Casket Empty God's Plan of Redemption through History: Old Testament Study Guide

By Carol Kaminski

This book will help you understand the redemptive story of the Old Testament through six major periods: Creation, Abraham, Sinai, Kings, Exile, and Temple, with the first letter of each heading making up the word CASKET. This acronym will enable you to memorize the storyline of the Old Testament and place key events, people, and biblical books i

• Language: English
• Publisher: Casket Empty Media LLC
• Release date: Sep 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578983639

Carol Kaminski

Dip. Miss., B.A. (Melbourne School of Theology, Australia); M.A., M.A.R. (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary); Ph.D.(University of Cambridge). Dr. Kaminski created the acronym CASKET EMPTY as a way to help people better understand the Old Testament narrative and its culmination in the person of Jesus. While Christians are often more familiar with the New Testament, Dr. Kaminski believes that the Church desperately needs to renew its commitment to teach the Old Testament. Her CASKET Old Testament Timeline enables people to see visually how the Old Testament story progresses through six major redemptive periods, enabling them to locate key people, events, and biblical books in their historical-redemptive context. The Casket Empty Series includes Old Testament Maps and an Old Testament Bible Study, as well as companion New Testament volumes, written by Dr. David Palmer. Dr. Kaminski teaches courses in Old Testament and Hebrew language at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Her research interests include exegesis and theology of Genesis, Old Testament covenants, and biblical theology. She and her husband live in Topsfield, Massachusetts.

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Endorsements for the Casket Empty Old Testament Study Guide and Timeline

Like a finely woven basket, Carol Kaminski’s work weaves the Biblical narrative with the significant theological themes of Scripture tying the two testaments together and demonstrating the continuity of God’s work in Jesus Christ. Casket Empty has proven quite popular and deeply moving for my congregants who sit back and say, ‘Finally, I see how it all comes together.’

Case Thorp, Senior Associate Pastor for Mission & Evangelism First Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Florida

"Targeted at treasure hunters of all ages, this Old Testament Study Guide supplies a trail tested, God-glorifying, and Christ-exalting journey through the storyline of Jesus’ Bible. Kaminski focuses on the first half of the helpful CASKET EMPTY acronym for redemptive history. With regular reference to her Old Testament Timeline, she overviews the plot from Genesis to Malachi, detailing the major events and characters and identifying the context of death that Christ’s resurrection overcomes. This is a rich resource for students, churches, small groups, and personal study. And when joined with Palmer’s New Testament counterparts and accompanied by the PowerPoint materials available online, the teacher is equipped to effectively communicate God’s plan of redemption beginning with creation, stretching to consummation, and centered on Messiah Jesus. This is the kind of resource that will help Christians discover their place in God’s story." 

Dr. Jason S. DeRouchie, Elder, Bethlehem Baptist Church Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Theology, Bethlehem College & Seminary

For the lay person, a story with 66 separate books is challenging. Trying to understand the timing, key people, events and storyline makes it even more daunting, yet Drs. Carol Kaminski and David Palmer unwrap it clearly. They show that the Old Testament events not only make sense, but lead to the greatest of all events—the birth, death and resurrection of our LORD and Savior, which assures our own resurrection someday. Casket Empty is easy to grasp, easy to enjoy and will benefit everyone!

Norm Sonju, Retired, Co-Founder, President/GM, Dallas Mavericks Chairman, CAMP-of-the-WOODS, Speculator, NY

Dr. Kaminski presented the CASKET material to a standing-room only crowd on a Saturday morning at our church. People still talk about it as one of the most helpful seminars they have ever attended. Her materials have helped to raise the biblical literacy of our entire congregation. 

Bryan Wilkerson, Senior Pastor Grace Chapel, Lexington, MA

In today’s academic environment of Old Testament studies we notice a trend toward over-specialization which can lead to a complete loss of the ‘big picture’ of the Old Testament narrative. Thankfully, there are scholars like Dr. Kaminski, who has provided us with a great educational tool in the form of CASKET. Brilliantly simple, yet powerfully comprehensive, I heartily recommend it to theology students and professional people alike. In fact, it is in my bag of ‘absolute must’ materials whenever I travel to teach in Central and Eastern Europe.

