1 Old Testament. Old Testament History Genesis 1-11

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Old Testament

Old Testament History

Genesis 1-11

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Introduction

Titles for Genesis “In the beginning” (Hebrew) “Genesis” (Greek)

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IntroductionGenesis is 1 of 5 books

which form a larger unit called … Torah … “instruction” …

or … Pentateuch … “five books”

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IntroductionHow should Genesis be read? in light of the other

4 books, which describe the origin of Israel

gives the pre-history of the nation of Israel & of the universe

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IntroductionCommon Genealogical Records

(ANE):

Account of … the heavens and the earth (1:1--2:4) human origins (2:5--5:2) Adam’s family (5:3--6:9a) Noah’s family (6:9b--10:1) the Nations (10:2--11:10a) Terah’s family (11:10b-27a)

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Creation (1-2)

Two Accounts Focus God

1st

Account

Origins of Universe

Elohim

2nd Account

Humans

Yahweh Elohim “LORD God”

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Creation

First Account (1:1--2:4) Universe, the free creation

of God by his sovereign word (1:3, 6, 14, 20, 24)

Origin of the universe was a process ...

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Creation

Process ... creation of basic matter

(1:1-2) fashioning/shaping matter

into the universe & earth as it is (1:3-25)

Movement ... formlessness ... and emptiness (1:2)

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CreationOrder & Habitation

For this is what the LORD says — he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited — he says: I am the LORD, and there is no other. — Isa. 45:18

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Creation

Humans: male & female

Final Act!

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Creation

God is a someone, not merely something.

God’s capacity for creativity was passed to humans. God is shown to be

sovereign over all the universe.

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Creation

Second Account (2:5--2:25): Adam/Eve

Shaped from dirt Placed in a tropical garden Instructed re responsibilities Not good to be alone!

1. Named the animals2. Formed a woman

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The Fall (3-5)

Rebellion out of Freedom God had given them

limited freedom (2:16-17) Their rebellion:

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The Snake & the Woman & the Man Confronted, created doubt re

God’s instructions Snake: “God is with-

holding something good” she ate ... gave to the man ... he ate

Realized the significance of their rebellion ... ashamed…vulnerable ...

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The Fall

God Confronts The man blamed

the woman and The woman

blamed the snake. Both were equally

guilty as evidenced by the punishment given...

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The FallJudgmentsSnake: offspring of the woman

would crush his headWoman: increased difficulty in

childbirth; exploitation by menMan: work would be frustrated

with alien elements

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The Fall

Judgments -- the BIG ONE ...

DEATH ... entered the human family.

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The Fall

Depravity spreads Fratricide Polygamy Uncontrolled revenge

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The FallGood Spreads/Develops Skills in farming, music, &

metallurgy Some began to seek after God. Enoch Noah, “comfort”

Shows that … humans sought relief from the

difficulty of surviving in a world cursed due to their sin (Gen. 5:29)

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The Flood

God Determines to Destroy Humankind

Few tried to seek God Human wickedness rampant extended 120 years of grace

to give time to avert judgment

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God Commissions Noah Eight humans, and

selections of animals, survived a 371-day flood.

Emerged, offered sacrifices in worship.

God’s Promise ...

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God promised never again to destroy the human race

in this fashion.

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Dispersion (10-11)

The First Account Family branches spread

out Japheth, Shem, and

Ham.

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Japeth

Shem & Ham

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Dispersion

Nimrod (“we shall rebel”) founder of Babylon & other

cities singled out for special

attention as a champion hunter

Reason in the 2nd account

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Dispersion

Second Account Babel & descendents of

Noah Displacement of God Confusion of Language The Family Line of Shem

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Lessons from the Old Testament

God was the Creator of the whole universe; the sovereign Lord

over all mankind. Depravity of the human race &

its deserved judgment became repeating patterns in the fall of

Adam & Eve (3), the curse of Cain (4), the flood of Noah (6-9) and

the confusion at Babel (11).

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Lessons from the Old Testament

God himself must take the initiative to set it right.

Although there were few who sought after God, the

overwhelming trend was rebellion and violence.

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