God has given the book of Genesis to us as a story.
Genesis is historical narrative.
(It’s actual history, written as a story.)
In some ways, we should read and experience the stories of Genesis just as we would any other story. The biblical genre of story, however, doesn’t always give us the theological points wrapped up in a present with a bow. So what should we do?
Here’s some TIPS FOR INTERPRETING STORIES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOK OF GENESIS…
1) Pay attention to repeated words and phrases.
God didn’t repeat certain words and phrases because He thought it would be funny to make Moses write more words. God uses repetition for emphasis. For example, the creation account of Genesis 1 uses the phrase “And God said…” repeatedly to emphasize the power of God’s spoken word.
2) Pay attention to the details.
Nothing God told Moses to write is random. We may not understand the significance of every detail but they all matter. Whatever details we find in the text God has there on purpose.
Sometimes God seems to skip right over details of things we’d like to know more about. (Bummer, right?) When God doesn’t give all the info we'd like to know, focus instead on the details He does give and ask yourself why God might want us to know what He did choose to tell us.
3) Pay attention to when the action slows down.
It’s popular in movies today, for action sequences to go into slow motion. In a similar manner, Old Testament stories often emphasize things by slowing the action down, giving us more details and a closer look.
Many Bible scholars believe that is the point of the contrast between Genesis 1 and Genesis 2. Yes, God created the universe and everything in it (Genesis 1). But then He slowed down in Genesis 2 so we can get a closer look at the Garden of Eden and His special creation of Adam and Eve.
4) Pay attention to Peoples’ names.
In Scripture, the meaning of a person’s name often reveals much about him or her. For example, in Hebrew the name Adam is closely associated with the Hebrew word for “dirt.” This makes sense because Genesis 2 tells how God formed Adam (the first man) from the dust of the ground.
Another Genesis name worth highlighting is the name of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham—only that wasn’t his original name. His name was initially Abram which means “exalted father.” But God changed Abram’s name to Abraham which meant “father of a multitude” (Genesis 17:5). In the Bible, God giving a person a new name usually established a new identity for the receiver.
5) Pay attention to the dialogue.
What is true in life is true in the Bible: Listening to what someone says will eventually tell you who they are. In the Old Testament stories, what people say (and how they say it) often reveals if they are a hero, villain, or in the process of being changed by God.
The spoken words of God in Genesis 1 reveal much about Him. God created the universe with the power of His spoken word. Consider again what it says about God’s incredible power that He can simply speak and what He says happens!
6) consider Each passage’s place in the “Big” Story of Salvation History.
This relates to the many promises God makes in the Old Testament that climax in the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The further we read in Scripture towards the New Testament the clearer the revelation of Jesus becomes. Theologians call this increasing clarity on the identity and mission of Jesus “progressive revelation.” One example is the way Jesus fulfills the promise of Genesis 3:15—that a child born of a woman would ultimately defeat Satan and end the curse of sin.
From the opening stories of Genesis to the final scenes of Revelation, the Bible tells one epic story of God providing a way for sinful people to be made right with Him.
The Bible is held together by a scarlet thread of blood shed for the atonement of sin.
It all ultimately points us to Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross.
The good news of salvation doesn’t begin in the Gospels of the New Testament, but way back in Genesis of the Old Testament.