Last week we concluded session two in our case for the Old Testament by looking at the big picture of the Bible and the connection between the Old and New Testament. We also practiced our Bible study skills, including the importance of cross-referencing, by answering questions from Genesis chapter 11:26 through chapter 14.

This week the presentation includes an overview of Genesis and the major historical events, people and Covenants, with key themes and focus points, an outline and an introduction to the character of God through His Biblical names found in Genesis.

Overview notes from the presentation:

GENESIS

The Book of Foundations

Major Historical Events – People – Covenants
Genesis Chapters 1-50

Why do we need to know this?

• It gives us confidence in the historical narrative of the Bible
• It helps us discern error
• It gives us insight to God’s overarching plan
• It shows God’s love for us from the beginning – His hesed (undeserved love and grace)
• It helps us understand Jesus’ role throughout Scripture

Genesis: Major Historical Events – People – Covenants
* The Scarlet Thread of Jesus

Dates (ca. = estimated date)	Major Historical Events	Major Historical Players *Direct lineage to Jesus	Major Covenants (The Promise unfolds)
The Antediluvian Period (pre-flood) ca. 4000 – 2000 BC	1. Creation Genesis 1-2	God
	2. Fall Genesis 3	Adam and Eve (Satan) *Seth carries on the “Promised Seed”	The Adamic Covenant/ The Promise
	3. Flood Genesis 6-9	*Noah Carries the “Promised Seed” through the Flood	The Noachian Covenant and The Rainbow Promise
ca. 2500 BC	4. Dispersion/Tower of Babel Genesis 11	*Shem carries on the “Promised Seed”
ca. 2166 to 1800 BC	5. The Period of the Patriarchs Genesis 12-50	*Abraham – *Isaac – *Jacob/Israel – The 12 Tribes of Israel (specifically *Judah) carry on the “Promised Seed”	The Abrahamic Covenant

Genesis

Outline

Chapters 1-7:16 – The Antediluvian Period (pre-flood) – Creation and Fall

Chapters 7:17-8:14 – The Flood

Chapters 8:15-11:25 – Repopulating the Earth – The Tower of Babel

Chapters 11:26-20 – Abraham and the Covenant unfolded

Chapters 21-24 – Isaac and the Covenant passed on

Chapters 25-36 – Jacob, the Nation of Israel and the Covenant expanded

Chapters 37-50 – The Twelve Tribes of Israel, the story of Joseph and Judah’s prophecy foretold

Overarching Key Ideas

• A book of beginnings (Genesis=Origins): First creation, first marriage, first sin, first death, first Promise by God for redemption and salvation that would be unfolded throughout the rest of the Old Testament in Covenants
• God’s characteristics are revealed as supernatural, ever-present, ever-knowing, ever-loving, always faithful, holy, personal, all-powerful Creator and so much more…
• God’s sovereignty is seen over all His creation and He exercises His perfect will in both natural and supernatural ways
• God initiates and makes covenants with His chosen people (through the Patriarchs) with a promise of a nation of people, land, and a blessing to come
• Genesis is foundational to understanding the rest of the Bible

The Names of God

• Genesis introduces us to God
• In the Hebrew language there are different names used for God that represent His character at that time, or in a particular event

Get to know God and His character –

Highlight his names found in Genesis and the Scripture references on the table below:

THE NAMES OF GOD – OLD TESTAMENT

Background:

In the Bible, names often have real significance. In Jewish thought, the name by which a person is called indicated the character or nature of the person insofar as it is revealed and known. This is always true of the names of God. Much can be learned of the nature and attributes of God from the names by which He has revealed Himself.

The revelation of God by His names is made in connection with some need of His people. The names of God demonstrate that God is humanity’s true resource for solving human problems. The names of God tell us something about His attributes, character, and essence.

How did the name “Jehovah” arise?

In Hebrew, place the vowels from “Adonai” on the consonants of the word “Yahweh” and the result is the hybrid “Jehovah.” Jews could not say the name of God, YHWH so they began to use “Jehovah.”

