The Wellspring: An Introduction to Genesis (Genesis 12:1-3)

Here’s my first sermon from our new Genesis series. You can also listen to the audio here. 

Karis, we’re starting Genesis today! I want to kick things off by asking a couple of questions. What do you consider to be the “good life”? And what’s your plan for getting there?

What’s the “good life” - to you? Possessions? Vacations? Full bank accounts? A job you love so much that it doesn’t feel like work? Or maybe early retirement? And getting to pursue that hobby? Maybe great food and drink? Surrounded by those you love?

And how will you get to that life? With supportive friends? A solid education? Talking to a therapist? Moving to the country? Giving adequate time for self-care? Some solid financial planning? Maybe hearing - and following - your heart?

What, again, is the good life? And how can we find it? Genesis, I’m convinced, addresses those questions. This book of 50 chapters. Composed thousands of years ago. There are answers to be found right here. And we’re going to search for them together. These words will stretch and challenge our minds. But they’ll also stir and move our souls. And make us even want to sing. May the Lord give us humble, hungry hearts, as we study - and hear - from His - in His word.

Our Plan in Karis

Here’s our plan, as we walk through this book. It’ll be a slow stroll, for sure. In Karis, that’s just how we roll. Verse by verse, learning what God’s word means, along with how it applies to us today.

But we’ll also take some time, during this series, to zoom in on some verses, to take on some subjects - many of which will be tough. We’ll take some rocks from both the right and the left. But we’ll seek to be faithful. And pray it’ll be fruitful. As we drink from our fount of every blessing. And let the currents of His love take us where He leads.

The Book of Genesis   

I talked about singing. How about we “…start at the very beginning, a very good place to start?” You might recognize those words from Maria in The Sound of Music. “When you read you begin with A-B-C.” “When you sing, you begin with Do-Re-Mi.”

And when you’re trying to live well - and experience lasting joy - it’s good to go back to Genesis. Everything seems to be on fire today. Maybe we should get back to basics. To the very beginning.

Let’s talk briefly about some key aspects of the book. Genesis, our header in English, that comes over from the Greek translation of the book, means “origin.” That makes sense, right? As we see here the origin of the world, along with the origin of God’s people. The original Hebrew title comes from the first phrase of verse 1 - “in the beginning.” This book takes us way back to the way back. To where everything kicked off

Genesis was written in the 2nd Millennium B.C., probably somewhere between 1300-1500, by the great prophet Moses. Now there have been lots of people over the years trying to do all sorts of historical and theological gymnastics to prove he didn’t write this book.

But the fact remains: Israel, the early church, and Jesus himself, all believed Moses was the author. Look with me at Luke 24:25-27.

Luke 24:25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!

Luke 24:26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

Luke 24:27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

There on the road to Emmaus, Jesus walks these discouraged disciples through their Bibles. Showing them the Messiah on every single page. And that expression “Moses and all the Prophets” is one way to refer to the entire Old Testament - “all the Scriptures,” it says, that they had in that day. And “Moses” refers to the first five books - the Torah - or the Pentateuch - which of course starts with Genesis. How about we just go with what Jesus says? God used Moses to give us this book.

Let’s talk a bit about the outline. There are two main sections. The first runs from verse 1 through chapter 11, verse 26. It gives us primordial history, the beginning of all we see. We learn about origins. We examine our foundations. Then from chapter 11, verse 27 through the very end of chapter 50, we learn about patriarchal history, the beginning of God’s people. We read about the generations. And hear of promises made to the fathers.

Now those two, very unequal “halves” are broken up into “chapters.” After an opening prologue, that we’ll examine in detail over the next few months, there are ten different sections introduced by this one Hebrew word, toledot, which roughly means, as it says in the ESV, “these are the generations of.” Look at Genesis 2, verse 4. Now these words usually introduce a genealogy - what comes forth from each father. But the first, in chapter 2, details what’s birthed by our heavenly Father. His first son - that’s Adam. But also the “heavens and the earth.” There are five of these chapters in each half of the book. That’s the structure we see here in Genesis.

Now we’ll encounter a number of themes as we walk through this book. We’ll learn about God and His creation. About His Kingdom. And His purposes. We’ll see humanity made in God’s image. And how we fell and messed that up. About sin and evil and the judgment that results. Along with salvation and righteousness and the mercy He offers.

