Genesis by Mike Sullivan (2019)

Many people today believe that science and the Bible are incompatible. Upon closer inspection, however, we find that this a false dichotomy and that science and the Bible are remarkably compatible, and a thorough and harmonized understanding of both gives us a more complete picture of God, His creation, and our place in it.

Genesis chapter 2 describes people as God created them to be: free will beings who delight in hard work, relationships, and the pursuit of knowledge. However, as a result of the fall, we experience a damaged version of this, but we have the hope that in heaven we will be restored to the fullness of all we were intended to be.

Chapter 3 of Genesis describes the fall of man when Adam and Eve believed Satan's lies and chose to rebel against God. As a result, we no longer live in harmony with God, ourselves, or nature, but rather live in a broken version of God's good creation. However, even from the earliest stages of man's alienation, we see God moving towards people and working to cover over their shame and make a way back to Him.

Ever since Adam and Eve's disobedience, humanity has suffered from alienation from God, ourselves, and others. However, we see from immediately after the fall that God was enacting his plan to rescue man and defeat Satan--a plan that culminated in Jesus on the cross. We can be rescued by God and experience reconciliation by accepting Jesus' death as the covering for our sin.

Genesis recounts the first murder of Abel by his brother Cain, motivated by God's acceptance of Abel's sacrifice and rejection of Cain's. We see that God, as always, was not concerned with the sacrifices themselves, but with the hearts of the two men. Like Cain, when we sin, God moves toward us redemptively and we must choose whether to repent or to harden our hearts.

Genesis 4 and 5 trace the genealogy of two of Adam and Eve's sons, Cain and Seth. The result is two humanities: Cain's line that pursues rebellion against God and leads to destruction, and Seth's line that turns back to him and brings about Jesus, the Savior. We cannot be born into one line or the other but must choose for ourselves which to align ourselves with.

Genesis tells the story of a great flood God sent to annihilate all of mankind as a judgment against their extreme wickedness. The only survivors were Noah and his family, a man who had faith in God and was therefore considered righteous. Though the story may seem incredible, there is good evidence that this was a historical event illustrating the judgment, love, and salvation of the God of the Bible.

After the great flood and united in language and purpose, people try to make a name for themselves by erecting a great tower--a prideful act of rebellion. God thwarts their plans, but their story is not unique; throughout history, man's chief problem has been pride and we are not immune. In dependence on God, we must pursue humility in order to live a life of peace and fulfillment as we live in proper relationship to God.

The story of Abraham demonstrates how unlikely people can be used by God for great things when they have a willingness to act on God's truth while depending on God to perform His will. Like Abraham, everyone can receive right standing with God and participate in His plan when they put their faith in Him.

The book of Genesis describes the origins of human death, a theme that is carried throughout the Bible. When we look at the Bible as a whole, we see that Jesus Christ is God's solution to the problem of death, and those who trust in him can look forward to a day when death will be conquered once and for all and we can enjoy eternal life with our Lord.

Abraham engages in warfare to rescue his nephew lot, then meets and is blessed by a priest, Melchizedek, king of Salem. From this story we see a foreshadowing of Jesus who would be a king-priest in the order of Melchizedek, our intermediary and final sacrifice. We also learn from Abraham that growing faith is active, will be tested, and has impact far beyond our lives.

Abraham receives a phenomenal promise from God, and even though Abraham believed God, he also had his doubts. Likewise, we often wrestle with doubt when our experience doesn't seem to line up with God's promises. When we are honest with God about our doubts like Abraham, God may offer us assurance and can use our doubts as an opportunity to grow our faith.

Through the story of the births of Ishmael and Isaac, we see two different ways of following God: one based on self-reliance, and the other based on trusting God to keep his promises. Self-reliance tends to lead to problems and defeat, while trusting in God's promises often involves waiting, but leads to peace and the experience of God's faithfulness.

In the lives of Abraham and Lot we see a contrast between the former's life of faith and the latter's life of spiritual compromise, and also the undeserved grace and compassion of God. From the story of Lot, we learn that it is possible to be a true believer but live a life of compromise and defeat, which has a negative effect on those around us, but that God continues to pursue us because he loves us.

Abraham's faith is tested when God asks him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham obeys, but just before he goes through with it God provides a substitute ram to die in Isaac's place. This event foreshadows that Jesus would be sacrificed as a substitute for us. From Abraham's story we learn that God sometimes tests our faith, often by asking us to give up something we value highly, which can purify and strengthen our faith.

As the firstborn Son, Esau stood to inherit a substantial birthright that included not only wealth and possessions, but also the covenant promise God had made to Abraham. In a moment of shortsightedness, Esau sold his birthright to his brother Jacob for a bowl of soup, forfeiting his blessing. From that point on, Jacob and Esau's lives were on very different trajectories. Their story teaches us an important lesson: that our choices matter and, though our eternal salvation is secure, our decisions can have irreversible consequences for us in this life.

Joseph is sold by his jealous brothers into slavery in Egypt where he spends many years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Afterward, he rises to a top leadership position and is instrumental in saving not only many Egyptians, but his own family from a famine. From the story of Joseph and his brothers, we see that God has a plan for our life and is working to accomplish His goals, even though we may not see it from our limited perspective. We are challenged to act in faith and trust in God's promises, even in the midst of unanswered questions and suffering.