Survey of the Bible: Genesis
Text: Genesis 1:26-31
I. One way to become familiar with the Bible is to know what each of the books of the Bible are about.
A. It is my hope to begin presenting lessons on one book of the Bible in a lesson periodically.
B. We won’t go into great detail, just enough to get you familiar with the contents.
II. The book of Genesis takes its name from the first line of the text - Genesis 1:1
A. Genesis means “beginnings” this a record of how the world which we know began.
B. The book is composed of eleven accounts or records. They are basically family histories. The following are the signature lines:
1. Genesis 2:4 - The records of the heavens and the earth. This is God's history of the creation.
2. Genesis 5:1 - The records of Adam.
3. Genesis 6:9 - The records of Noah
4. Genesis 10:1 - The records of Shem, Ham, and Japheth
5. Genesis 11:10 - The records of Shem
6. Genesis 11:27 - The records of Terah
7. Genesis 25:12 - The records of Ishmael (contained within the following)
8. Genesis 25:19 - The records of Isaac
9. Genesis 36:1,9 - The records of Esau (contained within the following)
10. Genesis 37:2 - The records of Jacob
11. Exodus 1:1 - The records of the children of Israel.
C. Knowing that Genesis is composed of sub-stories or records helps to explain why there is repetition in the accounts. Each author started by recounting a little bit of history that lead up to his time and then proceeded onwards.
D. The book has three sections
1. Genesis 1 - 11 talks of mankind in general with emphasis on one particular family lineage
2. Genesis 12 - 36 focuses on the life of three patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
3. Genesis 37 - 50 focuses on the life of Joseph. The other sons of Jacob are discussed, but the overall story revolves around Joseph’s life.
III. Main events and Characters
A. The Creation - Genesis 1-2
B. The Fall of Man - Genesis 3-5
C. The Flood - Genesis 6-9
D. The Nations - Genesis 10-11
E. Abraham - Genesis 12-23
1. Abram’s Call - Genesis 12
2. Abram and Lot - Genesis 13-14
3. Promises to Abram - Genesis 15-18
4. Sodom and Gomorrah - Genesis 19
5. Abraham and Abimelech - Genesis 20
6. Isaac’s birth - Genesis 21
7. The offering of Isaac - Genesis 22
8. Death of Sarah - Genesis 23
F. Isaac - Genesis 24-26
1. A bride for Isaac - Genesis 24
2. Abraham’s death and Isaac’s sons - Genesis 25
3. Isaac and Abimelech - Genesis 26
G. Jacob - Genesis 27-36
1. Deception of Isaac - Genesis 27
2. Brides for Jacob - Genesis 28-29
3. The sons of Jacob - Genesis 30
4. Return to Canaan - Genesis 31-33
5. Dinah and Shechem - Genesis 34
6. Promises to Jacob - Genesis 35-36
H. Joseph - Genesis 37-50
1. Joseph’s Dreams - Genesis 37
2. Judah and Tamar - Genesis 38
3. Joseph’s Slavery - Genesis 39-40
4. Pharaoh’s Dreams and Joseph’s rise to power - Genesis 41
5. Joseph tests his brothers - Genesis 42-45
6. Israel moves to Egypt - Genesis 46-47
7. Death of Jacob - Genesis 48-50
IV. Purpose
A. It shows the sinfulness of man
1. Adam and Eve sinned, despite simple laws
2. Mankind proceeded from bad to worse
3. To the point that God had to wipe all but one family out
4. Yet, we see that sin remained.
5. In each of the patriarchs we see sins being committed.
a. Noah got drunk
b. His descendants rebelled and were scattered as a result
c. Abraham lied
d. Lot got tainted by sin
e. Isaac was distracted by worldly things and lied
f. Jacob deceived and was deceived
g. Simeon and Levi were violent
h. Joseph started out prideful
i. Judah was visiting prostitutes
6. All sin - Romans 3:23
B. Yet simultaneously there is hope of rescue being woven into the story
1. A savior is promised - Genesis 3:15
2. One man stands out as righteous - Genesis 5:24
3. Sin is wiped out, but one family is preserved - I Peter 3:20-21
4. Promise of a blessing - Genesis 12:1-3
5. The hint of supreme sacrifice - Genesis 22:14-18
6. The concept that evil and the suffering that results can be turned into good - Genesis 50:19-21
