Category: Genesis

Most of Genesis 37-50 is about the Joseph story. The Joseph story is how God in his sovereignty uses the sin if Joseph’s brothers, his being in a pit and being raised as ruler to further his purpose in relation to his promises made to Abraham. However, intermingled within the…

In this chapter Abraham is called to give his only son Isaac to God. One way of giving something completely over to God was by offering the thing as a burnt offering – which would include Isaac’s death. People sometimes make a link between Isaac and Jesus by the following…

In Genesis 15 the LORD again promises Abram a numerous people. Abram points to what is obvious by sight and that is barrenness. The LORD’s response is phrased, “The word of the LORD came to him”. This is the classic expression used of God speaking to prophets. Abram is given…

Out of the midst of Babel’s idolatry, one man is divided off and separated from the rest of humanity by the call of God – an act of new creation by God’s spoken word. With the call of Abram, God furthers his purpose to restore the Garden of Eden. Abram…

The story of the Tower of Babel begins with people moving eastward. In the book of Genesis moving east is narrative indicator of moving away from God’s presence e.g., Adam and Eve left Eden through the east gate, Cain moved eastward to the land of Nod, Lot and Ishmael will…

The story of the Flood covers Genesis 6-9. The earth is filled with God’s image-bearers but instead of reflecting his glory they have filled the earth with wickedness and violence. This is caused by what is said in 6:6: “Every inclination of the thoughts of man’s heart only evil all…

By God’s grace Adam and Eve had children – Cain and Abel. Abel was a keeper of sheep and Cain a worker of the ground. At the end of days (the Sabbath) the two brothers brought offerings to the LORD. Where did they go to present offerings? Usually, offerings are…

Adam was a priest in the Garden, a king exercising dominion over the earth and a prophet to Eve. Adam had received God’s word and was to speak that word to Eve. The prophetic word was to not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Satan…

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth – and the earth was formless and empty. There was only darkness, in other words, no life. God’s Word and Spirit then brought shape to creation – sky, sea, and land – while filling the empty spaces with birds, fish,…