Genesis

Reading Scripture Together

The Book of Genesis sets in motion many key theological and narrative elements within the Christian faith. While there are many themes to be explored, this article will focus on some of the main ideas discussed during our month together in the book of Genesis. Fortunately, the connective tissue between these themes is evident as we see God, sovereignly orchestrating events to bring about His glorious purposes throughout each unfolding narrative.

The Seed

The famous opening words “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth,” introduce the sovereign power of God as the ultimate Creator of the universe. He speaks things into existence through an intentional and orderly process. The repetitive phrase “And God said” highlights the power of God’s spoken word, underscoring his authority over all aspects of creation from light and dark, to animals, to the creation of man. Humanity, according to God’s wisdom, is created in the likeness and image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). They reflect his rationality, creativity, and moral responsibility. This narrative emphasizes the inherent goodness of creation and the divine intentionality behind every aspect of existence.

Despite the goodness of God’s creation and his commands to humanity, Adam and Eve sin against God by disobeying his commands. With humanity now fallen as the result of Adam’s sin, God announces his gracious plan of redemption for humanity. He promises that a “seed” will come from the woman and deliver a lethal strike to the snake’s head (Genesis 3:15). So while the humans have rebelled against God, He graciously promises to rescue them and restore them. The identity of the seed is not made clear within the book of Genesis, but it sets up an expectation for the subsequent chapters and book for that “seed” to be revealed.

Genesis contains numerous genealogies that chronicle progress from Adam and Eve to Noah (Genesis 5), to Abram (Genesis 10 and 11), and then to Abraham's children. All play key roles in the Genesis story. This genealogical structure is set forth to build the audience’s expectations for who the identity of this seed will be, as we see a clear line coming from Adam down to Abraham.

Examining the overarching narrative of the Old and New Testaments, we are aware that the seed is in reference to Jesus Christ. He will have ultimate victory over the serpent by delivering the lethal blow and having power over him, while Christ is bruised himself. The bruise to the heel alludes to Christ’s crucifixion where he suffers on the Cross, but it is not a lethal blow as we know that Christ resurrects and declares victory forever. The serpent, however, is delivered the lethal blow through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This seed leading up to Jesus Christ can be traced through the genealogies set up in Genesis and into Matthew 1. The genealogy starts with Abraham and moves all the way down to “Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ” (Matthew 1:28). The “seed” of Eve then leads directly to Jesus Christ, and through the accounts of the Gospels, we see the unfolding of God’s sovereign plan to restore humanity, despite their brokenness and rebellion, back to Him.

The narrative of Genesis, then, is setting this expectation for a coming seed. These expectations bounce around and build anticipation for the reader as they eagerly await the reveal, but also may be surprised as to how those events unravel.

Sovereignty and Subversion

God has established his promise that an offspring will come to restore humanity and save them, but from human eyes, there appear to be many obstacles in the way of that ever happening.

In Genesis 12, Abraham is told that it is through his family that the nations will be blessed, and Sarah is told that the offspring will come from her despite noting that she is barren. How then can the promise be fulfilled if Sarah is unable to produce children? Or consider that even when Sarah does conceive and Isaac is born, Abraham is asked to sacrifice him. With Isaac being commanded to be killed by God, how does God intend to keep the sovereign line moving? In each of these encounters, God provides and is faithful to his word.

We see that Jacob receives the blessing from Isaac instead of Esau. The firstborn (Esau) was meant to inherit the blessing, yet Jacob receives it, and God declares that the “older shall serve the younger.” Even Judah’s illicit encounter paints him as an immoral human, yet it is shown that through his seed, the sovereign line continues. Despite the human condition, God subverts the expectations of the firstborn and shows that he is the one orchestrating these events.

In each of these encounters, God is the one who has a plan, God is the one who provides, and God is the one who has all wisdom and insight despite the human expectation of how events should unfold. These events firmly put God at the forefront. God provides a child to Sarah despite her barrenness and old age, God provides a sacrificial lamb to take the place of Isaac, and God’s word holds true that the older shall serve the younger.

