Greatest Hits of Genesis

Welcome to this week's post on the Rolling Hills Youth Bible Blog.  Today, we studied Genesis:

Wait, there must be some misunderstanding!  Not the Band named Genesis ... We studied the Book of Genesis:

The Old Testament's Book of Genesis is the easiest book of the Bible to find because it's the first!  Genesis is all about firsts:  The first man and woman, the first murder, humanity's first covenant with God ... the list goes on and on.  The word Genesis is Greek for "beginning" or "origin."  The name Genesis comes from the first verse of the book: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." Gen. 1:1 (TNIV).  The Book of Genesis originally was written in Hebrew, of course.  But when the Hebrew later was translated into Greek, the Greek word "genesis" stuck as a title.  The book is also full of "sticky" stories: stories that stick in our imaginations ... and stories of people in sticky situations.  The members of our Youth Sunday school class nominated their favorites for today's award of "Greatest Hit from Genesis" --

Chris  nominated The Creation Story from Chapter 1 of Genesis. We read there that the Earth got off to a great start:
  "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."  Gen. 1:31 (NIV).

Dana picked The Story of Adam and Eve found in Chapters 2 and 3 of Genesis.  They started out in paradise, but soon sin entered the picture, and they were evicted from the Garden of Eden for breaking the house rules:
And [God] said, ... “Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”
Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”  -Gen. 3:11-13 (TNIV).

Jacob was inspired by his name to nominate the story of Jacob stealing his father, Isaac's blessing from Jacob's older brother, Esau.  You can read about this great act of brotherly betrayal (and the acting job Jacob did to pull it off) in Chapter 27 of Genesis.

Adrienne picked the story of Noah and the Great Flood.  You can find it in Genesis, Chapters 6 through 8.  My favorite re-telling of this ages-old story is by comedian Bill Cosby, Temple University's favorite son:

Paige picked the story from the aftermath of the flood: God's Covenant with Noah.  Leave it to Paige to find a story about rainbows!  You can read it in Chapter 9 of Genesis.  Noah learned that God was true to his word. How does the saying go? Oh, yeah: "With God's help, a lone amateur built the Ark.  A group of professionals built the Titanic."

And our winner for Greatest Hit from Genesis goes to Wes, who selected the challenging story of Abraham's Near Sacrifice of Isaac.  What a story!  You have to read it in Genesis 22.  Here's a song about it by an awesome parody band from Pittsburgh called ApologetiX:

Here are the lyrics:

Genny 22
Parody of "867-5309/Jenny" by Tommy Tutone 

Genesis twenty-two's where I turn to
To get the story of Isaac no one knew
I know you think Ike's life was prob'ly a bore
Because his famous father loved the Lord
When he was lots more younger Isaac was saved in time
When the Lord told His father
Abraham sacrifice Me your child
Take sticks sacrifice Me your child
Abraham sacrifice Me your child
Isaac sacrificed, me oh my
Daddy, daddy – that's a grill for meat
And you won't tell me why today we don't have sheepI tried to tell you before – but I lost my nerve
I tried to find another way son – but I trust His Word
Daddy, I'm on the lumber – why did you take your knife
There is an angel up there
Abraham, I'm satisfied, free your child
Your faith has satisfied me all right
Abraham, I'm satisfied, free your child
Your faith has satisfied me all right
Hey, Daddy! Hey, Daddy!
We've got a lamb there after all
Hey, Daddy! Hey, Daddy!
When you get time – let’s have a good long talk!
LEAD
When your begotten son’s there
How can you take his life?
Yet we know God the Father
Made this sacrifice with Jesus Christ
Genny 22’s where I turn to
God saved Isaac in time and we all must learn the truth
(To make it to Heaven find Jesus Christ)
Find Jesus Christ! Find Jesus Christ!

©2010 Parodudes Music, Inc.

 If you want to learn more about this band, you can check them out at their website, here:
http://apologetix.com/

Join us next week when we take a look at the Ten Commandments and select the winner for Best Commandment!