Genesis 1-3

Key Themes (Genesis)

The book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, is foundational to the entire narrative of Scripture. It covers the creation of the world, the beginnings of humanity, the origins of sin, and the early history of God’s people, Israel. Genesis sets the stage for understanding God’s relationship with humanity and His unfolding plan of redemption. The key themes include:

1. Creation and the Sovereignty of God: Genesis begins with the creation of the universe by God, emphasizing His absolute sovereignty over all things. The creation account reveals God as the Creator who brings order out of chaos and life out of nothingness. This theme establishes God’s authority over the world and His role as the sustainer of all life.
2. The Fall and the Problem of Sin: The story of Adam and Eve’s disobedience in the Garden of Eden introduces the concept of sin and its consequences. The Fall marks the entry of sin into the world, resulting in the brokenness of human relationships with God, each other, and creation. This theme highlights the origin of human sinfulness and the need for redemption.
3. Covenant and Promise: A central theme in Genesis is God’s covenant with humanity, particularly His promises to Abraham. God’s covenant with Abraham includes the promises of land, descendants, and blessing, which extend to all nations through Abraham’s offspring. This theme underscores God’s faithfulness and His unfolding plan to redeem and bless the world through a chosen people.
4. The Chosen People and the Patriarchs: Genesis traces the lives of the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph—who are the forefathers of the nation of Israel. Through these narratives, Genesis explores themes of faith, obedience, and God’s guidance. The stories of the patriarchs illustrate how God works through flawed human beings to fulfill His purposes and establish His chosen people.
5. Human Responsibility and Free Will: Throughout Genesis, humans are depicted as moral agents with the ability to choose obedience or rebellion. The consequences of choices—such as Adam and Eve’s disobedience, Cain’s murder of Abel, and the Tower of Babel—demonstrate the impact of free will on the course of human history. This theme emphasizes the importance of human responsibility in relation to God’s commands.
6. God’s Justice and Mercy: Genesis reveals God’s justice in dealing with sin, as seen in the judgments of the Flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. However, the book also highlights God’s mercy, particularly in His willingness to spare Noah and his family, to forgive and bless Abraham, and to reconcile with Jacob. This theme shows the balance of God’s justice and mercy in His interactions with humanity.
7. The Promise of Redemption: Genesis contains the first hints of God’s plan to redeem humanity from sin. The promise in Genesis 3:15, often called the “protoevangelium,” foreshadows the coming of a Savior who will ultimately defeat evil. This theme lays the groundwork for the entire biblical narrative of redemption that unfolds throughout Scripture.
8. Faith and Obedience: The lives of the patriarchs, especially Abraham, highlight the themes of faith and obedience. Abraham’s willingness to leave his homeland and trust in God’s promises, even to the point of being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, exemplifies the central role of faith in the relationship between God and His people. This theme emphasizes that faith in God’s promises and obedience to His commands are foundational to the covenant relationship.

The book of Genesis is a rich and complex narrative that addresses fundamental questions about the nature of God, humanity, and the world. It sets the stage for the rest of the Bible by introducing key themes of creation, sin, covenant, and redemption, and by laying the foundation for understanding God’s ongoing relationship with His people. Through its stories and themes, Genesis provides profound insights into the character of God and the beginning of His redemptive work in the world.

What I Noticed Today (Genesis 1-3)

Genesis 1

In verse 1, are seven foundational truths upon which the balance of Scripture is based:

• God exists.
• God existed before the rest of the universe.
• God is the central character of the entire Scripture.
• God’s creation is uniquely His.
• God is mysterious.

• God created the heaven and earth ex nihilo (out of nothing).
• God is not dependent on the universe, but the universe is dependent on God because He created it.

