INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW  
– THE BOOK OF GENESIS –

          One of the most amazing things about the book of Genesis is the brevity with which God clearly described the beginning of our world and the creation of mankind. This summary of the creation begins with the words, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." (Genesis 1:1) The first few verses in our Bible give a summary statement of God creative acts on the first days. The book of Genesis is the book of beginnings. Moses is accepted as the penman of the Book of Genesis as well as the other books of the Law (Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.) We are, of course, quick to remind ourselves that the entire Bible is inspired of God. "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:20-21) The book of Genesis does include the record of the creation, sin and its consequences and also the story of Noah and the flood. However, the book of Genesis is primarily the story of the birth and development of the nation of Israel. The book of Genesis is the story of Abraham (Genesis 12:1 -- Genesis 25:11), Isaac (Genesis 25:19 --Genesis 35:29) and Jacob (Genesis 37:2 -- Genesis 50:26. It also includes the story of Israel's move to Egypt and it continues through the death of Joseph.

          Genesis contains the basis of all of God's dealings with man. We learn from this great book how man can maintain a right relationship with God. The book of Genesis allows us to look at the first sin and to be able to observe the seriousness of its consequences. God is righteous in punishing sin, even sending the flood to destroy wickedness. Genesis contains biographies of seven of God's servants -- Adam, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. 

The book of Genesis is a book of generations. We study:

1. Genesis 2:4: The generations of the heavens and of the earth.

2. Genesis 5:1: The generations of Adam.

3. Genesis 6:9: The generations of Noah.

4. Genesis 10:1: The generations of the sons of Noah.

5. Genesis 11:10: The generations of Shem.

6. Genesis 11:27: The generations of Terah.

7. Genesis 25:12: The generations of Ishmael.

8. Genesis 25:19: The generations of Isaac.

9. Genesis 36:1: The generations of Esau.

10: Genesis 36:9: The generations of Esau.

11: Genesis 37:2: The generations of Jacob.

What do we read about in the book of Genesis?

Genesis 1: The six days of creation.

Genesis 2: A broader study of creation.

Genesis 3: Temptation, sin and its consequences.

Genesis 4: Cain, Able and Seth. (The first sacrifice, the first murder, and the first city.)         

Genesis 5: Descendants of Adam die.

Genesis 6: The building of the ark.

Genesis 7: The coming of the world wide flood.

Genesis 8: The flood ends.

Genesis 9: Beauty (Rainbow) and ugly (Noah's drunkenness.)

Genesis 10: Descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Genesis 11: The building of the tower of Babel.

Genesis 12: The call of Abraham.          

Genesis 13: Lot's unwise choice.          

Genesis 14: Abram saves Lot and meets Melchisedec.

Genesis 15: The promise of a son and the land.

Genesis 16: The story of Hagar and Ishmael.

Genesis 17: Renewal of the promise, institution of circumcision, new names    (Abraham and Sarah.)

Genesis 18: Searching for 10 righteous souls.

Genesis 19: The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; Lot's salvation.

Genesis 20: Abraham lied to Abimelech.

Genesis 21: The birth of Isaac and the putting out of Hagar and Ishmael.

Genesis 22: The offering of Isaac.

Genesis 23: Sarah's death and burial.

Genesis 24: Isaac married Rebekah.

Genesis 25: Abraham married Keturah, Isaac's sons Esau and Jacob.

Genesis 26: Isaac and Abimelech -- She is my sister; the wives of Esau.

Genesis 27: Jacob deceitfully gets the blessing.

Genesis 28: Jacob fled to Mesopotamia.

Genesis 29: Jacob married Leah and Rachel.

Genesis 30: Jacob's sons.

Genesis 31: Jacob in Canaan.

Genesis 32: Jacob wrestled with God and was given new name (Israel.)

Genesis 33: Jacob meets Esau.

Genesis 34: Dinah and Shechem.

Genesis 35: Jacob goes to Bethel; birth of Benjamin and death of Rachel.

Genesis 36: The generations of Esau.

Genesis 37: Joseph's dreams and imprisonment in Egypt.

Genesis 38: Judah and Tamar.

Genesis 39: Joseph and Potiphar's wife.

Genesis 40: Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh's servants.

Genesis 41: Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams and is set free.

Genesis 42: The seven lean years of famine, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt.

Genesis 43: The second trip of Joseph's brothers to Egypt.

Genesis 44: The conscience of the brothers begins to awake.

Genesis 45: Joseph makes himself known.

Genesis 46: Jacob comes to Egypt.

Genesis 47: Jacob blesses Pharaoh; Joseph's plan saves the world.

Genesis 48: Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh.

Genesis 49: Jacob blesses his twelve sons and dies.

Genesis 50: Jacob's burial and Joseph's death, the hope of the inheritance.

Great lesson and challenging thoughts in Genesis:

          Promises of the Messiah: In the very first section of Holy Scripture (Genesis) God sets forth His desire and plan for the salvation of mankind. The book of Genesis provides some initial thoughts about the Savior. In Genesis 3:15 He is the 'Seed of the woman." This is a picture of the virgin birth. Throughout the book of Genesis we become acquainted with many who were in the lineage of Jesus. In Genesis 49:10 we learn that Jesus would be born through the tribe of Judah.

          Purpose of the Rainbow: The rainbow provides a promise of God's grace. After the flood God placed His bow in the sky with a great promise. "I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth." (Genesis 9:13-17) The earth will be destroyed, but it will be with fire and not with water.

          Providence of God: God is able to make the situations of this life work out to the good of His people. Many sad things happened in the story of Joseph, but the statement he made to his brothers shows God's providence. "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." (Genesis 45:5)

          Power of Influence: In Egypt Joseph was sold to Potiphar. God blessed Joseph in Potiphar's house. He was made overseer over the house and all that Potiphar had he put into his Joseph's hands. "And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field." (Genesis 39:5) The influence of Joseph was great.