Bible Commentaries
Genesis

PLAIN TALK ON

Genesis

by Dr. Manford G. Gutzke

CONTENTS

Preface

1. Introduction

2. The Days of Creation (Chap. 1)

3. The Creation of Man (Chap. 2)

4. The Natural World (Chap. 1-2)

5. The Nature of Man (Chap. 2)

6. The Fall of Man (Chap. 3)

7. The Nature of Sin (Chap. 3)

8. The Consequences of Sin (Chap. 3)

9. Cain and Abel (Chap. 4)

10. The World Before the Flood (Chap. 5)

11. The Flood (Chap. 6-8)

12. The Judgment of God (Chap. 9-11)

13. The Covenant with Abraham (Chap. 12-13)

14. The Faith of Abraham (Chap. 14-23)

15. Ishmael (Chap. 16-21)

16. Isaac (Chap. 21-28)

17. The Wisdom of Isaac (Chap. 26)

18. Esau (Chap. 25-27)

19. Jacob (Chap. 25-31)

20. Israel (Chap. 32-36)

21. Joseph in Trouble (Chap. 37-39)

22. Joseph in Power (Chap. 40-45)

23. Joseph in Triumph (Chap. 45)

24. The Faith of the Patriarchs (Chap. 46-50)

PREFACE

This study is written from the point of view of a Christian reading the Old Testament. The purpose

will be to seek insight for a clearer understanding of the truth in Christ as set forth in the New

Testament. There will not be any conscious attempt to persuade any doubting heart that this is the

Word of God, but there will be a deliberate effort to see the truth revealed in this Scripture and to

understand how it can and will affect the one who is reading and studying. "To know Christ and to make

Him known" is frankly and openly our ambition.

The Book of Genesis will be the subject of our study, but we will deal with this Scripture as a part of

the Bible. Our attitude toward the Bible as a whole will be the attitude we will maintain in dealing with

Genesis. We have in mind that when Jesus of Nazareth lived He used the Old Testament Scriptures that

He might present the Word of God. The Book of Genesis which we have in our hands today is

substantially the same as the text He had when He quoted the Scriptures. There is not one instance of

any record that He ever contradicted or changed any part of the record as it is written. As we read

Genesis today we can be satisfied we are reading just what He read when He taught in the synagogue.

When Jesus of Nazareth began His public ministry, He was referred to as the one "of whom Moses

and the prophets did write." In the Hebrew Scriptures at the time Jesus of Nazareth lived, the first five

books of the Bible were spoken of as "the books of Moses." What we now call "Genesis" was known as

"the first book of Moses." Thus we read in Luke 24:27, "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets,

(p.8) he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." Therefore we take up

the Book of Genesis with special interest, because this is where Christ Jesus began when He was

teaching the truth about Himself.

We realize that today many students have many reservations in heart and in mind when they read in

the Old Testament, and especially when they read Genesis, "as it is written." We remind ourselves that

we have the very text which was read by Jesus of Nazareth, and we remember there is not one iota of

evidence that He ever showed any reservation about any part of it. Paul said that he worshiped "the God

of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets." We have no

hesitation to commit ourselves publicly to the fullest confidence in the Scripture "as it is written" and are

persuaded that such an attitude enables us to learn more fully what is revealed in the written "Word of

God."

It is possible that some more sophisticated minds will find this "Plain Talk" somewhat less challenging

to their intellects, because every effort has been made to expound the meaning in simple, clear terms. I do

not need to try to express the whole truth of the Word of God: that has been done in the Scriptures

themselves. I have the task of so discussing this written truth in such language, using the vernacular in

such a way that those who are not acquainted with the whole body of Scripture might be able to grasp

some of the truth revealed in this portion. Let it be sufficient that I realize such may want to read

elsewhere, but let me strive to present what I have to say in such "Plain Talk" that "the wayfaring men,

though fools, shall not err there in" (Isa. 35:8).

The Basis of Our Approach to Bible Study

We have the Bible

The Bible as it is has been placed in our hands by Providence. Written centuries ago by about forty

authors, many of whom are actually unknown to us, and copied again and again in longhand script by

unknown persons, this Book of (p.9) books has been published and distributed over the earth in more

than 1,000 languages and dialects.

We accept the Bible

We know the Bible has been criticized by active, brilliant minds who have suspiciously examined the

text expecting to find evidence to discredit the material as being untrue to facts of history or science. We

know also that archaeological research at great expense has been carried on to discover facts that might

contradict the historical records in the Bible. Despite the obscurity of the origin of the manuscripts

comprising the Bible, the records remain unshaken. This is our text.

We trust the Bible

There are things written in the Bible we cannot explain or understand. But this is no different from the

situation we face in science, in medicine, and in engineering. Every day we exercise trust in devices, in

mechanisms, in professional servants of society, involving commitment of fortune and welfare even to

life itself. In doing this we act with intelligence, because we have good reason to trust these men and

these machines. In the same way we feel we are acting with intelligence when we trust the Bible: we have

good reason to do so.

