The book of Genesis was written during a time when people believed in many gods with each god having his own sphere of influence with each being worshiped accordingly. For example, futility gods tended to be worshiped during times of sowing and harvesting. War gods were worshiped before great battles. In a small world with as many gods, Israel had to learn a unique lesson. Was there God like those of the other nations? Did He have a limited sphere of influence? Should He be worshiped only at specific times of the year? Or, was He somehow different from the gods of the many other nations whose gods did not think in terms of morality and created imperfect creatures. There gods could fight, sleep, or trick one another. The ancient gods could be manipulated. This is what magic was all about. Israel had to learn the difference between magic and religion. Magic was an attempt to produce a response in a god to benefit a person’s own purpose. On the other hand, faith was and is submissive. This was problematic because human beings have a problem with submission. Faith trusts God to know what is best. It expresses needs and desires but recognizes that the Lord is sovereign and how He responds. The ancient gods were conceived as having some sort of material form or representation or expression. This was the basis of idolatry that was so prevalent in the ancient world. The Jewish people and early Christians were sometimes considered to be atheistic because they did not have a visible god. It was difficult for God’s people to understand that God is a spiritual being and He must be worshiped as such. The ancient people saw their gods as taking part in history. War gods gave victory in battle. Other gods brought safety and security, harvest, and childbirth; but none of Israel’s neighbors saw the long span of history as the arena in which God worked. For Israel, divine faithfulness could not be tested by any battles or political events. God’s faithfulness rested in the long sweep of His promises and the fulfillment through the long course of history. The gods of Israel’s neighbors were unpredictable. Nobody knew what to expect. These gods were capricious. These gods acted whimsically and maliciously. These gods showed no care or unselfish concern. These gods inspired no true devotion of personal relationship. These gods did not offer to bring about any significant change in peoples’ lives. These gods were often nature deities who were worshiped as part of fertility rites. Such gods were closely related to the cycle of seasons and worshiped via sacrifice or ritual sexual activity. Sometimes, even children were sacrificed. These fertility gods tempted the Hebrew people from the time they entered Palestine to the NT period. An example of such temptation is Corinth. Paul wrote a particularly pointed letter to the Corinthians. Israel’s neighbors saw few reasons for morality. Immoral gods led to immoral worship and immoral business and immoral social practices. As a result, relationships were affected by morality and human life was held in very low regard. Violence and militarism were open ways of life. Peoples’ righteous faith offered little-to-no encouragement to them who were an unloving, selfish, and intolerant people. Women and children, the handicapped and the poor were also held in very low regard. If ancient people had any concept of sin, it grew.
However, the God of Genesis could not be more different from the gods of the pagans. He expected His people to be different because He was different. He gave them examples of the faith whose lives were morally different from their families and their neighbors. Knowing Him affected every outlook and aspect of life. He transformed attitudes of peoples’ relationships. It was written to show how different the One true God who created the whole world is as the ruler of all people and nations. The book of genesis shows how God’s people received their identity. It showed that the one true God is Creator for He has maintained His care for the entire world. Man’s troubles result from rebellion and sin and not God’s imperfection, immorality, or lack of concern. God created us and His world is good. Sin is immoral and person centered. We were formed in God’s image and given responsibility to care for His universe.
Our sin receives God’s punishment. He neither ignores those He created or tolerates their sin. Our sin hurts us, other people, and Himself because it affects relationships. God constantly seeks to restore relationships with us and cares enough for us to teach us the danger of sin by punishing us for our sin. Thus, our hope lies in God’s redemption. The Lord stated in the very beginning to redeem us from sin. He began to deal with those who would not respond to Him by eventually selecting one person and His family to be His channels for redemption of all people. Carefully, patiently, He worked with Abraham, His family and many descendants to make redemption possible to everyone. Such redemption rests on God’s grace and love and not human efforts or rites. Our identify centers in mission. From the beginning, God has worked to bless all people. God’s people are blessed so they can be a blessing to all nations. God chose His missionary people to achieve His purpose. Only God makes and keeps promises for His people. He is not arbitrary, capricious, malicious, cruel, or uncaring. He works redemptively in our history to restore sinful needy people to Himself. Our identify centers in the extended family. God works out His promises and purposes despite our family quarrels. God reveals Himself through gracious acts and consistent and repeated mercies and utmost faithfulness. He not only rewards those who respond to Him, He blesses far in excess of what we deserve. In the OT story of God dealing with us is one of grace.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).