Noel Kingsley | Baruch Neriah 

Genesis Session 001 

1. Introduction to our Study 

We are starting a new Bible study, and we are starting from the beginning. The book of Genesis. Our goal is to walk through the first two verses of the Bible.  

Let me ask you a question: Should I believe in Genesis 1:1 to be a Christian, or is this verse not essential to my Gospel belief? We need to wrestle with that first. If we think this verse is not relevant to being a Christian, then why study it? 

If you believe this verse is important for a believer, then let us move ahead with our study. I will give a quick introduction, and then we will move into the text. 

2. The Books of the Bible 

Scripture which we have in our hand is a collection of 66 books. The Old Testament has 39 books, and the New Testament has 27 books. Today, we are starting our study from the first book of the Bible the book of Genesis.  

In the book of Deuteronomy Scripture says that God gave us the Scriptures – His Word so that we may Fear Him. So, if I could understand this single verse Scripture is teaching us that as I read His words through the Old and the New Testament, and as I understand and learn the word of God through the Spirit of God. I will grow in the grace of Christ, in His love, in His redemption, in His mercies, about His coming Kingdom and all this is within the understanding of the Fear of God.  We will not expand on this further – but let that be in the back of your mind that Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 

So, the Scripture says that the good Lord sought to find words which are purposeful, delightful, and pointing to Him. That is what Ecclesiastes 12:10 proclaims.  

Ecclesiastes 12:10. | The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written  was upright- words of truth.  

The good Lord is not just referring to a specific topic, or a specific incident, or to just the New Testament. The good Lord is saying, every word in the Scripture is written by Him so that we may know Him. That is why Jesus Christ said that He has come to fulfill every word of the Scripture  

In Isaiah 28:10 Scripture teaches us that the good Lord will teach us one command at a time, one line at a time, word by word. And why did He put so much of work to give this to us? Why did the LORD God of universe take so much care to give such a perfect book? Look at the very next verse in Ecclesiastes. 

Ecclesiastes 12:11. | The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by One Shepherd.   

The Scripture teaches us that this book, or any book in the Bible, should teach us the truth, and it should be like a goad – a sharp nail which pricks and prods us.  

It should prick us, and prod us, to push us towards what? The New Testament gives us the answer. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God – Breathed by God. This is His Spirit. And it should lead us into righteousness.  

2 Timothy 3:16-17. | All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.    

When God says that the man of God should be complete, the actual meaning is being perfect at any given point of time. It is not something you will be at the end of the age. God says – the word should make you perfect, so that you are perfect, as you move towards the righteousness of God. You are not only perfected, God says My word will keep you perfect so that you are ready for Me all the time. That is what Ecclesiastes also teaches us. Though there are 66 written by different authors in different languages. The message is a unified message leading us to HIS Righteousness. So, it does not matter what book I read in the Bible, It does not matter where I hear the word from. It could be a church pulpit. It could be me, reading the word in my own personal prayer time.  

Whatever it is. The word of God should lead me to righteousness. So, reading the book of Genesis also should lead us into His Righteousness. That is why we are reading this book. And, the book of Genesis also gives us a very specific reason on why this specific book was written. 

3. Why was Genesis written 

Genesis 5:1 gives us a summary of why this book is given to us. Scripture proclaims that this book is the genealogy of Adam. 

Genesis 5:1. | This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.     

The word “Genealogy” is Toldot (to-led-aw’) which is also translated as History in Genesis 2:4. 

Genesis 2:4. | This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.  

The word Adam is not translated; it is the actual Hebrew word Adam or Aw-dam which means mankind or humankind. God also uses that as the name for the first human – Adam. So, Genesis 5:1 literally states that this book is the history of mankind. 

So, when we read the Scripture, we get the following. 

