The Torah: The First Five Books of the Bible: In the Beginning, the Lord God Spoke: Genesis 1:1, 3; Exodus 3:4; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 8:3

By Rev. Harold E. Petersen

The Word of God, the Bible, has been a vital part of my life. We had family devotions, I went to Sunday school and memorized verses. In confirmation, we studied the Bible and catechism. In worship texts from the Old Testament, epistles, and gospels were read every Sunday. These continue to draw me into the Word.

I was in high school when I began to read the Bible through in a year. As I would read, I would mark verses that had special meaning for me. Some chapters were so full of gems of truth that I chose several.

The Torah, the first five books of the Bible are the work of Moses. He recorded the beginning of the universe. He traced the human family to the point when the Lord chose one family, Abraham’s. There is the record of the escape from Egypt, the establishment of the covenant at Mount Sinai and the years of life in the wilderness. I find gems in these books that stretch my faith by explaining what it means to obey the Lord in all things.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jul 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885403528

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The Torah

The First Five Books of the Bible: In the Beginning, the Lord God Spoke: Genesis 1:1, 3; Exodus 3:4; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; 8:3

Rev. Harold E. Petersen

Copyright © 2022 by Rev. Harold E. Petersen

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

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Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Preface

We use words daily as we converse with family, friends, and coworkers. We use words to prepare presentations and write doctoral dissertations. I use words to prepare a sermon or a lesson that I will teach. Words can be used to fill up time—purposeless chatter. Words can be used to make a presentation to inform, influence, or persuade people.

Books are written with words. Sometimes books use words that have lost their meaning. For example, in Shakespeare’s writings, there are words that no longer mean the same thing. Speeches and sermons may be recorded but are forgotten over time.

Translation is the process of taking words in one language and conveying their meaning in another. There was a missionary whose mother tongue was English; yet when he read the text for the Sunday sermon, he read the Greek text and spoke in Amharic, the language of his congregation. When I preach, I would preach in English for the sake of the students present, and another man would translate it into the language of the older member.

Translations need to be updated because the meaning of words changes. For example, the King James Bible was written several centuries ago. Some words are archaic. There are many translations today. The important factor is to be faithful to the original Hebrew or Greek text. Sadly, there are translations today that have altered the basic meaning of the Word of God. It seems they have done this to be in sync with society.

The Bible as it has come to us is the Word of God. It is inspired by God; it is an accurate presentation. The Bible is the source of our faith, our doctrine, and our teaching. I believe as Saint Paul said to Timothy, All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

The Bible as the Word of God is powerful (yes!), dynamic, and alive. The writer to the Hebrews tells us, The word of God is living and active. Sharper that any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and Spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Heb. 4:12).

We need only look at Genesis 1 to see the power in the Word of God. God said, and everything came into being. In Jeremiah 23:29, we read, Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces.

In the Bible, we have the Lord God’s activity, creating this universe for mankind. The Lord God worked with the family of Noah, Abraham, and Jacob. We have the Lord God’s communication with his people through the prophets and historians. Finally, we have the Living Word, Jesus, making his dwelling in the hearts of men.

The Bible, the Word of God, is the one possession that will always be the most precious item I have. I find in the Word of God encouragement, correction, and instructions on living and warnings: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path (Ps. 119:105). No matter how many times I read it through in a year, there is always some truth that I find to refresh and renew my spirit.

In the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, we discover how all things began: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said (Gen. 1:1–3).

The account of the Lord God’s activity continues. We read of Noah and the cleansing of the earth by a flood. We are introduced to the father of the family of faith, Abraham. We follow the account of the deliverance from Egypt by Moses to the moment the people are ready to cross the Jordan River. Moses encourages the people to remember their source of power in life: Hear O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deut. 6:4–5). I want to share with you these devotions on verses in the Torah that you also might love the Lord with all you are.

When I was in college or seminary, I was inspired to mark a special verse of every chapter in the Bible. Some chapters were so full of gems that there are several. Yet now I would have marked even others. Mine were originally from the Revised Standard Version.

