Inside the Bible.

ca
www.insidethebible.ca /genesis-overview/
Micah Hackett
Written by Moses around 1,400 B.C., Genesis has 1,533 verses, 50 chapters, and covers a period of time from
approximately 4,000 1,650 B.C. Genesis is the story of God and the relationship He has with His people in the
light of sin and failure. It starts off with Adam and Eve in the garden Gods original people. Then sin enters, and
death by sin. We were created wonderfully by a powerful God, but then we turned from God, bringing separation
and shame. But then God called us out of our sinful life to a new covenant through Christ. This is the story of
Genesis applied to the overall plan of God. It lays the foundation for the cross work of Christ. Genesis should mean
much to the believer who studies it.
Chapters 1-5 New Creation
When beginning to read Genesis, one of the first things we see is Gods power and sovereignty. We cannot forget
Who the Lord is and Who possesses Heaven and earth. We see His power in creation and his sovereignty in the fall
of man.
When Gods perfect creation was defiled by sin, we get a glimpse of Gods ultimate plan. The ultimate plan of the
cross is seen through the animal skins given as a covering for Adam and Eve in their nakedness. They sinned, and
blood was shed as a sacrifice. Yet even through our sin, God remained the same. The message of Genesis one to
five is one that shows God as the Ultimate, while we are the sinful and the finite.
Chapters 6-11 New Complexity
Chapters six to eleven show a new complexity in societies with sin and with diversities in kinds of people. The main
events are the Flood and the Dispersion. Through them we see two main things of God: His provision and prudence
(wisdom). When sending the flood, He provided a way of safety for those who appreciated Him for Who He is. The
ark points to the safety we have in Christ through the flood of Gods wrath.
But while the ark shows provision, the Dispersion shows Gods wisdom. It proves Gods foreknowledge in the future
of the nations, for everything in this event points to Him and His purposes. The message of this section is one of
Gods provision and our submission.
Chapters 12-24 New Covenant
Chapters twelve to twenty-four deal mainly with a covenant, Abrahams covenant with the Lord God. It foreshadows
the promise of God that was fulfilled in Christ. Abraham was promised innumerable descendants, and God has
fulfilled this physically by prospering the Jewish population and spiritually by allowing Christ to bring many into the
family of the Father Himself. The people of God are those who are under His covenant. Those who submit to God
and cling to His promises are the ones who receive blessing. This is clearly seen in the promise of eternal life in the
New Testament. The message of this section shows us that the covenants of the Lord must be respected. God
keeps it; do we?
Chapters 25-36 New Creature
Chapters twenty-five to thirty-six deal with the life of Jacob and how he changed from a lying thief to a man that
appreciated the things of God. He shows the purpose of God in revealing Jacobs change in character. We are to be
changed into Christ-likeness and revile not when reviled, just as we see Jacob doing for the most part with Laban.
We must endure affliction, resting on Him.

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The reason Jacob became this way was because of his experience in the place of God, the vision at Bethel. He
shows us through this that a severe change comes from intimacy with the Lord. Perhaps the main message is one
that challenges us to change for Him and live like Christ, as a result of heeding to His call.
Chapters 37-50 New Comfort
Finally, chapters thirty-seven to fifty deal with the new comfort that one can have when reading the life of Joseph.
Through his journeys, Joseph was persecuted because of His firm convictions of Gods will. He, because of this,
had Gods protection and ultimately Gods peace. Those who fear the Lord have the Most High as their Rock and
salvation. What more is there to rest in? Who better is there to serve? Even in the deepest trials and darkest valleys,
we can find ABSOLUTE comfort in the Lord, because He protects those who love Him. Today, through the cross, we
have hope like no other, and we can have peace in the protection of Calvary forever. Even the mightiest of powers
cannot conquer what we have in Him.

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