What God Wants You to Know: An In Depth Look at Jesus from Genesis to Revelation

By Mary C. Williams

God wants us to know that above all else, He loves and adores us. When the knowledge of God fuels the love for God, we are more equipped to serve and honor Him with our lives.

As our understanding of God increases and what He wants us to know is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit, the majesty of His infinite excellence and love shines.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: May 19, 2020
• ISBN: 9781647730208

Book preview

Introduction

In Proverbs, we learn that in all of our getting, we must seek to get understanding. In this work, it is my prayer that God reveal Himself to each reader in a new way and provide fresh revelation and gainful insight into His word so that through our gained understanding a more fulfilled and purpose driven existence is possible. The simplistic approach was laid on my heart years ago to detail God’s love and plan for salvation and the foreshadowing of that plan throughout the Bible. As early as Genesis, God begins to lay the groundwork and plan for the salvation of man and never-ending love for his most prized creation. Through historical narratives, wise saying, and supernatural events, God uses his word to give us a glimpse into the very heart and nature of His son and our soon to return Messiah.

God wants to us to know above all else that He loves and adores us. He desires us to embrace constant fellowship with him through service and faith in His son Jesus Christ. In fact, Christian life and godly living begins with this idea and the knowledge of God. In 2 Peter 1:2–3, the Apostle writes, Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

The love of God must be initiated and nurtured by the knowledge of God, for to know Him is to love Him. As our understanding of what God wants us to know increases the majesty of His infinite excellence and love, the more we will adore Him for His essence and for the greatness of the gifts He has given to us. In 2 Corinthians 4:6, Paul wrote, For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ, the glory of the beauty and magnificence of His attributes. When knowledge of God fuels love for God, we are more equipped to serve and honor him with our lives

Old Testament

Genesis

Book of Beginnings

What God Wants You to Know

The book of Genesis explains the origin of creation. God created everything good, and man’s sin of disobedience brought it all under the curse of death. God makes an unconditional covenant with Abraham and greatly increased his descendants and makes him the father of many nations. God promises to bring blessings and salvation to the whole world through his descendant, Jesus Christ.

Genesis foreshadows Jesus Christ as the Sovereign Word of God, Infinite All-Powerful Creator of everything that exists, Substitute Lamb for the sacrifice, Seed of the Woman, the descendant of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Melchizedek (Priest of God Most High), and Messiah (King in the line of the Tribe of Judah).

Book Summary

The genre of Genesis is a narrative history and genealogies. It was written by Moses about 1450–1410 BC. Key personalities include Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Joseph. This book was written to record God’s creation of the world and to demonstrate His love for all that He created.

Genesis is the first book of the law and also the first book of the entire Bible. The name Genesis literally means in the beginning. It explains the actual events of one of the most debated subjects of our current day—the origin of life. Genesis describes the Lord God, who is infinite and all-powerful, creating everything that exists, by the power of His spoken Word, out of nothing. He essentially creates material matter out of nonmaterial nothing.

In chapters 1–11:28, Moses explains the creation of all things, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (1:1). He quickly switches to the fall of man in sin and separation from God in chapter 3; then, how God implemented His judgment on the wicked earth. Through a universal flood and by selecting and sparing Noah (a faithful man) and his family, God wipes out humanity and starts again with one secluded family.

From chapters 11:28–36, God begins to carry out His plan of redemption in the beginning stages of establishing His own nation of Israel. It is through Abraham, again one faithful man, which God calls and promises to bless with a multitude of people and through them bless the entire world "…and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed" (12:3).

In chapters 37–50, God faithfully raises up and protects the generations from Abraham as He had promised, all the way through unto Joseph while in Egypt. God blesses Abraham’s son and their sons. Through their disappointments and failures, He displays His power and sovereignty in their lives; but at the end of the book of Genesis, God’s people are in a foreign land and wondering about the promise land.

Supporting Scriptures

Then God said, Now let’s make humans who will be like us. They will rule over all the fish in the sea and birds in the air. They will rule over all the large animals and all the little things that crawl on the earth. So, God created humans in His own image. He created them to be like himself. He created them male and female. God blessed them and said to them, Have many children. Fill the earth and take control of it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the air. Rule over every living thing that moves on the earth. (Gen. 1:26–28 ERV)

So the Lord said to the snake: Because of what you have done, you will be the only animal to suffer this curse—for as long as you live, you will crawl on your stomach and eat dirt. You and this woman will hate each other; your descendant and hers will always be enemies. One of hers will crush your head, and you will strike him on the heel. (Gen. 3:14–15 CEV)

God had told Abram, Leave your own country behind you, and you own people, and go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and the entire world will be blessed because of you. (Gen. 12:1–3 TLB)

Melchizedek, King of Salem (Jerusalem) and a Priest of God Most High brought Abram some bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing, Blessed be Abram by God Most High Creator of heaven and earth. (Gen. 14:18–19 NLT)

And Abram believed God, then God considered him righteous on account of his faith. (Gen.15:6 TLB)

When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him. He said, I am God All-Powerful. Obey me and live the right way. If you do this, I will prepare an agreement between us. I will promise to make your people a great nation. I will change your name from Abram to Abraham because I am making you the father of many nations. (Gen. 17:1, 2, 5 ERV)

Abraham and Sarah were very old. Sarah was past the right age for women to have children. So, she laughed to herself and said, I am old, and my husband is old. I am too old to have a baby. Then the Lord said to Abraham, Sarah laughed and said she was too old to have a baby. But is anything too hard for the Lord? I will come again in the Spring, just as I said I would, and your wife Sarah will have a son. (Gen. 18:11–14 ERV)

