Human history is a tree—one massive, complex, multi-colored, multi-layered Hyperion whose planting was recorded in the book of Genesis. From rainbows to carnivores, from gender distinctions to bilingual children, Genesis explains why the world is the way it is.
But more importantly, the book of Genesis has the answer to the otherwise mysterious orchestration of biblical and human history. For in the end, the myriad of events that make up our history ever since our Creator first breathed life into Adam’s nostrils are not disjointed and unrelated. They’re events that intrinsically and intricately fit together to make up one large, historical redwood. And it sprouted from a seed that God Himself sowed in the Garden of Eden—a prophecy uttered directly from God’s mouth to Satan, recorded by Moses in Genesis 3:15:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.
The Promise of the Messiah
This prophecy is the promise of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was the promise that, in light of sin entering the world, there would come a seed—the Messiah—who would crush the head of Satan and be exalted above all. It is a text that not only prophesies about the presence of evil throughout human history, but also the eventual victory over evil. In the end, things happen the way they have and things will happen the way they will because God has purposed for Jesus Christ to triumphantly destroy the works of the devil.
From Genesis 3:15 stems the rest of the book’s narrative accounts over fifty chapters. The book of Genesis explains why, following Abel’s murder and Cain’s exile, Seth was brought forth as the initial branch of the lineage of Jesus (Gen 4:26). It explains why, in the midst of the great flood that destroyed the earth, God preserved Noah, a man of Seth’s lineage, and his family. It is because of Genesis 3:15 that the people were scattered all over the earth and prevented from building the tower of Babel, so that Christ would have worshippers and followers gathered from the entire face of the earth—a multitude of tribes, nations, peoples, and tongues (Matt 28:18-20; Rev 5:10).
The Rest of Genesis
It was for the fulfillment of this prophecy that Abraham, a man of the line of Noah, was promised a people and nation from his descendants (Gen 12:1ff). It was for the preservation of this lineage that Isaac was spared from death, and that Rebekah offered his camels water in the well. It was ultimately for this prophetic purpose that Jacob inherited the blessing (though by deception) and Esau did not. And it was for the future Egyptian incubation of the nation in which the lineage Judah, the ancestor of Jesus, would be preserved that Joseph (Judah’s brother) was sold into slavery to eventually become a ruler in Egypt.
From Genesis to the Rest of the Bible
From Genesis flows Exodus, from which flows Leviticus, and so on and so on. Apart from Genesis—and specifically the prophetic promise of 3:15—one cannot truly understand the rest of Scripture. And apart from the rest of Scripture, one cannot truly understand the significance of Genesis.
You and I are small parts of this massive sequoia of human history. Understanding Genesis gives enables us to understand why our kids suddenly throw tantrums at Costco, why political corruption exists, why going to work from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm can feel like a pointless drudgery, why jealousy killed some of our otherwise dearest relationships.
There is an enemy of the cross—one who has wrecked havoc amongst God’s people since the beginning of time—who has an agenda to destroy God’s work and God’s saints. Yet Genesis encourages you to expect victory difficulty. Victory over sin and death is not a mere possibility but an assurance—all because of the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
Therefore, instead of using your humanity as an excuse for sinfulness and disobedience, see it as the the way God has made and redeemed you to reflect his character and holiness as his image-bearer. This is Scripture’s thesis, stated in Genesis and repeated articulated throughout Scripture: Since the beginning of time, God has been in the business of redeeming sinners for His glory. You and me included.