In verses 2-31, the creation of the universe is described:

• The earth was formless and void. Darkness covered the watery depths.
• The Spirit of God hovered over the waters and said,
  • Day 1. Let there be light, and there was light. God saw the light was good and separated the light from the darkness. He called the light “day,” and the darkness “night.” Evening came, then morning, the first day.
  • Day 2. Let there be an expanse between the waters, so God separated the water below the expanse from the water above the expanse. God called the expanse “sky.” Evening came, then morning, the second day.
  • Day 3. Let the water under the sky be gathered, and let the dry land appear. God called the dry land “earth” and the waters “seas.” God saw that it was good. Then God said let the earth produce vegetation of every kind. God saw that it was good. Evening came, then morning, the third day.
  • Day 4. Let there be lights in the sky to separate the day from the night. God made two lights, the greater light to have dominion over the day, and the smaller light to have dominion over the night. God saw that it was good. Evening came, then morning, the fourth day.
  • Day 5. Let the water swarm with living creatures and let birds fly across the sky. God saw that it was good. So God blessed them and told them to multiply. Evening came, then morning, the fifth day.
  • Day 6. Let the earth produce living creatures. God made wildlife according to their kind. God saw that it was good. Then God said, let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.

• So, God created man in His image, male and female He created them. God blessed them and told them to be fruitful and multiply. Man is to rule the sea, the sky, and the earth. Every seed-bearing plant and fruit tree is given to man as food.

• God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came, then morning, the sixth day.

Genesis 2

In verses 1-3, the creation account continues:

• Day 7. So the heavens and earth and everything in them were completed. God rested on the seventh day from all the work he had done. God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy.

In verses 4-25, the creation of man and woman is described:

• No shrub or plant had grown on the land for God had not made it rain, and there was no man to work the ground.
• Then the Lord formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed life into him.
• The Lord planted a garden in Eden and placed the man there.
• The Lord caused trees good for food to grow in the garden, including the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
• A river went out from Eden to water the garden.
• From there the river divided into four rivers:
  • Pishon in the land of Havilah where there is gold, bdellium, and onyx.
  • Gihon in the land of Cush.
  • Tigris in the land of Assyria.
  • Euphrates
• The Lord put the man in the garden and commanded him to work it.

• The man was told he could eat of anything in the garden except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he eats from this tree, he will die.
• God decided it was not good for man to be alone, so He decided to make a helper to compliment the man.
• God formed all the animals out of the ground and brought them to the man to be named.

• God caused the man to enter deep sleep and took one of the man’s ribs and from the rib made the woman.
• The man described the woman as bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. Therefore she will be called “woman.”

• This is why a man leaves his mother and father and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh.
• They were naked but were not ashamed.

Genesis 3

In verses 1-7, the temptation and fall of man are described:

• The serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that God had made.
• The serpent spoke to Eve, questioning what God had told her. Eve correctly repeated God’s instruction not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or they would die. But she went beyond God’s instruction when she said God said not even to touch the tree.
• The serpent caused Eve to question God’s command, tempting her. Eve took the fruit and ate, and she gave some to her husband, who was there, and he ate.

• Then both of them had their eyes opened, and they knew they were naked, so they sewed fig leaves together to make loincloths for themselves.

In verses 8-24, the consequences of Adam and Eve’s sin is revealed:

• Adam and Eve heard God walking in the garden, and they hid from Him.
• So God called out to them.
• Adam said he had heard God and hid because he was afraid because he was naked.
• God asked who told you, you were naked, and did you eat from the tree I commanded you not to eat from?
• Adam then blamed God for giving him the woman who gave him the fruit.
• God turned to Eve and asked her what she had done.
• Eve then blamed the serpent for deceiving her.
• God turned to the serpent and cursed him. He was condemned to crawling on his belly all his days.
• God cursed the serpent further saying there would be hostility between her seed and your seed.
• God cursed Eve, saying she would bear children in anguish. You desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.
• God turned to Adam and cursed him because he had listened to Eve, ignoring His command, to a life of hard labor to produce the food they needed to eat.
• Finally, God informed them they would indeed die and return to the dust from which they came.
• Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all the living.
• God made clothing for Adam and Eve out of animal skins.

• Then the Lord God said, “Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out and also eat from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.”

• So the Lord God sent him away from the garden to work the land.
• God stationed cherubim and the flaming sword at the entrance of the garden to guard the way to the tree of life.

Some thoughts for further consideration:

• Adam and Eve were supposed to dominate all the animals of the garden, yet they allowed the serpent to dominate and trick them into committing sin.
• In Genesis 3:7-8, Adam and Eve realize they have sinned, they cover-up, and they hide from God.
• Mankind hasn't changed much. We tend to do the same thing today when we sin!

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Genesis 4-6