In the book of Genesis, chapters one through eleven, lies a great deal of content. Genesis opens with the creation account, when God created all things ‘ex nihilo’ (out of nothing). Genesis also tells stories of people, places, and events that range over an incredibly long period of time. However, Genesis is not just a history textbook, to be read for scholastic purposes only; rather, Genesis is part of the living Word of God, and offers insight into the character of God, the doctrines of man, as well as man and his relation to God. In addition to that, Genesis offers teachings on the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization.
In the book of Genesis one finds that a lot can be learned about the natural world and man in his fallen state. Before the fall, Adam and Eve had no sin nature, and were not enslaved to sin the way humans are today. R.C. Sproul writes in the Reformation Study Bible, “God made the first man (Adam) representative for all his posterity… This divinely chosen arrangement, whereby Adam determined the destiny of his descendants, has been called the ‘covenant of works.’” When Adam sinned and did the one thing God commanded him not to, he was bonded to and enslaved to sin, and passed that sin nature on to his descendants. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” (Genesis 6:5). The natural state or nature of man is ultimately an evil one (Romans 3) that desires sin over the things of God. Another thing that can be gathered about the nature of man from Genesis is that we are deceived by sin. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate…” (Genesis 3:6a). This verse says displays the human desire for what is not of God but what seems good to us at the time. Eve desired to eat the fruit and falsely saw that it was good, thus proving the desires of the human heart are evil. I think what is even more horrible is the next part of the verse, “…and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6b). According to this passage, Adam was with Eve, his wife, the entire time she was being tempted and did nothing. It also never says Adam was deceived like Eve, he knew what he was doing was wrong, yet did it anyway. This shows the deliberation of fallen man to sin. Thus, one can conclude that natural state of man is one in conflict with God and against the things of God.
Genesis also gives understanding of human identity. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” God created us in His own image and likeness. What does that mean? Essentially that means that we are able to reflect a mere microcosm of God’s character. The unique dignity and ability that God did not give to any other creatures He made, is the human ability to reproduce, on a creaturely level, the ways of God. Human identity began in God’s image and every person still bears the image of God. That is why the Christian worldview teaches the sanctity of human life, both born and unborn. Not only is man’s image in God, but also in Adam. Originally, because of man’s sinful nature, man’s identity is in Adam, humankind’s first father. But for those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and have been born again and imputed with the righteousness of Christ, their identity is now in Christ (Romans 5:12-21).
One can also gain a great deal from Genesis about human relationships. First, it is made clear that relationships are vital to life itself, as it says in Genesis 2:18, “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”” This verse also communicates the value of a marriage relationship. God created man and woman to be separate persons that come together and form one flesh (Genesis 2:24), and in a small sense reflecting the intricate relationship that the Trinity shares. This mystery is profound but beautiful. In Genesis 2:24, it says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” This verse makes it clear, that marriage is between one man and one woman. Also, the institution of marriage was created and defined by God. God alone is definer of marriage and we, the people, have neither the right nor the ability, to change the definition of marriage. God created humanity and human relationships and is sovereign over them.
The Scriptures in Genesis even teach us about civilization. “Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:4).” What we learn from this verse is that civilization is selfish. Certainly, society is capable of doing amazing things in the eyes of man, but according to God’s standards, due to the sinful nature of mankind, civilization is man-centered and not God-centered.
In the first eleven chapters of Genesis, we begin to see how much these truths affect our worldview. Based on the knowledge of man’s sinful nature, I believe that man is totally and utterly depraved and is in full need of Jesus’ righteousness to ever be found pleasing in the eyes of God. Based on the knowledge of man being created in the image of God, I believe in the sanctity of human life, and am against abortion entirely. Based on the truth of human relationships found in Genesis, I believe marriage is vital to human life and that marriage is between a man and a woman. Finally, due to the teaching of civilization in Genesis, I believe that all people are created equal in the eyes of God, but also that society and civilization are fallen, and utterly depraved.
Therefore, Genesis is not just a history textbook that is meant to be read for scholastic purposes only, but offers teachings on the natural world, human identity, human relationships, and civilization; and is part of the living Word of God, and capable of shaping and affecting one’s worldview.
