Description

Studies in Genesis

FOR INDIVIDUAL, CLASS AND CORRESPONDENCE STUDY

by

LOUIS ENTZMINGER, A. B., D. D.

www.solidchristianbooks.com

2015

Contents

STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS 3
I. THE CREATION 8
II. CREATION WITH REFERENCE TO MAN 15
III. THE FALL OF MAN 18
IV. SYMBOLS AND TYPES 24
V. THE DIVISION – THE TWO SEEDS 29
VI. THE FLOOD 37
VII. GENERATIONS OF THE SONS OF NOAH AND THE TOWER OF BABEL 46
VIII. THE CALL AND RESPONSE OF ABRAHAM 51
IX. THE FIRST WAR AND THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT 57
X. FAITH VERSUS WORKS; AND THE COVENANT RENEWED 63
XI. ABRAHAM THE INTERCESSOR 68
XII. ABRAHAM AT GERAR AND THE BIRTH OF ISAAC 73
XIII. THE OFFERING OF ISAAC; AND DEATH OF SARAH 79
XIV. SEEKING A BRIDE FOR ISAAC; DEATH OF ABRAHAM 85
XV. THE COVENANT CONFIRMED TO ISAAC, AND THE STOLEN BLESSING 91
XVI. JACOB AT BETHEL AND HARAN 97
XVII. JACOB THE SUPPLANTER BECOMES “A PRINCE WITH GOD” 105
CHAPTER XVIII SOWING AND WREAPING 111
XIX. THE HUMILIATION OF JOSEPH 115
XX. JOSEPH REVEALED TO AND EXALTED BY HIS BRETHREN 122
XXI. JACOB’S BLESSING UPON THE TWELVE TRIBES 125

 

STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS

By Louis Entzminger, A.B., D.D.

Pentateuch simply means five.

Moses was the author of the first five books of the Bible.

Except in the case of Genesis he said he was.

Christ says Moses wrote the Pentateuch in Luke 24:44, and the Apostles say Moses wrote it.

We will waste no time discussing the source of Moses’ infor­mation. Methuselah was a contemporary of Adam a number of years and also a contemporary of Noah several hundred years.

Noah could have passed on all this information, as Shem was in the ark with Noah, and lived 400 years after the flood to the days of Terah and Abram.

Then Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob overlapped considerably in their lives and the record in Genesis of the facts of creation, the flood, and through the whole story could easily have passed on from generation to generation, to Moses himself. This is what is called “tradition,’’ not in any evil sense but in the sense of things commonly known and generally accepted being passed by word of mouth from father to son on down the line.

For the believer it is not necessary to discuss this matter as we accept it by divine inspiration.

Somebody is always raising the question as to where Cain got his wife. Well, that is easy. Read what Moses himself says:

“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters: And all the days that Adam lived, were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.” (Genesis 5:3-5).

Here Adam lived after Seth was born, eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. How many children, grand children, great grand children and descendants on down would a man have who lived to be nine hundred years of age?

Moses was certainly qualified to write it, as we read he was learned in all the ways of the Egyptians.

He certainly had plenty of time for he spent forty years in Midian where very likely he wrote Job and Genesis. He had a year at Sinai in which to write Exodus, and thirty-eight years in the wilderness to write Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

The story of the great leader’s death was very likely written by Joshua.

1. Scriptures to memorize in preparation for studying the Old Testament: Luke 24:27, 44; John 5:39; I Cor. 10:6, 11. It might be well also to remember Deut. 29:29.

Moses declares that the history he wrote in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers, and that the persons he wrote of, and the things he wrote about all contained secrets. In other words, it was symbolic.

This applies also to a great deal of the Old Testament.

If we notice the apostle says:

“Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mys­tery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.” Eph. 3:9.

These “secrets” are called “mysteries” in the New Testa­ment. If Christ expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself, how else would he find “The things concerning himself” in the Old Testament if he didn’t find them concealed in symbol, and type?

