INTRODUCTION

The Bible has been bound into one book, though it is actually 66 different books written over a period of some 1500 years, mostly in Hebrew, Greek and some Aramaic.  Yet, though the Bible is made up of 66 parts it is also a whole revelation from God, with a common theme and thread throughout its pages.  Our Bible consists of two testaments (witnesses) Old and New. The Bible is a witness to us of God's two covenants (agreements), again, the Old and the New.  In the Old Testament we have the Hebrew Scriptures, which detail the history of a nation, the Jews.  The New Testament con­tinues this theme as the emphasis moves from the Nation of Israel to the church of God.
 In the Old Testament the revelation of the New Testament is concealed.
 In the New Testament the revelation of the Old Testament is revealed.

If we start at the very beginning of the New Testament, in Matthew 1:1 we read...(turn).  What is this about Abraham and who is David?  Or if we go to Mark 1:1-2, what or who are these prophets? What if we had no Old Testament?  We would never know for sure.

There is one overriding subject in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments.  That is the revelation of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah.  There are two broad outlines followed through the whole of scripture; first is the history of humanity, and second is the record of Divine Government, or God's dealings with mankind.  With mankind we find a continuing pattern of origins, all ending in total failure.  With God we find no origins, but with God's purpose and plan ending in victory.  The Scriptures open with, "In the beginning God..." and end with "Even so come, Lord Jesus."  It is He and He alone that is the centerpiece of our scriptures and of all history.  All scripture leads to Christ.

So we find in the pages of the Old Testament the revelation of human need as the human heart cries out for that which it can't supply.  As we get to the New Testament we find the revelation of the divine supply which meets that need of each human heart.

As we begin in Genesis and go through Deuteronomy we will see the beginnings of the human need which expresses itself in the sigh for the priest (one that intercedes with God for man).  Then we will see in the Old Testament historic books the cry for a king (one who rules for God).  In the remaining books we see the quest for a prophet (one who speaks to man for God).  We will see the need of each of these offices as we look at the Old Testament writings, but we will not see the manifestation of the supply until we reach the New Testament.

I. the bible: Old Testament: revelation of human need

A. Gen. - Deut.: "The Need of a Priest" (Mediator, one who stands before God for man)

1. Genesis: The reason for the need — man
a. The nature of man
1) Creation of God (1:1-27)
a) Focus of God's plan, earth (1:1)
b) Trinity active in creation (1:1, 2, 26; John 1:3)
c) God's plan for mankind in relation to creation (1:26)
2) Offspring of God (1:28-2:25)
a) Giving to man breath of lives (2:7)
(1) Dust and Deity  (Jesus came as deity and dust)
b) Instructions to man (2:16-17)
(1) Positive (2:16)
(2) Negative (2:17)
(a) Limitation of his liberty

Note: Clod's intention was never for man to find out about evil by trying it!  His intention was for man to know good by trying it, and to know evil by not trying it.  "It is good not to eat of this tree!"

c) Creation of woman (2:21-23)
d) God's plan for man and woman (2:24, 18)

b. The fall of man

"Now the serpent...." (3)

"Now the Lord..." (12)

1) Rebellion against God (3:1-7)
a) From outside influence/circumstances (3:1)
b) From doubting goodness of God (3:1)
c) From lack of knowledge of Word of God (3:3)
d) From selfishness (3:6)
e) From pride (3:6)

Note:  They sewed fig leaves together and covered their reproductive organs, showing that their sin would be passed down to all generations. Man/woman were not created perfect, but innocent.

2) Exclusion from God (3:8-24)
a) To be a sinner is to hide from God (3:8)
b) To be a sinner is to be sought by God (3:9)
c) To be a sinner is to lack the peace of God (3:10)
d) To be a sinner is to be accused by God (3:11)
e) To be a sinner is to place the blame on God (3:12)
f) To be a sinner is to be approached by God (3:13)
g) To be a sinner is to be excluded from God (3:22—23)
h) To be a sinner is to be able to be reconciled to God (3:21)

Note: First promise of Christ: Gen 3:15.  "Her seed" = virgin birth; "bruise his heel" = death on the cross.  Way of salvation after fall: Ger 3:21, "coats of skins" = death and shed blood of innocent victim. "Clothed them" = acceptance of God's provision.

