Genesis

Author: Moses
Date of Writing: 1450 - 1410 BC
Type of Book: First Book of the Pentateuch
Theme: From the beginning of man to the founding of the Hebrew nation

The word Genesis means "beginning".  When was that?  How long ago was it?  In the beginning God..."  You can't go back any further than that.  There are people who would like to eliminate the last word.  They don't want to retain God in their conscience because their actions are opposed to what God has declared.  "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God'" (Psalm 14:1).  But if I eliminate God, I have a problem.  In the beginning...what?

In the beginning a mass of gases floated in space?  Well, that's not the beginning.  Where did the mass of gases come from?  God is the One who has always existed.  He is the theme of this book, the Bible.  He is its subject, and He is writing about Himself.

Today, some say that the theory of evolution has disproved the creation account in Genesis.  But here are the problems with evolutionary theory: 1) Evidence shows that the earth is much younger than the twelve billion years necessary for the evolution of a single cell into the complex human form.  2) Complexity of cells is not synonymous with higher life forms.  3) Mutations occur within species but do not cross over to another species.  4)  No new creation is taking place.  5) Matter is constantly changing downward (deterioration), not upward.  6) The dating of fossils is often inaccurate.  7) The population of the earth would be greater if man were as old as evolutionists claim.

Creation by an intelligent Being is the only possible conclusion.  Given enough time and investigation, we will always discover that God's Word was right all along.  It can be trusted.

Genesis is the book of beginnings.  It tells of the beginning of creation, the beginning of man, the beginning of sin, and the beginning of God's plan for the redemption of sinning man.  

The first eleven chapters depict four great events: creation, the fall of man, the flood, and the Tower of Babel.  From chapters 12 through 50, we see God dealing with man through four great patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.  And then the book comes to a close with the children of Israel living in Egypt.

Genesis reveals to us God's redemptive plan, as He deals with people, and especially as history leads to the messianic promises that through the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be born the One who would save the world.  So the book of Genesis introduces us to the problem - that man is sinful and can't fellowship with God - and thus begins the story of redemption that would culminate at the cross.

-from Pastor Chuck Smith: The Word for Today Bible