Genesis 1: 1 - 26 Observational background study of the book of Genesis
The author of the book of Genesis is Moses. Genesis is the first of five books also known as the Pentateuch, Torah or the Law. Moses wrote this historical narrative for the descendants of Israel.
The cultural setting begins in the Garden of Eden perhaps as early as 10,000 B.C. and then into the Patriarchal Period followed by Joseph and the Jewish nation in Egypt somewhere around 1750 B.C.
Man enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God in a literal paradise while in the Garden of Eden.
However, the relationship was soon broken because of mans fall into sin. Sometime after the fall and during the Patriarchal Period, which extended from 2086-1871 B.C., man was busy populating and settling the earth.
Egypt, which started somewhere around 5000 B.C., was by now on its way to becoming a world super-power. By the time Joseph was born in 1910 B.C., Egypt was in its strong middle kingdom, ruled by the XXII dynasty. Abram, who later became Abraham, was the first Patriarch and the father of the Jews; so until this time there was no “Jewish” nation.
Moses structured Genesis from two major periods, each with four key features.
The first major period is the primeval history of mankind found in Gen. 1:1-11:26.
The first feature is in Genesis 1-2. Here we find God creating the heavens, earth, and all that is in them.
Next, we see man spoiling Gods creation as he begins his perilous journey into sin and its full extent in chapters 3-5.
Third, in Genesis 5-9, there is a period of cleansing and repopulation. The great flood rid the earth of all its wickedness in order to begin life anew with Noah and his seven family members.
Chapters 10 and 11 offer the fourth key feature with an account of the lineage of Noah’s sons up to Abram and demonstrate with the tower of Babel mans determination to rebel despite Gods warnings
From this point, we move into the second major period in the book of Genesis, which is The Patriarchal Period.
The first feature is in chapter 12, with the Abrahamic covenant where God begins to map out His plan of salvation for everyone to see. We see the covenant confirmed in chapter 15 and carried out by circumcision in chapter 17. We continue with the story of Abraham until His death through chapter 24.
In chapters 25-28, we receive the second key feature: the life of Abraham’s son, Isaac, who has two sons named Esau and Jacob.
The third feature is in Genesis 28-36 where we examine Jacobs’s life.
Chapters 37 to the end of the book, 50, give us the fourth and final feature where we are shown the lives of Jacobs’s sons, mainly Joseph who finishes the book in Egypt.
The key word in the book of Genesis is “Beginning”. The Hebrew people call it bereshit, which means “in the beginning”. We see this evidenced in the creation account, the fall of man (the beginning of sin), the flood and repopulation of the earth, Gods covenant with Abram, and Josephs forgiveness toward his brothers in Egypt. It is a book of new beginnings and second chances.
The major points of theology in this book are numerous. I have included only a few.
In chapters 1-11, we see the nature of human life:
1. God made us in His image. (1:1-2:4)
2. We have needs and limits. (2:5-25)
3. Sin brings alienation and punishment. (3:1-24)
4. God punishes pride and irresponsibility but by grace protects the sinner. (4:1-15)
5. God punishes sinful society but preserves a faithful remnant. (6:1-8:22)
In chapters 12-50, we see the mission and nature of God:
1. The Lord has a redemptive plan for His world. (11:10-25:18)
2. God works through human conflicts to protect His people and His land. (25:19-36:43)
3. God brings reconciliation even in exile in an enemy land. (37:1-50:26)
Alexander, David, ed. Zondervan Handbook to the Bible Michigan: Zondervan, 1999
Unger, Merrill F. The New UNGERS Bible Dictionary Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1988
Disciples Study Bible Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 1983
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