Gems from Genesis Lesson 1
Key Background concepts.
We restarted this study January 21st. There are a few key concepts or understandings (or un-understandings) that help us look at Genesis in a clearer light.
The scriptures do not tell us everything about everything. They do not tell us a complete scientific or historical account of all of creation. That is not their purpose. The Apostle John writes: these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, and that believing you might have life in His name. The scriptures, including Genesis 1-4, are written that we might believe in Jesus and that believing we might have life in His name. They are not written that we might know everything about everything.
The fall of man, Adam and Eve in Genesis chapter 3, had a tremendous impact upon the human race. That is an understatement. The fall was a tragedy of tragedies. Part of that impact was an inverted or upside down understanding of the nature, character and purposes of God. Until one comes to Messiah, our understanding of God is in a sense “upside down”. Coming to faith in Jesus – having life in His name” our understanding is in sense again flipped upside down so it is right side up again. We can begin to see God as He is, not with an upside down understanding. That process though may take our entire earthly journey with Messiah. As we seek to understand God and His Word, we ought to be prepared for areas of our understanding to be inverted so that we see Him more properly. Understanding that our perspective may be flipped or inverted as we look at Genesis is a healthy prerequisite for this study.
The scriptures surely hint at a “before”. A “before” the beginning. Examples:
Titus 1:2
Revelation 15:8
The scriptures also tells us that Lucifer/Satan exalted Himself above God, and was cast down. This too may be part of the “before”, it is surely something that occurs before Adam and Eve respond to the serpent. Though Genesis 1 and 2 do not tells us directly about Satan’s fall we have scriptures such as Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel to give us some understanding of this tragedy.
This leads us to one last and crucial point; relevant to all of our view of scripture. As believers in Y’shua, ones who have life in His name, it is imperative, crucial, (and basically absurd if we do not) to view the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) in the light of the New Covenant (New Testament) scriptures. Jesus’ death on the cross is the supreme revelation of the nature and character of God given to man, and likely given to all of creation. In that light and revelation we have a much improved understanding in all things relating to God. The understanding of Messiah and His character and of the New Covenant gives us powerful commentary on Genesis. Messiah is relevant to Genesis 1:1, to Genesis 1:2, Genesis 1:3 and so on and on and on. So let’s live in that light, and look in that light as we study and look for gems in Genesis. Blessings!
Smiling Maven 