Dr. Andrzej Turkanik, Executive Director Quo Vadis Institute

"In the Casket Empty Bible Series, Professor Carol Kaminski appropriately reminds us that the LORD God is a personal God whose loving interaction with his people ultimately eventuates in the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ. The acronym C-A-S-K-E-T not only serves as a brilliant teaching-learning method, but also carefully delineates the grace that is intricately woven throughout God’s redemptive history. Professor Kaminski uniquely invites readers to engage the Bible by entering and dwelling in the divine drama—where we inevitably find ourselves in light of God’s loving kindness. With great admiration I wholeheartedly recommend the Casket Empty Old Testament Timeline for anyone who longs to commune with God through the pages of the Old Testament."

Dr. S. Steve Kang Professor of Educational Ministries and Interdisciplinary Studies Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

"For those who want a fuller and deeper understanding of the riches of the Old Testament, the first task is to get the big picture and then to study the full scope of its texts in chronological, geographical, historical, cultural and literary context. Dr. Kaminski’s Old Testament Timeline is a superb resource with which to begin this process, though it will also be helpful for those who have read widely in the Old Testament but who have not seriously looked at these areas of the contextual background. The timeline is visually appealing, graphically interesting, easy to follow, focused on what is most important and it is amazingly rich with respect to Old Testament history and theology. Master the contents of this excellent resource for biblical study and you will have a solid foundation upon which to build a lifetime of study of God’s Word."

Dr. Gary Practico Senior Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Language Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

"Dr. Carol Kaminski’s innovative CASKET: Old Testament Timeline is a tested and extremely valuable tool for anyone seeking to acquire a solid grasp of the Bible’s storyline and key themes. Many people have reported how much it helped them fit the pieces together and gain an understanding of the whole Old Testament. I highly recommend it to students and teachers alike!"

Dr. Roy E. Ciampa Manager of Biblical Scholarship and Integrated Training Nida Institute, American Bible Society

"The CASKET: Old Testament Timeline is a very useful and compact way to introduce students to the storyline of the Old Testament. It is a helpful resource because its presentation makes the Old Testament memorable, while at the same time it emphasizes key theological themes. The acronym CASKET looks forward and vividly reminds students that the problem of death is solved only through Jesus Christ’s EMPTY tomb (casket) in the New Testament. I highly recommend this timeline for all students who desire to have the Old Testament more firmly planted in their hearts (and minds)."

Dr. Cristian Rata Associate Professor of Old Testament Torch Trinity Graduate University Seoul, South Korea

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Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2012 by Carol M. Kaminski

Reprinted 2021 by Casket Empty Media, LLC

www.casketempty.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – for example, electronic, photocopy, recording – without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

ISBN: 9780578983639 (ebook)

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1 CREATION

Chapter 2 ABRAHAM

Chapter 3 SINAI

Chapter 4 KINGS: The United Monarchy

Chapter 5 KINGS: The Northern Kingdom

Chapter 6 KINGS: The Southern Kingdom Part 1

Chapter 7 KINGS: The Southern Kingdom Part 2

Chapter 8 EXILE

Chapter 9 TEMPLE

Preface

This book has been written out of a deep desire to help people understand the Old Testament. The Casket Empty project began several years ago while I was working on my dissertation at Cambridge University. A local church had asked me to do an eight-week teaching series on the Old Testament. I decided to teach through the Old Testament by focusing on six major redemptive periods. It was at this time that the acronym CASKET EMPTY® was created as a teaching tool to help people learn the Bible. Over the past fifteen years CASKET has continued to develop and take shape, with each and every teaching context providing the opportunity for improvement and adjustment along the way. I have used the CASKET material in graduate-level classes at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, at church retreats, and in local churches. The acronym CASKET EMPTY has been received with great enthusiasm, as it enables people to grasp the redemptive story of the entire Bible, with the person of Jesus at its center.

Since the Casket Empty project covers the Old and New Testaments, I was keen to find a New Testament scholar who shared my vision to teach the redemptive narrative through the entire Bible. It is my privilege to work with Dr. David Palmer, who is the author of the EMPTY portion of this project. I met David and his wife Christine when I was a student at Gordon-Conwell, as they were both studying at the seminary at that time. David is a gifted pastor-scholar who has a passion for the church and an abiding love for God’s word. It is a blessing to work with him on this project.

