Bible Study - God's Story - God Begins the Story - Genesis 1, 2 and 3 - June 2, 2013
Bible Study – GOD’S Story – GOD Begins the Story –
June 2, 2013
This is lesson one in our series entitled “GOD’S
Story.”
Our scripture is Genesis 1:1, 26-27, 2:15-17; 3:6-7,
14-19, 23-24.
Our study begins a thirteen (13) week study entitled
“GOD’S Story.” It is a study of the revelation of GOD and the promised Messiah,
CHRIST, on an ever ascending scale using GOD’S Word, the Bible. Our study
appropriately begins in Genesis and culminates with Revelation.
Moses wrote the first five (5) books of the Bible,
called the Pentateuch. Moses had an intimate, personal relationship with GOD
and GOD revealed intimate details about Himself and creation to Moses. We see
that neither Moses nor Abram were perfect as revealed in scripture, yet they
had an intimate, personal relationship with GOD. What they had in common was
faith in GOD. GOD’S desire for all of HIS children is perfection but knowing
the human race, HE knows that perfection is not achievable through human effort
so that is why HE allowed CHRIST to come to earth and give HIS life for all who
will place their faith in HIM and they will be made perfect in HIM.
Before CHRIST gave HIS life to pay the sin debt in
full, the shed blood of animals were place holders for all who had faith in the
one true GOD. Those before CHRIST were looking forward to their full redemption
through the Messiah and since CHRIST, Christians are looking back at the cross.
The first three chapters of Genesis are some of my
favorite chapters in the Bible.
Let’s begin our journey!!!
There are several things I would like to focus upon before
we read our first scripture.
The phrase “in the beginning” has a time element and
is appropriate for use with heavens and earth. GOD is eternal and had no
beginning. The phrase “in the beginning” does not apply to GOD because HE has
always existed.
The Hebrew word used here for “God” is “elohim,”
which refers to the one true GOD. It is a plural noun which draws attention to
the multi-faceted majesty and glory of GOD. It is later that Moses learns the covenant
name of GOD, Yahweh, as GOD revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 covered later.
The Hebrew word used for “created” is “bara,” which
means to “to bring into existence.” When the word “created” is used in
conjunction with GOD, it means that HE created something from nothing. Only GOD
can do that.
Heaven, as used in these verses, is not the abode or
where Christians go when they pass from earth to heaven to be with GOD, it refers
to the heavens.
Earth, as used in these verses, refers to where we
as humans live in our human bodies.
When heaven and earth are used together, it refers
to the universe or the physical domain of the physical things we see and
explore.
“Us” refers to the trinity – GOD the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit. John 1:1-4: (The
Apostle John recorded that JESUS is the Word.)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God
in the beginning. 3 All things were created through Him, and
apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.
4 Life was in Him,
The phrase “make man” indicates that GOD used
existing material to form the human race beginning with the male.
The Hebrew word for humanity is ‘adam. It is a
general word which makes no distinction between male, female, race, color or
ethnic identity. GOD revealed through Moses that HE began the human race by
making the male first and then the female, thus the birth of the human race
beginning with Adam and Eve.
As you read the scripture, notice the order of GOD
as HE creates. What HE creates on day one is what is needed for what HE was
planning to do on day two and what HE created on day two was for what HE
planned to create on day three and so forth. GOD is the GOD of order and
organization. I believe that is why we, as humans, function better when we are
organized.
What does the term “make man in our image” mean? I
personally believe that humans were fashioned physically and spiritually after
the image of GOD. Yes, I believe that GOD has arms, legs, hands, feet, eyes,
etc., if HE chooses. GOD is in total control. Remember GOD told Moses HIS name in
Exodus 3:14 (Amplified Version)
14 And God said
to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL
BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!
The most important image humans have of GOD is HIS
spiritual attributes – moral, creativity, intellect, relational, etc. Human
beings are unique compared to other living life. We will touch on this later.
Let’s explore “GOD’S Story.” I challenge you to get
a flat map of the world and see if the land mass at one time was one. I think
the land masses fit together.
Let’s read Genesis 1:1-31 and 2:1-2:
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and
the earth.
The mind of GOD conceived of heaven and earth and
all that was in it. Once conceived, it was done. HIS power brought the heavens
and the earth into being from nothing.
Step one: GOD had a plan and executed HIS plan by
creating heaven and earth. Also, keep in mind that what HE created was intended
to be the abode for humans who would have an intimate, pure and perfect
relationship with HIM. Sin changed that arrangement and this intended
relationship changed. Did GOD make a mistake? No! HIS foreknowledge allowed HIM
to know how Adam and Eve would choose. HE had a plan. Because GOD had created
the plan in HIS mind, the plan was created and needed to be carried out. I
believe that every human ever to be conceived was in HIS mind. I contend that
you and I were in the mind of GOD before we were ever conceived and only HE
knew our parents, where and when we would be born. HE knows when we will die
and whether or not we will accept CHRIST as our Savior. HE will do all in HIS
power, without violating our freewill to get us to accept CHRIST as our Savior.
