CHAPTER IV

THE BOOK OF GENESIS

1. DESCRIPTION OF THE
BOOK OF GENESIS

• The word "Genesis" means “

creation" or "beginning".

• This book talks about how God created the universe

out of His love.

• From the time of creation, the calling of Abraham

and his descendants up to the story of Joseph in
Egypt are covered in Genesis.
2. PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS

• Its sole purpose is to teach fundamental

truths of theology, about the existence
of a loving God, the creation and the
origin of all things.
• The creation of mankind in the image
and likeness of God is the main basis of
human dignity.
• The Genesis also sheds light on man's
fall, punishment and promise of
salvation, starting with the call of
Abraham.
3. THE STORY OF CREATION

a. The Semitic Cosmogony about

Creation

• The ancient Semites presented the creation of the universe in a very

distinct and different way.
• They relied on judgments, which were based simply on observations
and appearances.
• The sky was thought to be massive construction, like an inverted
bowl, which was supported on columns, and the mountains, located
at the ends of the earth.
• This structure was known as the firmament; on it the sun,
moon, and stars were fixed. Bodies of water were deposited
both above and below the earth.
• The rain comes only when the flood gates of the heavens or
the windows on high were open (Gen 7:-11;8:2; Isaiah 24; 18).
• Deep in the earth was a place known as Sheol, which was
depicted as the place of the underworld creatures, and the
place of the dead.
b. The Concept on Anthropomorphism

• The word "Anthropomorphism" means

attributing to God human qualities. (Pls. refer
to the discussions on the Yahwistic
Traditions).

• Anthropomorphism is found in many texts in

the Old Testament. Examples are in Gen.
Chapters 2:-3:,Gen.7:16; Gen 8:21; Ps.2:4;
Is.7:18, Is.22:14; Nah. 9:4; and in Heb. 3:8,
etc.
• These passages in the Old Testament clearly
indicate that God is perceived by the
Israelites as if He is a super being with hands,
nose, ears, feet, and body.
c. The Understanding on Monotheism versus Polytheism
• At the beginning, Hebrews believed in the existence of a
mighty Creator.
• He is the one responsible for everything, seen and unseen.
• For them, God is holy and just, without sexuality, invisible to
man except under special condition.
• They believed that God is not restricted to any part of His
creation.
• They believed that God has chosen Israel through a covenant.
• That Yahweh is their God and they are His people.
• However, at some later period in their history, at the time
when they established themselves in Canaan, a land
inhabited by pagans who worshipped and believed in
pagan gods, the Israelites became acquainted with the
Babylonian Traditions, and pagan gods.
• The Canaanites' pagan culture and practices were also
influential to the Hebrews.
• They were shaped and molded by the surrounding
culture and traditions which were pagan in nature.
d. The Seven days of Creation based on
the Hebrew Mentality

• The Hebrews devised a system and

used contrasting element concerning
the Creation of the Universe
including mankind.
• These are the following:

• Day One - light and darkness/ day

and night
• Day Two - God created the dome:
water above/ below.
• Day Three - God created land / vegetations, plants

• Day Four - God created the heavenly bodies

• Day Five - God created animals, birds, fishes

• Day Six - God created mankind

• Day Seven - God rested

 SEPARATION DECORATION
God separates light God makes the sun,
1ST Day 4th Day
from darkness moon, stars
God separates waters above God makes birds for air
2nd Day 5th Day
from waters below and fish for waters
God separates dry land God decorates the earth
3rd Day 6th Day
from waters below with beasts and HUMANS
God rests the way humans should rest
7TH Day
on the Sabbath
4. MANKIND AS MODEL OF THE WHOLE
CREATION

From Genesis 1: 26 - 27

Then God said, 'Let us make man in our

image and likeness. Let them have
dominion over the fish of the sea, the
birds of the air, and the cattle, and over
all the wild animals and all the
creatures that crawl on the ground...
God created man in his image, in the
divine image he created him; male and
female he created them.”
Also in Genesis 2:21-23