I am grateful to a number of people who have contributed significantly to this book. When the first draft of the manuscript was complete, David Palmer read it in its entirety and gave many thoughtful comments, seeking to ensure that the Old Testament Study Guide flowed seamlessly into the New Testament Study Guide. Sonja Noll provided meticulous editorial assistance, including checking all the Bible references. Other teaching assistants worked on the material at various stages of the project. My students at Gordon-Conwell, both in Boston and at Hamilton, have provided helpful feedback in my Old Testament Survey class, which I continue to teach each year using CASKET. I am thankful for my faculty colleagues at Gordon-Conwell, who share my love for God’s word and commitment to serve the local church. Chuck Merritt at White Post Media has been a tremendous source of encouragement to me over the past few years. He and his team worked hard to prepare the Old Testament CASKET timeline along with the website, and their helpful feedback at key stages in the process enabled the project to move forward. Special thanks are due to Sarah Sulek for the design of the cover, along with her graphic design work for the Casket Empty project. My two sons, Robert and Ryan, are a reminder that we need to be teaching the biblical stories to the next generation. Lastly, I am thankful for my husband, Matt. His friendship, support, and encouragement have enabled me to press on with the vision God has set before me.

Carol Kaminski

July 2012

Introduction

The premise of this book is that the Bible, which is comprised of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, is one redemptive story that begins in Genesis and concludes in Revelation. While hundreds of people are mentioned in the Bible, and many stories are told, there is an overarching redemptive narrative that brings coherence to the various parts and shows that history is moving toward a goal planned by God. This is the true story of the world that shapes and informs our lives. In an age of competing worldviews and metanarratives, we need a fresh vision of God’s plan of redemption for his creation.

The Old Testament spans over two thousand years and includes thirty-nine books, written by a variety of authors. As the story unfolds, there are times of great rejoicing, as God’s people celebrate the goodness and faithfulness of their God and marvel at his wondrous works. Yet, there are periods of profound despair and unimaginable tragedy, when God’s people suffer under his judgment for their rebellion and sin. We will discover that there are many high and low points in this redemptive narrative, but when the Old Testament draws to its conclusion, there is strangely no climactic ending to this story. There is no king reigning on the throne in Jerusalem. There is no glorious restoration as depicted by the prophets. There is no establishment of a new covenant. There is no final defeat of Israel’s enemies. Instead, the storyline of the Old Testament ends with God’s people waiting for their God to act decisively in history and on their behalf. They are waiting for God to restore his people. They are waiting for God to raise up a son of David who will establish an everlasting kingdom. They are waiting for God to deliver them and fulfill his promises of old. God’s people are longing for the coming Messiah, who will bring the redemptive plan of God to its glorious fulfillment. This means that the Old Testament ends with the story yet to be finished. This is the storyline that is taken up in the New Testament, as God acts on behalf of his people, according to his promises made to their forefathers. The story comes to a climax in the person of Jesus, whose life, death, and resurrection bring to fulfillment the promises of old. The empty tomb of the Messiah, therefore, lies at the center of God’s plan of redemption. The title for this Bible series is CASKET EMPTY, which points to this central truth.

When we keep this larger redemptive narrative in view, it reminds us that we need to know the Old Testament if we are to grasp what the storyline of the Bible is all about. The Old Testament covers the first two thousand years of the story. This means that we will not understand the significance of the Messiah and the kingdom he establishes unless we understand the Old Testament, which is where the story begins and takes shape. The Old Testament is where key figures, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, are introduced. It is where covenants are initiated and divine promises are made. It is where the law is given to Moses at Mount Sinai. It is where the tabernacle is revealed and God’s glory is seen. It is where God’s promises to David are given—all the kinds of information we need to know if we are to understand who Jesus is and what the Bible is all about. The Old Testament will also help us understand who we are and why we need a Savior.

Yet even though the Old Testament is vitally important to the story, the reality is that most Christians know very little about it. Many Christians have read the New Testament, or good portions of it, yet people often find the Old Testament difficult to understand. As a result, books like Chronicles, Habakkuk, and Nahum have never been opened. Even more tragic, many Christians have not come to know the God of the Old Testament, who is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth. This is, indeed, a great loss for the people of God. Perhaps you are among those who have wanted to know more about the Old Testament, but you have found it too difficult to understand. Or perhaps you are familiar with some of the stories, but you have never been able to make sense of the whole. If so, this book is for you.

