Qtr 1: Lesson #1 Genesis

Biblical Studies

Quarter #1 – Lesson #1

Genesis

INTRODUCTION

Genesis tells the story of how God created the world and dealt with all humanity. It covers the most extensive period of time in all of Scripture, longer than the other books in the Bible combined! While the ancient history recounted in the first eleven chapters gives no indication of time span, Abram’s story begins around 2091 BC (Genesis 12:1), and the book ends with Joseph’s death in Egypt around 1805 BC (50:26). Testament is another word for covenant and covenants figure prominently into the story of Genesis. They help define God’s relationship with His people at various times. God established His plan for redemption and blessing through covenants, first with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–5), reaffirmed with Isaac (26:1–35), then with Jacob (28:1–22). These promises applied to the Israelites in Egypt and to later generations. Genesis sets the stage for the rest of God’s plan to ___________ the world through His Son, Jesus Christ.

THE CENTRAL MESSAGE

The book of Genesis begins the story of God’s relationship with mankind, tells the sad story of how that relationship went very wrong, and outlines God’s promised solution to that crisis—a solution that would reach its glorious conclusion in Jesus Christ. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15

STRUCTURE

I. THE 4 MAJOR EVENTS OF GENESIS

1. Creation

Creation is not a human ________ of how the earth was made, it is a declaration of divine truth of how everything was created. The first scripture of the Bible immediately demands faith in order to receive and understand it. We should not rely/depend on human theory to determine our faith in scripture. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1

2. The Fall of Man

Satan captures the ear, eye, and the inward desire of man. The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.  Genesis 3:6

1. The Tempting – Satan captures the ear, eye, and inward desire by casting ________on God’s word.

2. The Yielding – Yielding began in verse 6 when the woman was convinced of Satan’s lie. 3. The Results – Shame and fear, sorrow, cursed, thorns, sweat.

4. The Grace of God – God promises a redeemer when He refers to the woman’s offspring (Christ) (Genesis 3:15)

3. The Flood

Judgement falls on the people because of their sin. ^“And the Lord said, “I will wipe this human race I have created from the face of the earth. Yes, and I will destroy every living thing—all the people, the large animals, the small animals that scurry along the ground, and even the birds of the sky. I am sorry I ever made them.”Genesis 6:7

1. Judgement falls on the people as a result of their wickedness. Everything they thought was consistently and totally evil.

2. Noah and his family were spared, because they found favor with God.

4. The Babel Crisis

The people refuse to obey God to spread out and replenish the Earth. Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.” Genesis 11:4

1. The Babel Crisis was an attempt of the people to restore God’s _________ among them, which they lost in Eden during the fall of man.

2. It also represented a corrupt idea of a god that needed to come down and have his needs met by man.

II. THE 4 MAJOR CHARACTERS OF GENESIS

1. Abraham, the Man of Faith

God calls Abraham and promises him many things. The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.⁴ So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed… Genesis 12: 1-4a

1. The Seven ________ of God: 1) I will make you into a great nation 2) I will bless you 3) I will make you famous 4) You will be a blessing 5) I will bless those that bless you 6) I will curse those that curse you 7) All families will be blessed through you

2. The people’s corrupt perception of God resulted in lack of knowledge of God. Therefore, God made a covenant with Abram (later renamed Abraham) promising that the revelation of who God is would come through him and his family.

3. Purpose of Old Covenant: the covenant God made with man about his relationship before Christ came. The Covenant of the Law.

4. Purpose of New Covenant: covenant God made with man about his relationship with the Father after Christ came. The Covenant of _________ through Jesus Christ.

2. Isaac, the Beloved Son

Because of Abraham’s faith and obedience, not only was Isaac spared by God, but Abraham was promised descendants that would outnumber the stars. and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Genesis 22:16-17a

1. This moment is pointing to God the Father and Jesus the Son. Abraham was willing to give up his son, but God took it upon himself and would later give up his son Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for mankind. 

2. Isaac, the beloved son, was also willing to lay himself at the altar as a sacrifice to fulfill his father’s will, just like Jesus.

3. The Abrahamic covenant would later be confirmed through his son Isaac.

3. Jacob (Israel)

The covenant was confirmed through Jacob (later renamed Israel) that he would be a father of many nations. At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!…Genesis 28: 13-14a

Jacob would have 12 sons that would become the heads of the 12 tribes of Israel

4. Joseph, Life of Suffering and Glory

Joseph’s years of steadfast reliance on God brought about not only reunion but his high position so that he was able to save a nation from starvation. “Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’” Genesis 45:18

1. Joseph was sold by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver and taken to Egypt

2. Joseph __________ suffering and temptation, but because of his obedience becomes second in command in the most powerful nation of that time, Egypt.

3. Joseph is the most complete “shadow” of Christ in the Old Testament. Here are a few illustrations:

a. Both were beloved by their fathers (Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17)

b. Both were shepherds (Genesis 37:2; John 10:11-14)

c. Both were tempted (Genesis 39:7; Matthew 4:1)

d. Both were taken to Egypt (Genesis 37:26; Matthew 2:14-15)

e. Both were sold for the price of a slave (Genesis 37:28; Matthew 26:15)

f. Both were highly exalted after suffering (Genesis 41:41; Philippians 2:9-10)