We’ll learn about faith. And election. And redemption. About God’s covenant. And His people. And throughout we’ll see what the Lord told those disciples on that road - Jesus, the Messiah, on every page. Moses wrote these words to offer hope to His people, the nation of Israel. Likely when they were wandering in the wilderness. But God’s Spirit also wants to encourage you and me. And lead us to our Lord, our Wellspring.

The Blessing of God

And that leads to one theme I left out. What I think is the biggest one of all. The Blessing of our God. Now that term is one that’s thrown around all the time today. We snap a photo on the beach. And tag it #blessed. We win an award or hold up a trophy and talk about just how blessed we feel. But here in God’s word, the idea of blessing goes so much deeper. And we see it throughout this first book.

We see it in the creation of all things. The Lord creates man and woman, in His image, and verse 28 says He “blessed them.” And along with that He also gives them a commission - to have offspring - “be fruitful and multiply” - and to expand their territory - “fill the earth and subdue it.”

We see it in the promises to Abraham. In chapter 12, that Derek just read, the Lord promises to bless him, our father - to make his name great - and bless “all the families of the earth” through him. And in chapters 15 and 17, God makes a covenant with his son. He’ll give him as many offspring as there are stars in the sky. And He’ll also give Him great land - that territory in the middle east.

We see it in the story of Joseph. In chapter 39, verse 5, Moses writes that the “the LORD blessed” the household of Potiphar, this official of Egypt, through the presence of Joseph. “The blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.” God is not only blessing one of His own, Joseph. But He’s keeping that promise to Abraham. The blessing is going to the nations. The Lord uses Joseph as an instrument to preserve the world - and as we’ll see, Eve’s offspring.

The theme of blessing, you see, comes up at key moments in the book. But what does the word even mean? Recently, I was listening to a Bible Project episode about this word. And one of the main hosts, Jon Collins, admitted he’d stopped using the word. It’s become too cliched. And emptied of its meaning. But they were doing that episode for a reason. It’s just too rich of a word to ignore. As Nancy Guthrie explains: “From the first chapter to the last, the Bible’s story is one of blessing — blessing pronounced, blessing promised, blessing anticipated, and blessing experienced.” And it’s a really big deal here in Genesis. But again, what does the term even mean?

John Walton explains that blessing can be a wish for God’s favor - if coming from humans. And we’ll see that plenty in our time in this book. But it’s first and foremost an offering of God’s favor - if coming from God. It’s closely tied to His grace.

Tim Keller wrote:

“To be blessed brings you back to full shalom, full human functioning; it makes you everything God meant for you to be. To be blessed is to be strengthened and repaired in every one of your human capacities, to be utterly transformed.” (Tim Keller)

Tim Mackie, the other host of The Bible Project, refers to blessing as “experiencing the fullness of God's favor, especially in the areas of fertility, authority, dominion, wholeness, peace, and rest.”

I remember praying Numbers 6:24 through 26 over my kids when they were infants.

Numbers 6:24    The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

26 the LORD lift up his countenance3 upon you and give you peace.

Blessing is the Lord smiling over us. And showing us His favor. Wanting our very best. Making sure that comes to pass. I love the way Tremper Longman explains it:

“God’s blessing on people involves his positive regard for them, the desire to see that they enjoy the truly good things in life.” (Tremper Longman)

Now that’s what blessing is. And that’s where blessing is from. It comes from God. But I also want you to understand that it is in God.

In 1 Timothy 1:11, Paul speaks of “the gospel of the glory of the blessed God.” And in chapter 6, verse 15 of “the blessed and only Sovereign.” This is our Lord, full of blessing. Self-existent. Self-sufficient. Everything He needs. Life - that’s good - in and of Himself.

To really understand blessing, we need to talk about what comes before this book. Before chapter 1, verse 1 that reads, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” The key is found in the doctrine of the Trinity. God in eternity past.

Ever wonder why God would even create? Some might say: “Maybe He was lonely. Or really, really bored. Or maybe the Lord decided He could use some help.” But Father, Son, and Spirit have always existed in perfect community. Listen to what Jesus says in John chapter 17. First, in verse 5: “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” Before the heavens and the earth, glory!