We honor the Bible

The Bible has been involved in and associated with so much that is good and helpful to mankind. Its

supporters and promoters have been persons of integrity, many of them eminent in character. The Bible

has served to comfort and to strengthen many souls in their darkest hours of deepest distress. It has

meant and does mean so much in the world that we approach our study with that deference in spirit

which we believe to be simply its honest due.

We believe the Bible

Therefore we read it carefully and study it respectfully with the aim to learn what it says and to

understand what it means, for us in our own daily lives. We expect that many (p.10) of the puzzling

problems of life in the world today can be understood and dealt with in the light of Bible truth. So we

seek to see clearly what the Bible means, and then to speak to all the world with plain talk about Bible

truth for everyday living.

INTRODUCTION

Every human being at one time or another realizes that he is living in a dangerous world. We live day

by day in circumstances beyond our control. It is the things we do or leave undone that make a

difference. We can be hurt or we can be pleased. All around us are some things that are helpful and some

that are hurtful. We cannot be certain whether the things we do will bring success or failure, but because

we do not want to be losers we learn all we can. We develop our skills in every possible way, and do the

very best to get as far as we can. We do not want to be like fish in a flowing river, and yet the truth is

that if we do not swim, the current will carry us away. Everything around us is frightening until we

realize the wonderful truth that we are not alone: this world was created by God.

We were created by God. Events as they occur are not happenstance. They are controlled and

supervised by God. Life is meaningful and purposeful since we have been persuaded personally that

God is, and that He is Almighty. There are people who do not believe this, but their unbelief does not

change anything. I am satisfied that the things I know in my heart, and which I am ready to share with

others, could be a matter of living successfully or of being swept out to sea.

God is not only the Creator who controls and supervises all things, but He has put into our hands an

inspired book, which we call the Bible or the Word of God. The Bible speaks of God in relation to the

world in which we live, in relation to man, and in relation to the future. The Bible (p.14) talks about

these things. It tells us in unmistakable words that God is in charge and in control. He is sovereign. He

rules supreme. He made nature as it is and man as he is. He gave to each one of us a conscience. He gave

us the natural processes as they exist, and the Ten Commandments as they are written.

Then, too, the Bible tells us that God is the keeper and sustainer of the world which He created. We

call His ways Providence. There is a sentence in the New Testament which touches my heart each time I

read it. It tells that God’s eye is on the sparrow. Not one sparrow falls to the ground but that He sees it

(Matt. 10:29). God knows everything and watches over everything.

The Bible also tells us that God is just and holy. God not only evaluates everything but He judges

everything. Our conscience would tell us this and so does the Bible. In addition we find in the Scripture

the wonderful news that God is gracious and merciful to people who do not deserve it, and will save

those who come to Him, trusting in His promises. These promises are revealed in the Bible.

There are various translations of the Bible, but this is not important. No matter which version we

read, Christ walked on the water in each one of them. He opened the eyes of the blind in each one. He

brought Lazarus to life in each one, and He went to the cross of Calvary in each version, and He arose

from the dead in each version we read. The multiple narratives of the same event as recorded in the four

gospels do not change the facts. There is no real barrier there. There is never any contradiction.

The names of the gospel writers or of the authors of other books of the Bible are not important. It is

what is in the books that counts. It is like medicine. The name of the pharmacist who made up the

prescription does not matter; it’s the medicine that matters. So it is the Bible that matters. It is what is in

the Bible that will really bless our souls.

In the Book of Genesis, the beginning of life in this world is set forth. Here we have the record of the

creation of the world as it was created and made by God. This will include the amazing consistency of

things. We take it for granted (p.15) that everything will stay as it is. Salt will remain salt, and sugar will

remain sugar. Water will always be water and fire will be fire. Iron will remain iron, and hydrogen will

remain hydrogen. The earth will be like the earth and rocks will be rocks, and none of this will ever vary.

It is always true that after the sowing of the seed comes the fruit. Everything happens in order. We may

say, "That’s only natural," but do we ever stop to ask who made this "natural" business? It is God!

The reliability and the steadfastness of all things is far more important than we ever imagine. When we

think of the ground being steady under our feet, do we ever realize how important this is? Those of us

who have lived through an earthquake can realize this fully. I was in Los Angeles on such an occasion,

when the earth began to shake. It happened after dark at night. In no time at all the streets were filled

with screaming people. It was just that way! It was a terrifying thing to see and hear and feel.

I realized then so clearly that only the power of God who created the world keeps it in its place. God

not only called the world into being, but He is in control of it. In His providence the sun will shine and

the rain will fall. The natural processes go on because God is faithful. He neither slumbers nor sleeps; He

does not grow weary. He holds the whole wide world in His hand!

