O l d T e s t a m e n t S u r v e y I : L e c t u r e O n e How did the world begin? According to the first chapters of Genesis, there was a moment when God first let the brush of His creative energy move across an empty expanse of space. Colors, shapes, texture, and design all emerged from the mind of the Creator and filled the emptiness. We are given a glimpse of those first moments of creation when God in His infinite artistry brought forth light, energy, and life, creating a universe where before there had been nothing. Why did He start? Why did He place man, an image of Himself, in the midst of a world already teeming with movement and life? And how does the world in which we now live fit with His original design? In Dr. Stuart s first lecture we are led to consider the beginnings of life as we know it and the divine purposes of the One who brought it into being. Plan of Redemption God s design for bringing people back to Himself after the Fall. The Chosen the people of God, designated to be with Him forever and to accomplish His purposes. 6
I n t h e B e g i n n i n g... Who is the author of Genesis? What three major themes are touched on in Genesis? Orienting Data for Genesis Content: Origins of the world, humanity and Israel What is the significance of using a series of origin stories as the structure for the book? Human author: Moses, using records from before his time Date of composition: 1400 BC or 1220 BC, depending on difficult chronology issues Historical coverage: Creation through the death of Jacob s son Joseph in Egypt Emphases: 1. God s nature and purposes 2. The reasons why humans exist 3. The first divine covenants 4. The nature of sin 5. The perpetual corruption of human society 6. God s intolerance of sin 7. God s choice of a people 8. God s plan of redemption 9. God s working through sinful people Why does the story slow down once Abraham is introduced? 7
O l d T e s t a m e n t S u r v e y 1 What are the two main emphases of the creation story? What does it mean that humans are God s idol? Genesis 1: Creation Story Structure DAY 1 (1:1-5)...corresponds to... DAY 4 (1:14-19) Light Sun, moon, stars DAY 2 (1:6-8)...corresponds to... DAY 5 (1:20-23) Skies and seas Sky and sea animals DAY 3 (1:9-13)...corresponds to... DAY 6 (1:24-31) Dry land and Land animals eating plant life plant life with humans over all DAY 7: God rests and sanctifies the day of rest What do the first chapters of Genesis have to say to our work-oriented culture? How do our own priorities line up with God s as they are revealed in this text? 8
I n t h e B e g i n n i n g... Outline of Genesis (Origin Stories) 1:1-2:3 Prologue (overview of creation, using seven-day prose poem) 2:4-4:26 Origin stories of the heavens and the earth (including the Garden of Eden and the first family of human beings) 5:1-6:8 Origin stories of the family of Adam (including the account of human-spirit marriages and their result) 6:9-9:29 Origin stories of Noah (including the flood, the covenant with Noah and the account of Ham s sin) 10:1-11:9 Origin stories of Shem, Ham, and Japheth (including a list of the nations of the world, and the account of the Tower of Babel) 11:10-26 Origin stories of Shem (focusing on his lineage as compared to those of his brothers) 11:27-25:11 Origin stories of Terah (focusing on his son Abraham, including Abraham s call and covenant promise, Abraham s relationship with his wife Sarah, his nephew Lot, his sons Ishmael and Isaac, and most of all his relationship with God) 25:12-18 Origin stories of Ishmael (including his twelve sons) 25:19-35:29 Origin stories of Isaac (including the ways Isaac copied Abraham, the rivalry between Jacob and Esau, Jacob s knowledge of God, Jacob s marriage to Rachel and Leah, his sons, his being named Israel, the reconciliation between Jacob and Esau, the avenging of the rape of Jacob s daughter Dinah) 36:1-37:1 Origin stories of Esau (including the royal lineage of the Edomites, Esau s descendants) 37:2-50:26 Origin stories of Jacob (focusing on Joseph, whom his brothers conspired to be rid of, and who ended up as viceroy in Egypt) One of the things Genesis can do for people is help them to realize they don t have to be perfect to be a saint...that biblical people were very imperfect, that God used them in spite of their sins, not because of their pure righteousness. 9
O l d T e s t a m e n t S u r v e y 1 Think of one person you know whose life would be radically changed if he/she knew they had a job assignment from God. How would you explain to them what this job assignment is? How scientific is Genesis? What about evolution? J.P. Moreland, ed. The Creation Hypothesis. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1994. Hugh Ross. Beyond the Cosmos. Colorado Springs: Navpress, 1996. Michael J. Behe. Darwin s Black Box. New York: The Free Press, 1996. What do you do with the differences between the first and second chapters of Genesis? Duane Garrett. Rethinking Genesis. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1991. 10