"So the Lord God cast a deep sleep

on the man, and while he was
asleep, he took out one of his ribs
and closed up its place with flesh.
The Lord God then built up into a
woman the rib that he had taken
from the man .... This one, at last,
is hone of my bones and flesh of
my flesh; This one shall be called
woman, for out of this man this
one has been taken. "
• These two Bible quotations are clear
indications that God created mankind in a
very special way.
• Why is it so?
• When God created the heavenly bodies,
nature and surroundings animals, birds,
fishes, and many more, God just uttered a
word and they came into being.
• In the creation of human beings, God not
only gave His image and likeness,
figuratively speaking, but also gave time
and exerted efforts.
• This is the very reason why we were
created in a very different way from the
rests of His creations.
• Created in the "image and likeness"
means that man shares the spiritual
powers of thinking and free will similar
but not the same with the mind and will
of God.
• Aside from that, man has soul, which is
very different from the souls of animals
and other created beings because our
soul is a "rational soul."
• We have an intellectual ability or power
to decide and to exercise the will similar
to our Creator.
• Man can achieve his highest perfection in
the knowledge and love of God, with
God's mercy and kindness.
a. On the Dignity of Man

The Biblical account on the origin of mankind poses the

following:

1. Man's dignity is the result of a deliberate act of God. God

created us willingly and knowingly in His image and
likeness. Because of that, we become the model of other
created beings.
2. Based on Genesis 2:21-23, the creation of woman was
intentional and not accidental, intended for man to have
partner in life. From the beginning, woman was endowed
right with man.
• When a husband loves his wife as his own "flesh"
and "bone" there is a sure foundation for a stable
family relationship in society.
b. The Dignity of Other Created Beings

In Genesis 1:31

“God looked at everything he had made, and he

found it very good. "
• Other created beings derived their importance and value
from the very reason that they were created by God
Himself God saw His other created beings as something
very necessary for mankind to survive.
• Without those subordinate beings, man in himself cannot
live. In order to have a regular maintenance, God put
man as in charge of creation as co-creator or co-worker.
• It is then that God saw all His creations and found them
very good. (Gen. 2:31)
c. Man as steward of Creation

In Genesis 1:28 - 30,

“... fill the earth and subdue it… Have

dominion over…“ I give you…for your
food … I give alt…for food...”

In Genesis 2:15,

“… God then took the man and settled

him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate
and care for it "
• These passages indicate that God gave man
the ability to manage and to supervise the
other creations of God.
• Man has the responsibility to improve,
maintain and sustain the order in His creation
as a co- worker of God.
• The idea of "stewardship" here is to be
understood in a positive way.
• Meaning, that man should sustain, balance
and develop the rests of creation as one with
nature.
• Man cannot go against the plan of God and
nature.
• Once that divine plan is violated, disorder in
the whole creation will follow and man will
suffer the consequences.
5. THE FALL OF MANKIND (GEN 3:1-29)

