The Annotated Book of Genesis

The Book of Genesis is literally a book of beginnings. The intent of the author is to explain the narrative mode of the Holy Spirit so stories like the parables of Jesus works at many levels. Think of the Book of Genesis as a snapshot of the whole: we see Adam, Noah and the Patriarchs seated in the front row representing God's promise to Abraham: "In thee shall at the families of the earth be blessed (Ge.12:3). In the back row what we see are multitudes, as fulfilled. Jesus, who as the light of the world gives it clarity. Consequently when the Spirit discusses the patriarchs, focus is on the nation of Israel but other nations serve as a foil to it. For instance God places Joseph in Egypt so the nation of Israel could be helped in time of a great famine. Similarly at the birth of Jesus God secures a safe hiding place there for the Holy Family. God's Will sees all as part of his promise and in Time: time in which Joseph and Jesus were placed varies by more than a millennia. Yet these are all set in one timescale that is God's Time. It has a bearing on us. In accepting Jesus Christ as the Saviour we have been inducted into the picture. Adoption (Ep.1:5) means transcending time and place that limit our earthly lives for heavenly places. From the same author: Marginalia, a concise guide to the Bible in 2 volumes The Immanuel Factor Available as paperback/kindle