It is generally accepted that Moses wrote the book of Genesis, and the next four books of the Bible…Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, often referred to as the Pentateuch, which simply means ‘five books.’  It is what the Jewish people refer to as the Torah. Genesis means “in the beginning.” In other words, this book talks about the beginning of the world and the beginning of the story of salvation for all mankind.  Interestingly, Moses also wrote the 90th psalm. 

Of course, Moses was not present when the events in that book occurred, but he wrote of those things as he was led of the Lord.  We read in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 that, “ALL SCRIPTURE is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”  This certainly includes the book of Genesis.  It is not strange that Moses knew about the beginning of creation because he was called a PROPHET in Deuteronomy 34:10, “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face.

It would be good to consider a few New Testament books referencing Moses as the writer of Genesis and other books.

Luke 24:27, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.”  These are the words of the Lord Jesus.  After His resurrection, His disciples doubted this miraculous event. The Lord used the Bible (the Old Testament) to show them that these scriptures spoke of Him and His resurrection.  “Beginning at Moses” references the very beginning of the Bible…the book of Genesis.

Luke 24:44, “And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”  The Old Testament was commonly divided into three groups: the Law, the prophets, and the psalms.  The Lord here refers to the law as the law written by Moses, which includes the first five books of the Bible.

John 5:46, “For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.”  Again, these words of the Lord Jesus reference Moses’ writings.  Where did Moses write about the Lord?  One place is found in Genesis 3:15 which says, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  This ‘SEED” of the woman is the Lord Jesus.

One question that is often asked is how Moses could have written the book of Deuteronomy since it gives the details of his death in chapter 34, specifically verses 5-6, “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.”  It is generally understood that this last chapter of Deuteronomy was written by someone else, most likely Joshua since he, as Moses’ successor, took on the role of Israel’s leader after Moses’ death.  (CC)  (702.2)