A New Perspective of Genesis

By Bishop Donald L. Thomas

In writing this commentary, my goal was to make simple those things that were hidden so that those who read the book of Genesis could comprehend what they read. I pray that all who do read my book will be blessed and enlightened and that the books contents may serve as a basic learning guide. This commentary is for the purpose of causing the children of God to study his Word in the manner in which it was intended. We cannot receive the nourishment needed for our spiritual being without understanding what we are reading. It is not the intent of the Holy Spirit to paint a picture of the men and women of the Bible that escalates out of our reach but to create hope in the least of us as we read about their defeats and victories, of their sicknesses and healings, of their faith and fear, of their sin and righteousness, and of their joy and sorrow.

Things that were written were written for our learning, but many of us have not learned the scriptures in the light of what they are declaring. Consequently, instead of finding the hope that the scriptures were written for, many become discouraged because their focus is on the victories without understanding the struggles. These men and women were the same as we are. They were not supernatural beings, though many had supernatural encounters. At any rate, there is not one of Gods children who have been truly born again who have not had a supernatural encounter.

When the Holy Spirit invaded your life, there was nothing natural about that. When you were transformed from darkness to light, there was nothing natural about that. When the blood of Jesus cleansed you from all of your sins, there was nothing natural about that. When you were transformed by the renewing of your mind, there was nothing natural about that. When heaven rejoiced in the news of your repentance, there was nothing natural about that. But if our focus is not right, we will embrace the wrong thing. We will cleave to the experience rather than the Creator of all things. May God grant unto us all the ability to see the scriptures in the context that they were intended.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781524695835

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© 2017 BISHOP DONALD L. THOMAS. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 08/24/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9584-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-9583-5 (e)

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

CONTENTS

GENESIS INTRODUCTION

Chapter One

GENESIS: CHAPTER 1

THE CREATION

Chapter Two

GENESIS: CHAPTER 2

ADAM & EVE

Chapter Three

GENESIS: CHAPTER 3

EVE & THE SERPENT

Chapter Four

GENESIS: CHAPTER 4

CAIN & ABEL

Chapter Five

GENESIS: CHAPTER 5

THE LINEAGE OF NOAH

Chapter Six

GENESIS: CHAPTER 6

NOAH & THE ARK

Chapter Seven

GENESIS: CHAPTER 7

ENTERING THE ARK

Chapter Eight

GENESIS: CHAPTER 8

EXITING THE ARK

Chapter Nine

GENESIS: CHAPTER 9

THE EVERLASTING COVENANT

Chapter Ten

GENESIS: CHAPTER 10

THE NEW WORLD

FOREWORD

In the beginning, God establishes a Kingdom and gives life to the Children that will have dominion over that territory. Now, since the Kingdom has caught the attention of men, God has chosen a man to analyze, reveal, and expose the mysteries that lie in the Book of Genesis.

It is in Genesis, that the foundation on which all things rest, that the Holy Spirit may illuminate what the eye has not seen, articulate what the ear has not heard, and that the heart might understand the depth, height, length and width of God’s unfathomable love.

Bishop Donald L. Thomas is an intricate part of making known to the Body of Christ that there is a foundation that cannot be shaken. He reveals those principals, patterns, and purposes of God that puts the Kingdom in motion for such a time as this.

Donn R. Hall, Apostle

Zion Baptist Church

Kinsale, VA 22488

PREFACE

I am truly humbled that the God of wisdom and understanding would entrust into my hands a task that He alone could perform. Whenever I read back through the pages of this book, I am constantly reminded that those things that have been revealed to me are the seeds of wisdom which hath been birthed by the Holy Ghost. In Acts 4:6, there were those men who saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men. Ultimately, they marveled and took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus (vs. 13). So it is with this servant of God. It is only because God has at various times, allowed me to peer into things that may have been veiled, so that through these writings, He might give insight, encouragement and edification to the Body of Christ.

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him (1 Cor. 2:9). Regardless of how extensive the refining process of man’s wisdom might be, the human intellect cannot grasp it or know it. That is to say that the revealing of the things of God is by His Spirit, and His Spirit is Him. Therefore, The Spirit of God that is in those whom He reveals His mind to, is unlimited. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God (vs. 10).

Accordingly, God revealed unto his servant Moses things that no man had knowledge of; for instance, no man was there when God said, Let there be light (Gen. 1:3). God also revealed things that were to come to His beloved John on the Isle that is called Patmos (Rev. 1:8-10). Likewise, when the time comes, God reveals to His servants things that must be understood for this century and for this culture. Take note of John’s position upon the revealing of God’s purpose for him in Revelation 1:10, 12. "I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks."

