Intro and Genesis
INTRODUCTION
It was in 1950 that a challenge was given to Rev. A. Donald Magaw to reopen the
Port Monmouth Mission Community Church, which had been closed for about 30
years. For more than 44 years, he was the pastor of the church until God called
him home in February 1994 after a long battle with cancer.
All of his life, he gave of himself and his meager finances to anyone in need.
In order to support the family, he had a small print shop. When he went home to
be with the Lord, he left his widow with a lot of memories, but not much else
(not even enough insurance to pay for his funeral). He never sought to make
money preaching or printing for the work of the Lord--in fact, he served as
pastor all those years without being paid a salary, and at his print shop he
printed for any Christian church for free.
Over the years, God blessed him and the church. The following notes are some
guides that may be useful in understanding the Word of God.
The majority of these notes were written by the late Rev. A. Donald Magaw and
have been compiled and edited by myself. These notes may be reproduced in part
or in whole for the Glory of God, provided credit is given and absolutely no
charge is made for their distribution and use. Please feel free to copy and
distribute these notes for the glory of God. For information on receiving
copies, contact the Pastor.
In His Service and Love,
Rev. Donald A. Magaw, Pastor
Port Monmouth Community Church
78 Main Street and Lydia Place
Port Monmouth, NJ 07758
732-922-9286
908-433-4382
Pastor’s home:
8 Vanada Drive
Neptune, NJ 07753
Email:
donald.magaw@verizon.net
A PANORAMA OF THE BIBLE
The Bible portrays Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world; God given, 2 Tim.
3:10-17; should be treasured, Deuteronomy 11:1-9; Josh. 1:8,9: should be kept,
Psalm 119:9-18; a lamp, Psalm 119:105-117; food, Isaiah 55:1-11; Matthew 4:4;
fulfilled, Luke 24:36-45; complete, Revelation 22:8-21.
Behind and beneath the Bible, above and beyond the Bible, is the God of the
Bible. The Bible is God’s written revelation of His will to men. Its central
theme is salvation through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament was written mostly in
Hebrew (a few short passages in Aramaic). About 100 years before the Christian
era the entire Old Testament was translated into Greek. The New Testament was
written in the Greek languages. The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblios.
The word testament means covenant or agreement. The Old Testament is the
covenant God made with man about his salvation before Christ came. The New
Testament is the agreement God made with man about his salvation after Christ
came to earth.
In the Old Testament we find the covenant of law. In the New Testament we find
the covenant of grace, which came through Jesus Christ. One led into the other
(Galatians 3:17-25). The Old commences what the New completes. The Old Testament
gathers around Sinai, the New Testament around Calvary. The Old is associated
with Moses, The New with Christ (John 1:17).
The New Testament was written to reveal to us the character and teachings of
Jesus Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant, by at least 8 men; 4 of whom,
Matthew, John, Peter and Paul, were apostles; 2, Mark and Luke, were companions
of the apostles; and 2, James and Jude, were brothers of Jesus. The books were
written at various times during the second half of the century.
The Old Testament begins with God (Genesis 1:1). The New Testament begins with
Christ (Matthew 1:1). From Adam to Abraham we have the history of the human
race. From Abraham to Christ we have the history of the chosen race. From Christ
on, we have the history of the church. The Old Testament is the foundation; the
New Testament is the superstructure. A foundation is of no value unless a
building is built upon it. A building is impossible unless there is a
foundation. So the Old and the New Testament are essential to one another.
The Bible is one book, one history, and one story, His-story. Behind 10,000
events stands God, the builder of history, the maker of the ages. Eternity
bounds the one side, eternity bounds the other side, and time is in
between--Genesis, origins, Revelation, endings, and all the way between is God
working things out. You can go down to the minutest detail everywhere and see
there is one great purpose moving through the ages, the eternal design of the
Almighty God to redeem a wrecked and ruined world.
The Bible is one book and you cannot take it in texts and expect to comprehend
the magnificence of divine revelation. You must see it in its completeness. God
has taken pains to give a progressive revelation and we should take pains to
read it from beginning to end. Don’t suppose reading little scraps can ever be
compensation for doing deep and consecutive work on the Bible itself. We must
get back to the Book and then we will not tolerate such work. No part of any
book of the Bible will give you the whole message of the book. Remember, the
chapter divisions, and verse notations are “man-made,” to be used for reference
only. Quite often, thoughts carry from one chapter to another.
The Word of God is alive and every part is necessary to perfection of the whole.