If you are willing to embark on this journey with me through the Old Testament, I will help you along the way, pointing out the most important people and events and showing you how the individual stories fit into the larger redemptive narrative. I will give you study tips along the way and show you which Bible passages to read. At times we will pause to reflect upon the greatness of our God and marvel at the richness of his redemptive plan that spans the entire Bible. Together we will journey through the biblical story, and it is my prayer that as you study the Scriptures, you will discover afresh the God of the Old Testament, who relentlessly pursues a stubborn and rebellious people.

The Order of the Old Testament Books

As we begin our study of the Old Testament, the first thing I would like you to do is open your Bible to the Table of Contents. You will notice that there are thirty-nine books of the Old Testament, beginning with Genesis and concluding with Malachi. The Table of Contents helps the reader locate a particular book in the Old Testament. Yet this order can be somewhat misleading. Let me explain why. Many of us are accustomed to reading books about history in chronological order. A history of the Greek and Roman Empires, for instance, would discuss the Greeks before the Romans simply because the Greek Empire comes first chronologically. With this implicit understanding of how history books are written and how we are to read them, you might expect that the books of the Old Testament are similarly in chronological order. One of the reasons why the Old Testament is so difficult to understand, however, is because most of the thirty-nine books are not in chronological order. Let me show you what I mean. If you look at the Table of Contents in your Bible, you will notice that the names of the first twelve books in the Old Testament are in the following order:

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, and Second Kings.

These books are among the few books of the Old Testament that are in chronological order. This means that the events described in the book of Exodus take place after the events described in Genesis. But this is not always the case. Notice, for instance, that Hosea is located after Ezekiel and Daniel in the Table of Contents:

Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea.

You might think, therefore, that the prophet Hosea is ministering after Ezekiel and Daniel, but Hosea actually begins his ministry over one hundred years earlier! You would not know this from the Table of Contents. Another example is the book of Nehemiah. You will notice that Nehemiah is located in the first half of the Old Testament, immediately following Ezra:

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, First Samuel, Second Samuel, First Kings, Second Kings, First Chronicles, Second Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms, Proverbs.

But the events described in Nehemiah take place toward the end of the Old Testament during the TEMPLE period. This means that if the books were in chronological order, Nehemiah would be one of the last few books. So the first thing we need to keep in mind as we begin our study of the Old Testament is that we cannot assume that the books are in chronological order. As we work through the Old Testament, I will be showing you which books belong to each time period and where they fit chronologically. While this study guide does not give detailed information about every Old Testament book, you will be learning about the main storyline of the Old Testament and how the individual books contribute to it. The acronym CASKET will help you learn the Old Testament.

The Acronym CASKET

The acronym for the entire Bible is CASKET EMPTY. Since we are studying the Old Testament, we are interested in the acronym CASKET. This will help you learn the storyline of the Old Testament and place individual books in their correct historical context. The Old Testament has been separated into six distinct periods, with each period having its own heading and date: Creation (date uncertain), Abraham (2100-1450 BC), Sinai (1450-1050 BC), Kings (1050-586 BC), Exile (586-539 BC), and Temple (539-430 BC). Each heading describes what takes place in the particular period, and the first letter of each heading makes up the acronym CASKET.

Key Turning Points in the Redemptive Plan of God

It is important for you to recognize that each period is marked off by a key event. Countries have their own set of events that mark off one era from the next one. These events can include major wars, the rise of significant leaders, economic downturns or upturns, periods of civil war or oppression, times of religious reformation, and the list could continue. The basic principle is that certain events are so important that they mark off one era from the next. In the same way, we can identify key events in the Old Testament that are turning points in the redemptive plan of God. Since the Old Testament is a history of God’s people, these events can be dated as well. The acronym CASKET will help you remember these six periods and enable you to locate key people and events in their correct time period. If you are able to memorize the acronym CASKET, along with the dates, key events, and people for each period, this will provide the framework for you to learn God’s redemptive story in the Old Testament.

Why the Acronym CASKET EMPTY?