My mother had done a similar thing. She wrote each verse in a notebook. I believe hers are originally from the King James Version. Then I came across the book Great Verses through the Bible by F. B. Meyer. He wrote a devotional commentary on key verses.

At some point, I put all three sets into an RSV Bible I had. Then in the early 1980s, I transferred them to the New International Version. In 2011, I was inspired to put them all down on paper and on a floppy disk.

In 2016, I began to write a devotional commentary on each of these verses. I have given an outline for the book and a heading or theme for the chapter. The best is to read the chapter before the devotional.

The scriptural quotes and references are taken from the New International Version of the Bible (pictorial), copyrighted in 1978, and NIV Archaeological Study Bible, copyrighted in 1984 by The New York International Bible Society and published by Zondervan Corporation.

The hymn verses are public domain.

There are repeats of hymn verses that I feel fit in the context. There are repeats of accounts of events in my life in various places. I hope that this repetition does not detract from the message.

It would be best if one would read the chapter before the devotional.

Genesis

Origin or Beginning

Origin or beginning (see John 1:1)

Outline

Focus on Events. Four Great Events (Two Thousand Years)

Course of All Families—Human History

Genesis 1–2. Creation of the universe

Genesis 3–5. Fall of man

Genesis 6–9. Flood of Noah

Genesis 10–11. Beginning of nations

Focus on People. Four Great People (360 years)

Course of One Family, the Jewish Race

Genesis 12–23. Abraham family

Genesis 13–20. Promise to Abraham

Genesis 21–24. Fulfillment to Abraham

Genesis 24–26. Isaac’s family

Genesis 25–26. Isaac

Genesis 27–36. Jacob’s family

Genesis 27–31. Jacob

Genesis 32–36. Faith of Jacob

Genesis 37–50. Joseph

Creation of the Universe. Six Days through a Telescope (Genesis 1)

Six Days of Creation—Summarized

The Realm of the Creator—the Universe

God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and increase in number.

—Genesis 1:22 and 28

Every time I read the creation story it amazes me how thorough God was. God created this universe to have a place where his creatures, especially mankind, would feel good enough to respond to his love, with love. How lavish God was with the creation—billions of stars, multitudes of galaxies. Also, a vast variety of animals and plant life. Oh, how God must love mankind!

I find it also interesting that each day begins in the evening, then comes morning. The Jewish day begins in the evening. The Hebrew for day is a period of light between two periods of darkness.

The root meaning of Berakah, Blessed is to kneel. Imagine the Father kneeling, holding the man he created in his arms and telling him, I love you! God blesses us by providing for our needs, and we in turn bless God by giving him of ourselves as his servants. From the very first day of man on earth, we read that God blessed them, gave them everything, that they might be fruitful, multiply, and manage the earth. God provided Adam and Eve everything for their enjoyment. The extravagance of the creation is an indication of how richly God desired to bless mankind.

Psalm 103:1–2 states, Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Bless his holy name. There are many names in the Bible for God. And we can use these different names to exalt and praise Him. Bless the Lord and forget not all his benefits. We need to remember that God desires to bless our day and he will as we draw close to him and speak with him. Think about what benefits he has bestowed upon you.

We ask the Lord to bless us at the end of each worship service when the pastor uses the words of Numbers 6:24–26, The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Based on the book The Blessing by Gary Smalley and John Trent, when our boys were young, I would go into their bedrooms and lay my hand on their head and say a word of blessing over them much like Isaac did to Jacob and Jacob did to his sons.

The Lord has richly blessed us, provided for us, guided us with his Word and Spirit. We in turn respond to him with love and obedience, caring for those he has placed in our care and the universe about us.

Prayer focus—Kneel down and thank God for all his blessing, his benefits.

Creation of Man (Genesis 2)

Generations of Heaven—the Sixth Day through a Microscope

The Ruler of Creation—Man

And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.

—Genesis 2:7

This account takes only one part of the creation story, centered around mankind. Three phrases in this verse strike me in a profound way. First, God formed man from the dust of the ground. How basic is that! It ties us very securely to the earth. We were created from the very basic elements of the earth. Genesis 3:19b states, Until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. Do you remember playing in the dirt or in the sand on the beach, forming a person, animal, or a building? I wonder if God’s hands actually touched the dirt?

