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Overview
The book of Genesis brings us back to the beginning, where the foundation of life itself is explained. We learn how we were created, about the origins of sin and its fallout, and how to best relate to God—through obedience and trust. We are drawn into tales of deceit, jealousy, and outright failure, where we see how God still uses flawed people.
And weaving throughout these earliest stories of humankind are the golden threads of God's promises—promises we can trace from their origins, through the course of history, up through our lives today, and beyond us to the end of time when his final promises will at last be fulfilled.
The Life Lessons with Max Lucado series brings the Bible to life in twelve lessons filled with intriguing questions, inspirational stories, and poignant reflections to take you deeper into God's Word. Each lesson includes:
- An opening reflection on the Bible book you're studying.
- Background information to deepen your understanding of the cultural and historical setting.
- An excerpt of the text (from the NIV and the NKJV).
- Exploration questions with plenty of room to write your own thoughts and notes.
- Inspirational thoughts from Max as well as a closing takeaway for further reflection.
The Life Lessons series is ideal for use in both a small-group setting or for individual study.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780310086741 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | HarperChristian Resources |
| Publication date: | 04/02/2019 |
| Series: | Life Lessons |
| Pages: | 144 |
| Sales rank: | 314,249 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.60(d) |
About the Author
Visit his website at Max Lucado.com
Facebook.com/Max Lucado
Instagram.com/Max Lucado
Twitter.com/Max Lucado
Youtube.com/Max Lucado Official
The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast
Read an Excerpt
CHAPTER 1
LESSON ONE
MADE IN GOD'S IMAGE
So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1:27 NKJV
REFLECTION
Think about what it means to be "created in God's image." What does that bring to mind? What are the implications that all humans are created in the "image" or "likeness" of God?
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SITUATION
The book of Genesis begins with a clear introduction to the powerful Creator of the universe: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (1:1). The first three days of creation involve giving substance to a formless earth (see 1:2–13), followed by three days of filling the empty earth (see 1:14–31). On the seventh day, God "rested from all his work" (2:2), establishing the concept of the "Sabbath" rest for his people (see Exodus 20:8–11). The culmination of God's work occurs when the Lord creates humankind in his own image (see Genesis 1:26) and sets them a garden he has prepared called Eden. The writer stresses that Adam and Eve at this point "felt no shame" (2:25) and interacted freely with their Creator.
OBSERVATION
Read Genesis 1:26–2:25 from the New International Version or the New King James Version.
New International Version
1:26 Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
29 Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground — everything that has the breath of life in it — I give every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
4 This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
5 Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, 6 but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. 7 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
8 Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground — trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters. 11 The name of the first is the Pishon; it winds through the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 (The gold of that land is good; aromatic resin and onyx are also there.) 13 The name of the second river is the Gihon; it winds through the entire land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Ashur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."
18 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals.
But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.
23 The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called 'woman,' for she was taken out of man."
24 That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
25 Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
New King James Version
1:26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
29 And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.
4 This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens, 5 before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of the field had grown. For the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to till the ground; 6 but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.
7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
18 And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.
23 And Adam said:
"This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
EXPLOR ATION
1. What are some of the ways that God set human beings apart from the rest of creation?
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2. In what ways did God make Adam responsible for the earth?
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3. How did God form Adam? Why is this significant?
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4. What restriction did God give to Adam? Why do you think God set this rule?
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5. How did God create Eve? What is the significance of God making woman from man?
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6. How would you describe the relationship Adam and Eve had with God at this time?
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INSPIRATION
It's easy to feel anything but important when the corporation sees you as a number, the boyfriend treats you like cattle, your ex takes your energy, or old age takes your dignity. Somebody important? Hardly.
When you struggle with that question, remember this promise of God: you were created by God, in God's image, for God's glory. "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness" (Genesis 1:26). Embedded in these words is the most wonderful of promises: God made us to reflect the image of God.
God created us to be more like him than anything else he made. He never declared, "Let us make oceans in our image" or "birds in our likeness." The heavens above reflect the glory of God, but they are not made in the image of God. Yet we are.
To be clear: no one is a god except in his or her own delusion. But everyone carries some of the communicable attributes of God. Wisdom. Love. Grace. Kindness. A longing for eternity. These are just some of the attributes that set us apart from the farm animal and suggest that we bear the fingerprints of the Divine Maker.
