The book of Genesis is the book of origins. It tells us of the beginning of the world and of man, the beginning of sin, and the beginning of God’s plan to bring about man’s redemption (Genesis 3:15; 12:1-3; 49:10). It has three significant ideas that goes along with these beginnings 1. Generation — Genesis 1 and 2; 2. De-Generation — Genesis 3-11; and 3. Re-Generation — Genesis 12-50 wherein God prepares for the coming of the Christ.

The book of Genesis can also be remembered around 6 major figures: 1. Adam — Genesis 1-5; 2. Noah— Genesis 6-11; 3. Abraham — Genesis 12-25; 4. Isaac — Genesis 26-27; 5. Jacob — Genesis 27-36; 6. Joseph — Genesis 37-50.

Genesis 1:1 takes us back to the beginning of everything, and in this verse we understand so much. For example, this verse states the five fundamental facts of science; IN THE BEGINNING — Time, GOD — force, CREATED — Action, THE HEAVENS — Space, AND THE EARTH — Matter. It tells us some things about God — it assumes His existence, His eternity, His omnipotence, His absolute freedom, His infinite wisdom, His essential goodness (and God saw that it was good) and it assumes that He is above time and space, for He created both.

The days of Genesis 24 were 24 hour periods of time. Many would try to have us believe that each of the days of Genesis 1 were long eons of time, in an effort to compromise between what the Bible says and the false theory of general evolution teaches. We know that this has reference to 24 hour time frames because anytime the word day had a number before it, it was a definite period of 24 hours. We also know that this is the case, for plants were created on the third day, but the sun was created on the fourth day. Finally, if this were the case, then Adam must have been very old, yet in Genesis 5 we read that Adam was 930 when he died.

The book tells about the beginning of man and woman, and the beginning of the institution of marriage (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18-24). It tells of the beginning of sin (Genesis 3:1-6) in which Satan tempted Eve with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. It also gives us the first hint of redemption in Genesis 3:15.

It tells in Genesis 6-9 of a catastrophic flood which totally destroyed the world. Many try to leave us with the idea that this was a local flood, but this goes against everything the text says. It was universal, and the only ones that lived through it were Noah and his wife, his three sons and their wives, along with those Noah had on the ark. Peter refers to this event and states that God will one day again destroy the world, only this time by fire (2 Peter 3).

God makes a promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3; 13:15-16; 15:5, 8; 17:5,8, 19; and 22:17-18. There are four important parts to this promise that we find repeated time and again: 1. Of Abraham’s seed would arise a Great nation — this was fulfilled in the nation of Israel. 2. His descendants would be given a great land — Joshua 2:24; 21:43; 23:14; 1 Kings 4:21. 3. God would bless Him and make his name great — Genesis 22:17. 4. Of his seed all nations would be blessed — Genesis 12:3; 22:18. This was true of Christ.

The rest of Genesis deals with God repeating the promises to Isaac (26:3-5) and to Jacob (28:3-4, 13-20; 35:10-12).

The story of Joseph is told in Genesis 37-50, and it teaches two great lessons: 1. God sometimes uses evil for good — 45:5-7; 50:15-20. 2. God’s providence overrules in the affairs of men.