Beginning Genesis Again

As you know, the book of Genesis is so named because it is a book of beginnings. Genesis 1–2 tell us about the beginning of the world. Genesis 3 tells us about the beginning of sin, while Genesis 4–11 begin to show us how God brings salvation through judgment. Then after Genesis 10–11 begin to show the spread of the nations, Genesis 12 introduces us to a man named Abram who will be the source of salvation for the world. In other words, while God’s promise of redemption is first heard in Genesis 3:15, Genesis 12–22 show us how the gospel was preached beforehand to Abram, later named Abraham (cf. Gal. 3:8).

Since 2023, we have been walking through the book of Genesis under the three sermon series: Creation and Covenant (Genesis 1–3), Salvation and Judgment (Genesis 4–11), and Promises and Patriarchs (Genesis 12–24).

Starting this Sunday, we will be return to Genesis 23. And in a few weeks, we will pick up our fourth series in Genesis: Seeds and Salvation (Genesis 25–36). And as the Lord allows, we will consider the saving works of God from the stories Isaac, Jacob, and their families.

As we have seen in previously, God made a covenant with Abraham, promising him an offspring who would inherit the cosmos (Rom. 4:13). In the days of Abraham, the birth of Isaac fulfilled this gracious promise. But it did not exhaust the promises of God. As Hebrews 11 explains, Abraham looked forward to a city whose architect and builder was God. And as Galatians 3:16 says, the ultimate fulfillment of God’s covenant with Abraham is found in the birth of Christ.

Thus, reading Genesis is not simply an exploration in historical beginnings. It is also a vital revelation for understanding the ways God brought salvation to the world, and how he planned the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:9–10). And more than that, we learn how God works in the world, so that we can know him more fully and worship him more completely. Indeed, this is why we read the Old Testament and take our time going through books like Genesis. And beginning this Sunday, we will pick up where we left off, as we come to the death and burial of Sarah.

Resurrecting the Storyline of Genesis
Now admittedly, it is tempting to think a story about a man buying a cave for his dead wife from an ancient tribal chieftain has anything to teach us today. But as we will see, Abraham’s shrewd acquisition of the cave at Machpelah avoids capitulation to the world and its giants (which is a problem that still confronts us). Yet, Abraham’s engagement with the Hittites does more than give worldly wisdom; it also reveals the way Sarah’s burial is itself a testimony to Abraham’s faith in the resurrection. How so?

Well, that is what we will look at this Sunday. But for now, as we resurrect the book of Genesis, let me remind you of the storyline so far.

In Genesis 1–11, we find one creation story, followed by another. That is to say that after God made the world in six days, he destroyed the first world with a global flood. But then in that cosmic judgment, he saved eight people and made new creation. And if Bruce Waltke, An Old Testament Theology (pp. 307–080, is correct about Genesis 1–11, then the arrangement of these stories looks something like this.

1:1–6:8	CREATION	6:9–11:32	A NEW CREATION
1:1–2:3	A. Creation out of chaotic water with divine blessing	6:9–9:19	A’. Creation out of chaotic water with divine blessing
2:4–3:24	B. Sin involving nakedness, seeing/covering nakedness; curse	9:20–23	B’. Sin involving nakedness, seeing/covering nakedness; curse
3:15–4:16	C. Division of humanity into the people of God and the enemies of God	9:24–27	C’. Division of humanity into the people of God and the enemies of God
4:8	D. No descendants of sinful murdered younger, righteous Abel	10:1–5	D’. Descendants of younger, righteous Japheth
4:17–24	E. Descendants of sinful Cain: builds a city	10:6–20	E’. Descendants of sinful son Ham: builds multiple cities
5:1–32	F. Descendants of chosen son Seth: ten generations to Noah	10:21–32	F’. Descendants of chosen son Shem: ten generations to Terah
6:1–4	G. Downfall: unlawful unions – angels and women	11:1–9	G’. Downfall: unlawful union – men and angels (Tower of Babel)
6:5–8	H. Brief introduction to a faithful savior: Noah	11:27–32	H’. Brief introduction to a faithful savior: Abram

More simply, Genesis 1:1–6:8 shows us a world created, fallen, judged, saved, and made new. And then in Genesis 6:9–11:32, the pattern repeats. Noah is a new Adam, and like the first Adam he falls and his offspring are divided on the way to judgment and salvation. This is how Genesis 1–11 begins. And it sets up the world of Abraham, where God chooses a new covenant mediator (Abraham) to bring salvation to all who trust in Abraham’s offspring.

And notably, if Genesis 1–11 offers an observable structure, so does Genesis 12–22. And it looks like this:

Gen 11:27–32 – Milcah and Nahor
          Gen 12:1–9 – The Promise to ABRAHAM – The Lord Who Blesses
                    Gen 12:10–20 – Sarai is My Sister
                             Gen 13­–14 – Lot is Rescued by ABRAHAM as Judgment Falls
                                     Gen 15 – The covenant is conferred
                                             Gen 16 – Ishmael is Born – The Lord Who Sees
                                     Gen 17 –  The covenant is confirmed
                            Gen 18–19 – Lot is Rescued by ABRAHAM as Judgment Falls
                     Gen 20–21 – Sarah is My Sister
           Gen 22:1–19 – The Sworn Oath to ABRAHAM – The Lord Who Provides
Gen 22:20–24 – Milcah and Nahor

As God reveals himself to Abraham, he orchestrates a series of events to establish his covenant. This begins with God choosing Abraham in Genesis 12, making a covenant with him in Genesis 17, introducing a covenant sign in Genesis 17, and providing a sacrificial ram in Genesis 22. Along the way, we can see how Abraham’s faith grew, and how God led Abraham to look for the city, whose architect and builder is God. Indeed, by way of promising Abraham a land and a people, plus his own blessed presence, God made plans for redeeming the world he had made—a world now cursed by sin.

In all, these two outlines show us that God’s plans of redemption are keyed to resolve the problems found in creation. And actually, if you look carefully, the two early sections of Genesis are linked by an overlapping genealogy with Milcah and Nahor. Grammatically, this confirms that Genesis is one, unified book. But also, it keeps our eyes on the first promise (Gen 3:15)—that God was going to bring a son who crush the head of the serpent, even as his own heel would be bruised.

Seeing the Glory of Jesus in Genesis
All in all, Genesis is a glorious book. And the more you look at it, the more glory you see. And this Sunday, we will re-enter the book at the center section (Genesis 23–25). With great care, we find that Sarah’s death (ch. 23) and Abram’s death (ch. 25) bookend the longest chapter in the Bible (ch. 24). And lest we think that this arrangement is accidental, we will see that the longest chapter of the book is also a story that foretells the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But that story of a Father sending a servant to a find a bride for his son comes next week. For this week, we are looking at Genesis 23 and the way that a burial plot in Hebron offers resurrection hope for Abram, Isaac, Jacob, and all who trust in their promised Son—Jesus Christ.

So take time to read Genesis 23 and pray for our worship gathering. On Sunday, we will see more of our resurrected Lord from the pages of Genesis. And I will look forward to seeing you then, as the Lord allows.

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,

Pastor David