The Holy Scriptures - Genesis

Genesis 1‑50; Exodus 1‑40  •  4 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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Genesis
Genesis, the first book of the law of Moses, is the book of beginnings. The time covered by this book, excluding the period left unspecified in the first two verses, is some 2,316 years. This exceeds the total time period covered by the remaining portion of Scripture—both Old and New Testaments. The book may be divided into five distinct periods:
1. In the beginning (ch. 1:12). 2. From the Adamic creation to the fall (ch. 1:33). 3. From the fall to the flood (ch. 47). 4. From the flood to the call of Abraham (ch. 811). 5. The lives of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (ch. 12-50).
Genesis 1:22And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2) tells us that the earth was “without form [waste], and void,” and yet in Isaiah 45:1818For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18) we find that “God  .  .  .  created it not in vain [waste]” —exactly the same word in the original as that found in Genesis 1:22And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. (Genesis 1:2). The time that transpired from the creation of the heavens and the earth until we find it waste and void is not specified, and neither are we told what transpired during that time.
Within the pages of this wonderful book we find all the great principles of God’s relationship with man. Here lie the great foundations for the remainder of Scripture. It is no wonder that Satan would attempt to undermine the contents of this book, throwing doubts upon its authenticity.
If we consider the ages of the patriarchs, we find some interesting points for our consideration. Adam lived 930 years (Gen. 5:55And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. (Genesis 5:5)). During his lifetime he would have had opportunity to commune with Enoch, Methuselah and Lamech. Noah, the son of Lamech and a contemporary of Methuselah, lived for 950 years, 350 years of that after the flood (Gen. 9:28-2928And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years. 29And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. (Genesis 9:28‑29)). During this period he may have talked with Nahor and Terah, Abraham’s grandfather and father.
It was by eyewitness account that the knowledge of God, of His creation, the fall, His remedy, and His judgment were passed down. How solemn to read: “When they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  .  .  .  Who, knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” (Rom. 1:21, 3221Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (Romans 1:21)
32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:32)).
Exodus
Genesis closes with the children of Israel and their households in the land of Egypt and Joseph’s words of faith: “God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence” (Gen. 50:2525And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. (Genesis 50:25)).
His words are fulfilled in Exodus when the children of Israel are brought up out of the land of Egypt, through the Red Sea and into the wilderness. (Numbers covers the remaining thirty-eight years of their forty years’ wandering in the wilderness, bringing them to the Jordan, while Deuteronomy records the last words of Moses before they entered the land of Canaan.)
In Exodus we have redemption and, as a result, relationship to Jehovah, the Redeemer. In Genesis we read of Elohim, the Creator (Gen. 1:11In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)). God introduces Himself to Abraham as El Shaddai, God Almighty (Gen. 17:11And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (Genesis 17:1)). But in Exodus we have, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:1414And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. (Exodus 3:14)). This is Jehovah, the eternally existing One—speaking of relationship—and it was by this name that Israel was to know God. “I will take you to Me for a people.  .  .  .  Ye shall know that I, Jehovah your God, am He who bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians” (Ex. 6:67 JND).
Exodus may be divided as follows: 1. Israel in Egypt (ch. 16). 2. The ten plagues of Egypt (ch. 7-12). 3. The exodus: The passover to the Red Sea (ch. 12-14). 4. The song of redemption (ch. 15). 5. The Red Sea to Mt. Sinai (ch. 16-19). 6. The law and the pattern for the tabernacle (ch. 20-40).
N. Simon