Discussion Questions
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What does the book of Genesis reveal about God’s Nature?
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God wants a relationship with humans and for humans to want that relationship with God and walk in obedience but God does not want to force us into a relationship he has given us the opportunity to choose to walk with him. God is a merciful and forgiving God but he does not show favor to any one person and that is why we are saved by His grace but there is also consequences to our disobedience but through repentance and forgiveness God will show mercy.
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The first eleven chapters of Genesis describe the four major events in ancient history, Creation, The Fall, The Flood, and the Creation of Nations. Through these accounts we learn of God’s omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.
By His power, all things were made (Creation). He is always present and sees all sin of mankind (The Fall). That sin cannot stand the forces of His judgement (The Flood). He knows all things and humans cannot do anything outside of His control. No human endeavor can successfully stand against His will (Creation of Nations through the Tower of Babel).
We also learn in these eleven chapters of the orderliness of His plans and His work. We learn of His mercy and compassion. We see the care He lavishes on His creation and the love which motivated His dealings with man. Through His judgements we learn that He is a just God who keeps His Word.
In Genesis 12-50 we read of four major characters, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. In these chapters we find accounts of God’s personal interaction with, and intervention on behalf of, His chosen people. Repeatedly God’s word reveals His faithfulness to these chosen, but imperfect humans. He showed Himself to be a promise keeper that all generations can trust.
Genesis reveals the completely loving nature of our God. This book also reveals the holiness of God. Both His love and His holiness are beyond human comprehension, but He gives us glimpses we can understand in this book of beginnings.
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The Beginning, also Creation
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His relationship to humans. Much like a love story.
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God is a God of order and purpose, creativity and beauty.
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What does the book of Genesis tell us about creation?
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The book of Genesis tells us that we were created for purpose.
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Genesis gives us an overview of the creation of earth and man. It tells us where everything comes from and tells us where we come from. We understand from it the origin and genealogy of life as we know it. The relationship with God was broken and re-established.
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Genesis tells the story of creation as the whole process. It first tells the day of what God created and then goes into detail of how and what was created and it is done so in a manner that progresses to a recent point in the whole story, from the whole big picture, where human beings are at the end of the entire process.
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Genesis reveals that it is God who has intentionally formed and filled his world. In the first three days, he created realms, and in the last three days he filled them with inhabitants. The second portion of the Genesis scroll deals with that ongoing creation mandate, lived out in the people of Abraham. The children of Abraham were blessed by God to fill the earth and reconcile other nations back to their creator.
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Genesis tells us that creation was the result of intelligent design and purpose. Creation of earth and all the life upon it was not the result of a random event. God does not describe His methods in Genesis only His orderly process and the amazing result.
Genesis gives humans the assurance that their creation had a purpose, that they were wanted creatures and not just a by-product of chemical and electrical interactions.
The Genesis account of creation describes the beginning of the most important aspect of human existence, our relationship to God Almighty. Not only does Genesis give us the origin of our relationship to God, but it records the creation of all the other critical relationships in our lives.
The biblical creation account is the only creation account which explains the origin of the sexes and the resulting marriage. Genesis records the creation of families and God’s plan for the population of the earth.
Genesis is not to be read as a science text. That was not God’s intent. Genesis was written by Moses to the Jewish people. It was a part of God’s communication to His people that they were a planned for, deeply loved and wanted part of His world. Genesis connects the Jewish people through Abraham back to the original man, Adam.
This book gives God’s people both the biologically chosen and the spiritually chosen, a foundation grounded in Him.