human history, more than all the other books of the Bible combined.
One way to look at the historical context of Genesis is by its geography. In Genesis 1 the setting is the heavens and the earth. In Genesis 2-3 the setting is the Garden of Eden. Genesis 4-5 take place east of Eden and the land of Nod. Genesis 6-9 cover Noah’s flood in the Ark and on the mountains of Ararat. Genesis 10-11 describe the dispersion of the nations from the tower of Babel on the plain of Shinar. Genesis 12 starts with Abram in Ur in Mesopotamia and quickly transitions to the land of Canaan. Most of Genesis 12-36 takes place in that land which God promised to Abraham with brief excursions to Haran, the land of Abraham’s relatives. Finally, the last few chapters (Genesis 37-50) take place mostly in Egypt. These times, lands, peoples and customs will inform our study of Genesis.
Overview and Outline
Nearly every student of the book of Genesis agrees that it falls logically into two sections: Primitive History in Genesis 1-11 and Patriarchal History in Genesis 12-50. After creation the first eleven chapters focus upon the ever widening ruin of man, fallen from his created perfection and coming under the judgment of God. Chapters 12-50 describe God’s ever narrowing program of man’s redemption.
The first division of the book, Genesis 1-11, can be summarized by four major events: the creation (Gen. 1-2), the fall and its aftermath (Gen. 3-5), the flood (Gen. 6-9), and the confusion of languages of the tower of Babel (Gen. 10-11) The second division, Genesis 12-50, can be remembered by its four main characters: Abraham (12:1-25:18), Isaac (25:19-26:35), Jacob (27-36), and Joseph (37-50).
- Primitive history from Adam to Abraham: The human race (Gen. 1-11).
- The Creation (Gen. 1-2)
- The Fall and Its Aftermath (Gen. 3-5)
- The judgment of the Flood (Gen. 6-9).
- The judgment of Babel (Gen. 10-11).
- Patriarchal history from Abraham to Joseph: The chosen race (Gen. 12-50).
- Abraham (Gen. 12-24)
- Isaac (Gen. 25-26)
- Jacob (Gen. 27-36)
- Joseph (Gen. 37-50)
As you may know, Genesis (especially the first few chapters) has come under severe attack from critics on all sides. Derek Kidner writes, “There can scarcely be another part of Scripture over which so many battles, theological, scientific, historical and literary, have been fought, or so many strong opinions cherished.” Ray Stedman said about Genesis 1:1, “Those who love to erect monuments on battlefields should raise a huge one on this verse. For here the armies of the evolutionists and the beleaguered hosts of the creationists have marched and wheeled and thundered and blasted away with considerably more noise than skill, producing more heat than light, to a victory that both insist they have won.”
Many have dismissed the early chapters of Genesis as legend or pure myth. Others, who hesitate to go that far, nonetheless view it as mere religious stories or allegories woven together from various sources. Some reject the historicity of Genesis, while accepting the religious or moral point of the narratives. Modern evolutionists often laugh off the creation account as totally lacking in scientific validity. Hundreds of volumes have been written debating these matters. I will not spend a lot of time arguing these issues because I do not think that is the primary thrust of the book of Genesis.
I intend to approach Genesis the way I would any other scripture: as divine revelation. I will endeavor to interpret the book literally in its historical/grammatical sense, in the light of the culture and customs of its day. I will attempt to point out eternal principles which are as true today as they were those many years ago that we can apply to life in the twenty-first century.
Genesis 1:1
With that as an introduction to the book as a whole, let’s spend the rest of our time on the first verse, one of the most profound statements in all the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” That is a very clear unmistakable statement. The mood is authoritative and declarative. It is so simple and clear that even a small child can understand it, yet at the same time within that statement is massive profound truth.
Bob Deffinbaugh points out, “The claim implied by this verse is much like that of our Lord when He presented Himself to men.” As we saw in studying the Gospel of John, you cannot logically just tip your hat to Jesus Christ as a “good man,” “a wonderful example,” or a “great teacher,” He was either Who He claimed to be (the Messiah, the Son of God), or He was a fake and a fraud. Jesus proclaimed (John 8:24), “for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Deffinbaugh concludes about Genesis 1:1, “So it is with this verse. We dare not call it good literature. It claims authority and veracity. From this verse one should either read on, expecting a revelation from God in this book, or he should set it aside as mere religious rhetoric.”
1. God is before everything.
The first thing I want you to notice about Genesis 1:1 is that everything starts with God: “In the beginning God …” God is the subject of the first sentence of the Bible. Genesis simply begins with God already on the scene as the primary actor. The Bible does not try to prove the existence of God. It just hits us square in the face with the fact of God. There’s not even time to duck!
In fact, God is the main subject of the whole first chapter of Genesis. The word God occurs 35 times in the creation account from Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 2:3. The word “God” is the Hebrew word Elohim (אֱלֹהִים). It is the plural form of the word El (אֵל) meaning mighty one. It speaks of God’s power and majesty. The interesting thing about this plural noun is that it is paired with a singular verb. God (plural) created (singular). What does that mean? It certainly proclaims monotheism, that God is one God, not many. Moses will write those most quoted words of Jewish liturgy (Deut. 6:4), “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!” Yet mysteriously it also proclaims God’s richness and majestic grandeur. The New Testament later reveals the complete fullness of God as the trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
God was there in the beginning. The context means the beginning of creation, the beginning of the universe, of time and space as we know it. In Psalm 90 Moses gives us a wonderful poetic expression of this truth when he sang (Ps. 90:2), “Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever You had formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”
God, in His very nature, is eternal. Everything else in the universe has a beginning, a cause. God alone always has been, is, and will be. He is the first cause, Himself uncaused (Steven Cole).
This verse not only teaches us that God is before everything; it also reveals that …
2. God is the creator of everything.
“In the beginning God created …” Only God creates like this. This verb, bara’ (בָּרָא) in the Qal perfect is only used of God in the Bible. The writer of Hebrews in the New Testament gives us an explanation of the kind of creating that God did (Heb. 11:3), “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” This is why we say that God created ex nihilo, out of nothing. God created by His own will and His own word. In Revelation 4 the twenty-four elders around the throne of God proclaim (Rev. 4:11), “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”
“The heavens and the earth” refers to everything, to the whole universe. God created everything there is in all creation. As John writes about the Word, the Son of God (John 1:1-3), “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” The “heavens and the earth” includes “all things.” Paul explains it even further when he writes about our Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 1:16-17), “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
What do we learn about God from Genesis 1:1? Jeremiah tells us (Jer. 32:17), “‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.” Nothing is too hard for our God who created the heavens and the earth. If you believe Genesis 1:1, then everything else you read in the Bible that God is able to do must not surprise you. If God could create the heavens and the earth by His will and His word, God is able to do all the rest.
We must remember, as we study, that creation is the very beginning of the purposes of God in redemption. Genesis is the first chapter of the story that ends with the presentation of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of His life, death, resurrection, ascension and second coming. In other words, the God of Genesis is the God of the rest of the Bible. He is the God who saves us from sin and death through His Son Jesus Christ. If God created the heavens and the earth, it is not too hard for Him to save you and make you a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). If God created the heavens and the earth, it is not too hard for Him to deliver you and provide for you (Isa. 40:27-31). If God created the heavens and the earth, it is not too hard for Him to make a new heaven and a new earth where we will dwell with Him forever (Rev. 21:1-3).
How will you respond to Him today? Will you sing with the psalmist (Ps. 95:6), “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.”