The Bible is a whole and cannot be tampered with. To add anything to it or take
anything away from it would mar its absolute perfection (Revelation 22:18,19).
The canon of Scripture is closed. Other works throw valuable light upon it, but
this stands unique, alone, and complete, and these parts all partake of the
perfection of the whole.
MORE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE BIBLE
The Biblical story is about God, man, sin, redemption, justification,
sanctification. In two words, grace and glory. In one word--Jesus. Christ quotes
from 22 Old Testament books: (Matthew 19; Mark 15; Luke 25; John 11; Hebrews, 85
(quotations and allusions); Revelation, 245.) Christ quoted the very passages
most avoided by Bible critics--the flood, Lot, manna, brazen serpent, Jonah.
Number of verses--31,102; number of words--775,693; Middle chapter Psalm 117;
Longest chapter, Psalm 119; Shortest chapter, Psalm 117. It is a curious fact
that Ezra 7:21 contains all the letters of the alphabet except j. Middle verse,
Psalm 103:12; Longest verse, Esther 8:9; Shortest verse, John 11:35; Longest
book in the Old Testament, Psalms; Longest book in the New Testament, Luke.
CHRIST, THE LIVING WORD
The Old Testament is an account of a nation. (The Hebrew nation) The New
Testament is an account of a Man. (The Son of Man). The nation was founded and
nurtured of God in order to bring the Man into the world. (Genesis 12:1-3).
God Himself became a man so that we might know what to think about when we think
of God. (John 1:14; 14:9). His appearance on the earth is the central event of
all history. The Old Testament sets the stage for it. The New Testament
describes it.
As a man Christ lived the most perfect life ever known. He was kind, tender,
gentle, patient, and sympathetic. He loved people. He worked marvelous miracles
to feed the hungry. Multitudes, weary, pain-ridden and heartsick, came to Him,
and He gave them rest (Matthew 11:28-30). It is said that if all the deeds of
human kindness that He did were written, the world would not contain the books.
(John 21:25).
He died, --to take away the sin of the world, and to become the Savior of men.
Then: He rose from the dead. He is alive today. He is not merely a historical
character, but a living Person,--the most important fact of history, and the
most vital force in the world today. And He promised eternal life to all who
come to Him.
The whole Bible is built around the story of Christ and His promise of
everlasting life to men. It was written only that we might believe and
understand, know and love and follow HIM.
THE OLD TESTAMENT
GENESIS
Introduction:
Genesis is a Greek word, which means beginning or birth. The book records the
beginning of all things. Verse one brings out the meaning of this name. The
following list of beginnings is recorded in the book:
1) The beginning of the universe.
2) The beginning of the human race.
3) The beginning of sin.
4) The beginning of redemption.
5) The beginning of nations.
6) The beginning of the Hebrew nation.
7) The beginning of the life of faith and consecration.
Someone has said that the book of Genesis is quoted more than sixty times in
seventeen books of the New Testament.
Genesis is in five divisions:
1. Chs. 1:1-2:25 Creation
2. Chs. 3:1-4:7 the fall and redemption
3. Chs. 4:8-7:24 the diverse seeds, Cain & Seth to the flood.
4. Chs. 8:1-11:9 the flood to Babble.
5. Chs. 11:10-50:26 from the call of Abram to the Death of Joseph
The events recorded in Genesis cover a period of 2,315 years (Usher).
The six days of creation fall into two groups as follows: --
1st day--light
2nd day--air, water
3rd day--land, plants
4th day--lights, heavenly bodies
5th day--birds, fish
6th day--animals, man
THE CREATION OF MAN
Ch. 1:26-2 7. Man was created, not evolved. This was confirmed by the Lord
Jesus, Matthew 19:4.
The image and likeness of God in man can be described in two ways:
A. In his tri-unity of spirit, soul, body.
B. In his moral nature.
Through the fall the image has been marred so that man lost his knowledge of God
by the state of Death which came to his spirit, (Ephesians 2:1) and his moral
nature became sinful, thus making him sinful in his actions. Through the new
birth Ephesians 4:24 he is spoken of as created in true holiness. Jesus, also in
John 17:3, teaches that eternal life gives man an imparted knowledge of God.
THE FALL AND REDEMPTION
The fall of man can be blamed on nothing else than deliberate disobedience. Adam
lived in a perfect environment and was given one simple command by God, Ch.
2:15-17. Eve, who was formed later, v.18, was deceived by Satan, partook of the
forbidden fruit, and gave to her husband who was with her: and he did eat.
