January 7, 2015

Genesis 1-11; Job 1-16

Teacher – Joe Deweese

Introduction

I.Genesis 1-11: from Creation to Abram (~2000 years of history, Gen. 5 and 11)

II.Job 1-16: Job’s character, his losses, and initial exchanges with his friends

A.Job maintains his integrity (6, 7, 13) while not necessarily blaming God (9, 10, 12, 14).

B.Job’s friends claim that he needs to repent (8), deserves worse (11), and doesn’t fear God (15)

DISCUSSION

I.Quick review of the early chapters of Genesis

A.Genesis 1:1-2:3 - beginning of time, beginning of earth, beginning of life on earth

B.Genesis 2:4-25 – more detail regarding creation of man and woman

C.Genesis 3 – fall of man and consequences of sin

D.Genesis 6-9 – global flood and salvation of Noah’s family and the animals in the Ark

II.Increasing skepticism regarding early chapters of Genesis

A.Many questions are asked about these chapters:

1.Are they literal descriptions of history or are they metaphors?

2.Are they adaptation from other ancient writers? (e.g., Enuma Elish)

B.Challenging concepts of the Genesis creation account:

1.Heavens and earth created before light; Sun not created until day 4; what is a “day”?

2.Plants created before the Sun/Moon/stars; air creatures created before land creatures

III.Scripture and Science support the Creation account as historical rather than metaphorical

A.Examples of references to Creation:

1.Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 8

2.Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6; Luke 3:38; John 1:1-4; Acts 17:24-25; Romans 1:20; Colossians 1:15-20; Hebrews 11:3

B.Scientific evidence – modern findings that support Creation rather than evolution

1.Vast complexity of living organisms at the molecular and biochemical level (far more complicated than ever conceived!)—interdependence of molecular systems

2.Genetic (DNA) evidence does not support “common descent” – the evidence does not show gradual changes from one form to another

B.Theistic evolution is an attempt at a compromise but fails to hold up scientifically and scripturally

1.True evolution requires a random process (did God guide it? Set it and forget it?)

2.No form of theistic evolution fits with scripture (what do we have to “cut out”?)

ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT WEEK

I.Read each day’s assigned material.

II.Steve Baggett will be teaching. Focus particularly on Job 38-40.

A.How did God respond to Job?

B.How did Job react?

January 1-7: Chapter Summaries

January 1

Genesis 1Creation of the earth, sun, moon stars; creation of plants, animals, and mankind

Genesis 2Description of the seventh day, followed by a non-chronological description of the creation; description of the naming of the land animals by Adam and creation of woman from man

Genesis 3Temptation and fall of man; consequences of the fall declared by God; expulsion from the Garden of Eden

January 2

Genesis 4Cain and Abel; Cain’s descendants

Genesis 5Descendants of Adam and Eve (Seth to Noah)

Genesis 6Wickedness of man and God's judgment; Noah chosen to be saved and instructed on making the ark

Genesis 7Noah, family, and animals enter the ark; flood begins

January 3

Genesis 8Flood subsides; God makes a covenant regarding destruction of the world

Genesis 9God's directives to man; freedom to eat animals; sign of the rainbow; vineyard incident (curse placed on Ham)

Genesis 10Generations of Noah and his sons

Genesis 11Tower of Babel, languages confused, generations of Shem leading to Abram

January 4

Job 1Introduction to Job and challenge from Satan and Job's loss of children and wealth

Job 2Job’s loss of health after a second challenge from Satan; Job’s friends arrive to grieve

Job 3Job’s lamentation over his birth

Job 4Eliphaz: the innocent prosper

Job 5Eliphaz: turn and seek God

January 5

Job 6Job’s plea for vindication

Job 7Job’s despair over his hopeless estate

Job 8Bildad calls for Job’s repentance

Job 9Job acknowledges God’s sovereignty

January 6

Job 10Job pleas to God

Job 11Zophar argues that Job deserves worse punishment

Job 12Job acknowledges God’s hand in his sufferings

Job 13Job maintains his innocence and maintains his hope in God

January 7

Job 14Job’s discussion of the fate of man

Job 15Eliphaz argues that Job doesn’t fear God

Job 16Job complains that his friends are “miserable comforters”