Genesis

All chapter and verses in this paper refer to the book of Genesis if nothing else is mentioned. And I have been using the SourceView Bible as main source.

First impression:

My first impression:

                                                                                                 

1.What do I see in this book that’s tells me about the Original Reader

The original reader is most likely the Hebrew people, the ancestors of Abraham at the time when they just had fled out of Egypt after c. 430 years there. Ch 15.13 / Exodus 12.41.

Most likely it would be the priest and leaders that read it, and they would orally share it with their people, – since probably some of the people could not read/ many? (Source The Source view Bible: SVB, and Andrew´s lecture)

But God also says in Genesis that this is a story that all generation to come will hear

 About. Ex Ch. 9.8, chi 12.3.                                                                                                                                                                                 

2. What do I see in this book that tells me about the author

I can see that the Author knows much about both the Egyptian culture ex. Eating rules ch.43.32. He also new the Hebrew Culture and history – seen all thru Genesis.

As Andrew mention in the lecture, and as it is written in the Source View Bible (SB p. 1) it is probably Moses who wrote this book down. This may be dated back to the year 1440 BC.  This would be about the time when the Hebrew people had fled from Egypt and were on their way to the Promised Land. There is no total consensus about this. (Norwegian Bible Society)  But it is one of the main tracks, and in fact in our Norwegian Bible these first books in the bible are named “The 1. - 5. Book of Moses”. Probably it had been an oral history that had been told down the generations – and then Moses, or his helpers decided to write them down at a point.                                                             

3. What are the main themes, and repeated ideas in this book, and what else is a one sentence summery of the “main idea”?

I would say the main themes are the creation of the World, the creation and life of the first man and woman, the free will of man choosing what God told them not to do, and sin is introduced in the world. C. ch 1-5.

Further on it is about Noah, ch. 6-10, the arch and the flood – with the promise of God in the rainbow – to never bring a flood again. ch 9.12-16

Then we are told the story of the families of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the rest of this book, ch .11-50

One sentence: “ Genesis tells us about the creation of the world and man, and how God gave a promised to His people and thru their history showed how eager He is to fulfill and keep His Promise and covenant.”                                                                                                                                          

4. What is the primary reason for this book was written:

It seems as if the Hebrew people had, at the time this book was written, lived 430 years in slavery in Egypt. Exodus 12.40. They were both a clear Hebrew tribe, but at the same time very coloured by the hundreds of years they had been in Egypt. So the people needed to be reassured and remember their history from the beginning –and thru the life of - and God interference in their ancestor, – they were able to restore their identity and it make them ready for the next step.                                                                                                                                         

Theme tracing:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

5.What does the book show about the character and nature of God?

One of the things that really talked to med was the way God is caring, still after they have done wrong – ex when HE clothed them after they have eaten the fruit. ch 3.21. He also shows how He wants to take care of His people in ch 18, when he is talking with Moses.

He wants to make covenants with his people, ch.3.14, and 17.7.

He keeps His promises as in the story of the birth of Isaac ch.21.

He wants to bless! Ch 22.17, 26.12, 27.27

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

6.What does this book show about God´s redemptive plan for mankind?

He created us in His image, ch. 1.27 – this was His own will!

He tells us also in ch.315b – that a descendent of Eve will crush the serpent’s head at a time in the future.

The story about Abraham being asked to sacrify Isaac ch. 22.– and God providing something else to be sacrificed instead of Isaac – I think this is a foreshadowing to Jesus who was sacrificed for us!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Application questions:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

7.Personal application:

As I wrote before, it was interesting and encouraging to see Gods character in the way God cares and provide for His people in spite of they doing out of His will – as I said before, it trilled me how the Lord made clothes to Adam and his wife! Ch.3.20.

And again to be reminded how human these persons in the Bible are described. In a way it is encouraging looking at my own life. But also encouraging in the way, to keep focus on God and His ways – and in that way I or we might keep out of some of the extra rounds during our lives journey.

I also have had some thoughts about how Abraham and Jacob/Joseph in the famine, (when things were dry and heavy) went to Egypt instead of waiting on the Lord in the Promised land – this brought their families to Egypt, and resulted in slavery for many years. It made me think how this can resemble how we turn to different “helpers”, and what does that does with our family and thru generations lives. It created a longing in me to reveal our “slave paths”.                                                                                                                                                                          

8.Point of passion:

In Norway it has been, during the last two years, a focus for a group of health workers to have the right to sustain for referring patients to treatment that is against their beliefs. – Like abortion, invitrofertilisation for lesbians – and in the future we see death assist rise as an issue. It came up in me when I prayed , that this might be my Point of Passion. It has become a very hot political theme – and these days we have a shift in government, and our new Prime minister had yesterday a statement that she stood up for this subject – in fact she said this should not be looked easy on, because it is a matter of life and death.

I see in this book that the idea of God being our creator is in conflict with much of this treatment, and that men in many ways here act as God  - deciding who to live and whom to die. Also that God created us to man and woman – to be fruitful and have children.                                      

I will pray and see if this should be a point of Passion I feel God leads me into in weeks to come .