KNOWING GOD FROM GENESIS

 

There are many hidden truth in "Genesis", the first book of the Scripture. Being a spiritual treasure chest it warrants our detailed study and reading. Here, we would like to bring out the many matters regarding God as recorded in the book of "Genesis" for our study, so that we would have an accurate knowledge of the existence of God.

 

I. The Creator - God

 

Biblical Text: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen 1:1).

 

Genesis tells us that there is only one God and that it is He who had created the heavens, the earth and all things.

 

Firstly, God created light and then the firmament. Following that He created the earth, the seas; He then created vegetation, plants yielding seed, fruits trees, etc. After that He created the sun, the moon and the stars so that they would give off light in the sky to shine onto the earth. He also created the fish · and the birds. Then, He created all other living creatures on earth- cattle, insects, worms, beasts, etc., according to their kinds. Finally, He created the first man out of dust from the ground, according to His own image (Gen 1).

 

All creatures in the heavens and on earth have been created by this God. Hence, He is also called "Maker of heaven and earth" (Gen 14:19). This God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything. He made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, for "in him we live and have our being". Since we are His creation, we must not carve out an idol to represent Him and worship it (Acts 17:24- 29). We must worship the real and living God in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:24).

 

II. The Almighty God

 

Biblical Text: "When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me. and be blameless" (Gen 17:1 ).

 

Genesis tells us that God, who created the heavens and the earth, is also the "Almighty God". From nothing He created all things. By the word of God the heavens were made, and all their host by the breath of His mouth. For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood forth (Ps 33:6,9; Heb 11 :3).

 

This Almighty God enabled an old couple, aged about a hundred years old, who had long lost their reproduction ability to give birth to a son (Gen 21 :2-5). Therefore, the Bible says: ·"God in whom Abraham believed gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Abraham was not weakened in faith when he considered his own body as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. He was fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised" (Rom 4:17-21 ). As He was the Almighty God, nothing was too difficult for Him (Gen 18:14). Let us worship and trust this Almighty God, and not trust idols - man-made gods which cannot do anything at all (Ps 115: 4-8).

 

Ill. The Everlasting God

 

Biblical Text: "Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God" ( Gen 21:33 ).

 

The God referred to in Genesis is omnipotent and is everlasting. Only He alone is immortal (1 Tim 6:16), and everlasting (Is 40:28), who is and who was and who will be the Eternal Almighty God (Rev 11: 16,17).

 

Since this God will exist eternally, if we believe in Him and worship Him, He will give us eternal life (1 Tim 6:12), eternal comfort (2 Thess 2:16), and eternal glory (2 Cor 4:17). This everlasting God, who came in flesh into the world, is the Son of man, Jesus Christ (Jn 1:1,14,18). ''For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (Jn 3:16). Hence the Bible says, "And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent" (Jn 17:3). May all worship this everlasting God so that in time to come, He would give us eternal life.

 

IV. God of seeing

 

Biblical Text: "So Hagar called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, 'Thou art a God of seeing', for she said, "Have I even here seen after Him who sees me?" (Gen 16:13).

 

This God in Genesis is a God of seeing. He looked after the maid, Hagar, who was driven away into the wilderness by her mistress (Gen 16:6-13); He looked after Jacob who had fled from his home to a strange land and who after having married returned to his homeland safely (Gen 28:20-22; 33:18). He protected Joseph who had been sold to Egypt as a slave by his elder brothers; God made Joseph prosper and he received the trust of Pharaoh who later made him a ruler of Egypt (Gen 39; 41 :39-45).

 

Being a God of seeing, God looks after the poor, the neglected, the sick, those in danger, the orphans, and widows (Ps 10:14; 146:9); He looks after those who are humble and contrite in spirit and those who ask for help from Him (Ps 138:6; Is 66:2). We should pray to this God of seeing for He would shower His grace, love and truth upon us.

 

V. God who leads us throughout our life

 

Biblical Text: "And he blessed Joseph, and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has led me all my life long to this day" (Gen 48:15).

 

The above text tells about the blessing of Joseph by his father, Jacob, who had lived for one hundred and forty seven years. Those words were spoken through Jacob's life-long experiences. Jacob left his own home at a very young age to wander around in strange lands. God watched over him and provided him with sufficient food and clothing. At his old age, although there was a great famine in the land, God prearranged his son, Joseph, to become a ruler in Egypt, and thereby saved Jacob and his whole household (Gen 47:12). Therefore, at his death bed, he specially mentioned the "God who has led me all my life long", to his sons so that they would trust God.

 

The Apostle, Paul, said, "We bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.

 

In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways; yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness" (Acts 14: 15-17). All living things rely on God for their needs. Therefore, we must love and draw near to this God who leads us throughout our life. Fear the Lord, for those who fear Him have no want. The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing (Ps 34:9,1 0).

 

VI. God who listens to prayers

 

Biblical Text: "And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife, conceived" (Gen 25:21 ).

 

This God in Genesis listens to prayers. He answered the prayer of Isaac and his wife conceived and gave birth to twins (Gen 25:21-26). God granted the requests of Abraham to save his nephew Lot and his family from destruction in the city of Sodom (Gen 19: 29). Abimelech, the King of Gerar, wanted to get near to Sarah, Abraham's wife. As such, God made all the women in the household of Abimelech barren. Abraham prayed to God for mercy and God granted his request and the women in the household of Abimelech were able to give birth again (Gen 20). God listened to the prayers of Abraham's servant; He let him have the opportunity to meet a good girl and safely bring her back to his master as his daughter-in-law (Gen 24). God listened to the prayers of Jacob. He protected him during his trip to the house of his uncle, Laban, and later let him safely back. to his own home (Gen 28:20-22; 32:9-12; 33). There are many other recordings in Genesis regarding prayers which had been answered by God.

 

Since God had listened to the prayers of others, He will also listen to our prayers. Therefore, let us 'have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus' (Phil 4:6,7).

 

VII. God, the Judge of all the Earth

 

Biblical Text: "Then Abraham drew near and said, "Wilt thou indeed destroy the righteous with the wicked? … Far be it from thee to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked! Far be that from thee! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Gen 18:23, 25).

 

This God in Genesis not only looks after man and leads them, but He is also the Judge of the earth. He was kind to Abraham and He brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans; He covenanted with him and promised to give him and his descendants the beautiful land of Canaan. For Abraham was faithful before God (Neh 9:7,8); he loved God above all others (Gen 22:12-18). God did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness with seven other persons, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; He turned the cities of Sodom and Gomerrah to ashes and condemned them to extinction and made them an example to those who were to be ungodly; He rescued the righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the licentiousness of the wicked (for what that righteous man saw and heard as he lived among them, he was vexed in his righteous soul day after day with their lawless deeds) (2 Pet 2:4-8).

 

God not only judged the ancient world, He would also judge the world on the last day. He will render to every man according to his works: to those whom by patience in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life; but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury; for God shows no partiality (Rom 2:6-11 ). Since we know that God judges. the world, we would lead lives of holiness and godliness, and wait earnestly for the coming of God, which He promised, we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet 3: 11-13).

 

From the above study, we know that the God whom we are worshipping is the Creator of heavens and earth. He is Almighty. He is everlasting. He looks after man. He shepherds them. He listens to man's prayers, and above all He is the Judge of all the earth.