Genesis: Embracing Beginnings and Honoring Covenants: A Fifty-Day Devotional

By Graham Joseph Hill

Dive deep into the first book of the Bible: Genesis. This foundational book of the Bible sets the stage for the entire biblical narrative and offers profound insights into God's plan for humanity. Through a dedicated fifty-day journey, readers will explore Genesis, unveiling its broader significance within the tapestry of Scripture.

Rooted in rigorous biblical and theological scholarship, this devotional encourages a fuller understanding of the stories of Genesis and their relevance in today's world. Each day, readers are invited to meditate on a complete chapter, reflecting on its overarching themes and intricate details.

This Genesis-centered journey is the first book in a series of devotional books and podcast episodes designed to guide you through the entire Bible, nourishing your soul, renewing your purpose, and deepening your theology, contemplation, and action. In the Daily Devotions with Jesus series, Rev. Dr. Graham Joseph Hill guides you through the entire Bible, moving chapter by chapter from Genesis to Revelation. This is a groundbreaking Bible podcast and devotional book series. See how each book of the Bible deepens your faith and inspires you to follow Jesus in life-changing ways! See the podcast here: grahamjosephhill.com/devotions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Release date: Jan 31, 2024
• ISBN: 9798385208470

Graham Joseph Hill

Graham Joseph Hill serves with the Uniting Church in Australia as Mission Catalyst—New and Renewing Communities. Previously, he was the principal and associate professor of world Christianity at Stirling College (University of Divinity) and vice principal of Morling College. Hill is a research associate at the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He is the author of thirteen books, including Healing Our Broken Humanity (co-authored with Grace Ji-Sun Kim). His author website is GrahamJosephHill.com.

Book preview

Genesis

Embracing Beginnings and Honoring Covenants: A Fifty-Day Devotional

GRAHAM JOSEPH HILL

Genesis

Embracing Beginnings and Honoring Covenants: A Fifty-Day Devotional

Copyright ©

2024

Graham Joseph Hill. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

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paperback isbn: 979-8-3852-0845-6

hardcover isbn: 979-8-3852-0846-3

ebook isbn: 979-8-3852-0847-0

version number 010324

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Day 1: In the Beginning and Always