1. The creation of man. 

2. The purpose of man.  

3. The rebellion of man. 

4. The sin of man. 

5. The fall of man.  

6. The evil of man. 

7. The deception of man. 

8. The redemption of man. 

9. The restoration of man.  

Scripture walks us through all this right from Genesis to Revelation, but at the same time will teach all these truths within the book of Genesis.  

This is the history of mankind. We should know why we are here, and what is going to happen to us. But as you go through this, never forget that God has given this book so that we may Fear Him by pushed towards His Righteousness.  

4. How to understand this book 

Considering this is a the Word of God, we need to come to an understanding on how to understand this book. Seminary will teach us that we need to have historical context, cultural context, literary context, so on and so forth. But that would mean we need to depend on humans and information outside the scripture. And the good Lord commands us that we should trust in the Lord alone. If you remember the famous verse – Proverbs 3:5 teaches us to trust only in the Lord and in His Word and never lean into our own understanding.  

Proverbs 3:5. | Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.     

How then will I understand the word of God? Scripture teaches us an incredible principle – ask and you will receive. Though we typically apply this principle for a lot many things, we at times fail to ask the Lord for understanding of the Scripture when we read the word of God. 

We tend to believe what we have heard growing up. We do not test the knowledge we have received. Genesis is a book of preconceived thought images. The creation, the snake, the garden, the fruit. All these things give us an image which we picked up and we never validated our thoughts with the Scripture. In our study, we will constantly challenge ourselves. Today, we will walk into a few such things. We will constantly push ourselves to know the truth through the word of God.  

In Ezekiel 47, Scripture gives us a picture of the word of God. It is a river running so deep and wide that you cannot cross it. That is the word of God. It is not that a person’s understanding of the word is wrong. There is always more to what we have already learned. And it always leads us into a deeper understanding of who God is. I pray that this study, and the studies that follow will lead us into a far deeper understanding of who our good Lord is. For the more we know God, the more we are rooted in Him. With all that said – let us jump into Genesis 1. 

5. The Beginning.  

Genesis 1:1. | In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.       

With that simple verse. God started His word to us. The Lord God of heaven and earth could have spoken to us in so many ways, but He chose just one way. Through His Word.  And this is the way He started His Word to us.  

This is how the verse reads in Hebrew compared to our English translation.  

• Ba/Re’shiyth | Beginning  

• Elohim | GOD 

• Bara’ | Created 

• haShamayim | heavens 

• haares | Earth  

6. The First Word 

Let us spend some time on the first word. The Beginning. The Hebrew word is Ba/Re’shiyth, the reason I have “Ba” separated is because “Reshith” is the root word. Ba is added as an adverb to the noun “reshith”. There is a play in the word in Hebrew. Let us spend some time on this. 

The word “Beginning” comes more than 550 times in the Scripture. But the Hebrew word “Reshith” comes only 51 times in the Scripture. And every time it occurs it always calls out something very specific. Understanding how the good Lord uses this word will help us understand the meaning of this word. 

1. The Second Occurrence 

Let us spend some time on this. Scripture having started with the word “Reshit” does not have this word for another 10 chapters. The next time this word comes is in Genesis 10:10. By this time, the great flood is over. Noah and his family have settled down, and the earth is slowly getting populated by life again. 

At this time, God introduces us to a man called Nimrod. Scripture calls him as a mighty hunter. The only other hunter in Scripture is Esau. This man Nimrod is a rebel and he begins an earthly kingdom against the Lord. We call this as the incident of Babel. This is where the Scripture uses this word again  

Genesis 10:10. | And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.       

2. The Third Occurrence 

The first occurrence was the beginning of creation. The second occurrence was the beginning of human kingdom or human rebellion. The third occurrence is the beginning of God’s chosen children – Israel. Scripture calls out in Genesis 49:3 that Reuben was the beginning of the strength of Jacob. We can see that the Lord is extremely specific on when and how – He is using this word.  

Genesis 49:3. | Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might and the beginning of my strength.        