The Cause and Effect of Man's Fall

• The story of the "fall of man" in the book of Genesis 3:1-13, is an

attempt to explain how sins, sufferings and pain entered into the
world.
• The remaining verses in this chapter (Gen. 3:13-19) give the
effects or consequences of that sin committed by man.
• Many Bible Scholars in the Old Testament still cannot determine
the kind of sin Adam and Eve really committed.
• But one thing is sure and clear that man gave into
temptation that caused him to sin.
• Man failed God by giving in to the temptation
presented by the serpent.
• The gift of God to man was tested by man's
exercising his free will.
• But man made a wrong choice. It does not mean that
the giver of man's gift is imperfect.
• The giver who is God is perfect in all His Being and
attributes.
• It is only man who because of his pride to become
like his creator abused his gift.
• This points out to man's pride or disobedience.
• However, the serpent here from Hebrew mentality means the
"clever tempter" or "every cunning" and later on the “fallen
angel" or the "devil" because of the consequences of the fall
of Adam and Eve.
• Moreover, in Genesis 3:20, the man (Adam) called his wife
Eve, and she became the mother of all the living (mankind).
• In addition, 'in Genesis, the name "Man" means "male" and
the name "Eve" means “female”
• Therefore, based on Hebrew mentality, " Adam and Eve"
means representing males and females or the "humanity",
since they were the origin of mankind (Gen.4:-3:)
• The eyes of both Adam and Eve were opened knowing what
was good and evil because they had eaten the fruit of the tree
(Gen 3:7)
• The "fruit of the tree" of knowledge is another device of the
author of Genesis to teach the reader that man's happiness
dependent on obedience to the divine will or command. ‘
• Aside from the experience losing one's 'innocence (knowing
what is good or bad), he also lost the state of grace.
• From that time onward, mankind should no longer
experience "paradise "; they have to work very hard in order
to survive here on earth.
• Again, in Genesis, the word "paradise" means, "all you need
in life to survive were there" which later on became the
meaning of the land of promise in the book of Deuteronomy
8:7-10.

• b. The Doctrine on "Original Sin”

• It is important to note that in Genesis, Adam and Eve were the

origin of mankind, the first parents of mankind.
• They represented the humanity who sinned against God and
creation.
• And because of their misdeeds chaos entered into the world.
• The behavior and attitudes of Adam and Eve were inherited
by all of us, by every member of the human race.
• The fact that we commit errors or mistakes are an
indication that we inherited the sin or misbehavior of our
first parents.
• This disobedience of our first parents is the origin of the
so called "original sin" since it was the source of all sins
or disobedience to God's will or command.
• In here, sin is the turning back from God's love and losing
the grace from God.
6. THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION

In Genesis 3:15, says,

“I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and hers; He
will strike at your head, while you strike at
his heed '‘

• This text in Genesis brings hope and glad

tidings as perceived by the Fathers of the
Church.
• It was then considered the
"Proto-Evangelium" or the "first
announcement of good news" or "glad
tidings".
• Later on, it was applied to Jesus Christ
Himself and to Mary the mother of Jesus
after He had defeated death which was
His triumph over evil.
• It was through the cooperation of Mary
with God that Jesus was born 'into this
world.
• She nurtured Jesus and treasured in her
heart all her experiences with God and her
son Jesus.
• When Jesus resurrected, He crushed the
evil brought by the original sin committed
by Adam and Eve.
• The descendants of Adam and Eve,
including us, experience this physical death
but because of Christ's resurrection, there
is new life in Christ Jesus.
• That is to say, we are also privileged to
share the resurrection of Jesus Christ, if
we have faith in Him and follow His will.

• This text also indicates that God, out of

His mercy and overflowing love for
mankind wanted the humanity to be
returned to Him.
• That is why God put enmity between
mankind and evil (serpent).
• This demands that mankind should
alienate himself from evil and befriend
God (Gen. 3:15).
a. On Reward and
Punishment from God

• In the story of creation, the presence of God, His

support and continuous supervision had been the
source of joy of Adam and Eve.
• But when their intimacy with God was broken by
their disobedience and unfaithfulness, chaos and
hardships entered into the world.
• Their beautiful harmonious relationship with God
and tile whole creation suffered.
• Sin and evil became so visible all around.
• In the Book of Genesis, these had been the
origin of "reward and punishment" on the
part of God based on Hebrew mentality.

• Here are some illustrations of the author

that depict God's punishment and reward.

1. Genesis 3:16, says," I will intensify the

pangs of your childbearing…”

2. Genesis 3:17b, says, "...Cursed be the ground

... in toil shall you eat...”
3. Genesis 3:23, says, “Banished him from
the garden of Eden...”

