THE UNFOLDING MISSION OF GOD IN THE BOOK OF GENISIS, EXPLANATION OF

HOW GOD SHOWED HIS REDEMPTIVE PLAN FOR THE FALLEN MAN AND HOW
GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS KINDNESS TO THE HEBREW MIDWIVES WHO
ESSENTIALLY LIED TO THE KING OF EGYPT AND A TEMPORAY APPLICATION
FROM THIS ACCOUNT.

BY

STARFORD MALIKO

THE PROJECT

SUBMITTED TO

REV. K. CHINTAPASA

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR

THE PENTATUECH

MALAWI ASSEMBLIES OF GOD EXTENSION BIBLE SCHOOL

ZOMBA

3RD JUNE, 2023.

The book of Genesis narrates and in detail unfolds the mission of God (missio Dei) in offering
human beings a covenantal relationship with himself. The God of the Bible is a missionary God,
whose mission was to redeem the fallen man and bring him back to himself. In this case the book
of Genesis introduces the Creator and the creation, how he made everything perfect and good.
However, sin entered the world through the federal head of humanity named Adam who through
his wife disobeyed God’s instruction given to him and resulting into a great fall. This fall sets
into motion the great tragedies of human history and tells us how the curse enters the earth.
Nevertheless, the book of Genesis is a narrative that entirely unfolds his redemptive plan and
mission to mankind in order to bring him back to Himself and enjoy his goodness and mercy
forever. The story of God’s kindness unfolding his mission and redeeming plan is also evident in
the Hebrew midwives by saving Hebrew infant boys from infanticide sanctioned by tyrannical
Egyptian regime. Therefore, in this regard, the paper will deal with two major parts, the first is to
discuss the unfolding mission of God in the book of Genesis and explain how He showed His
redemptive plan for the fallen man by: providing garments of animal skin to the fallen couple,
the promise of the seed of a woman, the Noahic covenant, the Abrahamic covenant, and the
figure of Joseph. The second part is to discuss how God demonstrated his kindness to the
Hebrew midwives who essentially lied to the king of Egypt and make the contemporary
application from the account.

THE UNFOLDING MISSION OF GOD IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS

One of the perfect attributes of God which is among the incommunicable category is that God is
omniscient being, he knows all things. In regard to the fall of man, God foreknew that the fall
will take place and it was not a surprise to him and for that reason he already provided the way to
bring back the fallen mankind to himself, and that’s the book of Genesis unfolds it a mission of
God. This mission of God was not just to cure rebellious mankind from curse received through
sin but mainly was to bless mankind (Genesis 1:28, 12:1). In Genesis 12 we find the most
significant statement about God's mission in the Old Testament that should shape our
imagination about what mission means for the whole rest of the story. God wants to bless the
world. The world broken by Sin and Death needs blessing, and God invites Abram and Abram's
family to participate in this work. Genesis has so much to offer our imaginations when it comes
to whom God is and what God's mission in the world is.

THE REDEMPTIVE PLAN OF GOD

The book of Beginnings begins the story of God’s relationship with mankind, tells the sad story
of how that relationship was compromised, and outlines God’s promised solution to that crisis is
through his blueprint for the reconciliation and salvation of fallen humanity. Under this plan,
God would gradually reveal himself and, through a chosen people, progressively prepare
mankind for Christ.

PROVISION OF GARMENTS OF ANIMAL SKIN TO THE FALLEN COUPLE

The redemptive plan of Yahweh manifested as he provided a covering for the nakedness of
Adam and Eve a picture of atonement. According to Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary (2012:
33) states, “but the Lord clothes Adam and Eve with garments of skin. The important thing here
is garments rather than skins. God provides a covering for this naked couple, but it is a divine
covering, not a human covering (3:21). Throughout the Old Testament one of the meanings of
“to atone” is “to cover.” Apart from the black backdrop of man’s sin, the holiness, justice,
mercy, grace, compassion, and longsuffering of God would never have been evident. Therefore
the nakedness of man is covered by skins provided by God, so that men need not hide from His
presence. Thus, there is a provision for sinners to have fellowship with God hence demonstrating
His redemptive plan to the fallen man.

THE PROMISE OF THE SEED OF A WOMAN (GENESIS 3:15)

God’s tenderness is not only demonstrated towards Adam and even in general, it is also directed
towards Eve specifically. In this verse God describes His redemptive plan to crush the Serpent
and redeem humanity a redemptive plan that will come to pass through the seed of the woman.
God specifically redeems the calling of the woman by predicting that it is the woman who will
produce the Deliverer who will crush evil. In correlating with the argument, according to
Matthews (1996: 213) argues that, “The curse upon the serpent includes its final destruction by
the descendant of the woman”. This animosity is at the instigation of God. The serpent was
instrumental in the undoing of the woman, and in turn the woman will ultimately bring down the
serpent through her offspring”. Therefore, God’s tenderness is apparent in the way He designs
His redemptive plan. In Genesis 3 we see Eve’s fatal decision that sets into motion the fall of
man. However, Genesis 3 also predicts that it will be through the woman that God will set into
motion the deliverance of man.