3. The Fourth Occurrence 

The word Beginning, or first, or chief comes multiple times between these chapters. But God does not use this word. He is extremely careful. The Lord choses His word as we read in Ecclesiastes. The next time the Lord uses this word is in Exodus 23. Israel has walked out of Egypt as a nation under the leadership of Moses. And they are in the Sinai desert. The Lord is giving them His written Word at this point of time. And when He does that, He also gives them a series of commands. One of the commands is that the children of Israel should give their firstfruits to the tabernacle when they enter the promised land. This was a feast proclaimed by God which is called as the feast of firstfruit. Which is the third feast in the Jewish calendar.  

We understand what is a firstfruit, they are the first agricultural produce of a season, and it could also mean the first yield of any endeavor we are taking. It is understandable when we read that. But there is a deeper meaning to it, for the Lord explains further in the New Testament. Look at 1 Corinthians 15:20-23.  

1 Corinthians 15:20-23. | But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.         

Scripture proclaims that Jesus Christ is our firstfruit. That is the whole reason of the feast. The third feast in the Jewis calendar is the exact day the good Lord rose from the grave. Scripture proclaims Jesus Christ is our firstfruit. In this context, He is our beginning.  He is our firstfruit. Let us park this aside and let us have a quick understanding on the language of the Scripture. We are tracking the Hebrew word “Reshit” or “Bareshit.”  

4. The Language of the Bible.  

The Old Testament was written over a period of 1,500 years. Except for a few chapters in Daniel, Ezra, and a verse in Jeremiah, the whole book was written in Hebrew. But around 200 years before the good Lord walked in this earth. The book was translated into Greek by Ptolemy II, one of the generals of Alexander the Great and the Pharoah of Egypt. That translation is called Septuagint. The word Septuagint means 70 in Greek, it is typically referred as version LXX which is 70 in Roman numerals. You can find this original translation even today. It is the same translation which was available when the good Lord walked this earth. Jesus Christ, and the apostles quoted from the Septuagint more than the Hebrew scriptures. When the Apostles wrote the New Testament Scriptures, the Old Testament scripture quotes are from Septuagint, thereby giving us a confirmation that it too was the inspired word of God. 

5. The Beginning in the New Testament. 

When Genesis 1:1 was translated into Greek, in Septuagint, the word Reshit was replaced by Arche in Genesis 1:1. And then the Scripture uses the same word as the first word of the New Testament in the gospel of John.Let us read John 1:1-3.  

John 1:1. | In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  

Even before we continue further, the Holy Spirit wants us to know that the entire creation and everything in them was created by our Lord Jesus Christ. He was in the beginning. He was the beginning. He is the Word of God. All things were created by Him, through Him, for Him. Hebrews 11 teaches us that everything was created through the Word of God, and the Word is our Lord Jesus Christ. With that understanding – let us also understand what is Faith, for at times we are taught that faith is a leap in the darkness. But that is not what Scripture teaches us. 

 Hebrews 11:3. | By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.  

Scripture proclaims that this is how we know that all things were created by God – through Faith. Faith in the Word of God. Faith is not a feeling. Faith is not emotion. Faith is believing in the written word of God. Without believing in Christ, in His word it is impossible to approach Him as Scripture teaches us in Hebrews 11:6. 

Hebrews 11:6. | But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  

If we do not believe in Genesis 1:1, Hebrews 11 teaches us that we cannot approach God. Because God gives us a definition of faith using Creation. That is why Genesis 1:1 becomes a test. Do you believe that God created as He said. If not, we cannot approach God. If I say it is enough to believe in Christ – that is not quite the understanding of faith, for Scripture says, you cannot believe in Christ if you do not believe in His word. What you are believing is a false Christ. If the Word does not validate, it is not the Christ of the Scripture. Do I have to believe in Genesis 1:1 to be a Christian? As per New Testament, the resounding answer is Yes.  To summarize. We are still in the first word. We will move ahead now. We now understand Faith. We understand that Jesus Christ was in the beginning. And everything was created through Him. Now let us go ahead and tie this all down. 