Should I hide My plan from Abraham? the Lord asked. For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and their families to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have promised. (Gen.18:17–19 NLT)

Isaac said to his father Abraham, Father! Abraham answered, Yes, son? Isaac said, I see the wood and the fire. But where is the lamb we will burn as a sacrifice? Abraham answered, God himself is providing the lamb for the sacrifice, my son. Every nation on the earth will be blessed through your descendants. I will do this because you obeyed Me. (Gen. 22:7, 8, 18 ERV)

Men from Judah’s family will be kings. The sign that his family rules will not leave his family before the real king [Messiah] comes. Then many people will obey and serve Him. (Gen. 49:10 ERV)

Exodus

Book of Redemption

What God Wants You to Know

Exodus gives an account of Israel’s birth as a nation. God remembers His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel). After four hundred years of affliction in a foreign land, Moses is used by God to lead His people out of Egypt.

Exodus foreshadows Jesus Christ as the Passover Lamb of God whose blood was shed to rescue all of humanity from the oppression of sin and the curse of eternal death, our Manna from heaven, the Rock (living water) struck at Horeb, deliverer, and the presence of God who tabernacles among the people as a cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night.

Book Summary

The book of Exodus consists mainly of two genres, narrative history and laws. It was written by Moses about 1450–1410 BC. The key personalities include Moses, Miriam, Pharaoh, Pharaoh’s daughter, Aaron, and Joshua. It was written to record the events of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. It describes the events to the reader in chronological order and lists the laws that God has given to the Israelites, in order to guide them in their relationship with Him.

Chapters 1–7 of Exodus introduces Moses and the Israelites in bondage in Egypt. This setting is approximately four hundred years after Joseph and his families were living in Goshen at the end of Genesis. God protects baby Moses and spares his life, as Moses is adopted by Pharaoh’s daughter and is raised as an Egyptian. God calls Moses with a special revelation, through a burning bush to release His people from slavery in Egypt. Moses obeys, and with his brother Aaron, confronts Pharaoh to let God’s people go free, but Pharaoh ignores the warning.

In chapters 7–13, Moses, through the power of God, releases ten plagues of different sorts on the land of Egypt, which included turning all the water to blood, plagues of insects, boils, and hail. Finally, the death of every first-born son, this included the death of Pharaoh’s eldest who would someday inherit the kingdom of Egypt. However, the Israelites obeyed God and followed the ordinance of the Passover and God spared them.

Chapters 14–18 describes the Exodus or exit from Egypt. Pharaoh can no longer endure the plagues that God poured on Egypt and himself and allows them to leave. Moses and the Israelites escape making it to the Red Sea. Shortly after, Pharaoh changes his mind and pursues them, but God destroys his army with the sea.

In chapters 19–24, Moses presents all the Laws to all the people at Mt. Sinai as God has commanded.

From chapters 25–40, Moses gives the Israelites the tabernacle, priest and worship instructions.

Supporting Scriptures

God said to Moses, I-AM-WHO-I-AM. Tell the People of Israel, I-AM sent me to you. (Exod. 3:14 MSG)

Therefore, say to the people of Israel, I am the Lord, I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great act of judgment. I will claim you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt." (Exod. 6:6–7 NLT)

This time I am going to send a plague that will really speak to you and to your servants and to all the Egyptian people and prove to you there is no other God in all the earth. I could have killed you all by now, but I didn’t, for I wanted to demonstrate My power to you and to all the earth. (Exod. 9:14–16 TLB)

On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord! But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt [your enemies]. (Exod. 12:12–13 NLT)

During the day the Lord went ahead of His people in a thick cloud, and during the night He went ahead of them in a flaming fire. That way the Lord could always lead them, whether day or night. (Exod. 13:21–22 CEV)

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. (Exod. 14:14–15 NLT)

I will stand before you on a rock at Horeb. Hit that rock with the walking stick and water will come out of it. Then the people can drink. Moses did these things and the elders of Israel saw it. (Exod. 17:6 ERV)

Moses built an altar and named it The Lord Gives Me Victory. (Exod. 17:15 CEV)

Now if you will faithfully obey me, you will be my very own people. The whole world is mine. (Exod. 19:5–6 CEV)

The Lord said, I myself will go with you. I will give you rest. (Exod. 33:14 NLV)

Then He passed in front of Moses and called out, I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. (Exod. 34:6 CEV)

Leviticus

Book of Sanctification

What God Wants You to Know

The book of Leviticus reveals the holiness of God. The Israelites was a chosen nation of people who were set apart to live in a manner, which reflected the holy character of God. The people were given instructions on how to approach God in worship. They were to live in moral purity in order to maintain their fellowship with God. He provides a way of atonement for the people’s sins by establishing an animal sacrificial blood system.

Leviticus foreshadows Jesus Christ as the spotless Lamb of God who alone is the eternal and final payment for the sins of mankind. He is our scapegoat and the perfect high priest who represents humanity before the presence of a holy God.

Book Summary

Leviticus is composed of two basic genres, narrative history and law. It was written by Moses in about 1445–1444 BC. The setting of Leviticus mainly appears to take place at Mt. Sinai. The key personalities of Leviticus include Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu Eleazar, and Ithamar.

It was written to draw the Israelites to the understanding of the infinite holiness of God and that He desires them to act in a holy