2. Important principles to know in order to interpret the Old Testament scriptures.

(1). That most of the Old Testament is symbolic and that many of the symbols are typical. That is, they are shadows or pictures which have a future substance, reality, or blessing. Read Romans 5:14, Heb. 11:17-19, I Cor. 10:11, Heb. 9:9, 24, and many others.

(2). The second principle is that God uses the physical and material to typify, symbolize, picturize the spiritual and invisible.

(3). An outline of Genesis.

It is not necessary for us to work out an outline of Genesis. It outlines itself.

3. Introductory – Genesis 1-2:3.
4. Generations of the heavens and earth – Genesis 2:4-4:26.

III. The book of the generations of Adam – Genesis 5:l-6:8.

19. The generations of Noah – Genesis 6:9-9:19.
20. Generations of the sons of Noah – Genesis 10:1-11:9.
21. Generations of Sherri – Genesis 11:10-26.

VII. Generations of Terah – Genesis 11:27-25:11.

VIII. The Generations of Ishmael – Genesis 25:12-18.

29. Generations of Isaac – Genesis 25:19—35-29.
30. Generations of Esau – Genesis 36:1—37:1.
31. The Generations of Jacob – Genesis 37:2 – 50:26.

THE MANY BEGINNINGS IN GENESIS

Seven Special Beginnings In Genesis

1. The beginning of the material universe – The sphere of the divine revelation of grace.
2. The beginning of the human race – The subject of the divine revelation of grace.
3. The beginning of sin – The cause of the divine revelation of grace.

4 The beginning of divine redemption – The character of the divine revelation of grace.

5. The beginning of the nations – The scope of the divine reve­lation of grace.
6. The beginning of the Hebrew nation – The channel of the divine revelation of grace.
7. The beginning of the life of faith – The outcome of the divine revelation of grace. – (W. H. Griffith Thomas)

QUESTIONS ON INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS

1. What is the meaning of Pentateuch?
2. Who was the author of the first five books of the Bible?
3. From what source might Moses have been able to obtain his information for writing the Pentateuch?
4. For the believer in the inspired word of God, what does he accept as authoritative and final?
5. What satisfactory answer can you give as to where Cain got his wife?
6. What was Moses’ qualification for writing these books? What, as to the time element?
7. What New Testament scriptures should we memorize in preparation for studying the Old Testament?
8. Would it have been possible for Christ to have “Expounded unto them in all scriptures, the things concerning himself,” if the greater part of the revelation we have of Christ in the Old Testament was not in symbols and types?
9. Give four or five New Testament references proving that much of the Old Testament, as to its “history,” “persons,” and “things” are symbolical and typical.
10. What is the second principle we must know in order to in­terpret the Old Testament?
11. Give a scriptural outline of Genesis.
12. Among the many beginnings in Genesis name seven special beginnings.

 

 

 

I. THE CREATION

Genesis 1-2:3

1. The Origin of the Universe – v. 1.

According to Luke 24:27 and John 5:29 Christ is in all the scriptures. Therefore, if beginning with Moses and in all the prophets he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself, we are sure that he revealed to them and taught them that he, the second person in the divine trinity, was the creator of the heavens and the earth. Study carefully John 1:l-4, Col. 1:15-17, and Heb. 1:l-3.

But it is one of the marvels of grace in studying the scriptures, that in tracing out some great central truth in the book we find so much more, in fact a veritable gold mine of divine truth.

Notice that a study of these three New Testament references showing that Christ was creator of the universe, we have ten or more great truths revealed to us as to his person and work.

1. That Christ created all things “for Himself.” Col. 1:16.
2. That He was one of the persons in the Godhead, “with God.” John 1:1.
3. That He was the originator of life and light. John 1:4.
4. That He is the final and full and complete revelation of God. Heb. 1:2.
5. That He is the glory of the Godhead. Heb. 1:3.
6. That He upholds all things by His Word. Heb. 1:3.
7. That He was before all things. Col. 1:17.
8. That all things consist in Him. Col. 1:17.
9. Origin of the Earth – The Cosmos. Genesis 1:2-3.
10. The origin of light, v. 2,3.

