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Stories
of the creation, sin's entry into the world, and God's covenant
with Abraham and his descendants.
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Genesis 1-11
is primordial history.
God creates the world, which is good, but sin enters the world through human
disobedience. Adam and Eve
eat fruit that was forbidden to them, and Cain
murders his brother Abel. God
commands Noah to build an ark in
which pairs of all living things are preserved from the great flood that
God sends to purge the earth. Afterward, people begin building a tower that
would reach to heaven in order to make a name for themselves, but God confuses
their speech and scatters them.
Genesis 12-25
tells of Abraham and his family. God promises that Abraham
will receive a land and many descendents, and that through him all the
families of the earth will be blessed. Abraham's wife Sarah
is barren, so he fathers a son Ishmael through Sarah's servant Hagar.
Messengers repeat God's promise, and in advanced old age, Sarah gives
birth to Isaac. God tests
Abraham by commanding him to sacrifice Isaac, but before Abraham completes
the sacrifice God intervenes and preserves the boy. Isaac marries
Rebekah, who bears Jacob
and Esau.
Genesis 26-36
centers on Jacob. Jacob barters for his brother's birthright
and tricks his father Isaac into blessing him, then flees to his uncle
Laban. On the way he dreams of a ladder stretching to heaven, and
God promises him land and descendants. Jacob marries Laban's daughters
Rachel and Leah, becomes rich, and has twelve
sons. Upon his return to Canaan, Jacob wrestles with an angel and
is named "Israel."
Genesis 37-50
is the story of Joseph and his brothers. Joseph
was Jacob's favorite son. His brothers become jealous and sell him
as a slave into Egypt. There
Joseph is imprisoned on false charges, but after successfully interpreting
Pharaoh's dreams, he is given responsibility over Egypt's food stores.
During a famine, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt for food. At first
Joseph hides his identity, but later reveals that he is their brother
and brings the family to Egypt.
Gen
1 - Creation
Gen 3 - Adam
and Eve fall into sin
Gen 9:8-17
- Rainbow covenant
Gen 12:1-3
- God's promise to Abraham
Gen 37 - Joseph
and his brothers
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