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Easy to understand commentary on the book of Genesis

Easy to understand commentary on the book of Genesis

By John L. Chopores

 

Introduction to the Bible:

 

Let me say a few words, about the Bible. The Bible is about the Love that God has for humankind. In the Garden of Eden God is free to bless humankind, and He does! Freely, fully, and without measure. But humankind sins, but even Sin does not stop God. God makes a way to clean sin from off humankind. It is the Work of Jesus Christ, God the Son. So, let us look at the Bible, as the greatest love story of all!

Of course, the Bible talks about many other things, but the main theme is Love!

 

OLD TESTAMENT

 

The Book of Genesis

 

Introduction to the Book of Genesis:

Genesis is the book of beginnings.

 

Gen. 1:1 ¶ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

All of our life here started, from the love and caring of God! We should start each day in prayer, talking to and loving Him!

The word for God here, has as part of its meaning, “Strong” and “Mighty”. The God who made all things, can more then take care of His people! Cf. Nehemiah 9:6  Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Psalms 124:8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

 

Gen. 1:10  And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

18  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

25  And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

31 ¶ And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

In verses 18, 21, and 25, it says, “it was good ”, but in verse 31 it says “it was very good”. Why is that? Probably because while each of God’s works, are “good” in itself, all of God’s works taken together, are very good!

All good things come from the Lord God. Cf James 1: 17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

For God is good Himself, and He wants to give good things to His children. Cf. Psalms 73:1 ¶ <<A Psalm of Asaph.>> Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.

Matthew 7:11  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

 

Then why don’t more Christians receive more “good” things from God? Well for some it is because they don’t ask! Cf. Luke 11:9  And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

 John 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Then for others, they ask for the wrong reason.  Cf. James 4:3  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Let us note, that even God’s reasons for answering our requests, is good. That we may have full joy! Cf. John 16:24.

 

Please also note that we are to ask in the name of Jesus! Cf. John 16:24.

 

Gen.1: 11  And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

We like the “grass” are to have our “seed” in us. In a sense, the “seed” is the Word, Life, faith,  and Spirit, that Christ has given us. Cf. Psalms 126:6  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

  Luke 8:11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

  Luke 17:6  And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

  Romans 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

  Galatians 3:29  And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

  1 Peter 1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 1 John 3:9  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

  

Not only are we to let the “seed” of Faith grow in us, but we are to help plant it in others! Cf.

It is God Himself, who provides the seed for us. Cf. 2 Corinthians 9:10  Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)

 

 

Gen. 1: 16  And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

In life, there is always a “greater” and a “lesser”, a thing that needs to be done, and things that we would like to do, sometime. Let us be careful to not let “likes” get in the way, of “needs”.

 

Gen. 1: 18  And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

We must “divide” between the good and bad. Even more so, between the good and the better. Yet once more…between the better and the best!

 

Gen. 1: 20 ¶ And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

“God said” that is all it takes, to get things done right. God gives the will and power to do. Cf. Philippians 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

 

Gen. 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Not just some, but “every”!

 

Gen.1: 22  And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

God likes to bless, and does it often! Cf. Genesis 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

 Genesis 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Hebrews 6:14  Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

 

Gen. 1: 24 ¶ And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Some people act like God does nothing but stop people and things from doing anything! Not so, here we see God letting. 

 

Please note that each “creature” is after its “kind”. God is a God of order, He did not just throw things together! Cf. 1 Corinthians 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Proverbs 8:14  Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength.

 

6 ¶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

 27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Of all of God’s works, only humankind is made in His image. God saved the best and highest of His creation, for last!

Please notice that the image is in both male and female.

 

Gen. 2:1 ¶ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

 2  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

 3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Rest is a good thing! God rested so should we. For rest too, is a work of God!

 

Gen. 2: 3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

The seventh day, is a day of both blessing and rest! Since God blessed rest, we all should have a day of rest.

 

Gen. 2: 5  And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

We see that God so set-up the earth, that it needs Humankind! Some good news, we are (all of us) needed!

God made rest, but He still wanted us to have worthwhile things to do. Some rest and some work.

 

Gen. 2: 7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God breathed His own breath (wind) into man, and he came alive! Our very life is from God.

 

The fall of mankind

Gen. 3: 1 ¶ Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

 

When Satan looked for an instrument to use against mankind, he found the serpent. The serpent was “subtil”, the Hebrew word (Arum) has the meaning of “cunning”, “crafty”*, or  subtil” depending on the context. What we learn here, is that let us be careful of our own craftiness, or Satan may use it for his devices! Remember that pride goes before a fall. Cf. Proverbs 16:18 ¶ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

 Also, Eve seems to be caught by surprise. Another reason to watch and pray! Cf. Matthew 26:41  Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

 Mark 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

 

 [*See DICTIONARY OF OLD TESTAMENT WORDS FOR ENGLISH READERS By AARON PICK].

We will see that because of the pride of mankind, even a lowly serpent, can help bring about the downfall of mankind.

We do not read of Satan talking to mankind, before this. Satan only talks to people, to use and harm them! Cf. John 10:10  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Satan is always playing “mind games” on mankind. Cf. 2 Corinthians 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

 

The fact that the woman did not think it odd, that the serpent talked and walked is of interest. There are at lest five possible reasons for this.

1.       The serpent did these things all of the time.

2.       Everything was so new, that nothing surprised her!

3.       She had never met the serpent before.

4.       Her mind was on something else.

5.       She let Adam, do all or most of the thinking. Thinking that if something were off base, Adam would tell her.

 

Gen. 3: 2  And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

At first, Eve is up front about the kindness of God. However, it does not take Satan long, to start to work on Eve.

 

Gen. 3: 3  But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

 4  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Who asked for Satan’s view of the situation? He gave it anyway, those who want to force their will often do! 

Satan here makes promises, which he cannot keep! Life and death, are in the hand of God! Cf. Deuteronomy 30:19  I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live

Luke 12: 4  And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.

 5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

 

Gen.3: 6 ¶ And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Satan is always trying to use the wife against the husband, and the husband against the wife.

 

Genesis 12:7  And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Let us be, up front about this, God can give the Land to who He Will, and He gave it to the Israelis.

 

Who has the right to the land?

Gen. 15: 18  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

 19  The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,

 20  And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

 21  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.

  God always stands behind His Word. Cf. Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

 

God gives good gifts. Cf. James 1: 16  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

 17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

Even if we do not know all the reasons, why gave it to them, we must accept it, because His way are greater than ours. Cf. Isaiah 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

 Isaiah 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

And we should not even talk again His doing this!  Cf. Psalms 39:1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician, even to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.>> I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

 

And it is our joy to accept His ways. As we do this, it is to our good.  Cf. 1 Kings 3:14  And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.

 

As for where this land is-

The “river of Egyptis the Nile. The “Euphrates” is the same today. TheKenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,   And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaims,

  And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites  are ten nations occupying the land of Canaan at this time.