4. At the time of Cain and Abel. Genesis

4:11-13, says, "... you shall be banished
and banned from the soil .. if you till the
soil.. no longer give you its produce. You
shall become restless wanderer...”
5. At the time of Noah, there was a "Great Flood" Genesis
7:6-23, says, "... the waters (of the flood came upon the
earth ... the flood gates of the sky were opened... the Lord
wiped out every living thing on earth... only Noah and those
with him in the ark were left.”
6. In the story, "The Tower of Babel " in
Genesis 11: 1-9,

“The Lord said … nothing will later

stop them ... whatever they presume
to do ... Let us.. confuse their
language... thus the Lord scattered
them ...”

• These Bible quotations from the book

of Genesis clearly elaborate on how
God dealt with His unfaithful and
disobedient people.
• Based oil Hebrew mentality, God
punishes and rewards people
accordingly.
God and His Goodness CREATION – MAN – SIN
World created in Goodness
Man formed in God’s Image

SATAN – SIN – DEATH

(1) SIN of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3)
(2) SIN of Cain killing Abel (Genesis 4)
(3) SIN between “sons of God” and
“daughters of men” (Genesis 6)
Genesis, chapters 3-11.
(4) SIN punished by flood (Genesis 6-9)
Introduction to the story of
Salvation. (5) SIN of pride at tower of Babel
(Genesis 11)
Man falls away from God. All of these SIN stories tell us
of the growing power of the
Man needs salvation. Kingdom of Satan
Sin, Death, Sickness
Depth of
Sin
b. Preparation concerning God's Promise of Redemption

• In spite of man's growing unfaithfulness and

wickedness, God remains full of mercy and
compassionate.
• He does not strike the sinner directly but rather appears
as a kind- hearted judge.
• In the story of Adam and Eve, He lovingly walks in the
garden as a father and friend to Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:8).
• He gently calls out Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:9) gives both of
them a chance to reason out and defend their situation
(Gen.3: 11-13).
• He even fashions leather garments for Adam and Eve as
an act of kindness (Gen. 3:2 1).
• The expulsion of Adam and Eve from the
Garden of Eden is also borne out of love
to teach them a lesson (Gen. 3:23).

• God does not want to leave Adam and

Eve in misery forever; it is clearly stated
by the author in Gen. 3:15, which says,

I will put enmity between you and the

woman, and between your offspring
and hers; He will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.”

• The quotation in Gen.3:15 had been

discussed already previously.
• This particular text had been used by
the Fathers of the Church as a sign of
"Proto-Evangelium," a sign of God's
promise of redemption, as believed
to be realized in the person of Jesus
Christ and Mary, the mother of
Jesus.

• And as Christians, we share the

same belief that God would offer
man's salvation every time that
there is willingness on the part of us
to be reconciled with God.
7. THE PATRIARCHS AND THE
COVENANT WITH GOD

• The works of archeology and

other related sciences concerning
the study of the Bible for many
years added colors and interest
on the life of the Patriarchs in
Israel.
• The discoveries made by others
sciences provided better
understanding of the culture and
traditions of the Patriarchal stage.
a. The Story of Abraham an and Sarah

• During the time of Noah, after the

great flood, God made a covenant that
He would not destroy again His
creation.
• He would prepare and redeem
mankind by establishing His people.
• Through this people, His word and
love would be revealed.
• This began with the call of Abraham.
• The call of Abraham involves the first of the promises
that God had made with them.
• Genesis teaches that the choice and call of Abraham
'initiated the Divine plan for the salvation. of humanity.
• The call was not limited to the Hebrews alone.
• It was a call that would change the life and history of the
whole creation. (Gen. 12:1-3)
• In Genesis 12:1-20, God directed Abraham to leave his
homeland and go to an unknown land.

