DBG - January 1 - Genesis 1-3

The Book of Genesis is the first book in our Bibles for very good reasons. In it we find the record of the beginning of all things through Creation and the early history of mankind. The bulk of the book is dedicated to the origins of the Jewish people through Abraham and his descendants.

Too many today try to reinterpret the early chapters of Genesis as anything but history. However, the record is clearly historical and the rest of Scripture treats it as such. God really did create the world and everything in it in six days and rested on the seventh. Adam and Eve were created beings that fell in sin. God wiped out human civilization through a global flood and began it anew with Noah and his family.

A few quick facts about Genesis:

This chapter records the creation of the world by God. James Ussher, a 17th century scholar, famously calculated that Creation began on October 22, 4004 B.C., at 6:00 p.m. His guess is as good as anyone’s, I suppose.

DAY ONE - vs. 1-5 - God creates the Heavens (space) and Earth, light and darkness, day and nigh.

vs. 5 - While we being our days at 12:00 midnight, the ancient Jews began their days at sundown because of how these verses read “evening and morning”

vs. 5 - Some have tried to reinterpret the word “day” here to mean something more than a 24-hour period in order to make the Bible fit better with modern scientific theory. They often point to II Peter 3:8 where it says, “one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day”, but that has nothing to do with the day here. Strangely, I have never heard anyone try to apply that to any other portion of Scripture, like saying Jesus was in the grave for 3,000 years and not three days. These are literal days, lasting 24 hours, with a morning and an evening.

DAY TWO - vs. 6-8 - God divides the waters upon Earth into a lower layer and a higher layer. Creation scientists have a few theories about this, which this GotQuestions.org article discusses.

DAY THREE - vs. 9-13 - God divides the dry land from the seas and creates vegetation.

DAY FOUR - vs. 14-19 - God creates the sun, moon, and stars. This order seems strange at first. How could we just now have the sun when there has been light and day/night cycles since Day One? This article from Answers in Genesis deals with this perceived problem in detail.

DAY FIVE - vs. 20-23 - God creates sea animals and birds.

DAY SIX - vs. 24-31 - God creates land animals and man.

vs. 26 - Note that God speaks to Himself. The Hebrew word for God in this chapter is Elohim, which interestingly is plural through used as if it is singular. This is an early evidence for the Triune Godhead of the Trinity.

The creation of man is repeated in greater detail in chapter 2.

This chapter continues the events from Chapter 1.

DAY SEVEN - vs. 1-3 - God rests

vs. 3 - God’s rest on the seventh day is the basis for the Jewish observation of the weekly Sabbath on Saturday (Exodus 20:8-11). Christians are no longer bound to this command, but practically speaking it is good to have a time of weekly rest. This article at GotQuestions.org gives more information on why we do not observe the Sabbath today.

vs. 4 - Here begins a review of the Creation week with greater details given, especially regarding the creation of man.

vs. 5-6 - I think the pre-Flood earth was like a giant greenhouse or terrarium with perfect conditions for plant and animal life. Moisture was abundant and rain was unnecessary. The first recorded rain is the Flood in Genesis 7.

vs. 7 - God simply spoke all of Creation into existence except for man. He formed Adam from the dirt and breathed life into him. We have an eternal soul that no other creature has.

vs. 8-14 - The world and geography of Eden and the four great rivers that flowed from it were destroyed in the Flood. Some of these names were reused by ancient peoples but may or may not be the same.

vs. 15 - Man was created with a purpose and a task, to keep the Garden of Eden. Work is not part of sin’s curse.

vs. 17 - The one great command given to test man’s morality is the forbidden fruit. There is no indication that it was an apple as it is commonly portrayed in art.

vs. 18 - Man is the only creature that God did not create male and female at the same time. This is important in the headship of Adam over the human race (Romans 5:12, etc)

vs. 19-20 - Adam was not a simple brute, but a very intelligent being.

vs. 23-24 - Family is God’s first institution for mankind.

vs. 25 - The nakedness is an absence of shame. There was no need for shelter or clothes because of the perfect environment.

This chapter covers the Fall of Man and the Curse pronounced by God because of Man’s sin.

vs. 1 – Satan is using the serpent as his mouthpiece.  We see a similar demonic possession of animals in Matthew 8:28-34.

Satan was originally an angel who was lifted up in pride against God and in vain attempted to usurp God’s glory.  We find allusions to this in Isaiah 14:12-14 and Ezekiel 28:12-14

vs. 3 – Eve adds not touching the forbidden fruit in 2:17.

vs. 4-5 – Every lie has an element of truth to it.  Yes, things would change if Eve disobeyed God, but Satan cleverly spins the consequences.

vs. 6 – Jewish tradition says that Adam was nearby and witnessed the conversation between the serpent and Eve.  I Timothy 2:14 states that Eve was deceived but Adam consciously chose to take the fruit.

vs. 7 – Innocence is lost and Adam and Eve attempt to hide their shame.

vs. 9 – God knew exactly where Adam was and what had happened.  Adam’s guilt is proven by his response to God.

vs. 11,13 – Human nature has not changed as we still tend to blame others for our faults.

vs. 14 – Evidently the serpent was originally a much different creature.  God humbles their form so that they no crawl on their belly.

vs. 15 – THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VERSES IN SCRIPTURE!  It is the prophecy and promise of redemption from sin.  The seed of the woman is a peculiar phrase (it is typically seed of man) foreshadows the virgin birth of Christ.  The bruised head of the serpent is a fatal blow, showing Christ’s ultimate victory.  The bruised heel is not a fatal blow, for though Christ did die He rose again and lives still.

vs. 17-19 – Work is not part of the Curse.  The Curse makes work harder.

vs. 20 – Adam means “red” like the earth he was formed from.  Eve means “life giver”, which appears to be a response to the promise of redemption through the woman’s seed in vs. 15.

vs. 21 – The first blood sacrifice takes place here, as animals are slain and their hides are given as clothes to cover the shame of Adam and Eve.

vs. 22-24 – Note here the separation caused by sin.  Sinful man can no longer fellowship with the holy God as he had before.

The opening chapters of Genesis are a terrible tragedy. We begin with life and perfection and end with death and separation. But God is every merciful and immediately provides the hope of redemption in Christ (3:15).  No matter how dark things may seem, God always gives hope.

If you are interested in learning more about Creation Science, I highly recommend the information put out from Answers in Genesis and the Institute for Creation Research.

In my opinion the single best book on Genesis is The Genesis Record by Henry Morris

“This Is My Father’s World” was written in 1901 by Matlbie D. Babcock. It is a wonderful celebration of our great Creator and how His Creation brings Him glory (Psalm 19:1)

This is my Father’s world,
and to my list'ning ears
all nature sings, and 'round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world;
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the lily white
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world,
He shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me ev'rywhere.

This is my Father’s world;
O, let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world;
the battle is not done;
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
and earth and heaven be one.