(Genesis 3:1-6).
The threefold temptation of man is met by all:
Ch. 3:6. Good for food; pleasant to the eyes; To be desired to make one wise.
Matthew 4:3-10 command that these stones be made bread; Cast thyself down; The
kingdoms of this world and the glory of them
I John 2:16 lust of the flesh; Lust of the eyes; Pride of life
Adam failed through despising God’s word. Christ said, “it is written” and
defeated the tempter. Man’s success or failure now is dependent upon whether he
follows the example of the first Adam or the LAST ADAM. The God whose word he
despised immediately undertook the redemption of man. Temptation comes that we
might be proven in our faithfulness or otherwise, but like a wise parent, God
knowing our weakness stands by to raise us from our fall. Sin demands
punishment, and the three guilty parties were judged, but” the seed of the woman
shall bruise thy head” is what God said to the serpent. From Isaiah 7:14 and
Matthew 1:23 we see clearly that Christ was promised as the redeemer.
Genesis 3:21, 24, teaches us that by the shedding of blood sinful man was shown
the way of approach to God, and his nakedness was covered with coats of skins, a
type of the righteousness, which is offered to the one who presents the blood of
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. To check sin, and deliver man from developing
into an undying monstrosity, God put him out of the garden, were he now
approaches God in His manifestation in the Cherubim’s and the flaming sword.
CAIN AND SETH, TO THE FLOOD
With the birth of Cain and Abel and their attitude to God we have the religious
cleavage of the human family. Two types of religion were introduced which exist
in the world to this day, namely, sacrificial, or salvation through Divine
sacrifice; and cultural, or salvation through man’s own efforts.
Adam had evidently taught his sons of the blood offering or Cain would not have
been to blame for his rejection of the truth. Abel offered the blood and was
accepted; Cain brought the fruit of his own works and was rejected. In Ch. 4:7,
God showed him his error, but rather than repent and obey, he slew his brother
Abel, and then he left God with the remark, my sin is greater then that it may
be forgiven.
After the death of Abel, another son was born to Eve and she named him Seth. His
seed began to call themselves by the name of the Lord, and thus we have a Godly
line established once more in the earth. In Ch. 6:2-3, we find worldliness
creeping in and the godly and ungodly intermarrying. Such a condition always
chokes the seed of the word and sooner or later demands Divine action. With just
one family remaining who honored God, the flood judgment is foretold.
FROM THE FLOOD TO BABEL.
We are told in Hebrews 11:7 that Noah believed the warning God gave him and by
faith prepared an ark to the saving of his house. As he built, he preached, and
as he preached so he built, so that by giving his testimony and acting his
faith, on the one hand he obtained salvation, and on the other hand he condemned
the world. True to prediction the flood came. It rained for forty days and forty
nights, and the water remained on the earth for 150 days.
God withholds judgment until conditions simply demand it. We are told that the
earth was filled with violence, Ch.6: 11. Whenever we see such a state of things
in evidence in the last days we may look for another worldwide judgment, that
is, the Great Tribulation, and the coming of the Lord.
After the flood, Noah and his family came forth out of the ark, and the race
began again by worshiping God at an altar of burnt offering, Ch.8:20-21. God
entered into a new covenant with Noah and gave the rainbow in the sky as a token
never to again destroy the whole earth with a flood. The distant descendants of
Noah in pride sought to make a name for them by building a city and a tower in
the midst whose top would reach unto heaven. God saw their pride and caused the
confusion of tongues by which man was scattered upon the face of the earth, and
thereby weakened and hindered from fulfilling his foolish boast, Ch.11:1-9.
Noah’s three sons were through their descendants divided into earth’s peoples in
the following manner:
Japheth--European and Indian {Indo-Germanic or Aryan race}
Shem-- Israelites, Arabs, Assyrians, Syrians, etc. {Semitic people}
Ham--African peoples and Canaanites.
The threefold prophecy of Noah given in Ch. 9:25-27 has been fulfilled quite
literally down to the present time of world history. The curse upon Ham was
human servitude. The Canaanite became subject to Israel, and the African of
today is more or less in servitude.
Through Shem we have the seed of Israel from whom after the flesh Christ came,
therefore Noah said, “Blessed be the Lord God of Shem.” All Bible revelation has
come through this line also.
Japheth was to be enlarged. The ruling nations of the world are Japhetic, and
they govern the most territory.
THE CALL OF ABRAHAM TO THE DEATH OF JOSEPHESIANS
THE STORY OF ABRAHAM.