Day 2: Sacred Relationship and Responsibility

Day 3: Brokenness and Hope

Day 4: Between Brokenness and Redemption

Day 5: Lineage of Redemption

Day 6: Grief, Grace, and God’s Restoration

Day 7: Covenant, Chaos, and the Cry of Creation

Day 8: Receding Waters and the Resurgence of Promise

Day 9: The Color and Character of Covenant

Day 10: Threads of Unity in Diversity

Day 11: Pride, Control, and Movements That Glorify God

Day 12: Embarking on Unknown Roads and Caring for Creation

Day 13: Landscapes of the Heart

Day 14: Navigating Battles and Blessings

Day 15: The Deep Echoes of Covenantal Faith

Day 16: God Sees Us in the Wilderness of Our Lives

Day 17: Covenant and Promise

Day 18: Hospitality, Intercession, and Divine Promises

Day 19: The Gravity of Sin and the Grace of Redemption

Day 20: A Dance of Fear and Grace

Day 21: A Tale of Joy, Pain, and Divine Intervention

Day 22: The Sacrifice That Redeems and Calls

Day 23: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Hope

Day 24: A Tapestry of Divine Providence

Day 25: Eternal Inheritance and Human Desires

Day 26: Trusting God amid Opposition and Struggle

Day 27: The Pursuit of Blessing

Day 28: A Stairway to Transformation

Day 29: Covenantal Love and God’s Redemption

Day 30: Desire, Dissatisfaction, and Divine Providence

Day 31: Journey to Liberation and Grace

Day 32: Wrestling with God and Being Wounded Healers

Day 33: Embracing the Grace of Reconciliation and Vulnerability

Day 34: Listening to the Silenced Voice of Dinah

Day 35: Transformative Encounters and New Identities

Day 36: Finding the Sacred in the Ordinary and Mundane

Day 37: Dismantling the Barriers of Pride, Anger, and Criticism

Day 38: Confronting Injustice, Embodying Redemption

Day 39: Unyielding Integrity in a Broken World

Day 40: Channeling Divine Grace in Life’s Darkest Corners

Day 41: Divine Sovereignty and Compassionate Service

Day 42: The Road to Reconciliation and Transformation

Day 43: Vulnerability and Reconciliation

Day 44: Extending Unexpected Grace in a Fractured World

Day 45: The Tapestry of Redemption and Reconciliation

Day 46: Journeying Through Divine Disorientation

Day 47: Stewarding Grace amid Empires

Day 48: Radical Grace in a World of Human Merit

Day 49: Trusting the Weaver of Divine Narratives

Day 50: The Power of Forgiveness and Grace

Appendix 1: Daily Devotions with Jesus Devotional Books and Podcast

Appendix 2: Bible Reading Plan

Appendix 3: Other Books and Resources by Graham Joseph Hill

I always walked into Graham Joseph Hill’s seminary classes with a heart full of expectation. Now, opening his books evokes that same excitement. This new devotion on Genesis is a deep river of spiritual insight. Dive in and be refreshed.

—Tim Kay, Senior pastor, Thornleigh Community Baptist Church

It is with great joy that I offer my wholehearted endorsement for this daily devotional on the book of Genesis. Graham Joseph Hill’s deeply insightful reflections take the profound truths of Scripture and present them in a wonderfully helpful, accessible form. This inspiring devotional work is a blessing to me, and I look forward to the subsequent volumes.

—Nick Scott, Senior pastor, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

If you are interested in a concise, thoughtful engagement with the book of Genesis, this devotional is for you. Graham Joseph Hill’s deep theological reflections challenge the reader to consider how this foundational text impacts us today. Linking the narrative contained in Genesis with Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection, Hill offers the reader an insight into the redemptive narrative of God’s story and calls us to action as we respond to God’s truth for us, others, and all of creation.

—Sally Pim, Intercultural team member, Mozambique, Baptist Mission Australia

Graham Joseph Hill’s book of Genesis devotionals is a refreshing well of rediscovery into the Bible’s origin text. No topic is overlooked here; from the depth of sin to the absurdity of God’s grace freely given, serious treatment has been given to the overarching themes of the Christian faith. This is a stellar start to what will no doubt be a series of devotionals that will impact a generation of believers with the awe, hope, and promise of God and his word.

—Ed Divine, Team leader, Quinns Baptist Church

Graham Joseph Hill has drawn from his extensive theological knowledge to provide this excellent devotional resource. Hill writes from the heart as he leads his readers through Genesis, enabling big concepts to be filtered through the lens of the gospel and the new creation God has birthed in us through Christ. Hill’s devotions are profoundly beautiful to read, deeply encouraging, and sufficiently challenging in application and as a teaching resource for enquirers and seasoned disciples alike.

—Ann Clews, Follower of Jesus Christ

Daily Devotions with Jesus

For Madison April,

my eldest daughter,

whom I love more than words can express.

Introduction

In the Daily Devotions with Jesus series, Rev. Dr. Graham Joseph Hill guides you through the entire Bible, moving chapter by chapter from Genesis to Revelation. Daily Devotions with Jesus podcasts and devotional books show you how each chapter of the Bible can shape your spiritual life and actions in the world. This is a groundbreaking Bible podcast and devotional book series. See how each book of the Bible deepens your faith and inspires you to follow Jesus in life-changing ways!

Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament (or Hebrew Bible), is the grand opening to the story of God’s relationship with humanity. It’s a book of beginnings—the world’s creation, the first humans, the inception of sin, and the dawn of God’s redemptive plan. As the blueprint of the Christian narrative, Genesis provides us with profound insights into the nature of God, the human condition, and the spiritual journey we are all invited to embark upon.

The account of creation reveals a God of order, beauty, and abundance. The universe is not a product of chaos but is intricately designed by a loving Creator down to the last detail. From the onset, we learn that we are made in the image of God, a powerful statement that imbues human life with inherent dignity and purpose. However, the tale quickly turns to the fall, giving us an honest look at human frailty. Yet even in this moment of spiritual tragedy, we see the first hints of God’s redemptive plan, which culminates in Jesus Christ.

The stories of figures like Noah, Abraham, and Joseph offer timeless lessons on faith, obedience, and God’s sovereignty. These are not mere historical accounts but transformative narratives that can impact our spiritual journey. Take Abraham, for example—his faith led him to unknown lands and unimaginable promises, much like our walk with God requires trust and surrender. Or consider Joseph, whose story shows that even our deepest sufferings can be used by God for a higher purpose.

Genesis is a beginning and a beckoning, inviting us to explore, experience, and engage with a God who is deeply invested in our