My basis for this line of thinking comes
from Ephesians 1:3-4:
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens. f Eph 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12
4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. g Vv. 3-14 are 1 sentence in Gk.h Jd 24 In love i Or In His sight in love
4 For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight. g Vv. 3-14 are 1 sentence in Gk.h Jd 24 In love i Or In His sight in love
The beauty is that all were chosen but not all will
accept. Those who reject HIM will suffer the consequence, eternal death.
2 Now the earth was formless and empty,
darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was
hovering over the surface of the waters.
Notice earth was formless, empty, absent of light
but contained water. I think of it as a big glob of mud or necessary materials.
A very important and essential infrastructure for human existence was taking
place. Consider the earth’s internal heating and fresh water systems needed to
support human life. Extremely efficient and complex systems had to be in place
in order to support life and especially human life.
The Holy Spirit was “hovering” over the surface of
this watery glob. Some translations translate “hovering” as “brooding.” The
Holy Spirit was checking every minute detail before GOD took the next step –
Was the water to dirt ratio just right, was the weight of the mass correct to
keep it the right distance from the other things HE would create? The check
list goes beyond our finite minds. Think what would need to be done if you were
launching a forever colony to Mars. You would want it to be perfect and no
detail left to chance. Once the Holy Spirit completed the check list, HE gave
the okay for GOD to take the next step.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and
there was light.
Keep in mind that up to this step there was “no
light” meaning there was no ignited sun. GOD spoke and there was light. The sun
either came into being or it ignited. So we have sunlight shining on one side
of the watery mud glob because earth was not turning at this point.
4 God saw that the light was good, and God
separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and
He called the darkness “night.” Evening came and then morning: the first day.
GOD saw that the sun was doing what HE intended for
it to do. The watery mud glob is not turning. So we have one side of the watery
mud glob getting heated by the sun. At just the right moment, earth begins to
rotate and physics takes over – centrifugal and centripetal forces. The
partially dried mud glob floats, breaks apart and positions itself for balance.
6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse
between the waters, separating water from water.” 7 So God made the
expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the
expanse. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.” Evening came and
then morning: the second day.
9 Then God said, “Let the water under the sky
be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.
10 God called the dry land “earth,” and He called the gathering of the
water “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the
earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth
bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so.
12 The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their
kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God
saw that it was good. 13 Evening came and then morning: the third day.
14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the
expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs
for festivals and for days and years. 15 They will be lights in the
expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God
made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and
the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars.
17 God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the
earth, 18 to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from
darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.
20 Then God said, “Let the water swarm with
living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the
sky.” 21 So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature
that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created
every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 So God blessed them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the
seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23 Evening came and then
morning: the fifth day.
24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce living
creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the
wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 So God
made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock
according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to
their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Animal life first began in the ocean. Then the birds
come onto the scene. Then creatures and wildlife come on the scene. GOD has not
formed man up to this point. Everything essential for humans to exist upon
earth beyond their sin against GOD is in place. Now is the moment for mankind to
come onto the scene.
26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image (representative
figure), according to Our likeness (Like). They
will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all
the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man
in His own image; He created him in the image
of God; He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them,
and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.
Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls
on the earth.” 29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every
seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose
fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, 30 for all the wildlife of
the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the
earth—everything having the breath of life in it. I have given every green
plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made, and it
was very good. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.
GOD made male and female in the image and likeness
of the Trinity. The Hebrew word used for image carries the idea of a shaded
figure which is not exact like a portrait but is representative. The Hebrew
word for likeness means model of Their nature. Keep in mind this is GOD’S
design for mankind before sin entered into the world. Salvation restores what
was lost because of sin through the passion of CHRIST and humans placing their
faith in HIM.
Genesis 2:1-2:
1 So the heavens and the earth and everything
in them were completed. 2 By the
seventh day God completed His work that He had done, and He rested on
the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the
seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested from His work of
creation.
Human society reflects the seven day week and it
used to be that society, for the most part, rested on the seventh day.
Let’s read Genesis 2:15-17:
15 The
Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch
over it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to
eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat from the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will
certainly die.”
Notice that GOD took the man, Adam, and placed him
in charge of the garden. This was a deliberate act of GOD. GOD placed Adam in a
certain area. HE made humans with the freedom to choose but HE held them responsible
for their choices. Adam was responsible and accountable for what happened in
the garden. GOD did not make humans as robots but HE gave them freewill to
choose.
The word “Eden” means “delight” or “pleasant.” It
was a place of plenty to eat and ascetic beauty. GOD placed him in an ideal
place not to be on vacation but to work and watch over it. Work means to care
for it and to watch means to guard and protect it. GOD commanded Adam. GOD’S
command was to place emphasis on the seriousness of what HE was about to say.
GOD told Adam that he could eat from any tree in the garden except one. The
tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil were both in the
middle of the garden. Adam was free to eat the fruit from all the trees, except
one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If he did, he would die. We
know that as we read the scripture, death meant more than physical death. It
meant spiritual death. Adam and Eve had eternal life and if they disobeyed
GOD’S command, they would loose eternal life and be subject to time and decay.