The first eleven chapters of Genesis form an introduction to the history of
the Hebrews, and cover a period of about 2000 years. They give us the history of
the human race and explain why a plan of redemption was made necessary. The
remaining chapters tell us how God began to work out His plan through
individuals who became the ancestors of the chosen people.
Abraham was a Chaldean shepherd who lived outside the city of Ur. In responding
to the call of God he began to develop a life of faith. Throughout a period of
fifty years, he was tested and by obedience obtained some wonderful and
far-reaching promises.
At 75 years of age Abraham began following the Lord, Ch. 12:1-4. During a period
of famine in the land of Canaan he became fearful and moved down to Egypt where
he asked Sarah his wife to protect them both by posing as his sister. Trouble
resulted and God finally got Abraham turned back to the Promised Land.
At the age of 85 God promised him a son and entered into a covenant with him
according to the customs of those times, Ch.15. To Abraham was also revealed the
coming bondage of Egypt. Sarah, Abraham’s wife, felt that time was rapidly
passing and the promised son was so slow in coming and that something had better
be done. She accordingly persuaded Abraham to take Hagar for a wife. This union
resulted in the birth of Ishmael when Abraham was 86 years old, Ch.16:16.
In spite of all human plans God had not forgotten His promise. When Abraham was
99 years of age the Lord appeared to him again and set a definite time when the
child of promise should be born, Ch. 17:1-7; 18:10-14. And in Ch.21:1-5, we read
of the birth of Isaac when Abraham was 100 years old.
At the age of 125 years, God called upon Abraham to offer his only son Isaac as
a burnt offering upon a mountain in the land of Moriah, Ch.22:1-2. He obeyed
without a murmur, thus proving his faith in God, see Hebrews 11:17-19. The test
was twofold. First, as to whether he would give God the first place in his
affections, and second as to whether he could believe the Word of God in spite
of changing circumstances.
The threefold blessing God gave to Abraham is worthy of note. It is as follows:
Temporal--a land, Ch. 15:7
Physical--a son, Ch. 17:19
Spiritual--a city which is to come, Hebrews 11:10.
In Romans 4:16-17 Abraham is called the father of us all who believe and in Gal.
3:13-14 we are taught that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, and
that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ.
From this it is quite evident that the same threefold blessing in things
temporal, physical and spiritual can now be claimed by those who believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
THE STORY OF ISAAC.
Isaac, which means “he will laugh” was so named from the fact that his parents
laughed at the thought of having a son at their age. The life of Isaac was quite
uneventful. At the time of his being offered up his father he must have been
sorely tested, but no doubt he learned a lesson of faith even as did his father
Abraham.
The story of Eliezer seeking for a wife for Isaac who was of their own kindred
is very interesting, and brings to us a double lesson. First, that as people of
promise we must not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, and second,
that it is a beautiful type of how God has sent forth the Holy Spirit to prepare
a bride for His son.
For many years Isaac and Rebekah were childless, but in course of time Esau and
Jacob were born, and thus Isaac became a channel through which the Promise made
to Abraham passed on its way to fulfillment.
THE STORY OF JACOB.
The life story of Jacob is contained in Chapters 25 to 50 of the book of
Genesis. It may be divided up as follows:
a. The prophecy made before His birth.
b. Obtaining the Birthright from Esau and the blessing from Isaac.
c. His exile from home
d. His return to Canaan and the changing of his name
e. His removal into Egypt.
The prophecy made before the birth of Jacob has a very great significance in the
Word of God. The elder shall serve the younger, Ch. 25:23, literally it came to
pass. Spiritually, it is a type of the old and new creation. In Adam all die,
but in Christ all shall be made alive. We are by nature the children of Adam and
therefore the firstborn after the flesh, but when we are born again which is
later and therefore would make us younger, the flesh becomes subservient to the
Spirit, and thus the elder serves the younger.
God never intended obtaining the birthright by private scheming, Ch. 25:29-34,
but while bringing to pass His promise to Abraham, God allowed Jacob to take his
own course, and eventually led him in through faith just as He did Abraham. God
never excuses duplicity or any other sin, but He is able in His great wisdom to
wait until we get into a hard place and come to an end of ourselves. Then He
steps in and shows us the right way.
Esau is spoken of in Hebrews 12:16-17 as one who despised his birthright. If he
had been alert to the advantages of his birth Jacob would have had less chance
of success, but like many of our own day, Esau was too indifferent and fell very
easily into the temptation.