The things we made in the dirt or sand remained there until the rain or water washed it away. I wonder why God created man in the body form we have? He had created the animals, bird and water creatures and fish using a different form. We have two legs, two arms, a head upon a torso, and stand upright on these legs, a unique form. Psalm 139:14 states, I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know them full well.

Secondly, it says God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. An amazing thing happened! God gave the breath of life! When we do CPR, we hold the nostrils shut and breathe into the mouth. To me, it is amazing that God breathed into the nostrils the breath of life. The breath of God, the Holy Spirit, is our source of life. God the creator of all that exists, God who created out of nothing, took the time to breathe into the form he had made, life! I think it is unique when it says in John 20:22, And with that he [Jesus] breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’ God breathed physical life into us and He breathed his Spirit into us after his Resurrection.

Thirdly, man became a living being. The Holy Spirit gave life to mankind at the very beginning. The Holy Spirit continues to give life to each of us. St. Paul tells us in Romans 8:11, If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he…will also give life to your mortal body through his Spirit, who lives in you.

The words of Edwin Hatch’s hymn come to mind.

Breathe on me,

Breath of God,

Fill me with life a-new,

That I may love all that you love

And do what you would do.

To be a living being, to be alive, is not something we can do but it is a gift of our Creator God. God created man and woman in his own image, that is, with characteristics like his (Genesis 1:27). Life—the opportunity to live in fellowship with the Creator God.

Prayer focus—Give thanks for life, the specific life God has given you.

The Beginning of Sin (Genesis 3:1–7)

The First Sin—the Root of Sin—Fall of Man

Adam (Man)’s Rebellion

The Loss of the State of Innocence—the First Judgment (Genesis 3:8–24)

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.

—Genesis 3:15

Here is the first promise of God’s redemption. The result of sin is a separation from God and constant conflict between good and evil. The struggle is, who is in charge, God or each of us? But there was also hope that God will end the conflict. And He did in Jesus! St. Paul says in Romans 8:1–2, Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. It did not take mankind long to assert his own will. The beauty of God’s creation was marred very quickly. Adam and Eve, ashamed of their nakedness, hid.

I like C. S. Lewis’s portrayal of the fall in his Narnia Series and in his space trilogy. Selfish desire is a key ingredient in original sin and thus in sin itself. Satan played on that string in Eve’s heart very powerfully. The desire for wisdom, power, and control were his themes. What a tragedy, how different life would be if they had not succumbed to temptation but had like C. S. Lewis’s characters in his space trilogy overcome the temptation. How heartbroken God must have been. His love had been spurned.

Even as he walked in the garden, Adam and Eve had quickly lost their love and respect for him; they were afraid! 1 John 4:18 states, There is no fear in love. But perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. Yet even then and there in the garden, we see God’s love at work. There is a promise of salvation and a sacrifice for covering sin. The immediate consequence of their sin was to be driven from the garden; also, no longer was food readily available, but they had to work for it.

For dust you are and to dust you will return (Genesis 3:19).

Adam—man—means dirt, dust. We are reminded that we are from the earth and to the earth we will return. Death ends life here. Without the gifts, our Father God wishes to give us, we would despair. We put the body in the ground and know that it will decay and turn to dust. I think it is sad that we do so much to mask death, maybe in hope that we will not return to dust. But in Christ, we have life and have it abundantly. Yes, in Christ, we will realize the fullness of life, especially in heaven. The promise of life is for those who believe in God’s Son, Jesus, the Christ. In John 20:31, we read, But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Prayer focus—Lord, forgive us for our rebellion and lack of respect for You, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier.

The Spread of Sin—Heritage of Rebellion

Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)

At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord.

—Genesis 4:26b

After the beautiful fellowship time Adam and Eve had with God in the garden of Eden, it seems, it was lost for a time. Now in this chapter we are reminded that communion with the Father is vital to life. Without it, sin has escalated to murder. To call on the name of the Lord in prayer is to place oneself in an attitude of dependence. The first question God puts to the soul of the first man is Adam, where are you? The next question is asked of Adam’s first son, Where is Abel your brother? Perhaps we should say, it is clear we are our brothers’ keepers.

