Let me start with the way I am going to be reading through the Bible this year. I am going to take what Jesus says in John chapter 5 and read with this as my lens. He said, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me...If you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me."
I will be reading the whole Old Testament in this light, that Jesus is the centerpiece of all Scripture. Scripture exists to reveal Jesus as the Messiah to us. (see John 20:30-31; II Tim. 3:15) So with that - let's begin.
As most of us know, the book of Genesis is the first of five sections of the first "book" in the Hebrew Bible. It was known to the Hebrew people as "The Law of Moses" or "The Book of the Law" (The Law of Moses includes the books include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Jesus calls it "The Law of Moses" in Luke 24:44. The first three chapters of Genesis is the foundation for Genesis and for the whole Law of Moses, and for that matter the whole Bible.
There is so much here in Genesis 1 – 3. As has been noted by others in this blog the good news of the offspring in chapter three is of great importance. This offspring will reverse the curse of sin.
Outline:
Genesis 1:1 – Creation of Everything (no focus)
Genesis 1:2 – 2:3 – Creation gets more focused (Earth)
Genesis 2:4 – 25 – Creation of Man (focus Eden)
Genesis 3:1 – 24 – Sin enters the world, so does the hope of an offspring 3:15
Notice that the first chapters are not necessarily even chronological (see 2:5 versus 1:11). This shows us the Moses has a purpose other than a chronological step by step walk through the ins-and-outs of creation science. Moses is using these chapters to set-up his whole book.
In these first chapters we see the preparation of the Land (Eden) that God is making for his people and the idea that obedience will keep them in this land and disobedience will exile them out from the land. The theme of obedience is seen in the rest of the Old Testament (think about the Promised Land) and the theme of exile is also picked up in the rest of the Old Testament and even in Matthew chapter 1. The disobedience of the Israelites will lead to their exile from the land. At the end of the genealogy in Matthew you see that the Israelites are waiting for their Savior from the exile (strangely they are not “historically” in exile at this time – more on this later). Think about the Christmas song – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Isarel, that mourns in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appears. Rejoice Rejoice Emanuel!
These are just a few thoughts. More to come. More to read.
I will be reading the whole Old Testament in this light, that Jesus is the centerpiece of all Scripture. Scripture exists to reveal Jesus as the Messiah to us. (see John 20:30-31; II Tim. 3:15) So with that - let's begin.
As most of us know, the book of Genesis is the first of five sections of the first "book" in the Hebrew Bible. It was known to the Hebrew people as "The Law of Moses" or "The Book of the Law" (The Law of Moses includes the books include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). Jesus calls it "The Law of Moses" in Luke 24:44. The first three chapters of Genesis is the foundation for Genesis and for the whole Law of Moses, and for that matter the whole Bible.
There is so much here in Genesis 1 – 3. As has been noted by others in this blog the good news of the offspring in chapter three is of great importance. This offspring will reverse the curse of sin.
Outline:
Genesis 1:1 – Creation of Everything (no focus)
Genesis 1:2 – 2:3 – Creation gets more focused (Earth)
Genesis 2:4 – 25 – Creation of Man (focus Eden)
Genesis 3:1 – 24 – Sin enters the world, so does the hope of an offspring 3:15
Notice that the first chapters are not necessarily even chronological (see 2:5 versus 1:11). This shows us the Moses has a purpose other than a chronological step by step walk through the ins-and-outs of creation science. Moses is using these chapters to set-up his whole book.
In these first chapters we see the preparation of the Land (Eden) that God is making for his people and the idea that obedience will keep them in this land and disobedience will exile them out from the land. The theme of obedience is seen in the rest of the Old Testament (think about the Promised Land) and the theme of exile is also picked up in the rest of the Old Testament and even in Matthew chapter 1. The disobedience of the Israelites will lead to their exile from the land. At the end of the genealogy in Matthew you see that the Israelites are waiting for their Savior from the exile (strangely they are not “historically” in exile at this time – more on this later). Think about the Christmas song – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Isarel, that mourns in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appears. Rejoice Rejoice Emanuel!
These are just a few thoughts. More to come. More to read.
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