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INTRODUCTION The Book of Genesis gets its name from the Greek translation of the opening words of this first book of Scripture. It means Beginnings or origins. Which is what the Book is all about.
Here we are introduced to the beginning of Creation , the
human race, and the Hebrew race. Herein is the beginning of marriage and
murder, music and mayhem! The beginning of sin and the beginning of cities. And
lots more.
Chapters 1-11
Four Major Events
(The
Creation, The Fall into sin , The Flood &
The Dispersion of the Nations)
(Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob & Joseph.)
AUTHORSHIP
It has well been asked
Is
Genesis ( and all the first five books of Scripture ) Mosaic or a mosaic ?
Critics suggest that we have a patchwork of writers whom they designate as
J.E.P. & D. Plus a whole lot more
like J1, J2 ,J3,
etc.
But the Lord Jesus speaks of Moses as the author. ( John 5:46) And thats good enough for me.
On top of which the archaeological discoveries reveal the
author to be someone who was familiar with the customs of those patriarchal
times.
It is true to say, however, the Book of Genesis was
probably compiled from earlier documents to which Moses had access.
And we believe that the Holy Spirit kept him free from
error in that which he wrote. ( 2 Tim.3:16)
..
TIME LINE
Creation
. Abraham
. Moses
.. King David
. Jesus
? 2000 B.C. 1500 B.C. 1000 B.C. B.C. / A.D.
THE CREATION Various theories have been advanced as to the
time this took place.
Some take the days of creation to be long periods of time
others suggest they were only 24 hours in length. Thus we have those who
believe the earth to be millions of years old and those who say it is only
about 10,000 years old. Some scholars
hold to a gap theory
that is, a gap between the original creation millions
of years ago in Gen. 1:1
and the re-creation of the world as we know it some 10,000 years ago
from Gen. 1:2 onwards. And there
are other views held by good Bible-believing scholars.
It is interesting and important to notice that the writer
of Genesis 1 gets the order of Creation to harmonize with the findings
of science
although he was not there to see those events that took place
before he was created ! Only Divine
revelation can account for such accuracy.
THE FALL
Genesis 3 tells of Adam and Eve
falling into sin. It has been suggested the Serpent is a title of Satan
rather than a description of his appearance. ( Revelation 12:9)
But none can deny sin came into this world of ours. And the New Testament emphasizes that by one man sin came into
the world. Adam is recognised as an
historical character and the story of his fall into sin as true .( Romans 5:
12) You cannot pass off Genesis as
mythological and then claim to accept the reliability of the New Testament.
..
THE FLOOD
Likewise the story of Noah, his Ark and the great flood. The Lord Jesus spoke of it as true. ( Matthew
24:37-38) Whether the flood covered the
entire globe or whether it was a local flood in the Tigris-Euphrates basin is
debated by Bible scholars. In any case
, the flood covered where all mankind
were living and all mankind except Noah and his family were drowned.
..
THE DISPERSION OF THE NATIONS Whilst building a tower to the skies in
disobedience to Gods command, the peoples find their languages confounded.
Unable to communicate they are now scattered. Because they did not do so
willingly
He made them willing to go !
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ABRAHAM Called of God to leave Ur of the Chaldees, he travels to the Land of Canaan. Here God promises him that his Seed will be a blessing to mankind. The promise refers to the coming Messiah not the Hebrew race. It is Seed , not seeds. ( Galatians 3:16) There is also a promise that his descendants will be given the land from the border of Egypt to the Euphrates. Which we will learn is conditional upon the nations obedience to Gods law.
Two children are born, Ishmael and Isaac. The promise is
passed on to Isaac.
ISAAC
His marriage to Rebekah produces two
children. The promise is passed on to Jacob.
.
JACOB
God changes his name to
Israel. He loves and is eventually married to Rachel. But it is to Judah, son of Leah to whom he
is also married, that the promise of the coming Messiah is made.
His twelve sons become the ancestors of the 12 Tribes of
Israel.
..
JOSEPH . He is hated by his brothers and sold as a slave into Egypt. But here he rises to a position of importance second only to Pharaoh. The story of his reconciliation with his brothers and his aged father is moving to read.
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Origin of all
things, Loss of Paradise,
Drowning of a
wicked world, Tower to the skies.
Abraham and
Isaac, Jacob and his kids
Joseph now
exalted
among the pyramids!
Thats the theme
of Genesis , & I believe its true,
It may be old
but still it teaches
lessons ever new
!
