Lesson One: Genesis 1-6
“Then HaShem G-d said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the Tree of Life, and eat, and live forever" - therefore HaShem G-d sent him out of Gan Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of Gan Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the Tree of Life.
B’reshit 3:22-24
Introducing… the Creator
- Gen 1:1-19: The first lesson for studying Scripture – its purpose is to reveal G-d – and His righteousness. Sadly, many want to use this account for scientific or philosophical reasons. Although it is scientific, its purpose is to introduce us to the Creator.
- Of profound meaning: Light was His first creation of this world. “Light” plays a major role all the way through Scripture.
- One of the most significant truths of this account is the manner in which G-d creates: He speaks. Blessed is He Who speaks and does.
Introducing… Man
- 1:27-28: 2:23: Man was created in innocence; and in fellowship with God.
- 1:26-2:3: Why introduce us to the Sabbath here? How is the Sabbath and Creation related? How is the Sabbath and the Creator related?
- Creation and the Sabbath are very important to the picture of “the Fall” and to redemption.
Introducing… the Enemy
- 2:15-17; 3:1-7: A command, man, a serpent, and sin.
- What was the command? What was Chava’s [Eve] first temptation? The first problem was adding to what G-d said. The first command of Scripture is a “food law.”
- The serpent’s temptation was to question what G-d said.
Introducing… Sin
- 3:6: Sin is simply not obeying (trusting) G-d.
- 3:13-19: The results of sin: curse for the serpent; curse for the earth; pain for the woman; toil for the man; death for mankind.
- 3:22-24: Because of sin, man could not remain in the Presence of HaShem; thus living forever.
Introducing… Redemption and a Redeemer
- 3:7: Were the covered? In verse 21, G-d makes tunics for them from the skin of an animal. Man’s attempts to “cover their sin” was not enough. G-d had to take the life from an animal to cover them.
- 3:15: The promise of a Redeemer.
- 4:1: Chava thinks the Redeemer is Kayin [Cain] – the Hebrew conveys the direct object is HaShem, similar to, “I have gotten a man: HaShem.” She is right about one thing: the promised Redeemer would be a man, and come from her offspring.
Introducing… Avodah [Service]
- 4:3-5: Both Haval [Abel] and Kayin bring a minchah [offering].
- 4:7: Haval’s is not accepted because of the inferiority of his offering – but because He does not “do well.” Sin separated Kayin from HaShem.
- Contrary to popular opinion, Kayin and Havel were not offering “sin” offerings” – but were offering fellowship offerings. Grain is one of the prescribed offerings in Leviticus.
- The offerings of Kayin and Havel were for avodah [service, worship]. The offerings were a way to draw near to HaShem.
The Flood: an Object Lesson for Redemption
- 6:1-14: The promised Redeemer was to come from Chava’s “seed.” The Enemy polluted man’s offspring. From the line of Shat [Seth], G-d raised up Noach [Noah].
- Noach, and His family were saved by the grace of HaShem. All who failed to obey G-d were destroyed. Redemption was found in obedience and faith in what G-d said.
Summary
- Sin entered the world. Man was driven from the Presence of G-d. A Redeemer was promised.
- The promised Redeemer would be Chava’s “Seed.”
- The promised Redeemer was further narrowed to not come from Kayin, but from Shat [Shem].
- Further narrowed to Noach’s [Noah’s] line.