A STUDY IN GENESIS
Who wrote the book of Genesis? Does it matter? These two questions are vital if we are to properly understand the first 3 chapters of Genesis and more. There are many creation stories all written by those who were created. Only in Genesis does the reader get to hear from the Creator, the Designer of you and I. Other religions make claims, but it is only through Genesis do we have a written account from the Source of all things.
First, who wrote the book of Genesis? The answer is that God told Moses what to write.
Exodus 24:4 “And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel.”
Joshua, the successor after Moses, knew Moses had written it and it was given by God,
Joshua 1:7-8 “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
The apostles also verify Moses as the author. John states, John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, [but] grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Paul also describes this in, Romans 10:5 “For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”
Most importantly, Jesus Himself testifies that Genesis was written by Moses, Luke 24:44 “Then He said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.”
This means that Genesis is written by Moses and the source of information is credible no matter how hard it might be for us to understand.
So when we see Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” We can examine it for what it is, a declaration from the author of His work. Verse 2 and forward is an expression and description of this one verse.
Next week, we will examine this declaration and see how unique a statement it is and the power needed to make such a statement. Nevertheless, we can hold fast to the words of Moses and that they were given to him directly from God. So if God says He made the heavens and earth, we can hold it to be true. Now the question is how?
See you next week as we continue our study in Genesis.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL