Genesis by Ryan Lowery (2010)

Many are skeptical of the creation account found in the Bible because it can appear to contradict science. A variety of different approaches have been advanced with significant strengths and weaknesses. Even though we can't be sure which interpretation is the right one, it is possible to harmonize Scripture with scientific observation. More importantly, the primary purpose of the creation account is to assure us that there is a God who created us, loves us, and has a will for our lives.

The Bible claims to be God's instruction manual for the human experience, so we should expect it to explain how we got here and what our purpose is. The creation account argues that there is a personal and powerful God. It also argues that we are significant to Him and that He created us for noble purposes. But we have squandered many of the good things God created for us and have a need to be redeemed.

Mankind stands out among other creatures both in capacity for good and for evil. The Bible explains this dual picture of man in a compelling way through the creation account. In our original state, we were created to be eternal, united with God, and in harmony with both our environment and with each other. But in order for us to have the capacity for love, we also must have the capacity to choose for either good or evil.

After mankind first chose to sin, things rapidly got worse. Four lessons can be learned from the story of Cain and Abel: 1) God stays involved even when you rebel; 2) God has regard for faith and not hollow religious service; 3) we must do what is right even when our emotional state says otherwise; and 4) don't harden your heart to God's truth.

The flood story can be controversial for both scientific and theological reasons. Both of these issues with God's judgment can be resolved. Ultimately, God must judge our evil choices but those who choose to trust Him will be saved.

In the ancient world, God took action in order to restrain evil. The first way is by instituting government, including a balanced system of capital punishment for Israel in order to preserve human dignity in the case of murder. The second way is by scattering humanity in order to slow progress. This is because when mankind is unimpeded, we inevitably try to assert ourselves over God.

Much of Biblical history stems from God's covenant with Abraham, wherein He promises: 1) a land for him; 2) to make a nation out of his family; 3) to bless him; 4) and to use his descendants to bless the world. Over the course of history, God has kept all of His promises. Abraham's choice to have faith in God made him right with God. In light of this, our response should also be to trust God.

Melchizedek is a little-known character in the Bible, but he ends up being crucial in fulfilling God's promise to Abraham and his plan to save the world. The story of Melchizedek demonstrates both the internal consistency of Scripture and the incredible commitment of God to keep his promises.

Abraham started out as a man who barely knew anything about God but was still wiling to trust in His promises. He witnesses God's dealing with Sodom and Lot as a lesson in God's character. Ultimately, this teaches him how God's mercy and justice work together. In the end, Lot serves as an example of compromised faith, while Abraham serves as an example of God's faithfulness to those who trust Him.\r\n

Sometimes, God will test the faith of His followers in order to both refine and show what they believe about Him. In the binding of Isaac, Abraham goes through extreme testing. This incident foreshadows the work of Christ in a powerful way. Like Abraham, our response to testing is determined by who we think that God is.\r\n

In the story of Jacob and Esau, Esau is significantly limited in his ability to be used by God due to a seemingly small choice. Saying "no" to God can limit His ability to use us as well. In order to avoid Esau's mistake, we need to learn to prioritize the right things in order to make good spiritual choices.

Most human relationships are based on conditional love, and many of us relate to God this way as well. Jacob wrestled with God throughout his entire life, trying to force God into his will. But God has a different way that He wants to relate to us, and He does this by showing us an example of unconditional love. Instead of demanding a blessing from God, we must learn to see and believe that we have already been blessed.

Though Joseph was was a man of faith, his life was filled with confusion and pain. Often in the midst of suffering and trials it is difficult to see how God is working. Ultimately, God used Joseph's faithful suffering in order to bring about incredible good for him and his family. God also has a purpose for our lives, but in order to see this purpose realized we must be willing to trust Him through any circumstance.\r\n\r\n