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INTRODUCTION
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Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It is also
the first of the five books of the Jewish Torah called the Pentateuch. It was
written by Moses over 3400 years ago. Its theme is “beginnings.” In fact, the
word Genesis
means origins.
It tells us how and when all things came into being … where and how the
human race began … where and how sin entered into our world ... and
names those who God chose in the beginnings of the revelation of
himself to man.
The historicity and reliability of the
book of Genesis is of paramount importance to the Word of God. Its
accounts lay the foundation for all of the rest of Scripture. Time and
again, the New Testament refers to its recorded events and
personalities. The book of Romans, for instance, relies on the
historicity of the Genesis account of Adam and Eve and their act of
disobedience as its basis for the critical doctrines of sin and
salvation. It also cites the lives of Abraham and Sarah to demonstrate
that salvation is by faith alone. In the Gospels, Jesus confirmed the
historicity of Noah and the Flood as well as the historic persons of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Jesus also confirmed the authenticity of the
Genesis account of the destruction of the ancient cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah. So, the veracity of the whole of the Bible rests on the
straightforward history of man and God as set forth in the book of
Genesis. After studying the book of Genesis for over 50 years, I am
absolutely convinced that its accounts can stand any unbiased test of
history, science or theology. Truly, as you have it in
Psalm 119:160a,
Thy word is true from the beginning...(KJV)
No other book of the Bible is more frequently
disparaged and attacked than the book of Genesis. Its straight forward
accounts of the history of man and the world fly in the face of modern
man's theories of origins and his many religious notions. But, Genesis
is not a book that needs to be reconciled to the passing and ever
changing opinions and theories of men. On the contrary, man's fleeting,
vacillating and biased opinions and theories must be examined in the
light of God's Word ... not the other way around. Needless to say,
therefore ... as far as the world is concerned, there is a great deal
of controversial and disputed truths in the book of Genesis. Here are a
few of them:
... That
there is only one, true and living God who created all things.
... That God created all things
ex nihilo
(out of nothing) by simply speaking them into existence.
... That the creation of our world is
datable.
... That the earth is young residing
in a young universe.
... That Evolution and its attending
theories of origins are bogus.
... That Satan is real.
... That Adam and Eve are historic figures and, indeed, the
first parents of the human race.
... That the first civilization on
Earth was judged by God, being utterly destroyed by a worldwide flood.
... That God, without condition, gave
the Promised Land to Abraham and his descendants for an everlasting possession.
You may already disagree with one or more of the
above truths found in the book of Genesis. If so, all I ask is that you read
this amazing book of Scripture and then weigh the evidence for yourself. God is not a
God who asks people to throw away their brains. I am convinced that all that is
written in this ancient and unique book can stand on its own two feet in the light of
history, reason and sound science. Don’t make the mistake of throwing out
mankind’s only true book of origins merely because a myriad of voices oppose it
in the name of political correctness, evolutionary theory, humanistic philosophy or other
preconceived religious ideologies. Colossians
2:8, warns,
Beware lest anyone
cheat you through
philosophy and empty deceit,
according to the tradition of men,
according to the basic principles of the world,
and not according to Christ.
It is not surprising that Satan's strongest attacks
are aimed at the Bible's book of Genesis. However, he has never been able to destroy one
word of the Word of God. He has only been able to attempt to keep it out of
people’s hands and, if that failed, to lie about it and to demean it
... along with the true and living God who spoke it in the first place. Ultimately,
however, the same one who spoke the words of the book of Genesis will one day
destroy the dark god of this world. As you have it in
Revelation 20:10,
And the devil,
who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of
burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will
be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
(KJV)
So, if we come to the book of Genesis with an open mind and
humbly ask God to reveal its reliability and truth to us, he undoubtedly will do
so. Jesus said,
And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free. John 8:32
And again, as he prayed to his Father for us, his
followers, in John 17:17
(NIV),
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.