Not only did Adam and Eve lose their eternal life for themselves but for all
humanity. This original sin placed a barrier between GOD and mankind because
Eve is the mother of all living. Females are the source of human reproductive
life. Adam and Eve once knew GOD in the most intimate way. They walked with Him
in the cool of the evening. When we
accept CHRIST as our Savior, eternal life is restored. Our human bodies
continue in time until physical death occurs because flesh and blood cannot
inherit the kingdom of GOD as the Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:50:
50 Brothers, I tell you this: Flesh and blood
cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and corruption cannot inherit incorruption.
Let’s read Genesis 3:1-13: (My additions)
The Temptation and the Fall
1 Now the serpent (Satan in the form of a serpent) was the most
cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the
woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in
the garden. 3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden,
God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “No! You
will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that
when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good
and evil.” 6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and
delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she
took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was
with her, (Adam was standing there with
Eve and apparently never opened his mouth to warn Eve not to dare eat the fruit
from that tree and the consequence. GOD held him accountable and that is why
CHRIST had to come to earth to pay in full the debt for this original sin.)
and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew
they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for
themselves. (When we sin the first thing
we want to do is to cover it up. But this cover up gave them away.)
Sin’s Consequences
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of
the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they
hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 So the
Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And he
said, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I
hid.” 11 Then He asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat
from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 Then the man
replied, “The woman You gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the
tree, and I ate.” 13 So the Lord God asked the woman, “What is this you
have done?”And the woman said, “It was the serpent. He deceived me, and I ate.”
(Transfer of guilt has been going on since
the beginning of time. It was not me it was so-and-so or something else!)
Let’s read Genesis 3:14-19, 23-24:
14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent: Because
you have done this, you are cursed more than any livestock and
more than any wild animal. You will move on your belly and
eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put
hostility between you and the woman, and between your •seed and her seed.
He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.
Verse 15 is prophesy regarding the coming of CHRIST
to redeem all who place their faith in HIM. Satan will attempt to kill CHRIST when
HE comes to earth but CHRIST will defeat Satan by crushing his head. The result is victory over sin and death for
all who place their faith in CHRIST. Notice it is the seed of woman; the virgin
birth. JESUS was conceived by the Holy Spirit and Mary was the incubator and
mother of CHRIST. It was her seed or egg.
16 He said to the woman: I will
intensify your labor pains; you will bear children in anguish. Your
desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.
17 And He said to Adam, “Because you listened to your wife’s voice and ate
from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘Do not eat from it’: The ground is
cursed because of you. You will eat from it by means of
painful labor all the days of your life. 18 It will produce
thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants
of the field. 19 You will eat bread by the sweat
of your brow until you return to the ground, since you
were taken from it. For you are dust, and you will return
to dust.” 20 Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of
all the living. 21 The Lord God made clothing out of skins for Adam and
his wife, and He clothed them. 22 The Lord God said, “Since man has become
like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the
tree of life, eat, and live forever.” 23 So the Lord God sent him away
from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. 24 He
drove man out and stationed the •cherubim and the flaming, whirling sword east
of the garden of Eden to guard the way to the tree of life.
Eve, the female, is the source of life for mankind.
The seed of woman produced the Messiah to redeem all who place their faith in
CHRIST from the penalty of sin and to restore eternal life. Sin resulted in
mankind having the knowledge of good and evil and is accountable for their
choices regarding eternity. GOD does not condemn a person to heaven or hell.
Each person chooses. I believe there are exceptions such as unborn children,
children and profound mentally challenged. It is GOD’S desire for all to be
saved and become HIS child and HE works within the spirit of every person to
bring him/her to a point of decision – Do you accept CHRIST or reject HIM?
Sin was a barrier between GOD and mankind until
JESUS broke that barrier by giving HIS life, through the shedding of HIS blood,
to pay the sin debt. The Apostle Paul stated it well in 1 Corinthians 15:45-49:
45 So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being;m n the last Adamo (CHRIST) became a life-giving Spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, then the spiritual.
47 The first man was from the earth
and made of dust;p ; ; the second man isq Other mss add the Lord from heaven.
48 Like the man made of dust, so are those who are made of dust; like the heavenly man, so are those who are heavenly.r
49 And just as we have borne the images of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man.t
48 Like the man made of dust, so are those who are made of dust; like the heavenly man, so are those who are heavenly.r
49 And just as we have borne the images of the man made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly man.t
John 3:16 and 36: (JESUS is speaking)
16 “For God lovedh ; ; ; ; ; ; ,; ; the world •in this way:i The Gk word houtos, commonly translated in as “so” or “so much”
occurs over 200 times in the NT. Almost without exception it is an adverb of
manner, not degree (for example, see ). It only means “so much”
when modifying an adjective (see ; ). Manner seems primarily in view in , which explains the
HCSB‘s rendering. He gave His •One and Onlyj Son,k ; so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.l ; ; ;
36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who
refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.u
Notice
that JESUS stated that the instant of belief in HIM equals eternal life. This
is GOD’S plan and HIS story. Blessings!!!