Genesis

Genesis is the book of beginnings which traces the history of mankind since creation from the antediluvian period to the re-distribution of human settlements on the post-flood earth. The book is divided into two parts—the initial one-fifth is devoted to four major events in human history, while the rest of the book focuses on four main figures in the Hebrew lineage.

Of all the Old Testament books, Genesis is considered the most important since it has a pivotal role in shaping the theology of the Christian faith. From the literal six-day creation to the fall of man, from the worldwide flood to the formation of nations, and from the call of Abraham to the death of Joseph, we see God's salvific plan unfolding as He lay the groundwork to make good His promise of the Messiah solution:

3:15 And I will put enmity between thee (the serpent) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it (Messiah) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Taken literally in its historical context, Genesis leaves no room for assumptions on the origin of life such as that purported by atheistic evolution, nor fabrication of facts to support human progression and enlightenment. The inevitable conclusion that can be drawn from reading the Genesis account is this: man is created by God in His image but through rebellion is alienated from his Creator and in desperate need of redemption.

Mankind since Adam has been plagued by the problem of sin that invariably leads to despair and death. Thankfully, God has provided the answer in the second Adam personified through His beloved Son, offering a new and unending beginning to anyone who is willing to exchange his or her old nature for a glorious and incorruptible one.

OUTLINE OF GENESIS

1. Primeval Period: Four Major Events (1:1-11:9)

The Beginning of the Human Race

a. Creation: The Divine Act (1:1-2:25)

The Beginning of All Things

The Beginning of Man

b. Corruption: The Fall of Man (3:1-5:32)

The Beginning of Sin

The Beginning of Sorrows

c. Condemnation: The Deluge (6:1-9:29)

The Beginning of Worldwide Devastation

The Beginning of a Cleansed Earth

d. Confusion: The Great Rebellion (10:1-11:9)

The Beginning of the Noahic Families

The Beginning of Nations

2. Patriarchal Period: Four Life Stories (11:10-50:26)

The Beginning of the Hebrew Race

a. Abraham: A Father of Nations (11:10-25:18)

Calling and Obedience | Faith and Fears

Promise and Patience | Rescue and Reward

Covenant of Circumcision | Testing of Faith

Sodom and Gomorrah | Intercession and Destruction

Birth and Offering | Marriage and Deaths

b. Isaac: The Son of Promise (25:19-26:35)

Family | Failures | Faith

c. Jacob: A Prince with God (27:1-36:43)

Deception and Flight | Life and Labour

Struggle and Salvation | Return and Residence

Defilement | Devotion | Deaths

Esau and Edom

d. Joseph: The Dreamer (37:1-50:26)

Dreams and Betrayal | Trials and Temptations

Glory and Exaltation | Reunion and Reconciliation

Last Words and Death

The Law

The Law is foundational to the Old Testament and the vital key to understanding God's dealings with His chosen people within the framework of their national identity, way of life and form of worship.

Modern Christians interpret the Law to mean a set of rules or regulations, when in fact the ancient Israelites understood it to be God's revelation of Himself and how they could know and approach Him rightly. No wonder the prophet Jeremiah could see beyond his own people's failure and proclaim:

Jeremiah 31:33

After those days, says the LORD, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Bible scholars generally agree that Moses wrote the first five books that is called the Law or Torah. The account of Genesis predates his birth beyond the time of the Patriarchs and into the beginning of creation itself, leading many to believe that its Source must of necessity be divine revelation, possibly given to Moses during his forty days of solitude with God on the summit of mount Sinai.

We should never dismiss the Law as irrelevant just because we are justified by faith and living under grace. Paul says that the Law is holy, just and good (Romans 7:12) if we understand its purpose and apply it correctly (1 Timothy 1:8). Indeed, the Law is the manifestation of God's nature and character, and while it cannot save but reveal our true sinful condition, it is the inseparable companion of grace and finds fulfillment in the person of Christ, of which John wrote:

John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

 

Tanakh - Hebrew Old Testament

 

Foreword

There is no shortage of books that help Christians read through the Bible in one year. Some examples are The One Year Bible available in various English translations, and Cover to Cover—Through the Bible Chronologically. However, most of these merely reprint the text of the Bible. There are no expository or devotional comments to help the reader understand the Bible text or questions for reflection.