We are made in his image and in his likeness. ... We "take after" God in many ways. There is no exception to this promise. Every man and woman, born or preborn, rich or poor, urban or rural, is made in the image of God. Some suppress it. Others enhance it. But all were made in the image of God. (From Unshakable Hope by Max Lucado.)
REACTION
7. How do you respond to the idea that God has made you unique and different from any other part of his creation?
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8. What are some of the attributes that God has placed in you that set you apart?
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9. Why do you think some people try to "suppress" the likeness of God within them?
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10. What is it significant that God instructed Adam to "fill the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28)? What does that say about humankind's role and responsibilities in this world?
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11. What does the overall act of creation reveal about God?
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12. Why do you think an all-powerful God chose to "rest" on the seventh day?
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LIFE LESSONS
When God created the animals, he told them to be fruitful and multiply, "each according to its kind" (Genesis 1:24). But when God created humans, he specifically created them male and female and formed them "in the image of God" (verse 27). Adam and Eve were not like anything else the Lord had made — nor were they just members of a certain "species" or "kind." Rather, human beings were uniquely created to share a likeness with their Creator. God created Adam and Eve to be "living images" of himself and rule over the earth as his designated representatives. Today, we can know that because we are all made "in the image of God," we each are unique and have inestimable value in God's eyes.
DEVOTION
Father, we stand in awe of your wonderful handiwork. Thank you for providing the opportunity to have a relationship with you, the giver of life and the Creator of all the universe, and for making us in your image. May we seek to serve you and embrace the roles you have given us.
JOURNALING
What are some ways that you can further develop the attributes of God that are within you?
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FOR FURTHER READING
To complete the book of Genesis during this twelve-part study, read Genesis 1:1–2:25. For more Bible passages about the God's Spirit within you, read Job 32:8; Psalm 104:1–35; Ecclesiastes 12:7; John 6:63; 16:13; Galatians 4:6; and 2 Timothy 1:7.
CHAPTER 2LESSON TWO
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Genesis 3:7
REFLECTION
Think back to when you were a child. What were the consequences of disobeying your parents?
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SITUATION
The young nation of Israel needed to understand not only their unique history as members of God's chosen people but also the universal presence of sin in the world ... and its devastating consequences. Moses does this next by introducing the enemy of all humankind — known as "Satan" or the "devil" but described here as the "serpent" — and establishes how his purposes have always been to thwart and corrupt God's perfect plans. Unfortunately, the serpent is able to plant seeds of doubt in both Adam and Eve's minds about the goodness of God and his true motives. In an event that forever shapes history, the couple makes the fateful decision to disobey the one command God had given them and eat from the forbidden tree in the Garden.
OBSERVATION
Read Genesis 3:1–23 from the New International Version or the New King James Version.
New International Version
1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
2 The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, 'You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'" 4 "You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. 5 "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?"
10 He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
11 And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
12 The man said, "The woman you put here with me — she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it."
13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"
The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,
"Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals!
You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel."
16 To the woman he said,
"I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
17 To Adam he said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat from it,'
"Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Excerpted from "Life Lessons from Genesis"
by .
Copyright © 2019 Max Lucado.
Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
How to Study the Bible v
Introduction to the Book of Genesis ix
Lesson 1 Made in God's Image (Genesis 1:26-2:25) 1
Lesson 2 The Consequences of Sin (Genesis 3:1-23) 13
Lesson 3 Obedience to God (Genesis 7:1-20) 25
Lesson 4 Relying on God's Promises (Genesis 15:1-21) 35
Lesson 5 Trusting in God Alone (Genesis 16:1-12) 45
Lesson 6 Faith in God's Plans (Genesis 18:1-15 and 21:1-3) 55
Lesson 7 Giving All to God (Genesis 22:1-14) 65
Lesson 8 Wrestling with God (Genesis 32:9-30) 75
Lesson 9 Jealous Behavior (Genesis 37:3-20) 87
Lesson 10 Living with Integrity (Genesis 39:2-20) 97
Lesson 11 God's Sovereign Control (Genesis 45:1-15) 107
Lesson 12 Forgiving Others (Genesis 50:15-26) 117
Leader's Guide for Small Groups 127