In fact, when these hurdles are posed to the characters, they attempt to enact their own devices to maintain God’s promises. Sarah has Abraham sleep with her servant Hagar to produce an heir, despite God’s clear proclamation that the offspring will come from Sarah herself. God does not need humans to “fix the typos” of his divine providence. This decision by Sarah actually leads to strife among the children, yet God still works and cares for Hagar and her son Ishmael.

Why does God work in these mysterious ways? This can only be explained by the graciousness, wisdom, insight, and sovereignty of His character. These events may seem random, but it highlights who is in charge and even begins to set up what God will eventually do later on in his plan for the redemption of his people.

Gospel Shadows

Many events in this book echo and bring forth references of things to happen in the New Testament. The message of the Gospel is alluded to many times in Genesis, foreshadowing what God will do and accomplish through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

One example happens very early in the book. Adam and Eve are naked and ashamed, and “the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). The garments of skin to clothe them must come from the death of animals and the shedding of blood. This parallel not only prefigures the system of animal sacrifices given by Moses in Israel, but also the sacrificial death of Christ as the atonement for sin. The shedding of blood is required to cover the sin, shame, and guilt of Adam and Eve, foreshadowing how Christ’s blood covers the sin, shame, and guilt of his people.

Similarly, the account of Abraham and Isaac has Abraham commanded to kill his son. Yet, God intervenes and provides a sacrifice. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:13). We see the concept of substitutionary atonement with the ram dying in the place of Isaac. This later becomes a reality in the substitutional death of Christ on the cross as “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

While the details in the story may appear random and go against what many would expect to happen, it is again God who is orchestrating events. He sees the past, present, and future, and these events highlight the intentionality with which God controls the narrative. We see how he foreshadows the coming of His Son Jesus Christ, and prepares the reader to draw these echoes later on.

Covenant Relationship

The relationship that God has with his people in the book of Genesis is defined by a covenant. The covenant is a pact that God makes with his people throughout history in which he will be their God, and they will be his people. In the ancient Near East, the concept of a suzerain/vassal covenant exists and is reflected in the Genesis narrative.

Within this structure, the suzerain, as the more powerful party, takes on most of the responsibility for the stipulations of the treaty. Although the vassal (the inferior party) also has certain obligations, because of his limited capabilities and resources, he is not held accountable to the same extent and degree as the suzerain. The suzerain, because of his position, is also the one who initiates the covenant agreement. The oath between the two parties is usually life and death. As with many covenants in the ancient Near East, the suzerain provides a physical sign for the vassal that symbolizes the reality of the covenant relationships.

God establishes and mediates his covenants notably with Noah and Abraham, and then, they are carried through Abraham’s descendants. The covenant is established with Noah in Genesis 6:18 prior to the flood, but also reaffirmed after the flood in Genesis 9:11 where the Lord promises that “never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the floor, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” The sign of this covenant is seen by a “bow in the clouds.” The Abrahamic covenant is established in Genesis 15 where he promises Abraham that he will bless him and his offspring, and give him the land. This is then reaffirmed in Genesis 17 with the sign of circumcision. God then continues to mediate the covenant with Abraham to his offspring through Isaac and Jacob.

It is important to note that the covenants here originate in Genesis, develop throughout the Old Testament, and find their ultimate fulfillment in the coming of the final covenant mediator, Jesus Christ. In this way, the promises that are made to Noah, and Abraham, and the other patriarchs in the rest of the Old Testament, are relevant for His people today. God maintains his promises, and these covenants link together until they reach their climax in Christ.

The intricacy and interconnectedness of Genesis not only establishes foundational principles throughout the entire narrative of Scripture but also sets up the expectation of a Savior whom we know to be Jesus Christ. God is not random, nor is he surprised by these events, but he has carefully and wisely orchestrated every detail to glorify his name and carry out his wonderful purposes. These themes will continue to develop throughout the Old Testament, and with every page we continue to turn over, greater awe toward God will naturally ensue.