Genesis 7-12 // Matthew 3-4

The beginning of Genesis and beginning of Matthew have more in common than I've realized before. Obviously, if the theme of the Word of God is the redemption of sinners in His Son, then Genesis and Matthew both have the same purpose, simply from different perspectives.

In Genesis 7 we are reminded that the Fall effected all of creation. Plants, animals and mankind are destroyed due to the judgment of sin. We see Christ in knowing that the only way to escape such judgment was to be found in the Ark, just as one must be found in Christ.

Genesis 8 reminds us that though the Law had not been spelled out on Mount Sinai yet, Noah understood that the sacrifices on the altar were to be clean animals. Even if the designation did not come until later (and Moses was using the term to describe the sacrifices), it cannot be escaped that Noah knew these were the type of animals to offer. This once again reminds us that the Old Testament saints knew more about the atonement than we sometime credit them.

Genesis 9 shows inheritance/imputation. The covenant with Noah extends to all successive generations (12), a blessing we do not deserve but inherit. Near the end of the chapter, the curse for Ham's sin is inherited by Canaan.

Genesis 10 & 11 begin to introduce how the gospel applies to all nations. It allows us to see that all nations have extended from Noah. It also reminds us how the nations came to be. Of course, the chapter on nations does not end without bringing a glimpse of the hope of all nations. God is going to call Abram from among his nation to become a nation of His own.

Genesis 12 find the call of Abram and the great statement, "And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed!" We also see that Abram also flees to Egypt, but does not come out perfect like Christ. He sins and pretends Sarai is his sister. Yet, God preserves His own and will not allow the lineage of Abram to be broken by the Pharaoh.

Matthew 3 introduces us to John the Baptist. His ministry is a ministry of repentance. The Kingdom of God is at hand, and our proper response is to repent. Though Jesus has no need to be baptized, He does it as an active form of righteousness. This reminds us that it would not put us in good standing with God if we simply had our sin removed, we must also be righteous. And we are dependent upon God's grace for His righteousness to be imputed.

In Matthew 4, Jesus fares better in the wilderness than the Israelites. Though Satan's activity is always the same, distorting the Word, Jesus responds with a proper understanding of the Word of God. Once John has been captured, Jesus begins to preach the same message, "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." This ministry extends throughout Israel and even to regions like Decapolis...an area with large Gentile population.

Some threads that are clearly seen as shared is that Jesus has come to set free the Gentiles, as well as the Jew. Just as we saw an imputed curse of sin with Ham/Canaan, we see the righteousness of Christ that is imputed to those of us who have believe. Praise God that He has made a way for us to not receive the curse, but blessing instead!