Unbelief, the First Sin

Continuing with the discussion of the fall, Calvin writes:
It is now asked, What was the sin of both of them? The opinion of some of the ancients, that they were allured by intemperance of appetite, is puerile. For when there was such an abundance of the choicest fruits what daintiness could there be about one [...]

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What Was Adam Supposed to Do?

Genesis 2:15
The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.

Adam is told to “work” and “keep” the garden. Some translations will say something like “till” or “cultivate” the garden. The Hebrew terms are ABD (avodth) and SMR (shamar), literally meaning serve and [...]

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Genesis Series Complete

Yesterday morning marked the completion of the Sunday School class that I have been teaching.  We worked through the book of Genesis, and I have posted some of those reflections at various times.  I am sure that there is much more that did not get posted, as I tried to hit on as many issues [...]

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Joseph and Genesis Themes

As the final narrative in Genesis, Joseph’s life serves as the climax of the entire book. Where Adam failed to obtain wisdom, Joseph has succeeded in using it appropriately. Adam forfeiting kingship and brought his line in to slavery. Joseph emerges from slavery to possess kingship. Here are a few of [...]

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Joseph as Christ Figure

Joseph shows us Jesus in a number of ways. His going down into the pit and then being raised unto glory prefigures Christ’s resurrection. His converting the gentile empire is analogous to the growth of the Church.
His relationship with Pharaoh in Gen. 41:39-46 is also analogous to the Son’s relationship to the Father.
Joseph [...]

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Potiphar is the Head of the Prison

Genesis 39:1 tells us that Potiphar was the captain of the guard.  Genesis 40:2-3 tells us that the king’s cup-bearer and baker were thrown into the prison where Joseph was imprisoned, which was in the house of the captain of the guard.
As head of the house, Potiphar was head of the prison too.  His status [...]

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Joseph and Judah

Bruce Waltke’s commentary on Genesis is especially strong when it comes to the Joseph narratives. He points out that the entire story is built on a series of pairs. All of the dreams come in twos. Jacob’s favorite sons come in twos. Joseph goes down into two pits. He is [...]

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Master of Dreams

In Genesis 37:19 Joseph’s brothers call him a “master of dreams.” Now for the life of me I cannot figure out why Bible translators do not render it this way. They all opt for “dreamer.” Even Young’s “Literal” translation puts it “a man of dreams.”
But the Hebrew says ba’al chalom.
Baal, you know [...]

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Dinah and Gilgal

There is much about Genesis 34 that lends itself to the holy-warfare theme of deception.  A deal is made, where all of the men of Hamor and Shechem agree to be circumcised.  They even “commune” with Israel.  But then, while still incapacitated, Simeon and Levi kill all of the men.  They take spoils and rescue [...]

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Esau a New Ishmael

The genealogies of Esau (Gen. 36) show that his line produces many kings. This reminds us of the descendants of Ishmael in chapter 25, and perhaps also of the sons of Ham and the sons of Cain. The “other son” has the immediate success, while the promised line lives as a remnant.
Esau’s family [...]

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