Let me explain the significance of the acronym CASKET for the Old Testament. You may be thinking to yourself that the title is rather morbid. Yes, it is. But the word CASKET reminds us of what takes place in the first few chapters of the Bible. God gives Adam a command and tells him that death will come if he disobeys it. Adam takes from the prohibited fruit, and so death enters the human story through disobedience. As we journey through the Old Testament, we will discover that the problem of sin is revealed in the story of Israel, for God’s people, like Adam, are transgressors of his law. The acronym CASKET is a poignant reminder therefore that sin, which leads to death, is Israel’s (and our) fundamental problem. Yet the acronym for the entire Bible is CASKET EMPTY, which points to the solution to sin and death, found in the empty tomb of the Messiah.

The Acronym CASKET EMPTY for the Entire Bible

The acronym EMPTY for the New Testament reminds us of God’s saving purposes in the New Testament through five additional periods: Expectations, Messiah, Pentecost, Teaching, and Yet-to-come. The acronym CASKET EMPTY points to the empty tomb of Christ as the beginning of God’s new creation, the assurance that death has been defeated, and the guarantee of our resurrection yet-to-come. CASKET EMPTY helps us comprehend and communicate God’s great redemptive story for all peoples. If you are able to memorize the acronym CASKET EMPTY, then you will have a framework for remembering the entire sweep of the Bible with the person and work of Christ at its center.

The Old Testament Timeline

I will be summarizing each period in the Old Testament shortly as a way of providing you with a quick overview before you get started with the individual chapters that explain each period in detail. Please note that this book is designed to be used in conjunction with the Old Testament CASKET Timeline. I will be assuming that you have a copy of the timeline in front of you as you work through this book. The timeline is available through the website www.casketempty.com. You will be able to grasp far more of the Old Testament storyline and see the theological connections across the entire Bible if you are able to keep this visual chart before you. The timeline will help you keep the larger redemptive narrative in view as you learn about individual people and stories.

Six Pictures Represent the Six Time Periods

Before starting with the first chapter on CREATION, it is important for you to locate the six pictures on the timeline that represent each period. Memorizing the icons along with the headings and dates for each period will help you quickly grasp the storyline of the Old Testament.

The Picture for CREATION Is Two Trees

The picture of two trees represents the period of CREATION. God commands Adam not to eat from one of the trees, but Adam disobeys God, resulting in banishment from God’s presence and death (Gen. 2–3). Since these two trees are at the very center of life in the garden, and since eating from one of them marks the entrance of sin into the world, this picture will remind you of this key event that takes place in the period of CREATION.

The Picture for ABRAHAM Is a Gift

The picture of a gift represents the period of ABRAHAM. In spite of Abraham’s old age and Sarah’s barrenness, Abraham believes that God is able to give him a son as he has promised. God justifies Abraham, an ungodly person, on account of his faith (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4). The picture of a gift underscores that justification is a gift of God by his grace.

The Picture for SINAI Is the Ten Commandments

The picture of two stone tablets represents the period of SINAI. The Ten Commandments are the stipulations of the Mosaic covenant (Exod. 20; Deut. 5-6). God’s people were required to keep these commandments; failure to keep them constituted breaking the covenant. The Ten Commandments will remind you that the law is given in this period and that it is central to God’s covenant with Israel.

The Picture for KINGS Is a Blue Crown

The picture of a blue crown represents the period of KINGS. Human beings are created in God’s image to be his royal representatives (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 8). God’s promise of kings to Abraham through Judah represents the continuation of the royal line, which will be realized through David’s son, whom God will raise up (Gen. 49:10; 1 Sam. 16; 2 Sam. 7).

The Picture for EXILE Is a Bird of Prey

The picture of a bird of prey represents the curses of the Mosaic covenant and the period of EXILE. God makes a covenant with Israel, promising to bless them if they obey his laws but curse them if they disobey them (Lev. 26; Deut. 27–28). In 586 BC God’s curses are poured out on Judah because they have disobeyed his laws (Jer. 7–11).

The Picture for TEMPLE Is a Temple

The picture of a temple represents the last period of the Old Testament known as TEMPLE. The picture recalls both the tabernacle (Exod. 25–40) and the temple built by Solomon in Jerusalem (1 Kgs. 6–8). The temple is destroyed in 586 BC by the Babylonians but rebuilt after the exile in this final period; it is completed in 516 BC (Ezra 6).

Memorize the Acronym

I would recommend that you commit to memory the names, dates, and pictures for each period before you begin the next chapter. You should be able to give a one or two sentence summary of the basic storyline of each period based on the summaries above.