When God speaks, we are turned; however, we cannot hear Him until we are in the Spirit. At the revealing of the creation, Moses had to be in the Spirit. God placed him in the clift of the rock (Exo. 33:19-23). That rock was none other than Christ, the Anointed One, and the One who is given the Spirit without measure. "He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand" (John 3:33-35).

Again, the rock that Moses had been placed into was Christ, who is the beginning of the creation of God (Rev. 3:14). Colossians 1:16-17 says of Christ: For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in Earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him. And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. This is the Christ that Moses was enclosed in and stood upon to receive the revelation of the creation of the Heaven and Earth.

When God removed His hand from the face of Moses, Moses saw something that no other man had seen before him, save possibly Adam. He saw the hinder parts of God. What he saw was the past. He saw God’s glory in the making of Heaven and Earth in the person of the Christ of God. Moses’ entire countenance was f looded with this revelation, so much so that his face shone. And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him (Exo. 34:29-30).

There is a lot contained in this text, and we as children of God are privileged to this revelation. Remember that the things of God hath been freely given unto us by his Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12). May the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob grant unto his church, "the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the Church. Which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:17-23).

—Bishop D. L. Thomas

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Needless to say, nothing of benefit is ever accomplished without the support and encouragement of many people. We know that without God, nothing can be accomplished. He is the source of my inspiration. It is He who makes the tongue, the pen of a ready-writer.

As I look back over the years of my endeavor to write this commentary, I can see countless contributors, from my father, the late William H. Thomas, who felt that I could do anything, to my good friend Hessie Harris, who constantly encouraged me to complete it. He believed that it would be a blessing to the Body of Christ.

I am especially grateful and indebted to the Publication Department of New Zion Tabernacle, who untiringly worked to ensure that what was written, would be understood. The staff included: Antoinette Thompson, Rose M. Hayden-Hawkins, Patricia Martin, Linda Denning, Ronda Denning-Johnson, Debra Jones, Albert Spaulding, and Jimmy Deshazier. To all the members of New Zion Tabernacle who supported this project from day one, words cannot express the thanks that is in my heart for you. Also, a special thanks to Karen D. Reid for making this 2nd Edition a reality with the invaluable assistance of Rose M. Hayden-Hawkins.

I am grateful to my mother, Mrs. Lucile Davis, who held on to me before the grace of God saved and delivered me from my sins. Indeed, she was a constant inspiration through the years. Finally, I would like to recognize all of my children, Benjamin, Cornelius, Joseph, Rachel, Jonathon and Josiah, who have all contributed to the writing of this commentary in their own unique way.

-Bishop Donald L. Thomas

GENESIS INTRODUCTION

GOD’S COMMUNICATION, COUNTENANCE AND COVENANT OVERSHADOWING HIS CONDEMNATION AT CALVARY

Note the words of Moses, I exceedingly fear and quake (Heb.12:21). Every part of his being was tantalized. He did not know what to expect, and he feared for the people. Moses was a true shepherd. It’s no wonder that God trained him for 80 years. He knew that in the preceding twenty years, he would have to be totally focused on the task that was before him. Moses had to serve God and the people without distraction, and he had to represent a stiff-necked and rebellious people, sometimes before an angry God.

In this sense, we see him literally. That is, physically quaking; all of his bones may have been out of joint. There were many occasions when Moses feared critical dangers. But none could compare with the sound that was coming from the Mount, a mixture of the voice of God Himself, thunder, the sound of a trumpet, and the sight of fire. This fire, no doubt, was enfolding itself, but there was something more devastating than that. There was blackness and darkness, darkness such as that which came upon the land of Egypt, darkness that could be felt. This darkness, as dreadful as it must have been, and this blackness that struck fear in all whom it invaded, was a token of God’s grace as His glory was made manifest.

It tempered the presence of God that all who were there would not be consumed. While judgment and grace were mixed together at the giving of the law of the first Covenant, God hid Himself, yet allowing Himself to be seen through the veil of that dark covering. God’s mysteries were revealed while being covered, as if the darkness was a tent. God was angry but not to destroy. His aim was to make His way known unto Moses and His acts known unto the children of Israel. As the unapproachable God approaching man, man, in his best state is an unprofitable servant and all of his goodliness and righteousness is as filthy rags. Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.