Listen second, down in verse 24: “Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.” Before the heavens and the earth, not just glory, but love! God in three persons, blessed Trinity. God didn’t need anyone else. Certainly no one’s help. Why did the Lord create? Hear how Michael Reeves explains it:

“…since God the Father has eternally loved his Son, it is entirely characteristic of him to turn and create others that he might also love them… Thus Jesus Christ, God the Son, is the Logic, the blueprint for creation. He is the one eternally loved by the Father; creation is about the extension of that love outward so that it might be enjoyed by others. The fountain of love brimmed over… The heavens declare the loving generosity of God. And that is why he created. So next time you look up at the sun, moon and stars and wonder, remember: they are there because God loves, because the Father's Love for the Son burst out that it might be enjoyed by many.” (Michael Reeves)

Blessing coming downward to all of God’s creation - and especially His people - is the biggest theme here in Genesis. And friends, we are meant to drink from the fountain of that blessing. And flow with the currents of that blessing.

But here’s the problem. We’ve turned away from that fountain. Many years ago, my wife and her stepmom took our kids down to the lake. And they took them to Golden Corral. And my wife said they could get whatever they wanted. They’re looking at her like, “As much cake as I want? All the ice cream I can eat?” Guess what. They all finished up, left the restaurant to transition to mini-golf, and immediately took turns throwing up in the parking lot.” That’s either an F, Amy, or you could perhaps argue, an A+ in parenting. As a lesson was definitely learned.

Let me tell you another story. And give you some advice. If you’re ever floating down a river with me, definitely stay out of my boat. When Amy and I were first dating, we went canoeing with some friends. I constantly had us headed toward the bank and pointed against the current. And multiple the times I flipped us over. Not only that, but we had my golden retriever on board. And he kept leaning over the side, lapping up water, and throwing us off balance even more.

Here’s the reality. We’ve all sought blessing in all the wrong places. And it’s left us sick and miserable. Jeremiah the prophet puts it like this in chapter 2 of his book:

Jeremiah 2:12 Be appalled, O heavens, at this;

be shocked, be utterly desolate,

declares the LORD,

Jeremiah 2:13 for my people have committed two evils:

they have forsaken me,

the fountain of living waters,

and hewed out cisterns for themselves,

broken cisterns that can hold no water.

We’re all turned from His fountain. And drunk out of the toilet. And it’s left us empty and disappointed.

But we’ve also tried to go against the current. Instead of relaxing and floating in the river of His love. Instead of trusting the wisdom of His word and resting - and basking - in the character of our God, we’ve gone our own way. We’ve tried to swim upstream. And it’s gotten us nowhere. Moved us away from what’s good.

In the book of Romans, Paul says we “suppress the truth,” the knowledge of God, due to our “unrighteousness.” And that doesn’t work. Life doesn’t work well at all. And it explains the mess that’s in us - and that we can see all around us. Adam and Eve listen to the serpent. And they choose to sin. And we’ve all chosen it, too. And ever since, we’ve lived life under a curse. We’ve moved far from blessing. We’ve not lived in communion - we’ve not been in harmony - with God, other human beings, and all His creation. And we’ve paid the price - with a lack of meaning, and a lack of joy. It’s like we’ve been living in the upside-down. But there’s a portal back to where the sun shines. And that gets us to another important theme.

The Battle of the Seeds

We move from blessing to battle. The battle of the seeds. After the fall, the Lord pronounces curses on that snake, and on the woman and the man - really on all His creation. But there’s this promise embedded in the curse upon the serpent, that we see in Genesis chapter 3. Listen to verses 14 and 15:

Genesis 3:14   The LORD God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life.

15 I will put enmity between you and the woman,

and between your offspring and her offspring;

he shall bruise your head,

and you shall bruise his heel.”

This is the first hint in Scripture of the gospel. One would come who would reverse all the cursing. Who would restore the world to blessing. God says, “Serpent, you’ll put a bruise on one of Eve’s descendant’s heel. But one of hers is going to completely take out your head.” Here in Genesis, and throughout God’s word, we see these two offsprings in battle. And in this book in particular, we see the line of the woman, Eve, carry on and grow. And author Iain Vaillancourt says we have to read expectantly here:

“Each time we encounter a family lineage passage in Genesis, we need to ask an important question: will the people in this section carry on the family lineage of the woman that will lead to the ultimate deliver who will decisively defeat the serpent and all the effects of sin?” (Ian Vaillancourt)

Not only are there these puzzling genealogies throughout the book. There’s also this bizarre break in Genesis chapter 38. Where the story of Joseph stops. For this story about his brother’s immorality. But it’s not that weird, if Vaillancourt’s question gets it right. Because Jesus comes from the line of that man. He’s the lion of Judah!

