The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-09
GENESIS N JANUARY
Bible Reading Campaign.

This article on 1.-THE Literary Beauty
Sanders, Phi. D.. d. D.. director OF the
board of missionary preparation, New
York City. at the request of the Rev.
The Book of Genesis has been looked
upon with veneration for many rea-
sons. predominantly because it deals
with such fundamentally important
matters. but also because it is a book
which introduces the student to the
rest of the Bible. It would be proper to
declare that the careful student of the
first eleven chapters Of Genesis, lays
a sound foundation for the interpreta-
ton of all Scripture. The conceptions
they express about the being and ma
ture Of God, about man as the supreme
result of creation. about Gods directive
power and purpose in human life and
about the gradual development Of hui
man civilization in accordance with
that purpose; about his attitude toward
sin, and His desire to drive it out of
the wOrld-all these are fundamental to
an understanding of the plan of the
Bible itself. The book is likewise in
teresting because of the history which
Of the days of Moses. and for the peo-
pie who were ready for his leadership
From another important point of
view, also. the book of Genesis is mar
velously interesting. AS literature it
takes a very high rank. 1t is no pur-
pose of mine in this article to discuss
the book an a whole. from the literary
standpoint, but only to point out to the
interested reader some of the passages
of remarkable power and beauty. with
which. everyone should be thoroughly
familiar
The first of these is naturally the
very first chapter, which should have
included the first three and a half
verses from chapter two. In sublimity.
dignity and impressiveness, no other
passage in human literature can be
found to surpass it. One realizes this
who gives the chapter its proper title.
1t does not tell US about Gods method
OF creating the world. but rather sets
God forth as revealed in the process of
crea ticn. Everything in the cha pter
centers upon God and describes Him
in His power. His goodness. His de-
light in His work. and the adequacy
OF it, The chapter to he fully appre-
ciated. needs to be req" REPEATEDLY as
a whole. 1t is beautiful poer, in a
series Of .stanzas. each closing with the
same refrain. all combining to make
a cumulative impression uDOn the mind
Of the greatness and goodness Of God.
who holds the world in the hollow Of
His hand.
OF totally different character are
the narratives which Immediately fol-
low in chapters two and three. These
narratives, in marked distinction to
the material of chapter one. are in
true story form. DELIGHTFULLY."- told. The
reader must read them each as
whole and ask himself. as In the case
of any story. what was the essential
point. To my mind. the second chap
ter was Intended to set forth the es-
FentiaIly roble place of humanity in
C<~raS Sr@ek ~ SwA -
was intended to emphasize the fact of
sin and the clear responsibility of man
for sin.
Passing over the stories about
Abraham it is almost difficult to avoid
choosing each one OF these vivid tales
as being the best example OF the liter
airy charm of the book. The reader
is more and. more impressed. first. by
the fact that the Hebrew historians
nreferred to personalfxe their narra-
periods in terms of human experience.
and secondly. by the finished quality
Of their stories. The first nine verses
of cha pter twelve can hardly be i'm
proved upon as suggestive narrative.
This is true of the story of Abraham
the sacrifice of Isaac in chapter 20,
and the purchase of the cave of Mach
pelah in chapter %. For sheer beau
ty of narrative one would quickly
J cHOOSee the -ELOIy OI the WOOlnE Ol
Rebecca in chapter "a. It's pathos is
only paralleled by the plea Of Judah
for his young brother in chapter -.
verses Is to -. For continuing at
tracttveness Of narrative. where can
one find a series Of passages surpass-
inK chapters 81 and 80 to As. which
tell US the story Of Joseph. The mar
ratives regarding Jacob are an ethical
drama Of wonderful directness. defin-
| iteness and charm. Who has not felt
in his Utmost soul some kinship with
the man whom God had to discipline
into unselfishness and faith?
To assemble further illustrations
seems unnecessary. The book of Gen.
esis is one of the books which deserve
reading and rereading, section by Sec
ton. and chapter by chapter. until it's
details are perfectly familiar. No one
can ever interpret the book Alright who
cannot think it over repeatedly. UNI
aided by glance at the Bible. 1t Ii
q choice representation Of the sort of
literature which embodies truth in
ideali1ed narrative. The truth cam
| not be seen until the narrative be-
comes 30 familiar that it tells it's own
spontaneous story So long a. the
world lives Genesis will be treasure
house of beautiful tales portraying
I splendid ideals. suggestive great and
heroic plAnss emphasizing the char4c-
| ter and power OF God. and assuring
NJ Of His abiding place in the world
He has made