6 Ways Jesus is Revealed in Genesis
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A question I asked myself when we began our study in the book of Genesis is “How is Jesus revealed in Genesis?”
In my first post, I shared a quote I learned in Bible school.
“The Old Testament is Jesus concealed, the New Testament is Jesus revealed”.
That quote has stuck with me these 25 years.
As I read the Old Testament, it’s like going on a treasure hunt, finding ways I can see the story of Jesus beautifully woven in the historical accounts of men and women who lived, who failed, who fought, and who won.
6 Ways Jesus is Revealed in Genesis
As we wrap up our study of the book of Genesis, I want to share with you some ways I saw Jesus in this beautiful book.
1. He was at the creation
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
Jesus was in the beginning with God.
And I think it is important that we see Him right from the very first verse of the very first book of the Old Testament, because Jesus was with God from the moment He look out over the empty void of what we now know as the Universe.
“Before there was anything made that was made”.
2. He was hidden in the fall
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15
Adam and Eve had disobeyed God and sin had entered the world for the rest of human history.
God curses Adam and Eve, then the serpent – but in His infinite love, mercy, and grace, in that curse, He reveals His plan of redemption.
One day “her seed” would be born in a small stable in Bethlehem.
One day “her seed” would be falsely accused in a kangaroo court, and He would be hung on a cross to die.
One dark night, “her seed” would lift his bruised heel that had held up His beaten body on the cross, and with a thunderous sound He would crush the head of the serpent.
And with that crushing would come our salvation!
3. The Flood
From the time Adam and Even sinned, mankind rapidly descended into the most wicked form of sin – sexual relations with fallen angels.
The wickedness on earth had become so rank, God chose to destroy every living thing except for the one and only family whose DNA had not been corrupted by the Nephilim.
He took Noah and his family and hid them in the Ark, and then gave them a whole new life.
Just like salvation.
God plucks us from a life of sin, hides us in Himself, and then gives us a whole new life.
4. Melchizedek
“Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.” Genesis 14:18
This is a much clearer and less hidden picture of Christ. In fact, it’s not a picture of Christ, it is Christ – a pre-incarnate Christ – revealing Himself to Abraham.
We read about Melchizedek in Psalm 110:4, and quoted in Hebrews 5:6 “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The writer of Hebrews went on in chapters 6 and 7 to show us how Melchizedek was Christ revealed to Adam.
Being the “forever priest” who would come and fulfill the priestly order that God gave to Moses. Jesus would become the final High Priest, having made the final sacrifice for our sin.
5. Isaac
The story of Isaac is such a beautiful illustration of Christ.
As Abraham is leading his son Isaac up Mt. Moriah to offer him to the Lord as a sacrifice, he knew deep in his heart that God would provide a ram.
He said those very words to his son.
But another Father would lead only begotten son up Mt. Golgatha to become the final atonement for our sin. He would be the sacrifice.
His sacrifice would set us free from the power of sin that entered the world 22 chapters earlier.
6. Joseph
Joseph, while not the only son of his father with Rebecca, was a favored son.
Israel sent him out amongst his brothers, who hated him and plotted to kill him. Had they killed him, the hidden picture of Jesus would never have emerged.
Rather than kill him, he was sold into slavery, falsely accused, thrown into prison, and forgotten until the very moment when Joseph would shine as the beautiful fortelling of Christ.
God would give Joseph divine wisdom to save Egypt and the surrounding areas from famine.
But not only that, his life would set the stage for an even grander fortelling of Christ.
The Israelites in slavery to Egypt
Moses delivering them from their life of slavery
The Passover
The Tabernacle
The priesthood
The sacrifices
And for millennia the Israelites would enact the story of Christ’s salvation over and over and over.
Only God could weave events so expertly to tell and retell His plan of salvation that would forever change human history.
An event that has changed my life and your life, and continues to change lives every day.
I pray this study has changed how you read the Old Testament, and that you will find your own hidden gems of Christ revealed.
This post is part of the Good Morning Girls Read Through the Bible series