Bible Readings

As you work your way through this book, I will be encouraging you to read through the books of the Old Testament alongside this study guide. Familiarity with the biblical stories is vital if you are to gain a good grasp of the redemptive story in the Old Testament. Select portions of Scripture are cited throughout this study guide so that you can read the Scriptures while learning about key people and events (all Bible quotations are from the ESV). You are now ready to begin the first period in the Old Testament, CREATION. Enjoy your study of God’s word!

Chapter 1

CREATION

The Period of CREATION Simply Explained

The first period of the Old Testament is entitled CREATION because the opening pages of the Bible describe God’s creation of the world by his word. The name of the God who creates the world and living creatures is Yahweh, which is translated as Lord in our English Bible. Since the Lord God is the one who brings the creation into being and gives life to all, he alone is to be worshiped and praised. Special attention is given in the first chapter of the Bible to the creation of human beings, who are made in God’s image and likeness. Human beings, both male and female, are to rule over God’s creation as his representatives. Under the blessing of God, they are to multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. God places the man and the woman in the garden that he has planted. Two trees are located in the center of the garden: the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God commands Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning him that he will surely die if he eats from it. This command is central to life with God. Human beings are to trust in God and obey his voice; in doing so, they honor him as God.

But the serpent enters the garden. He lies to Adam and Eve, telling them that they will not die if they eat from the prohibited tree and that they can become like God, simply by partaking of its fruit. Eve is deceived and listens to the creature rather than the Creator. She eats and gives the fruit to her husband who is with her, and he eats. Adam becomes a transgressor of God’s law since he had been given God’s command directly. Death comes as a result of Adam’s disobedience, not only to Adam but to all human beings who share his name and have their identity in him. Adam and Eve are banished from Eden, but the effects of sin are evident in Adam’s son, Cain, who murders his brother. Humans continue to multiply, but sin does as well. The hearts of human beings turn away from the Creator God, devising that which is evil in his sight. God is grieved over his creation and decides to wipe out human beings. Yet in an act of grace, God warns a man named Noah ahead of time of the impending judgment. This is not because Noah is good but because God is gracious. God plans to send a flood to wipe out humanity, but Noah finds favor in God’s sight. In order to obey God’s command to build the ark, Noah must believe in the unseen—that the flood waters will come as God has spoken. Noah obeys God by faith and is declared righteous by God. He is, therefore, permitted to enter the ark along with his family. After the flood-waters subside, God makes a covenant with Noah and all humanity. He promises never again to send another flood to wipe out his creation, even though the human heart has not changed. The human story continues because a gracious God promises to withhold his punishment. The rainbow is a sign of this covenant.

As time progresses, humans continue to act independently of God as they seek to build a fortified city. In pride they seek to establish notoriety through their extensive building feat. As an act of judgment, God scatters human beings and confuses their language, thereby preventing them from further collaboration. Nations emerge as a result of God’s judgment, and human beings are separated from each other. Yet, amidst the dispersion, Shem’s genealogy is given the place of preeminence. This indicates that hope for humanity will come through his line, which leads directly to Abraham. As the first period of the Old Testament draws to a close, we are reminded that the human story, which is now affected by sin and judgment, is not without hope. God has a plan to restore his creation. It will be realized through the line of Abraham, for in his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed by God.

The period of CREATION, which is recorded in Genesis 1–11, covers the creation story, the fall, the flood, and the emergence of nations. A genealogical line is established from Adam to Noah (ten generations, Gen. 5:1-32) and from Noah to Abraham (ten generations, Gen. 11:10-26). No dates are assigned for this period, since it is difficult to estimate the time of creation with any certainty. The key people for this period are Adam and Eve (along with their three sons, Cain, Abel, and Seth), Enoch, Lamech, and Noah (along with his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth).

Roadmap to the Chapter

As you read through this chapter, I would encourage you to have the Old Testament timeline in front of you. This will help you keep the larger redemptive narrative in view. Each point listed under the CREATION section on the timeline is discussed in this chapter. Additional Bible references are given throughout the chapter. You will benefit greatly from reading these key portions of Scripture. You may also want to underline important verses in your Bible.

God Creates the World and Living Creatures

The book of Genesis opens with the statement, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Gen. 1:1). Genesis 1:1–2:3 records in poetic form God’s creation of the world and living creatures. Creation comes into existence as God speaks, and it comes to pass. God’s word is both powerful and effective, for at his word the creation comes into being (Ps. 33:1-9; cf. John 1:1-3; Heb. 11:3).