c. The ruin of man
1) Ruin of family (4:1-5:32)
a) Adam and Eve
(1) First born, Cain (4:1)
(a) Rebelled against God (4:3)
(b) A murderer (4:8)
(c) Rejected by God (4:5, 12)
(d) Dethroned God (4:23)
(2) Second born, Abel (4:2)
(a) Feared God (4:4)
(b) Murdered by Cain (4:8)
(c) Accepted by God (4:1O)
(d) Replaced by God (4:25)

Note: Though man was originally created in the likeness of God, after the fall man was found in the likeness of Adam and Eve, possessed of a sin-nature that rebels against God. (5:2-3)

2) Ruin of society (6:1-11:32)
a) Noah (6:1-11:32)
(1) Advent of giants (6:2,4)
(2) Restraint of God (6:3)
(3) Wickedness of man (6:5)
(4) Repentance of God (6:6)
(a) Man changed toward God, therefore God changed toward man
(5) "But Noah..." (6:8)
(a) Grace (6:8)
(b) Covenant (6:18)
(c) Children (Shem (Asian/Oriental), Ham (Canaanite/African), Japheth (Caucasian)
(d) Deliverance (7:15-16)
(e) Disgrace (9:2O-25)
b) Tower of Babel (11:1-9)
(1) Trinity (11:7)
(2) Scattering (11:9)

3) Ruin of race (12:1-50:26)
a) Abraham (12:1-25:18)
(1) His call (12:1)
(2) His blessing (12:2)
(a) A great nation (12:2)
(b) A great blessing (12:3)

Note: Here is another promise of Christ.

(3) His obedience (12:5)
(4) His disobedience (12:10)
(5) His obedience (13:1-3)

Note: Here is another promise concerning Christ and the land (Gal 3:16)

(6) His encounter with Melchizedek (14:17-20)
(7) His righteousness (15:6)
(8) His disobedience (16:2)
(9) Covenant of separation (circumcision) (17:10)

Note: Here is the forming of a separate nation. What does a nation need?  It needs a Father (God), a leader (Abraham), a land (Canaan), a distinction (circumcision), a purpose (reflection of the one true God), a continuity (pure birth)

(10) Promise of a son to a barren couple (18:10)
(11) Destruction of Sodom (19:24)
(a) Deliverance of Lot (19:16)
(12) Birth of Isaac (21:3)
(13) Sacrifice of Isaac (22 1:14)
(a) God has never accepted the sacrifice of a human

Note: A picture of Christ's obedience to the Father.

(14) Death of Sarah (23:1-2)
(15) Marriage of Isaac (24:67)
(16) Remarriage of Abraham (25:1)
(17) Death of Abraham (25:8)
b) Isaac (25:19-26:35)
(1) Sons born to barren couple (25:21)

(a) Esau (Arabic nations)
[1] Despised his birth right (25:34)
[2] Hated his brother (27:41)

(b) Jacob (Jewish nation)
[1] Deceiver   (27:18-24)
(2) Deceit (26:7)
(3) Deceived (27:30)

c) Jacob (27:1-37:1)
(1) Flees (28:5)
(2) Fleeced (29:25)

(a) Leah
[1] Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon

(b) Lean's handmaid (Zilpah)
[1] Gad, Asher

(c) Rachel
[1] Joseph, Benjamin

(d) Rachel's handmaid (Bilhah) 
[1] Dan, Naphtali

(3) Fatherhood (30:22)
(a) A son from a barren woman (Joseph)

(4) Favored (30:43)
(5) Followed (31:23)
(6) Fellowship (32:24-32)
(a) Name changed to Israel (32:28)   "prince with God”
(6) Forgiven (33:4)
(7) Rachel dies (35:19)
(8) Jacob dies (35:29)
d) Joseph (37:2-50:26)
(1) Sold into slavery (37:28)
(2) Tested by Potiphar's wife (39:11-12)
(3) Thrown into prison (39:20)
(4) Pharaoh's dream (41:16)
(5) Placed in authority (41:41)
(6) Protected his family (45:22-23)
(7) Positioned in Egypt by God (46:2-4)
(8) Blessings of Jacob (49)

Note: The blessings to Judah foretell the coming of Christ. (49:10-12)

(9) Death of Joseph (50:26)

We close the book of Genesis, the Book that so clearly shows us the neediness of mankind with these words, "So Joseph died...and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."  Well, we know where man is, we know what his end is, but where is God? He is still working out His plan and provision for man.  He has never left man, though man has left Him!!  What a blessed assurance for each of us.  God is still on His throne, and all things are going according to and toward His ultimate plan. 

How does Genesis begin?
How does Genesis end?