Genesis

Genesis is a book of beginnings. It is about the beginning of the world, the beginning of God’s purposes for man, the beginning of God’s purposes to save sinners, and the beginning of God’s purposes to bring his Savior through a particular people – the children of Abraham. This book of beginnings was especially important to the children of Abraham, the people of Israel. They were the book’s first audience as they stood at Mount Sinai and began their life as a nation. The nation of Israel was created through the Exodus from Egypt, and Moses, through this book, was teaching the newly created nation who their God was and why he was worthy of trust and obedience. The Bible’s beginning is relevant to us because Israel’s God is the God who made the universe. He is the God who made us. And so, if we are to know him, we should read and listen to his gracious self-disclosure. If we are to know who we are – if we are to know why we live and move and have our being – then we need to listen carefully to what God says of us.