NAMES OF GOD	MEANING	REFERENCE EXAMPLES	SIGNIFICANCE
Elohim (2,570 times) el-o-HEEM	God, The All-Powerful One Creator	Genesis 1:1-3 Numbers 23:19 Deuteronomy 10:17 Psalm 19:1; 68	This name is derived from a verb, “to be smitten with fear.” It refers to God’s power and might. He is the only supreme and true God. It is the masculine plural noun that seldom occurs in the singular. In Genesis 1 Bara (singular) Elohim (plural) relates to the Trinity. The noun is plural and the verb is singular. It can be interpreted: God is three; God is one.
YHWH/Yahweh (Jehovah) (about 6,000 times) YAH-way       Yahweh Elohim	The LORD (large caps) “I AM,” The One Who Is, The Self-Existent One LORD GOD Personal and Powerful Indicates both God’s immanence and transcendence	Genesis 2:4 Exodus 6:2,3 Malachi 3:6	This name is derived from the imperfect form of the verb “To Be.” The proper name of the divine person that speaks of God eternally existing and eternally becoming what the Jews needed Him to be. It has always been regarded as the most sacred and personal name of God. The Jews avoided using this name because of Leviticus 24:16, “The one who blasphemes the name of Yahweh shall surely be put to death.” They would substitute the name Adonai but eventually used the word Jehovah.
Adonai (450 times) ah-doe-NI   Adonai Yahweh	The LORD; My Great LORD LORD GOD (all caps)	Deuteronomy 6:4 Psalm 8 Isaiah 40:3-5 Ezekiel 16:8 Habakkuk 3:19	God alone is the head over all. God is the Master and majestic LORD. God is our total authority. This is the term that the Jews frequently employ when discussing Deity. The Jews pronounced the word Adonai in place of YHWH when reading the Hebrew Bible.
El (230 times) el	The Strong One	Exodus 15:2 Numbers 23:22 Deuteronomy 7:9	It is the simplest name by which God is designated both the true God (and used for false gods as well).
El Elyon (50 times) el EL-yuhn	God Most High; The Exalted One	Genesis 14:17-20 Psalm 7:17; 78:35 Isaiah 14:13-14 Daniel 4:34	He is above all gods; nothing in life is more sacred. The name is used in Hebrew poetry and is found frequently in Genesis and Psalms.
El Roi el ROY	God Who Sees	Genesis 16:11-14 Psalm 139:7-12	God oversees all creation and the affairs of all people.
El Shaddai el-shaw-DIE	God Almighty; The All Sufficient One	Genesis 17:1-3; 35:11 48:3; 49:25 Psalm 90:2; 91:1	God is all-powerful and the all-sufficient source of all of our blessings.
Yahweh Yireh/ Jehovah Jireh juh-HO-vah jI-rah	The LORD Will Provide	Genesis 22:13-14 Psalm 23	God will provide for our real needs. Abraham called the place “The Lord will provide” where God provided a ram to be sacrificed instead of Isaac.
Yahweh Tsebhaoth/ Jehovah Sabaoth juh-HO-vah        sah-bah-OATH	Lord Of Hosts (Hosts refers to armies but also to all the heavenly powers)	1 Samuel 1:3; 17:45 Psalm 46:7 Isaiah 6:1-3 Malachi 1:10-14	God is our savior and protector. Yahweh of Hosts. This speaks of God as the King of Glory, who is surrounded by angelic hosts, who rules Heaven and Earth in the interest of His people, and who received glory from all His people. It also speaks of God as the divine commander of Israel’s army on earth, but especially heavenly bodies, and of angels in Heaven. This is God’s mightiest name, the most comprehensive expression of His worldwide power and the most exalted royal name of God in the Old Testament.
Yahweh/Jehovah Nissi juh-HO-vah NEE-see	The LORD Is My Banner	Exodus 17:15-16 Deuteronomy 20:3-4 Isaiah 11:10-12	We should remember God for helping us. Name of the alter built by Moses after defeating the Amalekites at Rephidim.
Yahweh/Jehovah Elohe Yisrael el el-o-HAY yis-raw-ALE	LORD God Of Israel	Genesis 33:20 Exodus 5:1 Psalm 59:5; 68:8 Zephaniah 2:9	He is the God of the nation of Israel who is distinct and separate from all false gods of the world.
Yahweh/Jehovah Shalom juh-HO-vah shah-LOME	The LORD Is Peace	Numbers 6:22-27 Judges 6:22-24 Isaiah 9:6	God gives us peace so we need not fear. Name of the alter built by Gideon at Ophrah to memorialize God’s message “Peace be unto thee.”
El Olame el o-LAHM	The Everlasting or Eternal God	Genesis 21:33 Psalm 90:1-2 Isaiah 40:28-31	God is eternal. He will never die. He is the beginning and the end, the One who works His purposes throughout the ages.
Yahweh/Jehovah Tsidkenu juh-HO-vah tsid-KAY-noo	The LORD Is Our Righteousness	Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:16 Ezekiel 36:26-27	God is our standard for right behavior. He alone can make us righteous. God promised to send a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right.
Yahweh/Jehovah Shammah juh-HO-vah SHAHM-mah	The LORD Is There; The LORD Is my companion	Ezekiel 48:35 Psalm 46	God is always present with us. God revealed to Ezekiel that the name of the New Jerusalem shall be “The LORD is there.”
Yahweh Raah/ Jehovah Rohi juh-HO-vah RO-hee	The LORD Is My Shepherd	Psalm 23 Isaiah 53:6	The LORD protects, provides, directs, leads, and cares for His people.
Yahweh-Ropheka/ Jehovah Rapha juh-HO-vah RAH-fah	The LORD Who Heals	Exodus 15:25-27 Psalm 103:3; 147:3	God has provided the final cure for spiritual, physical, and emotional sickness. God can heal us.
Jehovah Mekaddishkem juh-HO-vah mek-KAH-dish-KIM	The LORD Who Sanctifies	Exodus 31:12-13 Hebrews 13:12	God sets us apart as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, holy unto God, a people of His own. He cleanses our sins and helps us mature.
Immanuel ih-MAN-u-el	God With Us; I AM	Isaiah 7:14; 8:8-10	(Jesus) God in our midst. Isaiah said that the child born to the virgin would be called “Immanuel.”
Attiq Yomin	Ancient Of Days	Daniel 7:9,13	God is the ultimate authority. He will one day judge all nations.