6. The First and the Last. 

Scripture started with the word beginning. And as we progressed we saw that the good Lord added more understanding to the word. That is what we referred in Ezekiel 47. It gets deeper and deeper, and it should point us back to the Lord Jesus Christ. When we came to 1 Corinthians we saw that Jesus Christ was our beginning, He was our firstfruit. Let us now go to the book of Revelation. Let us read Revelation 22:13. 

Revelation 22:13. | I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.   

The word beginning used in Revelation 22:13 is the same Greek word used in Genesis 1:1 and in John 1:1. But here the Scripture uses the word as not a point of reference in time, but as His title. Understand this – that Scripture was calling out the title of our Lord Jesus Christ as the first word of the Scripture. He was not only the beginning. He is also the Beginning of the Word given to us. The first word of the Scripture is a name or a title of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, go with me to the last verse of the Scripture. Revelation 22:21. 

Revelation 22:21. | The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.   

Scripture began with the Word beginning. It was the title, or name of our Lord Jesus Christ. And how does Scripture end? With Amen. Go back with me to Revelation 3:14. 

Revelation 3:14. | these things says the Amen the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God   

Scripture teaches us that Jesus Christ is the Amen. Amen again is a title of our Lord Jesus Christ. That word was not translated in Greek because it is His title. They kept the Hebrew Word.  When Jesus Christ says Truly Truly – it is the same Word called out. Amen. He is the Truth. He is the confirmation of the Truth. He is the Amen. The Word of God begins with His title and ends with His title. The Word of God begins with Christ and ends with Christ. He is the beginning and the End. 

Now you understand why Christ was surprised with the Pharisees could not see Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. If you cannot see Christ in the Scripture my dear brothers and sisters – you are missing the whole reason why Christ gave this word. If we miss the beginning we may miss the whole reason for the Scripture.  

7. The Next Word in Genesis 1:1 – God 

Though the Lord could have used any one of His many titles in the Scripture in Genesis 1:1 – He decided to use the word GOD. The Hebrew word is ELOHIM. The Word EL means power. At times we will hear people say that the Hebrew Scripture copied this word EL from the pagans for there were gods before Moses wrote down Genesis, and they had the title EL.  But understand that EL means power, the people in the world do not understand any power other than the one displayed by the One True God. So when they come up with the false gods, they take the name of God Almighty and apply it to the name of their idols.  

But coming back to ELOHIM. The word ending with IM typically denotes it is a plural word. So technical you can call this as GODs. And as believers we know what this means. This points to God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. But there is a little more to this so let us understand a bit on this title from the Scripture. A Jewish teacher listening to our Lord Jesus Christ asked Him, what is the greatest command of all. The Lord picked up Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as the greatest command. Let us read that. 

Deuteronomy 6:4-5. | Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.    

The name LORD is YHWH is singular. The name GOD is ELOHIM which is plural. Jesus Christ said The Lord (which is in Singular) our God (which is in Plural) is ONE that is the understanding of Trinity.   

ELOHIM also points to the power of God. The all-surpassing presence of God. It is a title which is very hard for us to understand. Let me explain this. Our Lord Jesus Christ is not only the One who created all things, but He is the One who is now holding all things today as well. Let us read Colossians 1:16-17. 

Colossians 1:16-17. | All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things and in Him all things consist.     

We all understand this; it is very easy as a believer to believe this. But let me ask you a question. Because, often times, we miss the power of God because we fail to understand the Word of God. God, our Lord Jesus Christ was truly Man when He walked on this earth. And He was also truly God at the same time. Let me ask you this question. When the good Lord was in the womb of Mary. Who was holding all creation. When the good Lord was sleeping on the boat, who was holding all creation? If we believe in the Scripture. As per Colossians 1 :16, it was the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us that He can never change. (Malachi 3:6). But how is that possible? That is why I said it is very hard for us to understand the power of God – or the title of Elohim. But as we journey through the book of Genesis and study the Word of God – He will give us an understanding of what this means.  

