01/31/22 INTROS TO GENESIS

01/31/22 INTROS TO GENESIS

There are a lot of very good outlines of the book of Genesis. However, God made it simple and clear by introducing ten specific sections by designating the sections with, "These are the generations of..."
1. Genesis 2:4
(4) These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
2. Genesis 5:1
(1) This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;
3. Genesis 6:9
(9) These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
4. Genesis 10:1
(1) Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.
5. Genesis 11:10
(10) These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood:
6. Genesis 11:27
(27) Now these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.
7. Genesis 25:12
(12) Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham:
8. Genesis 25:19
(19) And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac:
9. Genesis 36:1
(1) Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.
10. Genesis 37:2
(2) These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

This outline is not only an overview of the Book of Genesis or the historical origin of God's chosen people, it is also an introduction to the plan of God for salvation and an introduction to the chaotic world that has developed since the beginning.

I saw an outline that referred to four sections of the book of Genesis as Four Books. I saw some value in that outline, but I thought about it and present my own outline, through the idea of Five Sections.

We need to be careful not to misunderstand, misinterpret or misrepresent the meaning or message of the Holy Bible. Even when we understand a Biblical truth, we should not label our insight or explanation as Divine revelation or Divine inspiration. Only God's word is infallible. This little outline is not intended as Divine revelation to the book of Genesis, but it might help us see the congruity of the record with the message of salvation.

Remember, Paul said that God uses the Old Testament to instruct New Testament believers in God's salvation.
1 Corinthians 10:11
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

This is actually seen in the New Testament when Paul referred to the relationships and interactions of Isaac and Ishmael, and Jacob and Esau.

The book of Genesis shows us:
The Origin, Nature, and Condition of man (Eden to Babel; 1 to 11);
God's Plan of Salvation (The Promised Seed, beginning in 3:15);
The Life of Faith (Abraham; 12 to 25);
The Life of Internal Conflict (Isaac vs Jacob; Jacob vs Esau; 26 to 35)
The Life of Victory (Joseph; 37 to 50).

ADDENDUM
I separated this comment from the main post because this is more of a personal view. It might be helpful in remembering and understanding the Genesis narrative. I do not claim that this note is an actual, Divine Type. Bible "Types," have Biblical authority. We must be careful not to overrate our observations as Divine revelations. My comment simply points out that in the lives of the Patriarchs there was conflict, and in the life of New Testament believers there is conflict. Internal conflict always comes because of corrupted hearts, and sometimes it is the corrupted heart of a believer. This is why I included this view in Section Four of my outline.

I see these five sections as addressing;
Section One.
The Origin, Nature, and Condition of Lost Man Today
(Created by God, corrupted by sin).
Section Two
God's provision for salvation (The Promised Seed is Jesus)
Section Three
Faith as the way of salvation (As with Abraham, we are
god's children by faith and we live by faith).
Section Four
Internal struggle with carnality (As there was an internal conflict in Abraham's linage, there is internal strife within a believer).
Section Five
The victorious life of submission (Joseph was faithful in times of trouble).

As I said, my outline is just a tool to help us remember the Genesis narrative. It might also help us see the overall message of salvation. My outline is basically a human understanding. However, the Genesis account is actual history and theology, and the points of my outline are true to the life of believers. Though the conflict between Isaac and Ishmael, and the conflict between Jacob and Esau clearly refer to the Messianic linage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the conflict between them also is seen in the spiritual conflict of the flesh and the spirit of New Testament believers.