THE NOAHIC COVENANT

The Noahic covenant was the first covenantal administration after God’s initial covenant promise
to redeem and restore humanity. The covenant comes in the context of the flood in which God
destroys all the inhabitants of the earth because of their great wickedness. So God “uncreates” or
“creation reversal” his creation through the floodwaters. But Noah finds grace in God’s eyes
(Gen. 6:8). According to Windsor (2006:7) affirms, “The Noahic covenant is an example of God
reaffirming his commitment to his creation which he had symbolically uncreated in the flood.
God was committed to returning order and stability to a world corrupted by sin”. In summary,
the Noahic covenant is also a part of God’s redemptive plan as unfolds in the book of Genesis
thus He was not done with his creation; he was committed to redeeming it.

THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

In Genesis 12:1-3, God advances his redemptive plan through a covenant with Abraham. In these
verses, God offers a twofold promise to Abraham: he would be blessed and he would be a
blessing to others. These promises to Abraham are ratified in the distinct but related covenants of
Genesis 15 and 17. According to Higginbotham (2018) In Genesis 17, the covenant is that
Abraham will be “the father of a multitude of nations” (v. 4). This covenant points to the final
redemption that comes through Jesus Christ (v. 7). However, the enduring covenant of Genesis
17 is dependent upon the fulfillment of the temporal covenant of Genesis 15 (fulfilled once the
nation had taken possession of the land). Therefore, Genesis 12:1–3 is God’s answer to the
problem of mankind’s rebellion narrated in the book’s first eleven chapters. Through Abraham’s
descendants—Israel, and ultimately Israel’s royal king, Jesus—the Creator-King will reclaim his
world. Blessing and life will overcome and swallow up the curse of Genesis 3. God is
determined, by his grace, to restore humanity and the entire cosmos to the paradise it was in
Eden.
 THE FIGURE OF JOSEPH

In the patriarchal era in Genesis, God’s picture of redemptive plan is portrayed in the figure of
Joseph. God leads Joseph to become Pharaoh’s right-hand man. In an amazing story of
reconciliation and forgiveness, Joseph welcomes back his father and brothers, providing them
food and a place to live during another famine this depicting the unconditional love and
forgiveness of Yahweh toward His unfaithful chosen people.

GOD’S DEMONSTRATION OF KINDNESS TO THE HEBREW MIDWIVES (EXODUS 1:7)

God expresses his approval of the midwives’ choice to protect the baby boys by giving them
families: offering them the very blessing that they have so often assisted in bringing to others.
According to Johnson (2014) Justifiable homicide was made politically expeditious and socially
acceptable in response to the presupposed threat Hebrews boys posed. Hence, Shiphrah and Puah
are left to wrestle and reconcile the ethical question of their day. the midwives’ obedience to
God saves many children, one of whom will go on to be chosen by the Lord to free his people
from slavery. The names of Shiphrah and Puah have come down to us as part of the salvation
story of God’s people.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATION

There is a profound and great lesson to learn from the Hebrew midwives. The Bible narrates that
the Hebrew midwives feared and obeyed Yahweh the God of Israel. According to Hunter (2020)
adds Shiphrah and Puah did not let their circumstances – being slaves to a pagan, ungodly king –
dictate the proper course of action. In the same way, if we profess to be God fearing people then
just like the Hebrew midwives despite the challenging circumstances we won’t betray God’s
values, roles and laws for the sake of unjust and inhuman treatment and ungodly human
authority.

CONCLUSION

The work hereby has systematically discussed the unfolding mission of God in the book of
Genesis and explains how he showed his redemptive plan for the fallen and depraved mankind.
And also discussed how God demonstrated his kindness toward the Hebrew midwives who
essentially lied to Pharaoh and make the contemporary application from the account.
 References

Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. (2012). Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group.

Higginbotham, L. 2018. Lecture Notes For Old Testament Survey I: Pentateuch And Historical
Books SP-18, Midwestern. Baptist Theological Seminary.

Hunter, G. (2020). Shiphrah and Puah, Shrewd Midwives - Lessons from Biblical Women. South
Fellowship Church. USA.

Johnson, W. (2014). All Lives Matter — a Lesson from Hebrew Midwives. Wellspring Church:
Ferguson, Missouri.

Matthews. A. K. (1996). The New American Commentary Volume 1A Genesis 1—11:26.

Windsor, L. (2006).The Fulfilment of the Covenants: An Acovenantal Perspective on Paul. St.