Information taken from Biola University’s ECD Syllabus, Theology Proper, by Kevin Alan Lewis, 2009 and from RW Research, Inc. Rose Publishing, Inc., 2005

Reflection

Practice knowing the books of the Old Testament and their categories

1. What are the 39 books of the Christian Old Testament and their categories, in order? (clue: 5-12-5-5-12)
2. What are the major events, who are the major players and what are the major Covenants in the book of Genesis?

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us.

Read Genesis Chapter 15 through Chapter 17
God’s methods of confirming of the Covenant with Abram; Sarai and Hagar – conflict; and the Angel of the LORD

1.  (Genesis 15:1-21) In ancient cultures there was a practice of cutting animals in half and passing through them to confirm an agreement between men – in this case it is only God who passed through, signifying Abram could do nothing on his part to gain God’s promise. What specific part(s) of the Covenant is God confirming here with Abram?

Going Deeper: Reread 15:13-16 – God gives Abram a prophecy about his descendants – what do you know about the fulfillment of that prophecy? Where in Old Testament can we find the story and fulfillment?

2.  (Genesis 16:1-15) In ancient cultures (and some still today) taking a second wife, or a concubine, was not forbidden especially when child bearing was necessary for a family’s tribal survival and inheritance. Summarize the story of Abram, Sarai and Hagar then discuss the following questions:

• What was wrong with what Abram and Sarai did from God’s view?
• How did God counsel Hagar when she was sent out and how did Hagar respond? Is it different than you might have responded?
• Where do you think Hagar came from originally, and could that have any implications for how things unfolded here (review story in 12:10-20)?

3.  Research: Reread Genesis 16:7-14 then do a study on the “Angel of the LORD” and discuss what you learned about this person who met with Hagar.

4.  (Genesis 17:1-8 and 17:15-16) What new names did God give Abram and Sarai?

Going Deeper: What are the differences in the meaning of their old and new names?

5.  (Genesis 17:9-27) Circumcision was not an unusual practice in ancient cultures, but God had a specific purpose for it here. What was the purpose of the Covenant of circumcision and how did Abraham respond to God’s command?

Application: God was still promising a son directly to Abraham and Sarah but they were 99 and 89 respectively. How do we respond when it seems impossible that God will provide?

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for the Old Testament: Session 3, Part 2 – Genesis Apologetics”

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