As Saint John reminds us, you have just as much love towards God, as you are willing to show towards the brother whom you have seen, for in 1 John 4:20, it states, If anyone says. ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. Adam and Eve had another son in place of Abel. It seems Adam and Eve were deprived of both their first sons. Abel was murdered; Cain departed from the presence of the Lord.

A couple of statements in chapter 4 of Genesis strike me as important. I suppose I see them clearly for the first time: Cain went out from the presence of the Lord (Genesis 4:16). Cain was not remorseful for his sin. In fact, he was defiant. He said to the Lord, Am I my brother’s keeper?

Secondly, when the Lord told him he would not receive much of a crop from the ground and that he must wander, he did not plead for mercy, he expressed self-pity my punishment is more than I can bear (Genesis 4:13). His going from the presence of the Lord is a statement of unrepentant sin. Sin cannot live in the presence of the Lord. Seven generations later, Lamech gave the ultimate response I could care less about God and his punishment (Genesis 4:23–24). Seven generations of Cain’s line are completely corrupted.

Contrast that to Seth’s line: At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26b). To call upon, to live in the presence of the Lord is a statement of faith. Seven generations of Seth’s line, we find fulfillment of faithful people. In the line of Seth, we find Enoch of whom it is said, Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away (Genesis 5:24). And out of this line comes Noah.

Adam and Eve had very intimate communion with God. Now verse 26 reveals that there were some who revered the Lord God; some who held to the belief that God created us in his image and asked that we rule the earth for him. At that time, there were some who maintained the connection between God and man by prayer.

Prayer focus—Call upon the name of the Lord and seek his face; may his Word speak to you.

The Heritage of Hope (Genesis 5)

The Fruit of Faith—Seth’s Godly Line—the Generations of Adam

When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God.

—Genesis 5:1

He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them man.

—Genesis 5:2

The image of God is the likeness to Him in character and attitude. The example of the fullness of the image of God in man is Jesus. In him, we see the fullness of God expressed in glory. Colossians 1:15, 19 says, He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things.

Dr. Jacob Tanner, who was my religion teacher at Waldorf College, in his book Exploring God’s Word lists three characteristics of the image of God in man. First, mankind is an intelligent being with the power of abstraction. Mankind can handle ideas. We can involve ourselves by thinking through complex problems. Man can think things through. Adam studied the animals and noticed their peculiarities and differences and gave them names that described traits of each kind. Man was created to be a worker. Work would be an outlet for his energy and creative ability. Man had the task of subduing the earth and exercising dominion over all its creatures. We can use our mental capacities to create pictures and to create writings.

Secondly, mankind is a moral being with self-determination and an inherent realization of moral obligations. This is manifested by man’s ability to choose between right and wrong. We have a conscience that enables us to assume responsibility for our actions. Paul tells us what can be known of God can be seen in creation (Romans 1:18–20), yet we ignore it.

Thirdly, mankind is a religious being capable of communing with God and conscience of his likeness to God. Adam and Eve had fellowship with God. The psalmist in Psalm 8:3–6 says, When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet.

Mankind is in the image of God, is the representative of God on earth. God created us with the capacity of acting and responding to situations the way he does. Our capacity to govern and care for the earth is to do things the way our Creator God would do them. That image was restored in all its fullness in Christ our Savior and Lord. St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:4b says, We see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Prayer focus—Father, reveal in me the fullness of your image as expressed in Christ.

The Flood of Noah

The Days Are Evil so Noah Builds an Ark—Rain Clouds in the Sky

Building the Ark—a Warning and Preparation for judgment (Genesis 6)

Then the Lord said, My Spirit will not contend with man forever… The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.

