World Evangelism Podcast

The Foundations of Belief: A Journey through Genesis 1-11

September 11, 2024 W. Austin Gardner Season 1 Episode 38

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Do you ever wonder how the foundations of our faith were laid or why certain biblical stories spark so much debate? Join us as we unravel the profound narratives of Genesis 1 through 11, exploring the creation story, the Great Flood, and God's covenants with humanity. We'll tackle the skepticism these chapters often face, guided by insights from scientist and Bible believer Henry Morris, who calculated that up to 7 billion people might have lived during the time of the flood. Discover why these stories are not just ancient myths but pivotal accounts of divine intervention and promises.

Our discussion includes personal reflections and memories that highlight the significance of God's promises, such as the rainbow covenant, which assures no more universal floods. We'll also delve into the institution of capital punishment in Genesis 9:5 and why it holds critical importance in God's early laws. Through these narratives, we revisit God's acts of mercy and grace, emphasizing that despite human wickedness, God’s love and salvation remain available. Tune in for a comprehensive look at these monumental beginnings and understand why the book of Genesis continues to be a cornerstone of faith.

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Speaker 1:

Of course, some most interesting and exciting things take place in Genesis 1 through 11. They are the most maligned chapters in the Bible. God doubters and Bible disbelievers don't like Genesis 1 through 11. They hate the creation, of course, because if there is a creator, then there is a God and a judge. They highly dislike the flood because then God just stepped in and did something and, as you know, we saw earlier that up to 7 billion people might've been living on the earth when the flood happened. And at least that's what Henry Morris said, a scientist that studied the Bible, believed the Bible and then did the math and the work. Believed the Bible and then did the math and the work. And so they hate this.

Speaker 1:

But a lot happens, and one of the things that happens is that God establishes a covenant with man and animals. In Genesis, chapter six, verse 18, he said but with thee will I establish my covenant and you shall come to the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your son's wives. And one of those covenants we've looked at briefly in another video in 821, he said I will not again curse the ground anymore, for man's sake, neither will I smite anymore every living thing, because you know you killed everything except what was on the ark. The fish lived, maybe some plant life floated, who knows? But the lot that was there was what was on the ark. And I want you to notice that man is still evil but that God is going to have mercy and grace. That's the story throughout the whole Bible, that God is a God of grace. You need to remember that. You can't earn your way to God. God loves you and God comes to us to save us. Part of that covenant was that there would be no more universal floods.

Speaker 1:

I do not believe the Bible teaches that at all and I'm a Bible believer. I don't believe in a localized flood. I believe if it went above the highest mountain it got in the next valley. If it got in the next valley, it went above the highest mountain, it got in the next valley and went above the highest mountain. It got all around the earth. You say I don't see how that could happen. I don't see how the world could be created from nothing in six days.

Speaker 1:

But I know when the Bible says it, god says it and he means it. But he says in Genesis 9, 11, I will establish my covenant with you. Neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore by the waters of a flood. Neither shall there be any more be a flood to destroy the earth. I think it's one of the most interesting memories I have.

Speaker 1:

As a child we lived on a little bitty two or three room house up on the hill. No running water, I'm not even sure we had electricity, but I was very young. No indoor bathroom, obviously, but it's the earliest memory I have. My mother showed me a rainbow and said God made a promise and a covenant with that and I still remember. And she said that God had one time cursed the earth and God had destroyed everybody but eight people on an ark. And now he had promised that every time we saw that rainbow we could remember that God had made his promise and God was not going to destroy the earth anymore by the use of a flood, and I thank God for that. There'll be no more interruptions of the cycle of nature In Genesis 8, 22,. While the earth remains seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night shall not cease. So you can just trust God on that. The last cataclysmic event that place at the flood and the next one will be when Jesus comes to take us home in the rapture and then later comes and sets up his kingdom on earth.

Speaker 1:

In Genesis, chapter nine and verse five, god instituted capital punishment. He said and surely, your blood, of your lives, will I require at the hand of every beast, will I require at the hand of the man, at the hand of every man's brother will I require it? Whoso sheddeth man's blood by man, shall his blood be shed for the image of God is in him. So God established capital punishment, and so I just want you to know that God is making a lot in Genesis as the book of beginnings, and God is setting up a whole lot of things in the very beginning, and we give thanks to God for that. Thank you for listening. I invite you to give it a like and subscribe and share with some of your friends, if you would.