INTRODUCTION GENESIS | 3
Isaac fathers twins , Esau and Jacob ( 25:19 — 36:43 ). Jacob — whose name God changes to “ Israel ” — has 12 sons , including Joseph . Through a series of challenging events , Joseph eventually claims a powerful role in Egypt ’ s royal court , and his family joins him in Egypt where , unfortunately , they will one day be enslaved ( chs . 37 – 50 ; see Exodus ).
At every stage of the story , characters take matters into their own hands and often suffer painful consequences , yet God remains faithful to his promises and his people , now known as Israel .
OUTLINE
• Creation , sin and the early history of the nations ( 1:1 — 11:32 )
• The life of Abraham ( 12:1 — 25:18 )
• The lives of Isaac and Jacob ( 25:19 — 36:43 )
• The lives of Joseph and his brothers ( 37:1 — 50:26 )
THEMES
Adam and Eve ’ s choices compromised our ability to live in God ’ s image ; Genesis tells the story of the beginning of God ’ s effort to renew his image in us . In Genesis , the people of Israel are selected to initiate God ’ s grand plan of salvation by being a blessing to the world — a plan that is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus .
The major themes of promise and blessing run throughout the patriarchal narratives , as God ’ s promises are repeated to Abraham , Isaac and Jacob . Their failures send a clear message that God ’ s blessing is not because of any merit or righ teous ness on their own part ; instead , God ’ s blessing reflects his desire to restore humanity to right relationship with him . Genesis is the story of God calling people to turn from the sinful world and obey him .