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The Twelfth Son
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INTRODUCTION
About six miles south of
Jerusalem the tourist will see the tomb of Rachel
. although there is some doubt as to its authenticity. But it is a
reminder of that sad event when she died giving
birth to Jacobs ( Israels ) twelfth son.
whom he had toiled 14 years,
bears another son.
But the joy is marred by tragedy.
..
Genesis 35: 16
Then they moved on from Bethel. While they
were still some distance from Ephrath,
Rachel began to give birth and had great difficulty.
17 And as she was
having great difficulty in childbirth,
the midwife said to her, "Don't be afraid, for you
have another son."
18 As she breathed
her last-for she was dying-she named her
son Ben-Oni. But his father named him Benjamin.
19 So Rachel died
and was buried on the way to Ephrath
(that is, Bethlehem). 20 Over her tomb Jacob
set up a pillar,
and to this day that pillar marks Rachel's tomb.
Ben-oni ( vs 18) means son of
sorrow but Benjamin means son of the
right hand
the place of honour and blessing. When Jacobs favourite son,
Joseph, is sold as a slave into Egypt by
his brethren, it is Benjamin who gives him comfort. When the other sons
are sent to buy corn in Egypt
but he is loathe to allow Benjamin to go.
(Genesis 42:36)
..
(1) THE UNEXPECTED PROPHECY
In Genesis 49 aged Jacob calls his sons together. It is a prophetic word concerning their
future destiny.
Reuben will be unstable as
water (49:3-4); Simeon & Levi will be instruments of cruelty (vs. 5);
Zebulun will dwell by the sea (vs. 13); Asher will provide royal
delicacies (vs. 20) etc. And one would expect a word of kindness and blessing
and exaltation for this dearest of sons
Benjamin.
Instead , we get this !
Genesis 49: 27 "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf;
in the morning he devours the prey,
in the evening he divides the plunder."
Why did Jacob say the descendants
of Benjamin would be like a savage wolf, dragging home the carcase of its
victim each night to be devoured by hungry cubs? The only answer can be that it was a prophecy inspired by the
Spirit of God. Holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Spirit ! ( 2 Peter 1:21)
(2) THE UNMISTAKABLE
FULFILMENT
The Scriptures give many instances confirming the accuracy of
Jacobs prediction.
(a) Ehud, a Benjamite, ( Judges 3:15)
plunges his dagger into the Moabite king and then rallies Israel to slay the
Moabites. (Judges 3:28-29)
(b) Later, in a conflict between
the Benjamites and the rest of Israel
.
Judges 20 : 20
The men of Israel went out to fight the Benjamites and took up battle positions
against
them at Gibeah. 21
The Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down twenty-two thousand Israelites
on the battlefield
that day. 22 But the men of Israel encouraged one another and again
took up
their positions
where they had stationed themselves the first day.
. 24
Then the Israelites drew
near to Benjamin
the second day. 25 This time, when the Benjamites came out from
Gibeah to oppose
them, they cut
down another eighteen thousand Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
(c)
We turn to 1 Samuel and meet
King Saul who slew his 1000s
a Benjamite.( 1 Sa. 9:1)
(d)
Likewise his son , Jonathan, slays 20 Philistines single-handed. ( 1
Sam. 14:14)
(e) Abner , captain of Sauls army, who hunts the young King-elect,
David, and later slays Ishbosheth
is
a Benjamite.
(f) Sheba leads a rebellion against David. ( 2 Sam. 20:1-2)
(g) In the Book of Esther we meet Mordecai and his cousin, Esther,
of the tribe of Benjamin
( Esther 2:5) who are responsible for the
slaughter ( albeit justifiably !) of the enemies of the Jews throughout the
Persian Empire.
Esther 9: 16
Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also
assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their
enemies. They killed seventy-five
thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the
plunder.
The descendants of Benjamin
were like a ravenous wolf. Even
today a postage
prophecy came true
as does every prophecy spoken under
inspiration of the
Holy Spirit. Some of these
prophecies have already have been fulfilled
And some are yet to be.
2 Peter 1: 19And we have the word of the prophets
made more certain, and you
will do well to pay
attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place,
until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
..
(3) THE UNRIVALLED
ILLUSTRATION
For in the New Testament we meet the most savage of Benjamins
descendants
and yet the one who experiences a miraculous change. He is the wolf that lies down with Gods
lambs !
Twice the apostle Paul tells us
that he belonged to this favourite tribe.
