Summary of Genesis, Part 2

By | May 25, 2015

Seed: Each creation produces after its own kind. Mankind gives birth to people who are distinct from all other created beings. But with the introduction of sin, man may choose to honor his Creator, thereby acting in the image of God, or man may choose to follow the serpent, thus becoming the serpent’s spiritual seed. God provides hope to Adam and Eve by revealing that one of their seed will crush the serpent. In longing for the fulfillment of this hope, the book of Genesis traces the seed of the righteous line through a series of toledot (family lines). The promised seed will come from Adam, from Seth (not Cain), from Noah, from Shem (not Ham or Japheth), from Abraham, from Isaac (not Ishmael), from Jacob (not Esau), from Judah (not Joseph or his brothers). While the blessing of God promises numerous descendants, only a single individual is expected to crush the head of the serpent (3:15), conquer the land of his enemies (22:17), bless all nations on earth (22:18), and rule over an earth restored to its original blessed state (49:10-12).

Land: God made man from the dust, to live on the land, to work the soil, and to subdue the earth. Man is a physical being whose existence is tied to the land. When man rebels against God, the ground is cursed. When man dies physically, his body returns to the dust. Man was made for the earth and his future hope is on this earth. God did not reject the earth, but plans to redeem the earth through the seed of the woman. Man will one day rule over the earth in complete submission to the Creator. God judged and re-created the land through the flood, thus showing his intention to redeem it so that man may rule over it as his representative. God promised to give one portion of this land (Canaan) to one man and his seed. This land was located in the center of the world so that the seed living in the land would bless all of the families of the world.

Blessing: God loves to bless his creatures. His blessing is particularly given along with a command to multiply and fill the earth (1:22). He blessed Adam when he commanded him to fill the earth, as he did Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ishmael, Isaac, and Jacob (1:28; 9:1; 12:2; 17:16, 20; 22:17; 26:3-4; 35:9-12). God’s blessing is intended not for one family only, but for all nations of the world. These peoples would be blessed as they came into contact with God’s chosen family and as they blessed them (12:3; 22:18; 27:29; e.g., Abimelech, Potiphar, Pharaoh). Those who cursed God’s chosen family were effectively cursing God and would themselves be cursed (e.g., Cain, Ham/Canaan, Pharaoh, Abimelech, Laban). God gave the chosen family the ability to pass on the blessing to their seed. Ultimately the greatest blessing would come through a single seed who would crush the serpent, defeat God’s enemies, and bring peace and prosperity to all peoples submitted to God and the seed (3:15; 22:17-18; 49:10-12).

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