Roby Ellis

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) 

The first book of our English Bible is the book of Genesis. The word genesis goes back to the Greek word  (genesis), referring to the generation or origin of something, in this case, the Universe. It is interesting to note that the same word is used at the very beginning of the New Testament as well, in this case referring to the “origin” of Jesus: “the book of the generation (genesis) of Jesus Christ” (Matt. 1:1). The book of Genesis wears the title תישׁרב (bereshith) in the Hebrew Bible, a word which literally means “in the beginning.” Although skeptics still question Moses’ authorship of this book, Jesus clearly identifies him as the author on several occasions during His earthly ministry (Matt. 19:7–8, Luke 24:44, John 5:45–46, 7:19).

This first book of Moses is so crucial because of all the information it contains that could never be obtained from any other source. It answers the question of man’s origin. Man has tried to come up with an alternate explanation for his existence by employing his own wisdom and has failed miserably on every attempt. The book of Genesis narrates the origin of sin in the world. It introduces us to the home and man’s departure from God’s pattern for it. We witness the first natural birth in this book as well as the first murder. We find the beginning of worship and the beginning of paganism. We learn the origin of Abraham, the father of the nation of Israel, which would ultimately produce the blessed Seed of promise. We also find the origin of the many divergent language families represented on Earth today. Marvelous lessons are taught by NT writers which are based on the histories contained in this first book. The value of the book of Genesis to the Christian faith cannot easily be overstated, a thorough investigation of which will create within the reader a greater appreciation for what God has done for all of mankind. 

The first four chapters of Genesis are filled with lessons on a wide array of subjects. In the first chapter, we learn the earth’s origin as well as our own. In addition, God is portrayed for us as an all-powerful and all-benevolent Creator. In the second chapter, we see the world as God created it, in a state of pristine perfection. With this beautiful image stamped sweetly upon our minds, we can taste the bitterness of sin when it mars this lovely landscape in chapter three. When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the forbidden tree, their knowledge of good was burdened with a new knowledge––the knowledge of evil. In spite of man’s rebellion, God announced that He would offer a remedy for sin through the seed of woman (Gen. 3:15). From this point onward, every line of every page points forward to the bloodstained cross of Jesus, Son of God and Son of man. 

After reading the text listed below, see if you can answer the following questions. 

Non-trivial Questions (Genesis 1:1–3:24)

1. On what day did God create the earth’s vegetation?
2. On what day did God create the celestial bodies? 
3. How many days did God use to create the Universe? 
4. How many rivers watered the Garden of Eden?
   
5. What did God use to clothe His children after they had sinned?
6. When Adam and Eve were expelled from Eden, how did He keep them from returning?