• Here is the portion of this text, in

Gen. 12: 1,

“... Go forth from the land of your

kinsfolk and from your father's
house to a land that I will show you.”
• Abraham immediately followed the
voice of God, although in his mind, he
did not know where that land was.
• But God is the God of good way and
guidance.
• And so, he took his wife, Sarah, his
nephew Lot and all his household to set
forth to a land which God would show
him (Gen. 12:4-5).
• At Canaan, Abraham settled as directed
by God. God told him that this land
would be his and his descendant (Gen.
12:5b-9).
• At Bethel, on a hill, he built an altar to
honor God as a sign of his thanksgiving
and gratitude.
• Then he made a journey to Egypt as God directed Him
because of the famine through out the land.
• The famine was so severe that God allowed him to stay
'in Egypt for a while (Gen. 12:10).
• After the famine had subsided, Abraham and Sarah
returned to Canaan with their relatives and possessions
given by the Pharaoh in Egypt.
b. God's Covenant with Abraham

• In Chapter 15 of Genesis, Abraham

expressed his grief to God for having
no son with Sarah.

• Then God replied 'in Gen. 15:5, "…

look at the sky and count the
stars... shall your descendants be”.

• Since then, after God made a

covenant with him, Abraham
believed in God.
c. The Birth of Ishmael (Gen. 116:1-16)

• Sarah, the wife of Abraham was so

worried for having no child. She was
getting old and Abraham, too.
• He had a maidservant by the name of
Hagar.
• She convinced Abraham to sleep with
Hagar so that they would have a child
through her.
• But after she got pregnant, Sarah
became so jealous and maltreated Hagar
until she fled for her life.
• The messenger of the Lord appeared to
Hagar and asked her to return to her
mistress.
• Hagar went back and gave birth to a son and named
Ishmael, meaning, "the Lord heard and answered" the
prayer of Hagar (Gen. 16: 1 - 1).
d. The Birth of Isaac (Gen. 21:1- 8)

• Although Abraham was married to a

childless woman Sarah, who was
already old he still believed that God
would fulfill His covenant.
• In Gen.21:1-8, God pitied Sarah and she
became pregnant, and bore a son in her
old age.
– They named him Isaac,
meaning, "God has given
Sarah a cause to laugh.“
• In this occasion, God proved that nothing
was impossible for Him. Faithfulness to
Him means blessings and reward.
• And Abraham learned this from the very
beginning.

e. The Test of Abraham's Faith

• Abraham was asked by God to offer his

son Isaac as a sacrifice for Him (Gen. 22: 1
2). It was easy to give up.
• This was really very tragic on the part of He could not
Abraham. Isaac was a product of a understand God's will
"promise" and "borne in his old age" at but still he was ready
the same time. to obey Him.
• A quotation from Gen. 22:3 says,

"... Early the next morning

Abraham saddled his donkey,
took with him his son Isaac ...
and with the wood ...
for the holocaust ...”

• In this quotation, another device was used by the author to

portray the strong faithfulness of Abraham.
• He will do anything for God even at the expense of his very
own son.
• This is the reason why Abraham is considered the
"model-father of faith.”
• We know from our catechism that "faith"
is a gift from God Himself It can be
described also as "an act by which man
entrusts himself totally to God with out
any reservation.“
• The common example is our ordinary
friendship with someone. In friendship,
mutual self-giving and revelation, free
acceptance and mutual response should
be there.
• The covenant of God with Abraham
possessed these elements. God mutually
and consistently guided Abraham in all his
endeavors up to the sacrifice of Isaac.
• At the time of Abraham, human sacrifices were common.
• But since then, human sacrifice practices were forbidden
and replaced by animals or any produce from the fields.
• The holocaust and any offerings should be according to
the law on sacrifices.
• This topic will be treated well 'in the book of Leviticus.
f. The Story of Jacob