8. Created – Genesis 1:1 

The word Bara is used only by the Lord and always points to His creation. We typically assume God created all things from nothing. Not so – Hebrews 11, we read that. Proclaims that God created all things through His Word.  Nothing exists without Him creating. Including the devil and the powers of the darkness. We will learn more about bara and creation as we move ahead in our study, but for now we will move to the next word the Heavens and the Earth.   

9. Heavens & the Earth – Genesis 1:1 

The word Bara is used only by the Lord and always points to His creation. Scripture teaches us that the good Lord created the Heavens and the earth. The word Heavens is Hashamayim. When we see the IM we should know that this is plural. Scripture indicates that there are multiple heavens. Very important to remember that as we move forward. The word Earth is singular. Eres.  

God did not create multiple earth. God did not create multiple places were man can live.  God created a singular earth.  We will study more on earth when we go into day 3 of creation.  But for now, let us move into Genesis 1:2. The verse which has divided believers and opened the door for theistic evolution.  

10. And then there was darkness – Genesis 1:2 

Genesis 1:2. | The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  

As soon as the good Lord created the heavens and the earth, the Scripture proclaims that there was darkness and the earth was without form, the earth was void. There are famous Christians, scientists, apologists who believe in evolution. They do not believe that everything evolved. But rather they believe in a term which is not scientific or theological – the theistic evolution. It means that God created us – as Adam and Eve. But the rest, He allowed them to evolve over millions or billions of years. One of the pillars of scripture for them to hold on to is this verse. Genesis 1:2 – Why? Because in Isaiah Scripture says that God did not create the earth to be void, and without form. Let us read that. 

Isaiah 45:18. | For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens, who is God, who formed the earth and made it, who has established it, who did not create it in vain, who formed it to be inhabited: “ I am the Lord, and these is no other.      

God uses the same words He used for creation, and He states that He did not create it to go in vain nor without form. Which means, that God did create it perfectly. Genesis 1:31 after all His creation was completed the good Lord said – that all His creation was good. If it was good – how then could God say it was empty, without form, void in Genesis 1:2? So, to resolve this question. Christians came up with something called as a Gap Theory. 

1. Gap Theory 1  

There are a few variants of gap theory, we will take the two most prominent one’s and go through them. Gap Theory 1 supports millions or billions of years. God created the heavens and the earth. And this is the time the dinosaurs roamed the earth. Everything was at peace for millions of years. But when Satan sinned. He was pushed down to earth and with his fall the earth was destroyed. Everything became void, empty, vain. And it took millions of years and then the good Lord recreated the earth, and that was Adam and Eve. This will help prove the geological findings which states millions of years. This will help agree with the fossil records. And it also sticks to the creation account, since we were created and not evolved.  

2. Gap Theory 2  

There is another theory, which also points to the fall of Satan. The understanding is that God allowed all things to evolve within His perfect will. That is what we call as Theistic evolution. This is accepted by a lot of leading Christian evangelicals. Because again – this is in synch with science. Some of the leading Christian apologists today subscribe to this gap theory.  

3. Gap Theory 3 

This is an understanding what Catholic church ascribes to, that right from big bang – everything evolved as per science, and it was in the perfect will of God. So, these are some of the accepted understandings of why there are billions of years as per science still trying to wrestle with the understanding that God created. Let us step back and talk about the billions of years.  

4. Billions of Years 

Today, around 68% of evangelical Christians believe in the billions of years, and they also believe that it does not contradict scripture. Though they would not directly call out evolution. They will agree to billions of years. Why? Because Scripture says so? No – because the world convinces them so. Remember how we started the study – we looked at a litmus test of a verse in Proverbs 3:5 do not trust in anyone or anything but the word of God. Some very popular Christians believed in billions of years though they did not directly acknowledge evolution – like Billy Graham, C S Lewis. Because the proof they are given is overwhelming. But to believe that, they need to believe in science and not trust in the Scripture. Why do I say that? Because the millions or billions of years will lead you to evolution, which is opposite to what Genesis 1:1 teaches. Look at this verse in Psalm 115:16 

Psalm 115:16 | The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD’s; But the earth HE has given to the children of men.  

