The first pages of this letter, Genesis, serve as a remembrance of when God and humanity began their walk together. The collected stories vividly illustrate God's character and endeavors, making it a powerful book to revisit for senior believers.
Explore our six favorite reasons at Bethesda Senior Living Communities to read through the Book of Genesis again.
God doesn't act without reason, and the stories in Genesis such as Joseph's prove that his plan is for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28).
Joseph eventually became the pharaoh's right hand despite being sold as a slave, framed for a crime and locked in prison for years. When facing his brothers who had wronged him, Joseph stated that God took what they meant for harm and used it for good (Genesis 50:20).
As his children, seniors of faith can rest assured that God created them and their circumstances for a reason. They may not understand God's intentions or why he's allowed us to have a difficult situation in our lives. However, God has demonstrated throughout the Bible that his way is good and will ultimately lead to a closer walk with him and the things he desires to give his children.
Many older adults struggle to find meaning in their lives once they retire from their jobs or their children grow up and no longer need daily support. Age-related health issues that interfere with seniors' abilities and independence can also cause them to question their worth.
Genesis teaches that God created humans in his image. While all creation is precious to God, he sets humanity as different and treasured. Far from being a distant creator, God instead seeks to know each individual, and he wants them to seek and know him in return. Zephaniah 3:17 reveals that God the Father delights in his people, literally singing over them out of joy.
In the first three chapters of Genesis, readers see the creation of the world, the paradise of Eden and the fall of mankind into sin. But even as God was punishing Adam and Eve for their selfish disobedience, he was promising the coming of a savior.
Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise, and his blood redeems all believers so they can walk beside God as it was in the beginning. Seniors of faith can use examples from Genesis that point to Jesus when witnessing to their friends and family to help them understand the depth of God's love and mercy.
He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. Isaiah 42:3 NLT
God never stops calling for people to repent for wrongdoing and follow him. Before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, he told Abraham about his plan. Abraham requested that God spare the two cities if 10 righteous people could be found, but the entire population was wicked. Even Lot's sons-in-law refused to believe his warnings (Genesis 19:14).
In Jeremiah 18:1-12, God uses a potter working on a vessel to explain his thoughts and ways regarding sin. He promises not to destroy a person who repents, but he won't tolerate another who stubbornly refuses to stop doing evil things.
Genesis shares how God watched over Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph through every step of their lives. He sent angels to Lot and Hagar and answered the prayers for direction by Abraham's servant.
God is impartial in his love and kindness, extending to anyone who calls upon him in faith, whether they're male, female, slave or free (Galatians 3:28).
The angel declared at Jesus' birth that he brought good news that would be for all people (Luke 2:10). The stories in Genesis prove this good news has always been freely given by the God who never changes (Malachi 3:6).
As the starting point of the Bible, Genesis is our origin story, and it holds many of God's first promises, including:
Genesis 8:22 NIV beautifully describes God's faithfulness, saying, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."
As seniors read through Genesis, they can take these promises to heart and know that in their own lives, God will be faithful to his children just as surely as he extends new mercies every morning (Lamentations 2:23).
