The Bible begins with these words, “In the beginning God……”. We know right away who the main character is! But who is God? How do we find that out?
Take a moment and go to Google and find a site that list the ‘meaning of first names’.
Gary originally comes from Germany and means ‘spear carrier.’ Abigail, my oldest daughter has a Hebrew name which means, ‘source of joy’. Lisa, my spouse, has a name with Biblical roots as well, and her name means ‘devoted to God’. What does your name mean?
In the Bible, particularly in the Biblical world, names are important. In Genesis chapter 1, the Hebrew word Elohim (translated simply as God in English Bibles) is the general name used for God throughout the ancient world. The Bible says that Elohim (God) brings the whole creation into existence out of nothing. But in Genesis 2:4, the Biblical writers introduce another name for God. God is called “the Lord God” (Yahweh Elohim). This means something!
If you turn in your Bibles to Exodus 3 and Exodus 6:1-12 you find two stories. The first is about God revealing himself to Moses and the second is when God calls Moses to lead the people out of Israel. God chooses the name Yahweh to identify himself as the divine Redeemer, the God who rescues people.
In Genesis 2:4 Yahweh (Lord) and Elohim (God) are linked together to make the point that it is the same God who rescues Israel and who created all things. The Bible is both God’s story and our story today. We come to know God through the saving work of the Son, Jesus, who rescues us from sin. But God is also the Creator of all that was, or is, or shall be. Our individual stories of life and salvation begin in a similar way, “In the beginning God…….”.
Genesis 1:26-Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image.” Who is the us referring too? Take a moment to read in the New Testament John 1:1-17 to find the answer.
There are two creation stories in Genesis chapters 1 & 2. In Genesis 1 you find an image filled story of the creation of everything that is. Genesis 2 finds the Bible zeroing in on humankind. The Bible is only interested in saying one primary thing about the formation of the world and life; God did it! Humans and science can try to tell us just how that happened.
The name Genesis means beginnings. If you scan the book of Genesis you will find the beginnings of these things and many more:
1. Creation Genesis 1 & 2
2. Men and women Genesis 1 & 2
3. Origin story of help mates/marriages Genesis 2
4. First sin Genesis 3
5. Origin of pain in child birth and daily hard work Genesis 3
6. First murder Genesis 4
7. First offering Genesis 4
8. Beginnings of Civilization Genesis 4
9. Origins of Evil in all of humankind Genesis 6
10. The Flood and restoration of goodness Genesis 7 & 8
11. God’s Covenant with Noah and the world Genesis 9
12. Nations Established Genesis 9
13. Origin of languages Genesis 11
14. Beginning and Foundation Stories of the people of Israel Genesis 12 – 26
15. Establishment of the 12 tribes of Israel Genesis 29-26
In the opening chapters of Genesis we read that humans were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
We were the crown of God’s creative activity. That was no accident. But what does image of God mean? In what ways are we like God? Obviously we can’t be God’s physical image because we’re humans and God is Spirit. What the Bible paints, from Genesis through Revelation, is that we are most like God when we share God’s love. We are the only ones of God’s creatures capable of loving simply for the sake of loving and not because of what we will or hope to receive in return. We have freedom to make this choice and we can choose to be responsible (dominion) with this love.
At the end of each session we are asking you to turn to a passage of scripture and read and reflect on four questions:
1. What do I think this passage means for those who read it the first time?
2. What does this passage mean for me right now?
3. What are you going to do or how are you going to act differently in the future as a result of what this passage says?
4. What questions do I have about this passage that I need clarification on?
Read the following Bible Passage using he above formula: Exodus 20: 1-17
You are invited to post your comments or question on the Beginner’s Bible Study Blog and join us in person once a month on the first Sunday of the month following worship to discuss this blog further.
*The Beginner's Bible Study Blog would like ot acknowledge the following sources in creation of this study: Downloading the Bible by Jonathan Brant, The True Story of the Whole World by Craig G. Bartholomew & Michael Goheen, and Come, Be My Promise (Confirmation material) by William F. Skinner
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