It is generally accepted that Genesis is the history of creation from Adam and Eve to Cain and Abel, Noah and the flood, Gods covenant with Abraham, and Israel’s journey into Egypt and captivity. It seems logical that God would want to fill in the details for his people to understand the history leading up to Israel’s journey leading Gods deliverance. That is how the typical reader see’s it and there is no reason to think they would see anything otherwise.
There is one concept that many fail to see. Moses is credited with writing the Books of Torah, the first five books of the Bible, including Genesis. Of course, the life of Moses does not begin until the book of Exodus. This means that Moses was given the stories of creation by God himself. The two of them met often enough in the Tent of Meeting which gave them opportunity. Maybe it was much more than a history lesson.
The question to ask is, what was so significant in the history that God wanted his followers to understand? Some of those stories are so incredible that it’s hard for a human mind to comprehend, Creation of the world in seven days, creating man from dust of the Earth and Eve from a rib in his side, the Tower of Babel, Noah and the flood. We generally accept the fact that God is creator and if he said he did something, who are we to think otherwise? That is just how many Jewish commentaries accept the Scriptures.
1 Cor 2:6
…we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. NKJV
These stories of creation are key to understanding the ‘Mystery of Scripture’ the Apostle Paul references, Shadows before the reality, and they make much better sense once you look at scripture in that light. While many see only see the literal interpretation of scripture, there are those who see the Allegorical, or Parables, the underlying Spiritual message of Gods plan of redemption. Some suggest that God would not use Parables because they are ‘False Stories’. Jesus used and explained parables doing only what he saw his Father doing.
There’s a reason that Nicodemus was missing Jesus’ teaching. Nicodemus understood Scripture from the literal sense while Jesus used scripture to point to Gods plan of Salvation. People may question the concept of Genesis as parables. Some believe that’s true up to Noah and the Flood. Some see it throughout the book. No matter what we believe, God uses Genesis to teach his people information that points to Gods creation pointing to the Kingdom of Heaven.
Many don’t realize that Names and locations throughout Old Testament Scripture are all Hebrew names and terms. For example, we see Adam as the name of the first man, yet it is Hebrew for ‘human being’ or mankind. We understand Eve as the name given to his wife. Eve is Hebrew for ‘Life giver’. Noah is Hebrew for ‘Rest’. Abraham is Hebrew for ‘Father of multitude’. Lot is Hebrew for ‘Veil’.
The flood represents Gods Judgement which came in 70 AD and Baptism for those who repent. For those who are not familiar with the events you can Google 70 AD that explains the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple fulfilling Daniels prophecy in Chapter nine. Rest is associated with the Sabbath, which points to Jesus as our rest from the works of the Law. Who do we refer to as our father? What does the Veil point to? The body of Christ. When the Hebrew words are translated, the stories are clearer and make much better sense.
As Parables, the stories in Genesis point to future events. They tell the work of the Messiah which points to events in the New Testament. And they tell the story of Israel, from the time of their deliverance to the journey to the promised land, their rebellion, their captivity in Babylon, and the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in Seventy AD. You simply need eyes to see and ears to hear how it reads in the Spirit.
Just to name a few…
John 8 points to Genesis 22 when Abraham is tested with his willingness to sacrifice his only son.
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." NKJV
Gen 22:13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided." NKJV
Gen 1 points to the coming Messiah.
Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. NKJV
Hoovering: OT:7363 rachaph (raw-khaf'); a primitive root; to brood; by implication, to be relaxed:
Luke 1:30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."
34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. NKJV
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." NKJV
Gen 2 points to Eph 5, the Messiah coming for his bride
Gen 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. NKJV
Eph 5:31 "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. NKJV
Tower of Babel foretells Israel's worship of Idols, or Heavenly Hosts, leading to the scattering the House of Israel to the nations and the exile of the Jews to Babylon.
Gen 11:4 Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."
8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel — because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.
Isa 57:7 You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices.
Acts 7:43 You have lifted up the shrine of Molech and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile' beyond Babylon. (Amos 5:25)