 

And remember this was before the sun was created.

We accept the position that many Bible students take, that some judgment came upon the earth in connection with the fall of Satan between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. We believe Isaiah’s testament is important.

“For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord; and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:18.)

Dr. Chalmers, the great English scholar, translates the word “was” in Genesis 1:2, “became.” That is, the earth “became” without form and void.

The same words “waste” and “empty” in Genesis 1:2 are used of Edom in Isaiah 34:11, and of Israel in Jeremiah 4:23. It is almost the same as disorder or chaos.

2. There are seven Hebrew words in Genesis 1:1, which is the number for divine completeness or perfection. This, multi­plied by the earth’s complete number of 4 is 28 and there are exactly 28 Hebrew letters in Genesis 1:1, which we believe tells us that the creation of the universe in Genesis 1:1 was a perfect work.
3. The number 7 is very prominent in Genesis.

There are 7 activities:

(1). The activity of the Holy Spirit, v. 2.

(2). The word of God calling into existence light, v. 3.

(3). The making of the firmament, vs. 6-9.

(4). The bringing forth of the vegetation, v. 11.

(5). The arranging of the heavenly bodies, vs. 14-19.

(6). The storing up of the waters, vs. 20-21.

(7). The stocking of the earth, v. 24.

4. The word “Good” is used seven times in Genesis 1.
5. The word “Made” is found seven times in Genesis 1.
6. The word “Heaven” is mentioned seven times in Genesis 1 and including the first three verses of chapter 2.

Thus perfection is stamped everywhere.

7. The atmosphere, v. 6.

(1). Firmament is the outer sphere or fluid air. Its depth is said to be 40 miles or more. It separates water from water.

This makes possible all kinds of life on earth, and living conditions. Thus we can convey sound, and radio et al.

8. The dry land appears, v. 9.

(1). We have here separation of light and darkness by the intervening atmosphere.

(2). Separation of water.

(3). Separation of land and sea.

This is declared, all of it, to be the direct work of God and not by any process of evolution of any sort. Psa. 104:3-9, Job 38:4-11.

It is well here to notice “Separation” especially the separation of light and darkness. There can be no fel­lowship between the two. God is light; and darkness is Satanic. There is room for much investigation here for the student.

9. Origin of vegetable life. Vs. 11-13.

(1). The grass – This reproduces by branches.

(2). The herbs having “seed.”

(3). Trees bearing fruit having “seed.”

In this stage of creation we have development but cer­tainly not evolution. See Mark 4:28, Matt. 7:16, James 3:11, 12. This is of course within the species.

10. The origin of the light bearers or light holders. Y. 14-19.

These serve for the earth a three-fold purpose.

(1). To divide night and day.

(2). For signs, seasons, days, and years.

(3). As a permanent arrangement for the distribution of light upon the earth.

And the scriptures declare that God, himself, was the maker of these heavenly bodies. Job. 9:9, Job 38:31-33, Psa. 19:1-6.

In this passage the Sun is a bridegroom. Psa. 104:19-24, Matt. 5:45, Acts 14:17.

How sublime God’s revelation, through prophets, psalmists, poets, and singers – His creation. Romans 1:19-20.

11. The origin of marine animals and fowls. V. 20-23.

We find the order here, as always, is from the lower to the higher, and this is declared to be the direct work of God. Psa. 104:25-30.

12. The origin of land animals as described in verses 24 and 25.

III. The origin of man. Vs. 26-27

Every step so far is in preparation for man. All of the natu­ral creation, animate and inanimate was made for him. Col. 1:16 last clause. Psa. 8:5-8.

1. No beast in all creation could be man’s consort. Gen. 2:18-20. Nothing in all God’s creation could have anything in common with man.
2. “In our image, after our likeness” V. 26. “In the image of God created he him.”