• In Gen. 25:19-23, the author described

how Jacob with his brother Essau came
into this world.
• Since the time they were in their
mother's womb, tile two, were already
quarreling with each other.
• Here in the quotation from Gen. 25:23:
“Two nations are in your womb, two
people are quarreling while still with
you, But one shall surpass the other, and
the older shall serve the younger”.
• When tile two were born of Rebekkah, Isaac was sixty years old.
The sons were twins.
• The first who emerged was reddish. His whole body was like a
hairy mantle; they named him Essau (Gen. 25:25).
• The second, who came Out, was gripping at Essau's heel; they
named him Jacob.
• When the two grew up, Essau became Isaac's favorite because
he was the first and older than Jacob.
• However, Jacob became the favorite of his mother Rebekkah
because he was younger than Essau.
• Since the beginning they were at odds with each other.
• When Isaac was already old and time to
pass on the blessings and birthright to
his sons, Jacob with his mother managed
to steal Essau's privilege.

• In Gen. 25:29-30, Jacob managed to trick

Essau.

• Here is a quotation from this text:

“... when Jacob was cooking a stew,
Essau came in ... finished ... he said to
Jacob, " Let me gulp…down some .. I'm
starving... Jacob replied.. give me first
your birthright... So he sold Jacob his
birthright under oath…”
• And in Gen. 27:1-29, Jacob again managed
to steal the blessing of his father Isaac for
Essau with the help of his mother Rebekkah.

• Here is the portion of tills text:

.... as Jacob went up and kissed him Isaac
smelled the fragrance of his clothes. With
that, he blessed him, saying, 'Ah, the
fragrance of my son is like a fragrance of a
field that the Lord has blessed. May God
give to you of a dew of the heavens and of
the fertility of the earth abundance of
grain and wine.. Let people.... pay homage
to you... how down to you... cursed be
those who cursed you... bless be those who
bless you."
• In these two quotations, Jacob's use of fraud with his
mother Rebekah, is something that make us
uncomfortable.
• We know however, that for sure, God did not approve
their gesture but somehow tolerated it to show that God
gave us freedom to choose freely.
• Here God fulfills His promise in spite of human trickery
and fraud.
• Jacob’s dream at Bethel (Gen. 28:10-22)
”He dreamed that he saw a stairway reaching from
heaven to Earth, with angels going up and coming
down on it...” this memorial stone... will be a place
where you are worshipped...
• Jacob Wrestles at Peniel (Gen. 32:22-32)
”Then a man came and wrestled with him just before
daybreak... Your name wiil no longer Jacob. You have
struggled with god and with men, and you have won; so
your name will be Israel (meaning struggler with God)
...
• Joseph was one of the 12 sons of Jacob. He
was second to the youngest that was
Benjamin.
• He was the favorite of his father because he
was born in his father's old age.
• His father made a tunic for him as a sign of
love being a special son.
• Because of that, his brothers got jealous and
planned to kill him.
• When they had an opportunity, they sold
Joseph instead of killing him. Joseph was
brought to Egypt and sold to a kind master,
the chief steward of Pharaoh in Egypt.
• In Egypt, he was a little bit fortunate. He was assigned as the
household master among other slaves.
• The wife of his master wanted to seduce Joseph but he refused to
cooperate.
• So, Joseph was put in jail because of his master's wicked wife.
• While in jail, Joseph interpreted correctly the dreams of his
co-prisoners.
• And his God-given talent in interpreting one's dream brought him
out of jail.
• He was able to interpret correctly the dream of the Pharaoh.
• Since he was the one who knew what would happen, he was
chosen by the Pharaoh to manage his kingdom (Gen.
41:41-46).
• When famine spread in Egypt and in all its territories,
Joseph's brothers went to Egypt to buy food.
• So, they met Joseph but never recognized him.
• However, Joseph tested their sincerity and concern for one
another.
• When Joseph noticed that they were caring for one another,
he provided them enough food and has forgiven his
brothers.
• He asked them to bring Jacob and their families to live in
Egypt, they grew in number and prospered, too.
• Here is a quotation from Gen. 47:27,

" thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of

Goshen. There they acquired property were fertile, and
increased greatly.”