—Genesis 6:3, 5

The Lord must have grieved deeply when he saw how far mankind was drifting. How tragically disturbing it is when he says, My Spirit will not contend with man forever (Genesis 6:3). He saw that mankind would continue their rebellious, self-centered drift. Jesus says in Mark 3:29: Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. When the moorings are cut, the ship drifts and is at the mercy of the open sea. God breathed into man the breath of life, His Spirit. When mankind cuts himself off from the protection and providence of the Lord, when mankind spurns the Spirit of God, he is at the mercy of the forces of evil. I wonder if God doesn’t see this same attitude how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become in our time. How much further can we go in our rebellion against the Father? The dramatic downward slide of mankind, left to himself, is staggering. The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time (Genesis 6:5).

God decided to alter the course of mankind, set it on a new pathway. We also need to remember that there comes a point at which God says, No further, and he will not let us have our way anymore. The Father had not yet introduced his plan to deal with what happened in the garden. That would come with the institution of sacrifice and the law at Mount Sinai. As an example of the deterioration of mankind, we see in chapter 6 that the sons of God married the daughters of men; I had thought of this as angelic beings and women having relations. Their offspring were called Nephilim. They were the heroes of old, men of renown. (Perhaps these are the giants of old stories.) One of the NASB Bible footnotes comments is that this could be Seth’s descendants sons of God meaning faithful people and daughters of men Cain’s descendants, meaning corruption. Mixing the two lines brought moral decadence to the world. Mixing angelic and human would do the same.

Yes, compromising with the world, playing with the influence of evil in our world, stains, and destroys our ability to communicate with God. The channel is corroded and blocked by this evil influence. We need God’s Spirit to keep us on track with the will and word of the Creator.

Prayer focus—Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23–24).

In the Ark—Deluge—Execution of Judgment

The Flood to Blot Out Every Living Thing (Genesis 7)

The Lord then said to Noah, Go into the ark, you and your whole family because I have found you righteous in this generation.

—Genesis 7:1

The Lord guided Noah each step of the way. In chapter 6, He gave Noah the dimensions and plans for the construction of the ark and the preparation for the animals and even to the time when he should go in. It is amazing the patience of the Lord. He allowed Noah one hundred years to build the ark and in that amount of time; he also had an opportunity to preach to the people. I can imagine the people making fun of Noah, building such a large ship in the middle of the desert. The wood he had to gather. Some say it was acacia or gopher wood, which is a type of cypress wood, known for its natural water resistance. Perhaps the tar pits he had to visit to get enough to seal the ark were nearby. It is sad that no one else in all that time paid any attention to the warning Noah was giving. Even when the animals came, and Noah loaded the feed, declaring that the time was at hand, no one heeded. Then the day came when the Lord said to Noah, Get in now, you and your family. And then God shut the door! Then there was no more opportunity. And the rain came.

How amazing the animals came to Noah (Genesis 7:8–9). The question I have wrestled with: Did Noah select the animals, the right animals to go into the Ark? The text says he didn’t, and the Lord caused the animals to come. Were there some that were not selected to come? Can you imagine the faith that Noah must have had? Noah believed in God so strongly that he was patient one hundred years for all this to take place!

The animals were to be there only until the waters receded. Noah’s family would be together for their entire life time. The ark seems so small as to be able to house seven pair of clean and one pair of unclean animals and birds. I guess I am happy I didn’t have to figure out which deck to place which animal on or to clean up after them.

I want to leave you with this thought: Look at Psalm 37:4–6. It says, Delight yourself in the Lord; and he will give you the desire of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. The Lord will direct our every step also when we put our trust in him. He will keep us in the loop as to what task he has for us to do and those who will go part or all the way with us. The Holy Spirit is the one who can interpret the Father’s will and word to us. Can we trust the Lord even when his request doesn’t make sense? Even when we must stand alone and endure the ridicule?

Prayer focus—The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Does the Lord need to wait for you?

Leaving the Ark (Genesis 8)

Rainbow in the Sky, the Abating of the Flood, Aftermath of Judgment

But God remembered Noah.

—Genesis 8:1

In Genesis 7:12, we read, Rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. Most authorities put the number of days from the time when the rain started to the time Noah left the ark to be about 371 to 376 days. I puzzle over why Noah waited so long to depart the ark when the tops of the mountains were not only visible but dry. Could