Genesis 1-27

I read the first twenty-seven chapters of Genesis over the course of the last six months (from the autumn of 2008 to the spring of 2009). Obviously, I took my time with it. I'm hoping to pick up the pace from here on out.

I've always enjoyed reading Genesis. It contains some of the Bible's most memorable accounts. To me, it's the utter mystery of the stories contained in Genesis that is the most captivating. I'm enthralled by the epic and dramatic narratives describing God's earliest dealings with His people. Of all the books of the Bible, it is probably Genesis that is the most enigmatic; it is steeped in the most mystery. For instance, the account of Adam and Eve really only hints at what happened in those first days. We are given a few tantalizing bits of information, and the rest is left in the fog of history. But the bits we are given provide a world of intriguing possibilities -- God references the institution of marriage; He speaks of a woman and her seed (Mary and Jesus); He is thought by some even to have appeared to Adam and Eve, after their fall, in the Garden in the form of the Second Person of the Trinity (this may sound crazy, but remember Jesus's words, "Before Abraham was made, I am" (John 8:58). What occurred in those "ante lapsum" days in the Garden of Eden? I can't think of a more intriguing thing to ponder.

It's interesting to read about the different covenants God makes with each successive figure (Adam, Noah, Abraham, etc.). It's as if He keeps adding pieces to a puzzle, and we see an increasingly clearer picture as we read. By the time we reach the story of Abraham, we start to see the beginnings of God's design. And I think that's one of the most fascinating aspects of Genesis. (Of course the picture won't come near to completion until the Redeemer makes the ultimate sacrifice on the cross.)