Genesis

​Walt Henrichsen, a godly man now in heaven, once said, “For the Christian, the only reliable revelation of God is the Bible.”  Reading the Bible is a great adventure in the pursuit of wisdom.  And the first book, Genesis, is incredibly important.  If we study Genesis we learn amazing truths and this initial book helps explain the following 65 books.  Why is Genesis so important?  ​

1.          It determines our origin and how the world was created.  It is an accurate historical record of creation, the flood, why there are so many languages and God’s relationship with mankind.

2.         It establishes our identity.  We were made in the image of God (1:27) and we are valuable to Him.  We were made male and female; there is no other sex and pretending to change our sex does not negate what we were made.  “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper as his complement’” (2:18). God created marriage solely between a man and a woman and that partnership was significant for fellowship, for work and for procreation.

3.         It reveals Adam and Eve as the source of sin and the tragic and terminal consequences of evil.  Death was the offshoot of disobedience.  

4.         It is key to our faith.  It reveals God’s covenants and faithfulness and how He works through people to accomplish His will. Romans 1:20 says, “For His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen since the creation of the world, being understood through what He has made. As a result, people are without excuse.”

5.         It is vital to understanding God and why we would need His Son, Jesus.  D. Martin Lloyd-Jones said, “I have no gospel unless Genesis is history.” Paul noted in his letter to the Corinthian believers, “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man” (1 Corinthians 15:21).  Luke traces Jesus’ genealogy in Luke 3:23-38 from Adam to Joseph.  Jesus fixed what was badly broken and by His death on the cross and resurrection revealed how deeply God loves us.
            
Meditation
Genesis 22:8--Abraham answered, “God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” Then the two of them walked on together.
            
I chose this verse as a representative verse for the book because it so wonderfully foreshadows God providing His Son as the Lamb to take away the sins of the world.
  
Inspiration
“The Divine purpose in creation and redemption was that God should have many children.”—Watchman Nee in The normal Christian Life
 
©2020 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)