There is a sweet simplicity in the narratives of this first book that is very attractive to little children, and there is a depth in them that lies beyond the reach of the profoundest minds. It forms the preface of the entire Bible, for it contains the germ of all subsequent revelations, until we reach the Apocalypse, which is the equally striking conclusion of the inspired Scriptures. Hence, there is a remarkable correspondence between the two books: the paradise of God, the tree of life, the river, the crown of sovereignty upon man's brow are seen in the former, reappearing in the latter, and the blessings lost in the first Adam are restored in the last Adam in the very, order in which they disappeared. Thus the Holy Ghost at once exhibits the perfect unity of His Word, and teaches us not only to "search the scriptures." but to search them until Christ is revealed to the heart in all the glory of His divine person, and in all the value of His finished work.
His opening book was called by the Jews Bereshith, "in the beginning." but by the translators of the Septuagint Version Genesis: "Generation or Origination." It gives us the only true history of man for at least 2,300 years, and it centers about seven prominent persons in pairs, as types of the whole human race. First. we have Adam in connection with Eve, or human nature innocent, fallen, helpless, when the Lord God clothed them with coats of skins which He made; they are types of Christ and the Church. Second, we find Cain in connection with Abel, or the religion of culture opposed to redemption through the blood. Third, Enoch is connected with Noah, the former the type of the heavenly people translated before the judgments of the last days, the latter the type of the earthly saved remnant passing through the judgments. Fourth, we see Abraham in connection with Lot, or walking by faith, and walking by sight. Fifth, we read of Ishmael and Isaac, or he that was born of the flesh persecuting him who was born of the Spirit, with Isaac setting forth sonship. Sixth, in Esau and Jacob, the flesh is disowned and hated, while he who was elected by God's sovereign grace represents service and discipline. Seventh, Joseph, rejected by his brethren, tells of suffering followed by glory in resurrection power, when the "Savior of the world," as his Egyptian name signifies, received his Gentile bride, whose name means "Beauty."
J. Brookes