Exploring the Book of Genesis
The Book of Genesis - Bible Study
- Conventionalizing the Book of Genesis in view of the New Testament and our current world. Perceived notions are what most of us base our faith upon, and this is dangerous.
2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Pre-Adamic World
- Christians have long said the world is 6000 years old, which is the age of mankind from Adam. However, the world is possibly billions of years old. Science has proven this by discovering civilizations that are older than 6000 years. For example, the Sunken City of Cuba is believed to be an ancient civilization dating back more than 50,000 years. If Lucifer came to Adam and Eve in the garden, it means he existed before.
Isaiah 14:12-17 describes Lucifer's fall from heaven and his ambitions. There were nations and kingdoms that Lucifer weakened and shook.
Isaiah 45:18 tells us that the creation was not in vain originally. So why was the world formless and void? 2 Peter 3:5-6 explains that the world perished during Noah's flood, not everything, but everything in the previous world, the pre-Adamic world.
- Science is divided into two: true science and false science. True science won't deny that God exists.
- Genesis 1-2 introduces the gap theory. Genesis 1:2 states, "And the earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." The word "was" in Hebrew is "Hayah," meaning "became." So this should read, "the world became formless and void."
- Adam was charged to go and replenish (Genesis 1:28). "Replenish" often implies filling something that was once full but has become empty.
- Notice that there are many theories on this matter, not just in Genesis. Familiarize yourself with these theories and do not let your faith be shaken but have a basis of faith to help you defend it.
- For example, how would you defend your faith if you were Moses in Egypt, knowing their spiritual capacity since you grew up there?
- My intention for sending the video of the pre-flood world is for clarity and pictorial and archaeological understanding.
- Genesis 1-6 provides insights into the pre-flood world. If taught casually, you will not understand it in depth. The Bible only talks about the lawlessness in the times of Noah but not in much detail.
- You can't study Genesis without the intricate investigation of archaeological or scientific theories. For instance, how do you explain and ignore the pyramids of Egypt, which the Bible doesn't mention?
The Bible isn't as graphic as other sources. It provides the following account:
- Creation of the World (Genesis 1:1-2:3): God creates the heavens, the earth, and all living creatures in six days, resting on the seventh day.
- Creation of Man (Genesis 2:4-25): God creates Adam, the first man, and places him in the Garden of Eden. He then creates Eve, the first woman, from one of Adam's ribs.
- The Fall of Man (Genesis 3): Adam and Eve disobey God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They are expelled from the Garden of Eden and cursed by God.
- Cain and Abel (Genesis 4): Adam and Eve's sons, Cain and Abel, offer sacrifices to God. Cain becomes jealous of Abel and kills him, leading to his punishment.
- Descendants of Adam (Genesis 5): A genealogy of Adam's descendants is provided, tracing the lineage from Adam to Noah.
- Wickedness on Earth (Genesis 6:1-8): The human population increases, but people become increasingly wicked. God decides to send a flood to destroy all living creatures except for Noah, his family, and the animals on the ark.
- Noah and the Flood (Genesis 6:9-9:29): God sees the wickedness of humanity and decides to send a flood to cleanse the earth. He instructs Noah, a righteous man, to build an ark and gather his family and pairs of animals to survive the flood.
The God of Covenant
Genesis 9:8-17 describes God's covenant with Noah and his descendants, symbolized by a rainbow, promising never to destroy the earth by flood again.
- In many cultures, the rainbow is seen as a symbol of hope, beauty, and promise. It was the sacrifice Noah offered to God that triggered this covenant. The power of covenant: understanding these covenants can shift judgments and command unusual favor.
- Abraham's covenant is also significant (Genesis 15:9-11, 17-18). Abraham received the inheritance of territories and secured his generation's settlement through sacrifice.
LGBTQ+
- individuals took the rainbow as their symbol. However, the rainbow symbolizes God's covenant with Noah and his descendants.
- Genealogy of Noah's Sons (Genesis 10): A list of the descendants of Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth is provided, tracing the lineage of various nations.
- Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9): Humanity becomes united in language and purpose and decides to build a tower that reaches the heavens. God sees this as an act of pride and defiance, so He confuses their languages and scatters them across the earth, leading to the diversity of languages and nations
- Genealogy from Shem to Terah (Genesis 11:10-32): A genealogy from Shem to Terah, the father of Abraham, is provided, highlighting the lineage that leads to the patriarchs of Israel.
Marriage & Family
- Ideal Marriage (Adam and Eve, Genesis 2:18): The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Polygamy
- Biblically, Lamech started it, and he's portrayed as an evil man (Genesis 4:19). Lamech was boastful in his evil, and he was more evil than Cain.
Incest
- Joseph had one wife.
Divorce
- Matthew 19 should be on your fingertips (Matthew 19:8, 4-6). Jesus discusses marriage and divorce, emphasizing God's original plan for marriage.
Celibacy/Eunuchs
- Some are unmarried by birth or by choice for the sake of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:11-12).
Parenting Styles
- Abraham learned obedience to God from his personal research and from Noah (Jasher 9). His parents were idol worshippers.
- Reading Jasher account of 91 chapters can provide further insights into Genesis.
- Different parenting styles are depicted in Genesis, showing both harmony and discord within families.
New Testament Parenting Model
- The Parable of the Prodigal Son illustrates two different parenting styles: unconditional love and forgiveness versus resentment and lack of forgiveness (Luke 15:11-32).
- Mary and Joseph are depicted as loving and caring parents to Jesus in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
- Timothy's mother and grandmother are praised for their sincere faith, which they passed on to Timothy (2 Timothy 1:5).
Sibling Rivalry
- Examples of sibling rivalry in