There are many features within the creation story that underscore the poetry of the narrative: the repetition of key terms and phrases, such as and God said (Gen. 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29), and it was so (Gen. 1:7, 11, 15, 24); the naming formula, and God called (Gen. 1:5, 8, 10); and the repetition of the divine approval formula, and God saw that it was good, which occurs seven times (Gen. 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). The poetic structure of the creation narrative is also evident in its arrangement into two parallel units, with its climax occurring on the seventh day. In the ancient world, the number seven (or multiples of seven) speaks of perfection or completeness. The seven-day framework in the creation story not only anticipates the six-day work week and the seventh day of rest but it communicates in poetic form the perfection and completeness of God’s creation. Everything that God made was very good (Gen. 1:31).

Notice that the creation of light on day one (vv. 3-5) corresponds to the creation of the sun, moon, and stars on day four (vv. 14-19). Similarly, the creation of the sky separating the waters on day two (vv. 6-8) corresponds to the creation of birds and fish on day five (vv. 20-23). And lastly, the creation of the dry land and vegetation on day three (vv. 9-13) corresponds to the creation of living creatures and humans on day six (vv. 24-31). This parallel structure underscores that God is establishing realms and rulers for his creation: the sun is to rule the day, and the moon is to rule the night. The fish are to swarm the waters, and the birds are to fly in the sky and multiply on the earth. Human beings are to live on the earth and subdue it, for God has made it productive and habitable for them. Everything is created according to its kind, and everything has its realm. God’s creative activity climaxes on day six, which is the most extensive description of all the days. On this day, God makes human beings, male and female, in his image and likeness. They are his royal representatives, who are to rule over his entire creation (Ps. 8). God sets apart the seventh day as a holy day, for on it he rests from all the work that he has done (Gen. 2:1-3; Exod. 20:8-11; 35:1-3).

The Lord God Is Creator—He Alone Is God

When Gen. 1 and 2 are read together, they reveal that the all-powerful God, who creates the world and living creatures, and whose Spirit hovers over the creation, is the Lord God (Gen. 2:4). Since Yahweh Elohim (translated in our English Bible as Lord God) is the name of Israel’s God (Exod. 3:15; 6:2-3; 20:2; 34:6), the opening chapters of Genesis establish that the God who brings the creation into being is none other than Israel’s God, Yahweh. Why is this so important? As we begin our journey through the Old Testament, we need to bear in mind that the ancient world was a very religious place—it was religious because people believed in many gods (known as polytheism). People worshiped all types of gods, including celestial bodies within the creation, such as the sun, moon, and stars, as well as objects made by humans, such as idols made of gold, silver, wood, and stone. Underlying the worship of these gods was the belief that appeasing them (usually through sacrifices), would enable humans to have a measure of control over their lives, protecting them from things such as sickness, suffering, famine, and war. People of the ancient world put their trust in these so-called gods, including man-made statues, in order to have control and security in an unpredictable world. This reminds us that in the ancient world there were no atheists, only polytheists. Even Abraham comes from a family of idol worshipers.

Read against this background, the creation story is not setting out to prove to an atheistic world that God exists (for everyone already believes in gods) but is establishing in a polytheistic world that there is only one God and Creator. Israel’s God, Yahweh Elohim, is the only true and living God. The sun, moon, and stars have been created by him, but they are not gods, nor are they to be worshiped. All creation has its origin in the Lord God, and all praise and honor is due to him alone.

The creation story in Gen. 1–2 is foundational for God’s people in the Old Testament. Living in a polytheistic world, his people needed to know in no uncertain terms that Yahweh alone was God (Deut. 6:4). As the Israelites enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord God, who miraculously delivers them from Egypt and reveals his sovereign power over the gods of Egypt, they are required to worship him alone. Accordingly, the first two commandments prohibit Israel from worshiping other gods. They are not to make any idols, nor are they to worship or serve them (Exod. 20:3-6). When God’s people are about to enter into the promised land hundreds of years later, Moses repeatedly warns them about the danger of worshiping foreign gods:

Beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth … And beware lest you raise your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun and the moon and the stars, all the host of heaven, you be drawn away and bow down to