The darkness represents His displeasure. The light is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, shined forth at Calvary with such brilliance that the sun, moon, stars, and even the light of the cosmos ref lected from the light of His eternal abode. Ceased in its function, it could not be realized. For none but the Christ of God could express the depth of God’s eternal love, mercy and pardoning grace, through the light of His life and death. For in His death, He swallowed up the victory that death had. He took from death its keys, thereby releasing the captive from captivity, and causing hell to be locked from those whom He had purchased with His own blood, in the midst of the darkness of God’s own judgment.

In this act of His submitting power to the will of God, He forever dispelled the darkness. And the overwhelming light of his eternal existence was seen clearly in this ultimate display of His exquisite obedience. So the darkness that was upon Calvary, that place of judgment, became null and void, never to exercise dominance again. I pray, as the Book of Genesis is studied, that God will grant unto you the "spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Eph. 1:17).

The Book of Genesis is a Book that speaks of the beginning of all things, as we know them. Without the wisdom and knowledge of this Book, man has no beginning and his past is based on pure speculation. Science, with all of it’s recent discoveries, observations, and experimental findings, including its ability to take a human beings DNA and reveal the time of death dating back hundreds of years, has none or little understanding as to how man was formed in the beginning of his existence. Man, in fact, declares himself a fool in grappling with things that are beyond his ability to comprehend in his carnal state of being.

Man must first of all believe that, in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Gen. 1:1). Next, he must believe that the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and by placing God’s nostrils to man’s nostrils and breathing into him the breath of life, caused man to become a living soul (Gen. 2:7). Man is so meticulously and wonderfully made, and so intricate and precise in every detail, that even when he is cut open by the surgeon’s scalpel and every organ in his body is exposed to the finest instruments invented by man, his composition still renders itself a mystery of his origin.

Scientists have tried throughout the centuries to produce different forms of life, always to no avail. They can experiment with a life that already exists; however, man can create nothing. He only experiments with different forms of life that is already in existence. Man can change the form of things and through the art of grafting, may cause vegetables, fruits, and even animals to be altered in form and substance. However, he can bring nothing into existence that did not previously exist. Even with the recent so-called success of the cloning of a sheep, he has had to take the form of life which was already in existence and use it to produce another of its kind.

What is the purpose behind all of these experiments? Why is man so determined to prove that he has the capability to produce life? Why is he exploring the heavens, while seeking new worlds and other forms of life with intelligence similar to that of the human being? Mainly because he has not accepted and does not completely believe the account given in the Book of Genesis, which explains the origin of how all things came into existence. Since God is the source of all life, all life proceeds from Him; by Him all things consist (read Col. 1:12-18). It is evident that man will never be able to produce life, for he is dependent upon God for the life that he has been given. Not only can he not produce life, he does not have the ability to sustain the life that is on loan to him. He does not have the power to hold the breath of life in his nostrils. The breath that now keeps him existing in this world originated from the nostrils of the Creator of all things.

When we fail to believe that God is, then we declare that we could be God, and in extreme cases, that we are God. We may then try to appease our conscience with the thought that we hold our destiny in our own hands. Therefore, many have no need to believe that, in the beginning, God created all things. Some even have the arrogance of Pharaoh who made the declaration: Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD… (Exo. 5:2a). Jesus told the woman at the well, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water" (John 4:10).

In our ignorance we turn to ourselves. Note what the Apostle Paul has to say about Israel’s failure to submit to God’s righteousness in Romans 10:1-3: Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. In all three of the above accounts, Pharaoh, the woman at the well, and Israel’s failure to submit, there is a common thread that knits them together: ignorance. However, ignorance can be overcome and turned into faith by the hearing of God’s Word.

God has left this clear account concerning the origin of all things: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth (Gen. 1:1). When man believes this report and submits himself to God who declared it, he will have discovered the door that unlocks all the mysteries of Heaven and Earth. In the first chapter of Genesis is the re-creation of the earth. It is God bringing Earth back into life form. Here we are told that the earth was without form and void and being so, it was in need of restoration of all things on the planet. Therefore, we have an account of this restoration in 31 verses, which make up Genesis 1, recapturing God’s work in the beginning, and His creation of Heaven and Earth.

In Genesis 1, we will reveal how the condition of the earth was dark, void, and without form after judgment was placed upon it by an angry God. We will address in more detail during the context of this commentary, the moving of the Spirit of God upon the face of the waters. The first recorded words spoken by the Lord: Let there be light, is the declaration of God in Genesis 1:3 that the light was good. The dividing of the light from the darkness, and the naming of the darkness and the naming of the light ended the first day.

