An overview of Genesis
This series is all about the Bible. We know that families can be stronger by reading God’s Word together, and we want to help you have a better grasp of each book of the Bible so you can help your family grow in faith. This article is about the book of Genesis, the very first book of the Bible, and a great place to start your journey of knowing God more.
Overview: Genesis is where it all begins. The name of the book literally means beginning. It is all about God creating the heavens and the earth, all the creatures in the earth and sea, as well as man and woman. After God created the earth (and saw that it was good), we see how sin came into the world. Man’s wickedness became so bad that God destroyed the world with a flood and started over with Noah and his family. After God promised to never flood the earth again, the sin problem continued to plague mankind. However, God chose Abraham to begin the process of bringing blessings to all nations and providing a way for all to be blessed. Genesis is the beginning of that story, and at the end of the book, we see how God’s people, the Israelites, have grown and moved to Egypt because of God’s provision for them through Joseph, despite his brothers’ attempt to get rid of him.
Where Genesis fits in the whole story of the Bible: Genesis is the first book of the Bible, providing the beginning of everything. It is often considered the first book of the law. The first five books of the Old Testament are called the Pentateuch, and Genesis is the first book of the Pentateuch. These books of the law are the books that would guide God’s people in their practice and beliefs. Genesis provides the foundation for the law of God’s people throughout history. Although it does not really contain the law, it does have a major theme of blessing and cursing as the narrative follows God’s work in the lives of its characters. Genesis ends with God’s people, the Israelites, in Egypt as guests because of God’s faithfulness to Joseph.
Foundational stories in Genesis (and where to find them):
- Creation: Chapters 1-2
- Adam and Eve: Chapters 2-5
- Noah and the flood: Chapters 6-9
- God calling Abraham: Chapters 12-15
- Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac: Chapters 17-22
- Jacob and Esau: Chapter 25-27
- Jacob and Rachel: Chapters 29-30
- Joseph and his brothers: Chapters 37-50
If you are just starting out with reading the Bible, a trip through Genesis will help you find out the foundation of the entire message of God’s Word. You probably have heard many of these stories before, and seeing how they fit together is helpful for anyone who wants to understand the Bible and what God has been doing in the world from the beginning of time.