Benjamin ! Romans 11:1; Philippians 3:5
And how he sought to devour the
early Christians
Galatians 1:13 For you have
heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely
I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it.
Acts 8: 3 But Saul began to
destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off
men and women and put them in prison.
Acts 22: 4 I persecuted the
followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men
and women and throwing them into prison,
But he met the Saviour. And he received the new heart
of which the prophet spoke. ( Ezekiel 36:26.)From henceforth, pride of race or
dependence upon rites and ceremonies
or even his own blameless life availed
nothing in the sight of God.
Philippians
3:4 If anyone else thinks he
has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5circumcised
on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin,
a Hebrew of
Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting
the church;
as for legalistic
righteousness, faultless.7But whatever was to my profit I now
consider loss for
the sake of Christ.
CONCLUSION
Often on the mission field the dark-skinned brother is given a new name
at the time of his baptism. A Christian name .
And on the last day the Lord
Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats. Some will still be Ben-oni
sons of sorrow and pain , bound for a lost eternity.
And some will be those who have
received a new name and a new heart
Benjamites ! .. sons of the right hand
! and they will be seated with Christ in heavenly places.
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Lets meet Mr. Happy !!
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When Leahs handmaid and Jacob got
together and a babe was born
he was
named Asher.
And Asher means Happy !
Gen 30:9-13 ( NIV) 9 When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she
took her maidservant Zilpah and gave her to Jacob as a wife. 10
Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son.
11 Then
Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she named him
Gad.
12 Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son.
13 Then
Leah said, "How happy I am! The women will call me happy." So she
named him Asher.
Jacob , whose name was changed by
God to Israel, eventually had twelve sons
and from them came the twelve
tribes of Israel. When Isaac, Jacobs
father was dying, Jacob brought his sons to him for a blessing.
Genesis 49 records this solemn and
prophetic event. To Asher was spoken thus
.
Gen 49: 20
"Asher's food will be rich;
he will provide delicacies fit for a king. ( NIV)
or, as the Message translates it
.
20Asher will become
famous for rich foods,
candies and sweets fit for kings. (The Message )
.
Deuteronomy
33:24
"Most blessed of sons is Asher;
let him be favored by his brothers,
and let him bathe his feet in oil.
25 The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze,
and your strength will equal your days.
26 "There is no
one like the God of Jeshurun,
who rides on the heavens to help you
and on the clouds in his majesty. ( NIV )
"Asher, best blessed of the sons!
May he be the favorite of his brothers,
his feet massaged in oil.
25Safe behind iron-clad doors and gates,
your strength like iron as long as you live."
26There is none like God,
Jeshurun,
riding to your rescue through the skies,
his dignity haloed by clouds. ( The
Message )
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(1) THE LITERAL
INTERPRETATION
When Joshua divided the land among
the twelve tribes Asher received the fertile land stretching from Carmel twenty
miles north along the Mediterranean coast. ( See map !)
Still today it is known for
producing the most olive oil in the land. (vs. 24)
The iron clad gates speak , in a
poetic way, of security from their enemies. ( vs. 25-26)
Mr Happy will have material
blessings galore if he stays true to his God.
And from a New Testament aspect , spiritual happiness will depend upon
obedience to the law of Christ. ( 1Corinth. 9:21)
.
(2) THE CURIOUS
INTERPRETATION
On the basis of Deuter. 33:24 some American Christians have
invested millions of dollars to dig for oil in what was once Ashers territory.
But the Hebrew word used for
oil in this verse is olive oil
not
petroleum oil !
..
(3) THE SPIRITUAL
APPLICATION
Oil is a symbol of the Holy
Spirit. Kings and priests were anointed
with oil.
The very word Christ ( Messiah; in Hebrew ) means Anointed One.
Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were
oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (KJV)
The followers of the Lord Jesus
likewise are exhorted to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We, who name the Name of Christ,
are to bathe our feet in oil
that is ,Walk in the Spirit
!(Galat. 5: 16)
The result will be that we will
bear the choicest delicacies
the
Fruit of the Spirit.
And there will be spiritual
blessings showered upon us such as were
prefigured by those promised to Mr. Happy of Old Testament days.
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Theres Love and Joy and Peace for you,
Longsuffering, Gentleness,
Goodness and Faith and Meekness too
And then theres Temperance.
To know this fruit within your life-
Fruit that will never spoil ;
Just do what ancient Asher did
And bathe your foot in oil !!
(by D.P. !) (To
tune : It aint gonna rain no mo )
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