How Christ transformed a broken, defeated man
Genesis teaches us everything we need to know regarding God’s creation, His intentions for us, the fall of man, and God’s reactions to sin. It defines the great theological questions of mankind, and it shows God’s love for us and His desire for us to love Him. “The book of Genesis may be summarized as a theological account of creation and the origin of the people of Israel.”1
Looking at subjects such as the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization from the first eleven chapters, we see that God carefully crafted everything out of His love for us with a desire for our happiness. We also see the impact that sin has created, and how God has responded to the sin to try and reduce its consequences in our lives.
When God created the Earth, it was very different than it is today. Genesis 1:7 tells of waters above the firmament, which was more than likely a canopy of moisture that created a greenhouse effect. The earth was tropical with warm temperatures year round and vegetation covering the earth (Genesis 1:11-12, 29). There were no frozen regions, no wind, and no rain (Genesis 2:5, 6). It was perfect to sustain life.
But sin entered the world and increased to the point that God flooded the Earth in order to destroy every living thing except for Noah, his family and two of each unclean animal and seven of each clean animal. The flood physically altered the earth. The moisture canopy was used to create rain and no longer existed, causing the tropical atmosphere to be limited to smaller regions, and also created the Polar Regions. The seasons were no longer defined by light (Genesis 1:14) but by cold and heat (Genesis 8:22), and for the first time there was rain and wind (Genesis 8:1). This is all a result of sin, for it had gotten so bad that “every intent of the thoughts of man’s heart was only evil.” (Genesis 6:5)
Genesis 1:26 tells us that we were created in God’s image. Man is the only created living thing that bears resemblance to God in some way. “Nothing else in all creation, not even the most majestic angel, is portrayed ‘in the image of God.’”2 This sets us apart from the animals in that we have intelligence with reasoning and not just survival instinct, and we have the ability to communicate directly with God. As a result, God intended us to obtain our identity through our relationship with Him. When Adam and Eve were created, their complete identity was in God. There was no sin, therefore there was no shame, guilt, idolatry, or anything else to distract them from fellowship with God. Once sin entered into the world, their identity was no longer on their relationship with God, but on themselves. They no longer saw themselves as God saw them, but saw their nakedness and felt shame. “Their descendants followed in the rebellious ways of their parents, resulting in what would become the beginning of the continuing story of human depravity and its terrible consequences.”3 Today, as a society we no longer get our identity from God, but through things such as our job, homes, the cars we drive, our hobbies, or anything else superficial. As a result, our world is no longer living for God. To get your identity from God alone in today’s society is very difficult, and sets you against the direction of society.
Genesis teaches that God created man and woman, and that we were never meant to be alone. We are a creation designed to be involved in community with others. “The reading from Genesis (2:18) introduces our creator, whose essence is relational, in the act of recognizing that ‘it is not good that the man should be alone’ and, as a result, creating a partner for him with whom he may become ‘one flesh’ Genesis 2:24).”4 So God created marriage, family, and friendships so that we may not be alone. But like everything else, sin has corrupted God’s intended relationship model. Sin has corrupted marriage, families, and friendships. With Adam and Eve came shame (Genesis 3:7), with Cain and Abel came murder (Genesis 4:8), and with Jacob came deception and stealing (Genesis 27). Today society has removed God’s definition of human relationships and replaced it with a carnal and self-serving model. The institution of marriage has been replaced with a model that scarcely resembles what God intended, and with that the divorce rate is 40 – 50%.5 And single-parent families and superficial friendships are as normal as the standard nuclear family once was.
Very little is known about the early civilization from the first eleven chapters in Genesis. What we do know from Genesis is that most people lived in tents, many were nomadic and traveled from place to place, family was very important, and the major occupation was shepherding and farming. Through archeological data , we know that there were many civilizations in the ancient times. Towns were built with stone to protect themselves during war, temples were built to worship their gods, they had paved roads, water systems, and their own languages.6
Today our civilization is much different. The family unit is not as strong as it was back then. In the ancient days there was no government, transportation was slow (by foot), and people were more self-reliant. But the biggest difference seems to be the self-pleasing attitude of today’s people. The attitude of helping others and putting others first has been replaced with self-serving selfish attitudes.
To live a life that is honoring and pleasing to God requires a major change in thinking and interpretation; and part of that comes from studying the Bible and learning the word of God. The first eleven chapters of Genesis has changed my worldview. Knowing that I am made in the image of God makes me want to take better care of myself, and treat others with love and compassion. Knowing that God created every part of the earth makes me want to respect God’s work and become a better steward. And knowing that God is relational, I no longer take friendships and family relationships lightly, and work daily to better and deepen my relationship with Him.
The natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization are good areas to explore to get an idea of a particular period of time. They also provide a good reference for how times change. Genesis chapters 1 through 11 covers these areas in detail and provides a solid foundation for understanding where we come from, who we are, and who God is.
1) Paul, Maarten J. 1996. "Genesis 4:17-24: A Case-Study in Eisegesis." Tyndale Bulletin 47, no. 1: 143-162. ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials, EBSCOhost (accessed August 30, 2015).
2) David Platt, Counter Culture: A compassionate Call to Counter Culture in a World of Poverty, Same-Sex Marriage, Racism, Sex Slavery, Immigration, Abortion, Persecution, Orphans, and Pornography (Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2015) 134-135.
3) Ed Hindson, Gary Yates, eds., The Essences of the Old Testament: A Survey (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2012), 56.
4) 2003. "Sunday 5 October 2003: Ordinary 27: Proper 22." Homily Service 36, no. 11: 5-18. Religion and Philosophy Collection, EBSCOhost (accessed August 30, 2015).
5) “Marriage and Divorce,” American Psychological Association, accessed August 30, 2015, http://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/
6) Hindson, The Essence of the Old Testament, 28-37.