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Copyright ©, 1922, by
THE MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE
OF CHICAGO

Printed in the United States of America

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INTRODUCTION

Appropriately has Genesis been termed "the seed plot
of the Bible," for in it we have, in germ form, almost all of
the great doctrines which are afterwards fully developed
in the books of Scripture which follow.

In Genesis God is revealed as the Creator-God, as the
Covenant-God, as the Almighty-God, as well as "the Most
High, Possessor of heaven and earth."

In Genesis we have the first hint of the Blessed Trinity,
of a plurality of Persons in the Godhead-"Let us make
man in our image" (1:26).

In Genesis man is exhibited. First as the creature of
God's hands, then as a fallen and sinful being, and later as
one who is brought back to God, finding grace in His sight
(6:8), walking with God (6:9), made "the friend of
God" (James 2:23).

In Genesis the wiles of Satan are exposed. We "are not
ignorant of his devices," for here the Holy Spirit has fully
uncovered them. The realm in which the arch-enemy works
is not the moral but the spiritual. He calls into question
the Word of God, casts doubt on its integrity, denies its
veracity.

In Genesis the truth of sovereign election is first exhib-
ited. God singles out Abraham from an idolatrous people,
and makes him the father of the chosen Nation. God passes
by Ishmael and calls Isaac.

In Genesis the truth of salvation is typically displayed.
Our fallen first parents are clothed by God Himself, clothed
with skins: to procure those skins death had to come in,
blood must be shed, the innocent was slain in the stead of
the guilty. Only thus could man's shame be covered, and
only thus could the sinner be fitted to stand before the
thrice holy God.

In Genesis the truth of justification by faith is first made
known: "And he believed in the Lord; and He counted it
to him for righteousness" (15:6). Abraham believed God:
not Abraham obeyed God, or loved God, or served God;
but Abraham believed God. And it was counted unto him

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