The principle thing here is that man is a spiritual being. Study carefully John 4:24, Heb. 12:9, Zech. 12:1, Prov. 20:27, Eccl. 12:7.

3. This admonition, however, includes much more.

(1). Man is imbued with the knowledge of reason. Gen 2:19- 20, Col. 3:10.

(2). Imbued with uprightness and holiness. Eccl. 7:29, Eph. 4:24.

(3). With conscience which either excuses or accuses. Rom­ans 2:15.

(4). With a free will, having the power of choice.

(5). Worship and communion with God.

(6). The dignity of presence. Gen. 9:2, I Cor. 11:7.

(7). With immortality of the soul and provision for immor­tality of the body. Gen. 3:22.

(8). With the capacity for marriage – unlike the beast.

(9). With the capacity for labor, apart from struggle for existence. Genesis 2:15.

(10). With the power of speech.

All of this and much more places an infinite chasm be­tween man and beast.

Therefore, it is next to blasphemy to talk about man, “an animal.” He is no such thing. Unlike anything else in all God’s creation he is made “In the image of God,” and God created him “male and female created he them.” And remember there is no such thing as “pre-Adamic man.”

4. Man was given a commision to fill and subdue the earth. Vs.28-31.
5. This dominion given the original man was absolute. Ys. 28. Psa. 8:5-9, Heb. 2:5-11.

While it was lost in the fall, restored in part to Noah, it fully adheres in the last Adam, Jesus Christ. We see him per­sonally exercising it as he had absolute control of wind and wave, of the beast of the field, and the fishes of the sea. Had the net been able to hold them every fish in the sea of Galilee would have entered it, and that after the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing. During the thousand years reign of Christ on the earth, that dominion will be completely exercised.

3. The periods of creation and the Sabbath. Gen. 2:l-3.
4. The primary idea of the Sabbath is ceasing from work with the satisfaction afforded.
5. It is a divine institution.

We have here for the first time in the scripture the word “sanctified” and it is important to notice that this is the first mention of sanctification in scripture and gives us the root idea of the word which is to separate, set apart wholly unto God.

3. The Sabbath is a permanent institution grounded in creation and therefore in principle is pre-Mosaic. It is fair to notice that, the Sabbath had already extended over two-thousand years before the law was given in Exodus 20. It was therefore primeval and universal.
4. It is essential – God’s example is important for us. It is not so much the particular day but the institution in which the law of God and the needs of man combined to make it an absolute necessity.

QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER I

Genesis 1-2:3

1. How do we account for the origin of the heaven and the earth?
2. Give two scripture references showing that Christ is in all the Old Testament Scriptures.
3. Who was the creator of the heavens and the earth? Give three references proving it.
4. Name ten other wonderful things about Christ we learn from the study of these three scripture references.
5. Give a reference showing that the earth was not created “in vain,” “void” and “empty”.
6. In connection with what two nations is the same word “waste” and empty used? Give references.
7. What number is most prominent in the history of the crea­tion?
8. How many times is the word “Good” used?
9. How many times is the word “Made” used?
10. How many times is the word “Heaven” used?
11. Give some references confirming God’s direct creation of the firmament.
12. Give some references confirming the statement that God made dry land appear.
13. As to the origin of vegetable life, give some references show­ing that there is such a thing as development within the species, but not evolution.
14. What three-fold purpose do the light-bearers in verses 14-19 serve for the earth?
15. Give three references confirming that God directly was the maker of these heavenly bodies.
16. What Psalm confirms the statement of Verses 20 to 23 as to the origin of marine animals?
17. As to the creation of man, to what does the reference “in the image of God created he him” refer?
18. Name 10 other things characterizing man and give refer­ences.
19. If man was created “in the image of God,” would you class him as “an animal”?
20. What was the commission given to him?
21. What “man” will exercise this fully and completely, and when?
22. State briefly four lessons we learn here as to the sabbath in Genesis 2:1-3.