Scripture proclaims that God created the earth for us. If it is so, then why would He not create man for million or billions of years? Look at Genesis 2:5. – Scripture teaches us that God did not send rain on this earth, because there was no man. God did not have a reason to send rain. Even more so look at Exodus 20:11. 

Exodus 20:11 | For in SIX DAYS the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day.   

This is the ten commandments. The Lord not only taught us, He wrote it with His own finger that He made the earth in Six Days. He repeated that again in Exodus 31:17, and the Lord will proclaim that you should keep the Sabbath remembering that HE created in six days. Sabbath will become a reminder for us to trust in God to trust in His Word. But – how then will you explain the gap theory? What is the common point of the gap theory? The fall of Satan.  

5. The Fall of Satan. 

This is the ten commandments. Let us ask the question. Did the devil fall between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2? We assume he should have because we see him in Genesis 3. Look at Isaiah 14:12. 

Isaiah 14:12 | “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened nations!   

Scripture calls out the fall of satan. But is this yet to happen or already happened? Look at Ezekiel 28. 

Ezekiel 28:14-15 | “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of GOD; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.   

Ezekiel 28:16 | “by the abundance of your trading you became filled with violence within, and you sinned; therefore I cast you as a profane thing out of the mountain of GOD; and I destroyed you, o covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones 

For sure the devil is not in the same position he once was, for he is no more an anointed cherub. So, when did the devil fall down? Look at Luke 10:18.  

Luke 10:18 | And HE said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven 

Did Jesus Christ go back in time to see, or was God speaking about a future? Does Scripture actually tell us when the devil fell? It does. Let us turn to Revelation 12. 

Revelation 12:7 | And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, 

Revelation 12:8 | but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. 

Revelation 12:9 | So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and the Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. 

Revelation 12:10 | Then I heard a loud voice saying heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our GOD, and the power of HIS CHRIST have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our GOD day and night, has been cast down. 

Scripture teaches us that the devil loses all access to heaven only in Revelation 12. And when he loses access, Scripture teaches us that he knows that he only has a short amount of time for he will now move with great wrath against the people who live in the earth. Devil is definitely not the covering cherub anymore, but he is yet to fall on earth. That is yet to happen as per Revelation. As per Revelation 12, he still has access to heaven. Only in Revelation 12:10 he loses access. Let me add some understanding to this. Remember we read that the heavens are in plural. There were more than one heaven. Add on to this, let me ask you this question. What is the good Lord doing today? 

Hebrews 7:25 | Therefore HE is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to GOD through HIM, since HE always lives to make intercession for them. 

Scripture teaches us that the good Lord is interceding for us today. He is interceding for His children. Why is He interceding? And How is He doing it? And who is blaming us that our Savior needs to intercede? 

Scripture teaches us that as well. Look at Job 1. 

Job 1:6 | Now there was a day when the sons of GOD came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. 

Job 1:7 | And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” 

Job 1:8 | Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered MY servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears GOD and shuns evil. 

Job 1:9 | So Satan answered the LORD and said, “Does Job fear GOD for nothing? 

Job 1:10 | “Have YOU not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 

It is Satan who is accusing us in the throne room. The word Satan means accuser. This is how he accuses the children of God. He uses the word of God to accuse the children of God. Satan still has access, for he is still accusing us. Revelation 12 – calls the devil as the accuser of the brethren. That is what he is doing today.  It may be hard to understand but as we progress in the study, we will clearly understand who the devil is and what is his role in the whole plan of God. The devil did not completely lose access to heaven, but he did lose access to his role as the anointed cherub. If so – then what happened between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2? Why did the earth become dark and void.  

