Similar to the way in which each individual instrument in an orchestra contributes to the overall sound of a symphony, each book of the canon of Scripture has its role in orchestrating the biblical storyline. The book of Genesis plays an especially significant role, as it establishes the God of Israel as the creator of all that exists and the one who has set into motion history. This new series on the book of Genesis, introduced in class on Sunday, will expose us to some of the most foundational elements of the Christian Worldview and allow us to see the glorious beginnings of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.

As Moses begins his account of God’s dealing with Israel, he begins with creation, and in doing so, establishes the God who delivered them out of the hand of Pharaoh as God alone. The very one who redeemed them was none other than one who spoke into existence the heavens and the earth. This assertion would have been in total opposition to the worldview of the day, as it boldly affirmed that the God of Israel is God alone, and any tendency toward service of another god should be considered absurd. It is for this reason that the book of Genesis often finds itself on the receiving end of attack, for if creation can be proven a myth, so too may the audacity of believing that all human beings everywhere are accountable to a Creator. On the other hand, if indeed God has created, then he alone is creation’s rightful owner, ruler and judge, and all are accountable to him.

The debate surrounding Creation and Evolution is often framed as a debate against faith and reason. The assertion is that science is an unbiased, impartial interpreter of the data, while the bias of religion prevents such impartiality. However, as we consider the creation account in Genesis, it is essential that we remember that those who hold to a completely impersonal view of the origin of the universe do so from the vantage point of a worldview that denies the existence of God. The debate is not fundamentally a debate against reason and faith, but against opposing worldviews, essentially, opposing “religions.” Therefore, when we hold to the biblical creation account, we should do so without reservation, remembering that we are aligning ourselves with the worldview Moses was seeking to instill in Israel, that he who has delivered us is he who has spoken into being the cosmos.

Audio from this week’s lesson: Introduction to Genesis

Text for this coming Sunday: Genesis 1

~TDG