Features Sampler: Life Application Study Bible, Third Edition - Flipbook - Page 4
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VITAL STATISTICS —
An at-a-glance straight fact
list about the book.
Vital Statistics
PURPOSE:
To record God’s creation of the
world and his desire to have a
people set apart to worship him
AUTHOR:
Moses
ORIGINAL AUDIENCE:
The people of Israel
DAT E W R I T T E N :
1450–1410 BC
WHERE WRITTEN:
In the wilderness during Israel’s
wanderings
SETTING:
The region presently known as the
Middle East
KEY VERSES:
“So God created human beings in
his own image. In the image of God
he created them; male and female
he created them.” (1:27)
“I will make you into a great nation.
I will bless you and make you
famous, and you will be a blessing
to others. I will bless those who
bless you and curse those who treat
you with contempt. All the families
on earth will be blessed through
you.” (12:2-3)
KEY PEOPLE:
Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah,
Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, Joseph
NOW IN COLOR — The
translation brand color is
used throughout the Bible so
the reader can easily discern
between the study notes,
features, and Bible text.
OVERVIEW — A summary
of the book with applications
that relate to life today.
Genesis
BEGIN . . . start . . . commence . . . open. . . . There’s
something refreshing and optimistic about these
words, whether they refer to the dawn of a new
day, the birth of a child, the start of a symphony, or
the first miles of a family vacation. Full of promise,
beginnings stir hope and encourage imaginative
visions of the future. Genesis means “beginnings” or
“origin,” and it unfolds the record of the beginning of the
world, of human history, of family, of civilization, of salvation. It is
the story of God’s purpose and plan for his creation. As the book of
beginnings, Genesis sets the stage for the entire Bible. It reveals the
person and nature of God (Creator, Sustainer, Judge, Redeemer); the
value and dignity of human beings (made in God’s image, saved by
grace, used by God in the world); the tragedy and consequences of
sin (the Fall, separation from God, judgment); and the promise and
assurance of salvation (covenant, forgiveness, the promised Messiah).
God. That’s where Genesis begins. All at once we see him creating
the universe in a majestic display of power and purpose, culminating
with a man and woman made to be like him (1:26-27). But before long,
sin entered the world, and Satan was unmasked. Bathed in innocence,
creation was shattered by the Fall (the willful disobedience of Adam
and Eve). Fellowship with God was broken, and evil began weaving its
destructive web. In rapid succession, we read how Adam and Eve were
expelled from the beautiful Garden, their first son turned murderer, and
evil bred evil until God finally destroyed everyone on earth except the
small family of Noah, the only godly person left.
As we come to Abraham on the plains of Canaan, we discover the beginning of God’s covenant people and the broad strokes of his salvation
plan: Salvation comes by faith, Abraham’s descendants will be God’s
people, and the Savior of the world will come through this chosen nation. The stories of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph that follow are more than
interesting biographies. They emphasize the promises of God and the
proof that he is faithful. The men and women we meet in Genesis are
simple, ordinary people, yet through them, God launched his eternal
plan. These are vivid pictures of how God can and does use all kinds of
people to accomplish his good purposes—even people like you.
Read Genesis and be encouraged. No matter how dark the world
situation seems, God has a plan. No matter how insignificant or useless
you feel, God loves you and wants to use you in his plan. No matter
how sinful and separated from God you are, his salvation is available.
Read Genesis . . . and find hope!
TIMELINE — Key events
and dates in the book and
history shown in
chronological context.
Timeline
Creation
Noah
undated
Abram
born
2166 BC
(2000 BC)
Abram
enters
Canaan
2091
(1925)
Isaac
born
2066
(1900)