Summary of Genesis, Part 1

By | May 23, 2015

Here are my conclusions after spending the last year of my life in this most amazing first book of the Bible.

The book of Genesis fills 50 chapters and spans thousands of years, and though its stories are familiar to many, summarizing its essential message is more difficult. Genesis is often explained by a series of events (creation, fall, flood, Babel) and people (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph), but how do these fit together? What are the primary themes and how do they contribute to the author’s main idea? What is God doing in Genesis and what does he want the readers to understand?

God: God is. God exists before and apart from his creation. He alone has no beginning. He creates, and all that he creates is good. When man rebels, God provides the hope of restoration. God judges and God saves. God chooses Noah and God chooses Abraham. God’s grace triumphs over sin, and God’s purpose stands despite man’s failure.

Creation: God created the sun, the moon, and the stars, but the centerpiece of his creation is earth. God created waters, but his primary interest is in the land. God created animals, but only humans are made in God’s image. God completes his creation in six days, and God is satisfied with his creation. God’s creation is corrupted by man and God places it under a curse for a time. God intends to redeem his creation.

Humans: God created a man and a woman in his image in order that they might represent him on earth and rule over all creation. He blesses them and commands them to fill the earth and subdue it. When they refuse to submit to their Creator, they are separated from him and their mission to fill the earth and subdue it are made more difficult by God’s judgment. Most people follow in the way of the serpent rather than the way of God. God chooses a series of individuals to carry out his purposes.

Sin: What begins as one act in the garden soon fills the earth as mankind repeatedly rebels en masse against their creator. Every person is guilty of sin and faces judgment, but the hope that one can be restored to God is clear from individuals such as Enoch, Noah, and Abraham. As a result of man’s sin, every person dies, the world is destroyed by waters, and languages are confused. God’s judgments are intended to end worldwide rebellion and bring hope to a preserved remnant.

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