Offspring, Promises, and Signposts

Offspring, Promises, and Signposts

Outline

1. Favourite passages
2. Some perspective on Genesis
   • Historical perspective
     • The story of creation, Adam and Eve (Genesis 1-5)
     • Noah and the flood (Genesis 6-11)
     • The life of Abraham (Genesis 12-25)
     • The lives of Isaac, Jacob, and Esau (Genesis 25-36)
     • The life of Joseph (and a bit about Judah; Genesis 37-46)
     • Final days in Egypt (Genesis 47-50)
3. The pattern, and the point
   • The First chapters of the Bible tell us 3 main things
     •  God created a good world, including human beings made in His image.  
     • Humans have a choice to make. We can listen to the Enemy of God, or we can listen to and obey our Creator. Adam and Eve chose badly, allowing sin to enter and ruin the world.  
     • God will not allow the Enemy to win in the end. There will be temptation and consequences for sin. But in God’s plan, there will come a day when the Enemy will be defeated and sin overturned. This will be accomplished by someone who comes from the human family: a “seed” or “offspring” or “descendant” of the woman. 
4. So what?
   • This is the context for the Bible's story
   • This offers encouragement for the frustrated
   • This helps us to see the greatness of Jesus
5. Road signs...