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

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 Gn 2:7n Gn 2:7 the last Adamo Rm 8:2 (CHRIST) became a life-giving Spirit.
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  Gn 2:7; 3:19; Ps 90:3the 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 Php 3:20-21
49 And just as we have borne the images Gn 1:27 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 Jn 12:43; 1Co 13:1; Gl 2:20; Col 1:13; 3:12; 1Th 1:4; 2Th 2:13,16; 1Jn 4:7-12; Jd 1 the world •in this way:i The Gk word houtos, commonly translated in Jn 3:16 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 Mt 1:18). It only means “so much” when modifying an adjective (see Gl 3:3; Rv 16:18). Manner seems primarily in view in Jn 3:16, which explains the HCSB‘s rendering. He gave His •One and Onlyj 1Jn 4:9 Son,k Jn 5:19; Heb 1:2 so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.l Jn 12:25; Rm 5:8; 1Jn 3:16; 4:9-10

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!!!