President and Professor of Historical Theology
Reformed Theological Seminary, OrlandoIntroduction
Introduction
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
—Genesis 1:1
The Book of Genesis is called “The Book of the Beginning” because it is a record of the origin of the universe, the origin of man, the origin of the fall, and the commencement of God’s work of salvation. At the same time, Genesis is also the introduction to the entire Bible and the blueprint of the history of redemption (Isa 46:10; 48:3).
The study of the basic foundation of Genesis, the genealogy of the generations
I took special interest in the years of generations recorded in the Genesis genealogies, and I focused on the Scripture verses, “Remember the days of old, consider the years of all generations” (Deut 32:7) and “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it” (Jer 6:16). In order to understand the true meaning of the genealogies, I researched for a long period of time, carefully read through the Bible, and referred to various books and resources.
I was able to discover the living and active faith of the patriarchs in the Genesis genealogies. Each and every step they took in faith left a clear imprint. They lived in eager anticipation for the woman’s seed (Gen 3:15) and the sound of their charged heartbeats still reverberates today. Tears overwhelmed me and sleep escaped me as I was moved by the grace that led me to understand the hidden meaning of the years of generations.
Grace abounded even more abundantly as I shared my newfound understanding with the beloved members of Pyung Kang Che-il Church during weekly services and special gatherings. I testified of the grace I received from my studies in 1968 for the first time and then in 1983 through six months of Bible studies at the Wonji-Dong Retreat Center. Since then, I have modified and added to the studies and shared them on different occasions both in the country and abroad throughout the year 2005. The study blessed both me and the congregation through the overflowing inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
I had delayed publishing this book because I did not feel that it was necessary for a person like me to publish a book. However, in response to my fellow ministers and beloved congregation’s strong urging that I publish my work in the year 2007, the fiftieth “Jubilee” year anniversary of this servant’s ministry, I organized some of my studies into an expository format. Though this book may be inadequate as fruit presented before God, I took the courage to share it with the world because of the enormous grace that the congregation and I had received. I earnestly hope that God’s grace may allow this book to cause even larger waves of blessings to sweep across the churches throughout the world.
This book is certainly not a theological or scholarly treatise. I merely organized what I preached through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit after repeatedly kneeling in prayer and reading the Bible through and through. I was greatly blessed by the writings of the forerunners of faith as I referred to them in my research for this book. I borrow the words of the author of Ecclesiastes and confess, “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl 1:9).
The content of this book can hardly be considered complete in explaining the infinite Word of God, which is a mystery that cannot be understood entirely even through a lifetime of research and study. I would like to ask the readers to read this book with a Christlike heart of understanding; please forgive any awkward sentences and generously tolerate any unintended mistakes.
When Peter asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him?” Jesus answered, “I do not say to y ou, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matt 18:21–22). I ask that you overlook my shortcomings with the love and mercy of Christ. If anything has been accomplished through this inadequate servant, I confess that it was not the work of this eighty-year-old sinner, but completely the work of the Lord.
Just as King David confessed, “My times are in Your hand” (Ps 31:15), the life I have lived and the history of the Pyung Kang Che-il Church are wholly in God’s sovereign hand of grace. Truly, the mighty strength of God and the power of the Holy Spirit have been present. As I advance beyond the fiftieth year of my ministry, which had been made possible only by the grace of God, I feel immensely grateful for the opportunity to leave a trace of this insignificant life in the form of this meaningful book.
Finally, I take this opportunity to express my gratitude to my fellow ministers, elders, leaders, and the congregation of Pyung Kang Che-il Church, as well as my wife and children for all of their prayers and support for this inadequate servant. In addition, I would like to thank every helping hand that has made the publication of this book possible.
I pray that Jesus Christ, the only Savior, who died on the cross for all of our sins and rose again on the third day, will always be with His churches around the world. Furthermore, I yearn for the day when the sinful land and all of its people are filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea (Isa 11:9; Hab 2:14; Matt 28:19–20). I lift up all the glory to our only living God. Hallelujah!
October 27, 2007
From the prayer room of Pyung Kang Che-il Retreat Center
Servant of Jesus Christ,
Abraham Park
PART ONE
Consider the Years
of All Generations
“Remember the days of old,
Consider the years of all generations.
Ask your father, and he will inform you,
Your elders, and they will tell you.”
—Deuteronomy 32:7
The Book of Deuteronomy is composed of Moses’ three farewell sermons which he gave after the completion of the 40-year wilderness journey and immediately preceding his death. Indeed, these final words and exhortations to the Israelites exhibited Moses’ resolute determination at the end of his remarkable 120-year life. A suitable title for his first sermon would be “The Recollection of God’s Past Work of Salvation” (Deut 1:1–4:43); for the second sermon, “The Reiteration of the Law” (Deut 4:44–26:19); and for the third, “The Future Foretold” (Deut 27–30). The book concludes with Moses’ death and the commissioning of Joshua as Israel’s new leader (Deut 31–34).
Moses gave the sermons near the end of the long wilderness journey, on the first day of the eleventh month in the fortieth year of the exodus. Hence, it was two months and ten days before the great entry into Canaan (Deut 1:3–5). The main audience was the second generation that was born in the wilderness since all the first generation soldiers had died before crossing the brook Zered (Deut 2:13–15). Moses preached with an earnest hope that this second generation in the wilderness would continue to keep their faith and obey the Word of God as they live in Canaan.
Moses’ song in Deuteronomy 32 addresses the somber subject of Israel’s betrayal, their fall, and God’s subsequent judgment. The fundamental message of this song, however, is God’s boundless love and mercy for His chosen people. Calling the Israelites by the affectionate name, “Jeshurun”1 (Deut 32:15), Moses desired to ingrain in their