One notable exception which includes more than just the text to be read is God’s Destiny for You (devotions for one year) by John SH Tay (Singapore: Armor Publishing, 2008), a book that I compiled—selected and edited from the weekly bulletin John wrote when he was dean of St Andrew's Cathedral, from May 1996 to April 2004. While this devotional contains many deep spiritual insights, they are based only on one verse of Scripture at a time and not a larger context.

Ng Keng Tiong, a Singaporean writer in his fifties, has 'added value' to the devotional resources available to help you read through the Bible in one year. His passion for the Word as well as meticulous way of reading the Bible, together with his knowledge of the Hebrew language, resulted in this volume which takes you through two-thirds of the Old Testament in 157 days. I recommend it for several reasons:

First, it is a good model of how to read through large chunks of the Bible systematically, and not just a verse here or a verse there. This is essential to get the proper context of the Bible. Many wrong interpretation and applications have been made because verses were often taken out of context.

Second, the author's decision to follow the structure of the Tanakh—the Hebrew equivalent of the Old Testament, not only neatly divides the Old Testament into two manageable halves, but more importantly, establishes the priority of The Law and the Prophets over The Writings, an order that Jesus Himself referred to in Luke 24:44—

Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses (TORAH), the Prophets (NEVI'IM), and the Psalms (KETUVIM).

Third, each day's reading is accompanied by a page of journal notes. These are a concise summary of the salient points of the reading for the day—easy to read and yet thorough enough to further refresh and retain what you have read.

Fourth, there is a 'ponder and reflect' section each day about how to apply a Biblical truth learned from the reading. These key questions or keen observations may be reflected upon and prayed through not only by individuals but also in groups.

Fifth, there is an occasional bonus section on Interesting Facts. These are not Bible trivial but engaging facts that can help the reader understand and appreciate the Bible better.

Finally, I am delighted that the author has put to good use the insights he gained through his study of the Hebrew language from my classes.

May this book be a blessing to you as you seek a closer walk with God through reading His written Word daily. May it help you to receive, live, share and teach others the truths that He longs to reveal to you.

Dr Mary Tay Wan Joo

Head of Biblical Languages

Bethany International University

August 29, 2019

 

OT: The Law and the Prophets

 

To

THE MOST HIGH

Who first appeared to Moses as

The Great I AM

and proclaimed by the Prophets as

The LORD of Hosts.

To

His CHOSEN PEOPLE

Called out of all nations of the earth

to show forth His light

and to declare His marvelous works

to every tongue and tribe.

Preface to Volume 2

Many Christians shy away from the Old Testament for several reasons:

a.   Misconception that it is no longer relevant because it has been replaced by the New Testament,

b.  Apart from some interesting stories, the rest are either dry or boring to read, and

c.  It's all about Israel and the Jews living under the Mosaic law and not applicable to Christians living under grace.

Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact, much of the New Testament writings either quote from or make reference to the Old Testament, and many of its doctrines and teachings are similar or extensions of the former.

Reading the Old Testament need not be an exercise in futility; on the contrary, it can be a delightful, exhilarating experience. If you have completed the New Testament reading, the fresh insights gained will lend new light and meaning when you read the stories and narratives of the Old Testament. As the two are gradually woven together, you will discover two spiritual axioms: 'The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed'; and, 'The New is in the Old contained, the Old is in the New explained'. Both testaments therefore attest to One authorship and each is incomplete without the other.

Most English Bibles have the Old Testament organized into a collection of 39 books comprising the Law, historical records, wisdom books, and the prophetical writings. To consolidate all of these into one volume would make it almost two-and-a-half times the size of the New Testament volume and would take over three times as long to complete. This could invariably add to the burden of writing as well as reading.

