all the earth thus far? As we give the question some thought, we think of how he covered Adam and Eve with an animal skin in place of the garments of their own making, the loincloth made of fig leaves. But is this progress? We might postulate that God’s saving of Noah and his family from the flood through the provision of the ark could be progress of some sort. We might think that the promise of a deliverer in Genesis 3:15 or the covenant rainbow and its promise of God’s restraint of cataclysmic judgment is progress as well. But if we are honest in following the development of the events in the first eleven chapters of Genesis, we must come to the conclusion that what started out as “very good,” and with vast potential, has quickly turned, in the narrative, into terribly bad. There is no progress to be seen. So, what is the purpose of these eleven chapters?
These beginning chapters of Genesis are not trying to answer every question of origin, although they do answer many questions. Their primary purpose is to set the stage for what God needs, and is going, to do in the world in the future. These chapters of the Bible are unique. Moses explains that the world needs help. These chapters show us the need in a fallen world. These chapters set the stage for the redemptive plan. God is moving toward the goal, but mankind is not—when our original parents sinned, they passed on their sin nature with devastating effect (sibling rivalry, ending in murder). Eventually, all people practice wickedness and evil continually, so much so that they are destroyed by God in the flood. And even after an event of such seismic proportion, mankind pursues its own exaltation at Babel, elevating itself and opposing the will of God to fill the earth with his glory.
Clearly we do not observe progress in these chapters. We see sin and disobedience, along with a universal curse; we see wickedness and destruction; and we see the rebellious dispersed in confusion. These chapters are the prologue for the remainder of the biblical story. These chapters demonstrate the great need on earth. They explain what has happened prior to the intervention that God will initiate in Genesis chapter 12. They prepare the listener (the original audience was the people of Israel, having been liberated from Egypt) for the action that will follow. These chapters present the dark, dismal setting of life on earth and prepare the listener for the raising of the curtain. These chapters comprise the prologue.
A prologue is an introduction, a preface, or a forward to a literary, theatrical, or musical work. A prologue often creates anticipation, and even suspense or intrigue. When I was a young boy, my favorite television program (and still my favorite of all time) was a 1960s series known as “The Fugitive,” starring David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble. Dr. Kimble was always on the run, having been falsely accused of murdering his wife (the show was based on the real life events of one Dr. Samuel Sheppard). The weekly plots were always engaging due to the melancholic acting of David Janssen and the drama of constant chase by the law. One of the best parts of the program for me, however, was always the opening scene. For twenty seconds to a minute, a scene of action was portrayed that often included intense drama and a trial of some sort. Trouble was surely in store for the much sought after Dr. Kimble. What would happen next? Would his nemesis, Lt. Philip Gerard, finally capture him? Would he get a glimpse of the real killer, the ever elusive one-armed man? Watch this episode and find out! This opening scene was the prologue to the rest of the night’s program, skillfully capturing the audience’s attention. Genesis chapters 1–11 are the beginning of the redemptive story, but serve as the prologue. These first few stories simply set the stage for what is to come. This opening biblical scene, moving from grandeur to seeming hopelessness, is told as the very frank prologue introducing the remainder of a marvelous story. Under the circumstances, the listener or reader wonders, “will the goal be reached?” “Is anything good going to happen with all of this trouble on earth?” Act one, scene one is soon to commence!
Act One, Scene One
As we observed in the previous chapter, the beginning chapters of the Bible are radically different from the storyline that follows. This prologue material is neither redemptive nor progressive in nature. As a matter of fact, as Moses tells the story, the movement of the drama becomes both regressive and somber. If the next stage of history was not somewhat familiar to us, we would be wondering, “Is there any hope for the world?”
Try to think about this soon to unfold drama as if you have never heard it told before. The questions would be endless and the suspense overwhelming. I have a friend who has been working in a mission endeavor in Africa for over twenty years. For many of those years, he and his wife served in a ministry to the Maasai tribe of East Africa. He spent much of his life sharing the gospel of Christ with these semi-nomadic people. His goal in sharing the gospel, however, was not simply to present a typical four-point gospel message about God, man, Christ, and the response. He engaged in what he calls “Bible storying.” Instead, he tells the Maasai about how the Bible story unfolds so that they can understand that God is actively working in his world and that he has a plan that includes even them. And, of course, that plan is Christ! He once told me that using the story-telling approach to the gospel means that his Maasai audience has to wait a long time to fully understand the gospel story. At the same time, however, they are being both evangelized and discipled. I write about this mission ministry because I want us to imagine what it would be like if we were a member of the Maasai tribe listening to the Bible story being told in chronological order for the very first time. We would hardly be able to wait for the next chapter of the book. One has to wonder if we could actually put the book down! The prologue has presented us anew with that question—“What is going to happen to the God-forsaken (and God-forsaking) world of Genesis chapters 1–11? Is there any hope? Will matters become worse or get better? Will God do anything? My supposition is that you likely already know some of the answers to those penetrating questions. Nevertheless, I hope that you will continue to read on as if you are a member of this tribe, as one who does not know the story, or simply as someone who has never heard the Bible story before.
Scene One
Step One
The Seed Promise
As we look back at the prologue of the story, we recognize that a great dilemma has been presented. The world is not what it should be. Will God act in a favorable manner? Or will he continue to judge his wayward creatures in some just and righteous fashion? However, grace is about to abound. At the end of Genesis 11 we see a man and his wife, Abram and Sarai, as the Lord (Yahweh) calls out to Abram. Here is the account of the encounter:
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:1–3)
One thing should be noted here. According to the text, God is changing his focus. Those early chapters of Genesis display God’s working with the world. The remainder of Genesis will spotlight God’s work with specific individuals. If we wish to summarize Genesis chapters 12–50, we simply need to say, “Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.” Moses is now addressing God’s call to Abram (known eventually as Abraham). He will describe some key events in Abram’s life. Please recognize that the story of Abraham is not a biography. It consists of only a handful of pivotal episodes. If we wanted to publish the story of Abraham based on the passages contained in Genesis, his biography would be far too weak and seemingly too silly to publish. The short accounts are all we need to know. They are selective history highlighting God’s work with Abraham. Just consider what you would think if I were to tell you the story of my life with just a few points and short stories. Rod was born in Greenville, South Carolina. Rod grew up in Greenville. Rod went to college in Columbia, South Carolina where he became a Christian. Rod met his wife while in seminary and got married at age twenty-four. Rod and his wife had four children. Rod and his wife have lived in Columbia, South Carolina, Gainesville, Florida, Clearwater,