11. This is the God of the Bible. 

When we started the study, I asked the question. How do we understand Scripture. Scripture can be understood only when the Spirit of God would teach us. He is always willing, but the problem is – we never put our trust in Him. When we do pur our trust, we will understand Scripture – and through that we will understand the nature, character of God which will be revealed to us. 

The more we know Christ, the more we grow in Christ, and the more we are rooted in Christ. It is not enough that you quote scripture. You need to understand God, and only when you understand the full counsel of God can we understand the word of God which is the Power of God. 

Let me ask a question. With so many idols around the world. With so many false gods around the world.  How does God differentiate Himself? 

Miracles? No – even the devil can do miracles. Healed from cancer? No – even people from other religions are healed form cancer. Being a provider? No – everyone in the world is provided with food and shelter and it is God who provides.  That is why when you stand up and testify that God healed me from cancer, it is a great testimony for believers, but for an unbeliever – well so what? So do 100’s of people every day in this time get healed from cancer. So how does God then differentiate Himself? He Himself proclaims this in the Scripture. Turn with me to Isaiah 46.  

In Isaiah 45 God said He did not create the earth in vain. The word does not end there – it continues and look what God proclaims in Isaiah 46.= 

Isaiah 46:9 | Remember the former things of old, for I am GOD, and there is no other; I am GOD, and there is none like ME, 

Isaiah 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, “MY counsel shall stand, and I will do all MY pleasure,’ 

The good Lord proclaims that this is how you will know I AM GOD. I will tell you the end from the beginning. All through the Scripture the Lord will give a prophecy. He will progressively explain the prophecy. But when the prophecy comes to light – we understand that God proclaimed it first and then fulfilled it. Genesis 15 – God tells Abraham you will go into slavery, but I will rescue you and take you to the promised land. 1 Samuel 2 – God tells Eli that He will replace Him with the perfect priest which is Himself on the cross. These are just two examples. But prophecy is what the good Lord proclaims as His testimony. That is why God said if you go to a fortune teller it is death by stoning. For you are trying to go to someone else to something which the good Lord alone knows. In the beginning of the year, a lot of Christians will stand up and prophecy the future not knowing that it is punishable by death in the Scripture. They do not know the word nor the power of the word.  

In Genesis 1:1 God created. Genesis 1:2 God gave us the end of it all. What man will do to His perfect creation. How will man destroy the world – through Sin. Sin will destroy this world. So much that God will eventually recreate everything. 

Matthew 24 – Jesus Christ will explain that the world is chaotic. It is beyond repair. The only way to solve is the coming of the Lord – the restoration of all creation. That will be Genesis 1:3. And God will pick that up in John 8 when He will say I am that light which the God promised. The word without form or tohu is chaos, vanity, nothingness. The word void is empty. Let us read Jeremiah 4:22-23.  

Jeremiah 4:22 | For My people are foolish, they have not known Me, they are silly children, and they have no understanding. They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge. 

Jeremiah 4:23 | I beheld the earth, and indeed it was without form and void.  

Jeremiah 4:22 Scripture teaches us why did the earth became empty and void? Because of sin. Understand what sin and the cause of destruction is, it is because his children do not have the knowledge of God. It is because his children have walked away from the word of God. It is because his children have no understanding of who God is. They believed in every lie under the sun because their heart felt right and because they do not know the word of God nor the power of God. 

12. Closing Summary 

He is the Beginning, He is the End, Scripture points to the good Lord and Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 gives us the beginning and the end of the Scripture. The Lord has given us the prophecy on how the earth began and how it will end. There is only one way you can be saved out of this chaotic world – that is through the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Book we have in our hand – is His Word, He is the Word, He is the Beginning and the End. He died on the cross so that you may have His Spirit, so that through His Spirit you can understand the Word and be the testimony He wants you to be. 

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