Genesis is the foundational book of the Holy Bible. Genesis 1:1 declares, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The word ‘genesis’ actually means ‘beginnings’. Every important theme and teaching in the scriptures find their beginnings in Genesis. This means that Genesis is not simply the revelation of how the earth and all life came into being, but also the foundation of our Biblical doctrines. If we dismiss Genesis as a myth or mere symbolism then we have no starting point for all the vital teachings of Scripture, which in turn means that we have no solid rock for our faith.
We understand that if a building has no solid foundation, or if the foundation is removed, the structure cannot last for long. Psalm 11:3 speaks about foundations in the spiritual life … “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Ever since the lie called evolution was promoted by Charles Darwin, the Genesis foundation has gradually been removed. Today few believe in the Creation account revealed in the first book of the Bible. Lack of faith in Genesis has brought about disbelief in the Bible in general. Remove the authority and inspiration of Genesis and the rest of the Bible must crumble. Isn’t this exactly what Satan intended? Evolution and Theistic-evolution have sought to destroy the foundation of scripture. Those who reject the literal interpretation of Genesis cannot truly be born again.
In this lesson we are going to take a panoramic view of Genesis chapters 1 – 11. We will look at them in more detail in future lessons. It is the first eleven chapters that give us facts concerning the origin of all things. This can be summarised into four major events in world history:-
a) It describes the creation of everything we see around us today. This includes the universe, earth, animals, plants, and other human beings. God created all of them.
b) The establishment of marriage. God ordained marriage between one man and one woman. This in itself forbids polygamy, adultery, non-marital sex and homosexuality. These four practices result from disobedience to God, but are defended as human rights in the world steeped in evolution. If we did not have the book of Genesis how would we explain the institution of marriage? Without it man would simply be on the same level as animals.
c) Man’s responsibilities regarding the earth. God gave mankind dominion over all created things on the earth. This included naming the animals and being concerned for their welfare. God enabled and commanded man to tend and cultivate the earth.
a) The events leading up to the fall of man. Man lived in a perfect environment but still wanted more. Why he always believes that the grass is greener in the devil’s camp.
b) How sin entered the world. Sin is disobedience to God. Every person chooses either to obey God or Satan. Even when he thinks that he is going his own way he has chosen to follow the devil instead of God.
c) The result of the fall (murder, sickness, sorrow, pain, death and eternal separation from God). Without the Genesis account we have no satisfactory way to explain why we have these things in the world today. Here we find out why God must judge mankind for his sin.
d) The first promise of a Redeemer who would defeat Satan on man’s behalf. Take away Genesis and we lose chapter 3:15 that speaks of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Satan does not want anyone believing this verse. If Genesis is a myth then so is Jesus Christ. Evolution actually hinders man from putting faith (or full faith) in the Saviour. Theistic-evolution is simply a sugar-coated version of the same theory and produces the same results.
a) How mankind became increasingly wicked. Man did not learn his lesson but continued to get worse. Because of sin every man, woman and child gets worse not better. No amount of education can make them better citizens. Everyone is bent on disobeying God and His word … “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3).
b) The Flood-judgement in the days of Noah. Without Genesis we cannot explain why there are billions of fossils. Again we are presented with the fact that God must punish sin. True believers accept the literal worldwide flood that destroyed all life apart from those in the Ark.
c) The rebirth of nature and human life. God gave man a fresh start. All he had to do was obey Him. The events of chapters 10 and 11 prove that man does not learn his lesson well.
a) The descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth. Every person who has ever lived, since the days of the Flood, is descended from these three sons of Noah. Regardless of our colour, we are all of the same family. Racism results from wickedness and evolution. Charles Darwin’s book entitled The Origin of the Species actively promotes racism (meaning that one race is better than the others).
b) The Tower of Babel judgement. Babylon will prove to be the enemy of God throughout the coming generations. Like the rest of Genesis this account must be taken literally. The tower was the pinnacle of man’s defiance towards God in that day.
c) Why we have so many languages and nations. Once again God judged mankind. This time He changed mankind’s vocal and hearing ability. People who had the same language gathered together and migrated away from those they could not understand.
This overview is a preview of what to expect in future studies. We will be treating Genesis chapters 1 to 11 literally. There may be those who would object to this view of Genesis in that it does not agree with the evolutionary theories of modern-day science. As Bible-believing Christians we would rather marvel at the handiwork of the Maker than the supposed intellect of the ‘potsherd’ … “Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?” (Isaiah 45:9). The greatest of atheistic evolutionists amounts to a fool in God’s eyes … “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). True believers do not credit the ramblings of fools. “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3).
Next Lesson: Stop, Look and Listen.
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