As the years rolled on and Isaac began to age, Rebekah evidently feared that
God’s promise to her ran a risk of not being fulfilled, Ch. 27:8. She therefore
arranged with Jacob to deceive his father and by pretending he was Esau obtain
the patriarchal blessing. Jacob was evidently glad to comply, and they both
succeeded. The Bible says, “be sure you sin will find you out” and “whatsoever a
man soweth that shall he also reap.” Both Rebekah and Jacob paid dearly for
their act. The mother was deprived of her favorite son, and Jacob became an
exile from home for some twenty years.
Jacob took as part of the bargain in the purchase of it included the following:
1) Abraham’s spiritual blessing.
2) Lordship over the rest of the family.
3) The inheritance of Canaan
4) A double portion of the family possessions
5) The right of the family priesthood
When Jacob left home to go to his uncle, Laban, Ch. 28:1-5, he slept the first
night at a place, which he afterwards called Bethel. In a dream he saw a ladder
reaching from earth to heaven, vs.10-15. Upon awaking Jacob perceived that God
was with him and he made a promise to serve Him. Some think that Jacob showed
his scheming nature when he promised to tithe to God if He would bless him,
vs.20-22, but it would seem more fitting to say that since his God has come with
him he could offer no less that he had been taught, and the Lord would bless
accordingly.
After many years God moved Jacob’s heart to return to his homeland, Ch.31: 8.
Upon arrival he got in touch with his brother, Esau and learned that he was
coming to meet him with a band of 400 men. This greatly disturbed Jacob, Ch.
32:6-8. He began to pray that there would be no harm to come to his family. A
bountiful present was prepared for Esau. Jacob’s wives and children were sent
from him and he was left alone. That night the Angel of the lord wrestled with
Jacob and finally the supplanter was conquered. God changed his name to Israel,
vs.27-28, and from that time forward Jacob’s self-assertiveness is very much in
the background.
At the age of 130, Jacob moved with his entire family into the land of Egypt,
Ch.27: 9, and was nourished and cared for by his beloved son Joseph. After
seventeen years of life in Egypt, v.28, Jacob called his sons around him and
gave forth a remarkable prophecy of what would befall them in the last days,
Ch.48: 1. To Judah he foretold of the coming of Shiloh or Christ, and at the
close he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost. V.33.
THE STORY OF JOSEPHESIANS
More is told about Joseph than any other patriarch. His history has a four-fold
value:
1). The Historical Value. It answers the question, why did the Hebrews settle in
Egypt?
2). The Providential Value. It reveals God over-ruling the evil, and causing
truth and righteousness to triumph.
3). Its Spiritual Value. It gives us the story of a victorious life.
4). It’s Typical Value. Joseph in his sufferings and exaltation is a type of
Christ.
When God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and to his children after him He
said that his seed would be a stranger in a strange land and would suffer
affliction. We have seen how Jacob moved down into Egypt. This was preceded by
the sad, yet wonderful, incidents in the life of Joseph. He was the elder of two
sons born to Jacob by his favorite wife Rachel.
Because of two dreams Joseph dreamed his brethren hated him. In one dream Joseph
saw his brother’s sheaves bow down to his sheaf, and in the other he saw the
sun, and moon, and eleven stars make obedience to him, Ch.37: 5-9. The brothers
resented the thought that there might be a day when Joseph would rule over them.
One day they seized upon Joseph and sold him into slavery, v.28. The boy was
taken down to Egypt and later found himself in the house of Potiphar, a captain
of Pharaoh’s guard, Ch.39: 1. Because of his excellent character Joseph was soon
advanced until he became the head servant. When tempted, he resisted the
advances of Potiphar’s wife. She gave an evil report of him and he was put into
prison, v.20. There again for his faithfulness Joseph found favor and the keeper
of the prison, vs.21-23, gave him considerable liberty. Through interpreting two
dreams Joseph’s name was finally mentioned to Pharaoh who was disturbed in mind
due to two dreams he had dreamed. Joseph was able to interpret them and foretold
seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. Pharaoh exalted him to the
position of Prime Minister and he became the savior of all Egypt, Ch.41: 37-45.
Owing to the great famine the land of Canaan also suffered. Jacob heard that
there was corn in Egypt and sent ten of his sons to purchase some. Joseph
recognized them but did not disclose his identity. He saw the time had come when
his own dreams would be fulfilled, but tested the sincerity of his brethren
first. At the second journey they made into Egypt, Joseph made himself known to
them and finally sent for his father Jacob and all his large family to move into
Egypt. There he sustained them until the day of his death