And Christ, our Lord, is the promised serpent-slayer. The Lord has ancestors that didn’t have it all together. But still they are used as instruments of blessing. We see that line go through Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and, yes, even Judah here in Genesis.

Paul tells us in Romans 16 that Jesus will soon crush Satan. And He does it, he says in  Galatians 3:13, “by becoming a curse for us.” Christ accomplishes salvation. He works redemption. He restores His people to blessing again. Picture a soldier held as a captive in the desert. Water is scarce. And his captors won’t share. He’s dying of thirst. His lips are pursed. His throat is parched. But his fellow soldiers come in, and rescue him from there. And they hand him a bottle of water, as their chopper flies away. And when he gets back to the base, he runs over to the river nearby, and throws himself in. This is what the Lord has done for us. He’s won the battle. He’s brought us back to blessing. That’s the solution. That’s our hope. Back into communion, into harmony with our God - and with others - and all His creation.

We’ve entitled this series “The Wellspring.” Laura Schembre makes most all our graphics. I told her I was wanting to theme it around blessing, but I didn’t want to sound like an Instagram post or a celebrity accepting a Grammy. So I told her, “I’m open to ideas.” She’s smarter than most of us here. And has studied Genesis more than most of us, too. And she suggested this. The Wellspring. As Christ offers us living water. In Him, we’ll truly “never be thirsty again.” John chapter 4 says. As Jesus says, “The water I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” Our Lord is the fount of every blessing.

And who is the blessed one, according to Scripture? Psalm 1 tells us - the One whose “delight is in the law of the Lord.” Not the one who walks according to the pattern of this world. But the One who floats along that river fed by our Wellspring. That alone is the pathway to blessing.

The good life is found as we drink from the living waters of, and flow with the currents of, the Wellspring. Let’s be done playing in the splashpad, the sprayground - and certainly from swimming in the sewer - and throw ourselves into His sea - and be carried along by His waves.

The Call to Go and Bless

I want to move from this battle - and back to blessing. Again to that promise to Abraham in Genesis 12. The call to go and bless. That blessing that flows downward. It’s also supposed to flow outward. We see here our mission.

Genesis 12:1   Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 

We are blessed to bless. Along with this blessing, also goes a commission. In that passage, there are really just two commands. “Go,” in verse 1. And, at the end of verse two, “Be a blessing.” That was the call to Abraham - and then to Israel. And through Christ, it goes to us. Go. Be a blessing. And with that command comes a vision, comes a promise. “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Next week, we’ll jump right into Genesis chapter 1. And we’ll see that we’re made in the image of God. We reflect and represent the Lord in our world. But we also respect and even revere all those He has made. It’s a tragedy to see what’s happening in America today. The disrespect for people who people who may not look and think like us. The disregard for immigrants and refugees. Those the Lord has brought to our doorstep. But the way we’ve pictured the Lord to our world - it’s tragic.

I heard an interview with writer David French this week, where he expressed there were really two types of churches today. Either “fear the world” churches or “love your neighbor” churches. I think you know what type of church we aspire to be.

Today, the church called Redentor launches in Rio das Pedras, a really tough favela or  neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. We took up an offering over the holidays to help them get off the ground. Our sent missionaries from here - the Papps and Stills are helping them there. Over ten years ago, we took our first mission trip there. What a privilege that has been!

We’re to be a blessing to the nations - loving them in word and deed. Caring for their bodies and souls. Pointing them to Jesus - our Wellspring. Bringing them to blessing. We’re not just to be recipients of blessing, but instruments - conduits - of that blessing. Guiding them to the fountain. Leading them to the river.

Abraham is promised this massive amount of children. He’s also promised to receive this large plot of land. But in Christ, that blessing is extended all the more. Not just offspring that make up one nation. But a people comprised of every tribe, tongue, and nation. Not just a big plot of land over in Palestine. But the people of God will cover the face of the earth.