As He judges the earth, God blesses and destroys. Many will say, "I can’t believe that God would

ever destroy anything that He made." But the Bible tells us that God will destroy in judgment. As we

look about us we see this illustrated in nature. We see grass growing and we know it will die. We watch

flowers growing and we know that they will wither. Everything in nature will eventually be destroyed.

The Bible tells of man’s plight as he faces his doom, but also of the mercy of God which will save man

from destruction. The Bible shows that man is guilty and is moving headlong toward God’s judgment and

condemnation. Man is sinful. Deep down in his heart man does not want to do what is right. He wants

to do as he pleases, and this is the sinful condition that will ruin him unless checked. (p.16) The Book of

Genesis will tell us of the judgment of God which destroys and of the grace of God which is a free gift.

We will find in the Book of Genesis the truth about the condition of mankind. "There is a way that

seemeth right with a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death." We will see that because God is

holy and just, He judges that which is evil and sinful. But to His glory it will be shown that He actually

offers help to sinful man. He offers to save and to cleanse any defiled person, and promises to bless all

who trust in Him.

The last thirty-nine chapters of Genesis are to a great extent the history of four men, commonly called

the Patriarchs. First we read about Abraham, the father of the faithful. In studying the life of Abraham,

we can see what living by faith actually means. When God called him, Abraham went out "not knowing

whither he went," because he knew God! The second of the Patriarchs is Isaac, about whom much could

be said, but nothing greater than the one thing which we may call "the wisdom of Isaac." The third of

these pioneers of faith is Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. This man became the father of the

twelve tribes of Israel. The fourth Patriarch about whom we shall study is Joseph, who was a very

wonderful person and beloved in the sight of God.

Before beginning a detailed study of the Book of Genesis, it might be well to look at the language in

which the book is written. We are living in a time of many modern translations of the Scriptures into

everyday language. It is of course important that the Scriptures be easily understood, but it is far more

important that the message that is taught and preached be truly and accurately reported. Since God is

invisible and His ways are past finding out, there is a temptation to recast the Scriptures in concepts that

are our own, so that they can be more credible. But we must beware of the grave danger here of using our

own ideas so that what we say, while more readily understandable, may not be true to the original

record. For this reason it is very important to know something of the original Hebrew language in which

the Book of Genesis was written. (p.17)

Many of us do not speak the language of the Old Testament, but scholars can and have mastered it.

Let us look at a few interesting things about the Hebrew language. Nearly all the words which are used in

Hebrew are verbal forms; that is, they are forms of some verbs. These are action words. There are not

many nouns. Actually there are only about 900 verbs used in the whole Hebrew language. By far the

most of the words are made up from these roots. Another interesting feature is that these verbs have no

tenses. There is nothing in the form of the verb that will show whether the action indicated means

something that was past or something that is present, or something that is future. Hebrew verbs have

just two ways of describing action. The particular action being referred to is either going on or it is

finished. In other words, the imperfect state of the action, or the perfect state of the action, is all that is

shown. Thus you are never told by the text itself whether this happened 1,000 years ago, is happening

now, or will happen 1,000 years from now.

While the verbs have no tenses, and that seems to be almost too simple, they do use seven voices. In

our English language we speak of "active voice" and "passive voice." In the Greek there are three voices:

the active voice, the middle voice, and the passive voice. The seven voices in Hebrew enable the writer to

use seven different ways in referring to any action. For example, in speaking English to refer to the action

of "killing," I could say "I kill": that would be in the active voice. If I said "I was killed" I would be using

the passive voice. If I were using Greek I could have three voices. I could say "I kill." Or I could say "I

was killed" and also I could say "I killed myself." In the Greek these three voices would each use a

different form of the verb. But in the Hebrew, I could have seven voices. I could say "I kill"; and I could

say "I was killed." Then I could say "I massacred," i.e., "I just killed and killed and killed intensively."

Then I could say "I was massacred. I was slaughtered," meaning to say I was killed violently. Then I

could say "I caused to kill." There is a special verb form for that. Then I could say "I was caused to kill.

Someone (p.18) else made me do it." And finally I could say "I committed suicide." I have labored this

point to show the Hebrew language is capable of reporting many variations of the manner of any action.

It is interesting to note that Hebrew is the language of creation. Some of the words that are used in the

Book of Genesis are very meaningful. The word for God, in Genesis, is Elohim. There are other Hebrew

words for God. But this particular word means the "Strong One." That is literally what the word means

in Hebrew. Elohim is "the one with energy." He is the Creator. Today our scientists tell us that all matter

(all items as they occur) is basically some form of energy. The Hebrew language fits in with this when it

says in Genesis that the "Great Energy One" is the One who created the heavens and the earth.

Another illustration can be seen in the Hebrew word rakiah, translated as "firmament" in Genesis 1:6.

Far from implying anything "firm," as would have suited the ideas of the Egyptians, Greeks or Romans,

the Hebrew word actually means "expanse" or "expansion," which is almost exactly what we mean today

by "space." And so the Hebrew language again is seen to be amazingly suitable to describe the natural

world in line with our best observation of today.