God commanded that a firmament be placed in the midst of the waters. Thereby, dividing the waters from the waters, the waters were placed in two separate places; the waters above and the waters under the firmament, and the naming of the firmament, which is called Heaven. God commanded the waters that are under the heavens to be gathered together in one place, making it possible for the dry land to appear. He named the dry land, Earth, and named the waters, which have been gathered together, the seas. He then declared that what He has done is good. This was the end of the second day. On the third day, God issued a directive to the earth to become productive by bringing forth grass, herbs, seeds, and fruit trees yielding fruit after their particular kind. This is the close of the third day.

God speaks again and commands that lights be displayed in the firmament (Heaven). Recorded in Genesis 1:14-19, there are seven purposes for these lights: (1) to divide the day from the night, (2) for signs, (3) for seasons, (4) for days, (5) for years, (6) to give light, and (7) to rule. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also (Gen. 1:16). The greater light is the sun, the lesser light is the moon, and the stars were sprinkled throughout the solar system. This occurred on the fourth day.

God then speaks to the waters, which were dead, commanding that they bring forth life, releasing an abundance of moving creatures that have been given birth from the waters at God’s command. Note the diversity of creatures that the waters brought forth: (1) moving creatures, (2) fowl that f ly above the earth in the open firmament of Heaven, (3) Great whales, (4) every living creature that moveth, as well as the herb of the fields and the fruit bearing trees. All have in themselves the power and capability to multiply.

God then speaks to the earth and commands it to bring forth living creatures after his kind. There are four things that this text speaks of (four general orders of life); they are: (1) the living creature, (2) the cattle, (3) the creeping things, and (4) the beast of the earth. These things are declared to be good by God who has created them. In Genesis 1:26a, there is a change in the manner in which God goes about the next order of his creation. And God said, Let us make man in our image, and after our likeness. Here, God begins His design of a higher order. He begins to work that which will mirror Himself. God placed another kind of clay upon the wheel of His creation; this was His masterpiece, which was to become the federal head of all that He had created.

When God designs man in His image and after His likeness, this would be the greatest work of His hands. When He began His work in the fashioning of man, He designs His structure, making it perfect in each and every detail. Since God is perfect and all together lovely, if man is to be in His image, he must be without f law or blemish. Note Ephesians 5:25-27: Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word. That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Note also Ephesians 1:3-6: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.

According to Song of Solomon 5:10-16: My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven. His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set. His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet f lowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh. His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

What a glorious and unique picture it must have been in the mind of God at the creation of man. The words of the Apostle Paul and the words of Solomon fall far beneath what is adequately needed to give the descriptive picture of God forming His own image from the dust of the earth and attaching Himself so uniquely to every fiber of man’s anatomy. Here in Genesis 1:26, we must keep in mind that God is not building the second Adam who is the Lord from glory (1 Cor. 15:47). Rather, he is building the first Adam who is of the earth. This Adam is a living soul (1 Cor. 15:45). We must also understand that in Genesis 1:26, Adam is on the architect’s drawing board. He will not be made until Genesis 2:7, where the Lord God forms what He has designed.

For clarification, we need to understand that from Genesis 1:2-25, we are viewing the re-creation of the earth; or, you could term it as the resurrection of the earth. God is restoring it back to its original form. At the commencement of this restoration, He brings in a higher order, and lays this upon the drawing board. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them (Gen. 1:27). In this text, it is appropriate for Him to say male and female because in his design, the female is placed in the male. However, she will not realize her life or individuality until she is taken out of man and fashioned, as was Adam, by the hand of God.

And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the f lesh instead thereof; And the rib which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and f lesh of my f lesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man (Gen. 2:21-23). Even as the LORD God so meticulously, uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully makes the man, so does He meticulously, uniquely, fearfully and wonderfully makes the woman in every detail. Why? So that she might be perfectly fitted to the man.

And the LORD God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him (Gen. 2:18). If you noticed, God does not use the word helpmate; rather, He used the word, help meet for him. That word means suitable mate, one who would perfectly complement the man as well as the man complementing the woman. She is not designed to be his servant, but to be a fit companion for the man.

In Genesis 1:1, 26, you should also note that these verses relate to the name used in the re-creation, God Elohim, the power of creation. But beginning with Genesis 2:4, there is added to His name the word, LORD. These titles or names (LORD God) continue through Genesis 3, each time a reference is made to God. It is important that we understand the reason why. In Genesis 1, He is God who has created all things. Yet, beginning in Genesis 2:4, He is LORD God.