40 Weeks of Your Life: Genesis
04-20-2006
by Vicky Beeching

So we've just journeyed through the book of Genesis…The book that's all about 'beginnings'. I love reading Genesis, as it gives us the geography, the briefing and background on who we are and why we are on this planet. It explains where we came from, and what our purpose is in life. Those are some of the deepest and most common questions within the human heart, and people search in all manner of places to find answers. Genesis is the road map that answers those mysteries. I'm so glad we have that book in our Bibles!

The first 5 books of the Old Testament are known as the "Pentateuch" or in Hebrew (and I wish I'd stayed more awake during my Hebrew classes at Oxford University!) "Torah" meaning "Law or more accurately, Teaching".

Here's a quick summary:

Chapters 1-3: Creation, the garden of Eden and the "Fall"
Chapters 3-9: Adam's descendants, leading up to Noah and the flood
Chapters 10-11: Noah's descendants and the tower of Babel
Chapters 12-50: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Known as the "Patriarchs")

The message of Genesis is very encouraging. Whatever your beliefs may be on creation; whether it was a literal seven day event, or whether that is just a poetic description of a much slower process, the basic truth is the same - Genesis tells us that our origin is in God. He was there long before us "in the beginning" and He will always be with us. Let your heart take away from this week's reading, the truth that you have a solid anchor in God that is beyond time and circumstance… an anchor that will never fail you. He has existed from eternity past, and nothing can separate us from Him.

In the pages of Genesis we have walked alongside some truly inspiring characters. I hope that your time in the company of them has been an encouragement!

If you are in a situation requiring a step of faith, remember Abraham leaving his nation and family and following God's call into the unknown. If the storms of life are blowing around you, think of Noah and the divine protection God surrounded him with throughout the flood. If you are waiting for God's promises to come to pass, call to mind Joseph who's brothers taunted him as he recounted the dream God had revealed to him. There seem to be many lessons in this book of holding fast to God's promises and believing them, even though the situation seemed scary and uncertain.

A big theme throughout Genesis is "Covenant" (or in Hebrew, "berith") which means 'solemn contract'. We see God entering into 'covenants' in Genesis with Adam, with Noah, with Abraham… It reminds us that God wants relationship with us - wants to partner with us, and loves us deeply. It also reminds us that God's promise and solemn contracts stand forever. Today we stand under the 'new covenant' written by God in the blood of His Son, through the Cross. He is a God who keeps His word, and Genesis reminds us how seriously God takes His solemn contracts and that we can rely on Him completely. He is our anchor, trustworthy and firm yesterday today and forever!

Learn about Vicky Beeching in our Artist Database: http://www.cmcentral.com/artists/1078.html