That blessing/commission given back to Adam and Eve that flopped. It would be fulfilled - not just in Abraham, but through his offspring, Christ, and all the descendants of Him by faith, the church. That’s our mission.

So that means we’re to pursue those two commands. By God’s grace and for His glory. Go. Be a blessing. And cry out, “Don’t go to all those things that won’t quench your first. Don’t try to swim against the currents of what God has said. Come and drink of living water with us. Join with us, and float along in His love.”

Why We Need Genesis

Now that gives you an idea about what this big book’s about. Here are some reasons why I think this study is important. Why would we spend so much time here?

First, it answers our big questions. Who am I? Why am I here? What’s gone wrong? How can it be fixed? Where is everything moving? How can we find hope? The book of Genesis answers all of those questions. Genesis - and all of Scripture - gives us a worldview. Where we can look through this book, as through a clear window, and better see around us. Understand the way things are meant to be. And point our friends and neighbors down that path.

Second, it’s the first act in the story of God. You can’t pick up a book or turn on a movie in the middle. You have to go back to the start. To meet the characters. Understand the setting. See the problem, the tension. That’s the essential background Genesis provides. Most of all, it sets up the need for a Redeemer. It helps us see and long for Christ.

Third, it’s foundational for our theology. I’ve already spent a lot of time talking about themes. But to understand sin and salvation. Who God is. What He’s done. Who we are. How we’re to live. We have to know Genesis. And understand what it teaches. If we want to understand our Bibles. And truly comprehend our world.

Fourth, it reminds us where we’ve come from. As we walk through this book, we’ll get to know our ancestors. We’ll be reminded of our history. Of our need for those around us. How maybe not to make the same mistakes. But mainly that we, as individuals are not enough. 

Fifth, it reminds us of our mission. We are blessed to bless. We’re to go make disciples, to bear spiritual children, until the kingdom of God comes to earth and the knowledge of His glory floods our world. That’s our mission. Not to defeat those around us. But to bring them into our family. To be a blessing.

The Wellspring

Genesis, of course, gives a history of people turning and running from the Wellspring. An account of people trying to swim upstream, trying to forge rapids alone. Genesis isn’t just about blessing - but blessing lost. Blessing squandered. How it all results in cursing.

What about us? As we begin this series? Where have you turned - to try to quench your soul’s thirst? How have you turned to “broken cisterns”—to pools of nasty, stagnant water? Ask the Lord to reveal this to you. Call on Him to drive you to Himself.

And where do you go to find the way to those waters? Talking to chat GPT? Maybe phoning up a friend? Going on a wellness retreat? Or relying on your own intuition? Call on the Lord to show you your heart. So you can follow after His. Go to His word. That’s the pathway to blessing.

He is a Wellspring that will never run dry. Karis, let us dig into this great book together. And let it drive us to our Creator and Lord, who as Psalm 36:8 puts it, offers us a “feast” of “abundance.” Who bids us drink of the “river of” His “delights." Hear these words from Pastor Seth Lewis:

“Whether you recognize his presence or not, he is near. And he acts through his creation and the story of history so that people will ‘seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us’ (Acts 17:27). He is the God of the galaxies, and he is the God of kitchens, creeks, cubicles and caves. He is ready to be found by anyone who will simply turn and seek him, as he promises in Jeremiah 29:13: ‘You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’ In finding him, we find everything. The God of the boundless universe promises to bless his children with boundless blessings - not just the #blessed blessings that most people think of; those blessings are nice, but they are countable, like the stars in our neighborhood at the edge of one of the spiral arms of the Milky Way. When God talks about blessing his people, he has more in mind - much more. He doesn't just give his children a few good presents; he gives them himself (Luke 11:13). No other blessing can compare. They are just drops. He is the fountain (John 4:13-14).” (Seth Lewis)

The good life is found as we drink from the living waters of, and flow with the currents of, the Wellspring. He is the source of all blessing. And the pathway to that blessing. I know it’s February. But grab your canoe. Put on your swimsuit and some sunscreen. Let’s float - for a long while. And dive down deep into His love. Let’s ask Him to carry us and refresh us - as we open up His word together. Let’s pray.