After careful consideration, the structure and divisions of the Hebrew Old Testament are adopted. This text is familiar to the Jews, including Jesus and the early disciples. It offers a fresh way of looking at the Old Testament and allows for a two-volume treatment that is manageable in terms of size and reading schedule.

It is my prayer and hope that as you embark on this enriching journey of 157 days through the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament, you will not only rediscover the pleasure of reading God's Word but also find gems of truth that will have you coming back for more.

May your love for God's Word leads you to drink deeply into the wellspring of the Rock which is Christ, typified in the characters, events and divine institutions of God's progressive revelation through His dealings with His covenant people of the Old Testament.

Revelation

The book of Revelation is an important yet often neglected part of Church doctrine on Eschatology and Christology. Perhaps the rich symbolisms and vivid imageries within its pages have caused confusion instead of clarity in the minds of many who read it.

That said, Revelation is God's final word to man in the inspired Scripture, and has very much to do with His eternal plan and purpose in Jesus Christ, to be revealed and fulfilled through the ages of history. Behind the figurative narratives is a consistent drama that is played out since time began, which God from eternity past had sovereignly predestinated when He created Man in His own image, to bring all things into subjection under the authority and rule of His beloved Son, through the process of creation and redemption, for His ultimate glory.

4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou has created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

How then should we approach Revelation? We are not to be intrigued or engrossed with endless speculations to the times or seasons which God has not revealed; rather, we are to watch, wait, wrestle (pray), and work in all readiness as we look forward to the Lord's return.

1:7 Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him...

22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

Are we ready?

OUTLINE OF REVELATION

1. The Things Which Thou Hast Seen (1:1-20)
a. Purpose of the Book (1:1-3)
b. Recipient of the Book (1:4-8)
c. The Visions that John Saw (1:9-18)
d. The Command that John Received (1:19-20)
2. The Things Which Are (2:1-3:22)
Letters to the Seven Churches
Ephesus | Smyrna | Pergamos | Thyatira
Sardis | Philadelphia | Laodicea
3. The Things Which Shall Be Hereafter (4:1-22:21)
a. Scenes in Heaven (4:1-5:14)
The Throne Room of God
The Lamb and the 7-Seal Scroll
b. Situations on Earth (6:1-18:24)
The Seven Seals Judgment
1st Parenthesis: The 144,000 and Multitude
The Seven Trumpets Judgment
2nd Parenthesis: The Two Witnesses
3rd Parenthesis: The Seven Signs
The Seven Bowl Judgment
4th Parenthesis: Satan Bound
c. The Millennium Kingdom (19:1-20:15)
The Second Coming and Harvest
Establishing Everlasting Dominion
Final Judgment – The Great White throne
d. The New Heaven and Earth (21:1-22:21)
New Jerusalem – The Bride of Christ
Consummation of Salvation
The Eternal State
An Invitation and a Warning

 

The Apocalypse

No book in the Bible has captured the interest and imagination of men more than the last book of the New Testament. The visions of John, exiled on the island of Patmos, contain vivid imageries that peel away the veil of earthly existence, offering the reader an exquisite glimpse into the future and eternity, with graphic descriptions of characters and events taking place in heavenly and mortal realms.

For centuries, learned scholars and able theologians attempted to decipher the writings within its pages, without coming to a common agreement or conclusive statement as to its meaning or message. The apocalypse, as it is called, is derived from the Greek word apokalypsis—an 'uncovering', a 'disclosure' or as the book appropriately named, a 'revelation'. Note the singular nature of the word.

Since time immemorial, humans have an insatiable fascination for the future and the unknown. The great English poet William Blake eloquently expressed the deep longings and desires of the human heart in his work, Auguries of Innocence:

To see a world in a grain of sand
and a heaven in a wild flower;
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
and eternity in an hour.

Perhaps the writer of Ecclesiastes gives us the best answer to this incessant hunger within man, yet points out the futility of seeking such knowledge apart and outside of the Revelator:

Ecclesiastes 3:12
He has made everything beautiful in his time: also he has set the world (eternity) in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God makes from the beginning to the end.