Genesis Inductive Study
This paper is an intensive and direct study of Genesis, which is considered to be one of the most important books in the Bible. Genesis is a significant text because it introduces the reader to God and gives an excellent report on the origins of creation. The entire Bible is based on the Genesis account and for this reason it is imperative to observantly study and examine its contents.
1. Chapter Titles
Chapter 01 God Does a Good Job in Creation
Chapter 02 Adam and Eve Love at First Sight
Chapter 03 The Plummet of Humanity
Chapter 04 Killer Cain and Innocent Abel
Chapter 05 From Adam to Noah: A Fascinating Family Tree
Chapter 06 Noah Constructs the Ark: A Job Well Done
Chapter 07 The Flood
Chapter 08 It is Time to Get Out of the Ark
Chapter 09 The Rainbow Covenant
Chapter 10 The Roots of the Earth's Family Tree
Chapter 11 Communication Problems in Babel
Chapter 12 Abram Accepts the Real-estate Offer of God
Chapter 13 Lot's Left Abram and Moved to Swinging Sodom
Chapter 14 Abram Comes to the Rescue
Chapter 15 Abram Makes a Covenant God
Chapter 16 A Good Kid but Not the Promised Son
Chapter 17 Circumcision Instituted a New and Painful Covenant Sign
Chapter 18 God Discusses the Destruction of Sodom with Abraham
Chapter 19 Discussion Did Not go too Well: Sodom Destroyed
Chapter 20 Abraham's Sister is Really Beautiful Too Bad She is Taken
Chapter 21 Birth of Isaac the Promised One
Chapter 22 Abraham's Test is a Matter of Life and Death
Chapter 23 Sarah Dies at the Young Age of 127 years
Chapter 24 Isaac and Rebekah Get Together
Chapter 25 Isaac and Rebekah have Twin Boys
Chapter 26 Abimelech Seems to Have a Thing For the Women in Isaac's Family
Chapter 27 Jacob and His Mom Steal a Blessing
Chapter 28 Jacob Flees from Esau and has a Good Dream in Bethel
Chapter 29 Jacob Marries Twice
Chapter 30 Jacob Flourishes at the Expense of his Father In-law
Chapter 31 Jacob is Checking Out of Town with Everything Laban Owns
Chapter 32 Jacob Prepares for a Family Reunion with Esau
Chapter 33 Jacob Meets Esau and the Reunion Goes Better than Planned
Chapter 34 Dinah Violated and the Shechemites Pay with Their Lives
Chapter 35 Jacob Returns to Bethel and Gets a Name Change
Chapter 36 Descendents of Esau
Chapter 37 The Dreamer Sold into Slavery
Chapter 38 Judah Caught with his Pants Down
Chapter 39 The Dreamer says "NO" to Potiphar's Wife and Does Hard Time
Chapter 40 The Dreamer has Some Good News and Some Bad News
Chapter 41 The Dreamer Deciphers the Dream of Pharaoh
Chapter 42 The Dreamer's Bad Brothers Come to Egypt
Chapter 43 The Dreamer's Bad Brothers Come to Egypt: Part II
Chapter 44 The Dreamer's Cup is Missing and Benjamin's in Big Trouble
Chapter 45 The Dreamer Reveals His True Identity He is Joseph
Chapter 46 The Dreamer's Daddy Comes to Town
Chapter 47 The Dreamer's Family Moves to Egypt
Chapter 48 The Dreamer's Sons Exchange Blessings
Chapter 49 Jacob Blesses All His Boys
Chapter 50 Jacob's Family Settles in Egypt: To Be Continued
2. Structure
The Big Picture
A.
Primeval History (1-11)
Primeval History (1-11)B.The Patriarchs (12-36)
The Patriarchs (12-36)C.Joseph (37-50)
Joseph (37-50)Toledoth Method
The ancient writer of Genesis structured the book of Genesis by using the toledoth method. The word toledoth is Hebrew for the "generations of" or "account of" and it is with each toledoth that the reader is introduced to a new section within the text. The book is made up of a prologue and ten toledoth accounts.
Prologue (1:1-2:3)
a.Creation (1:1-2:3)
Creation (1:1-2:3)1.Toledoth of Heaven (2:4-4:26)
Toledoth of Heaven (2:4-4:26)a.Creation II (2:4-25)
Creation II (2:4-25)b.The Folly and Fall of Humanity (3:1-24)
The Folly and Fall of Humanity (3:1-24)c.Cain and Abel (4:1-26)
Cain and Abel (4:1-26)2.Toledoth of Adam (5:1-6:8)
Toledoth of Adam (5:1-6:8)a.From Adam to Noah (5:1-32)
From Adam to Noah (5:1-32)b.God Sees Societies Evil (6:1-8)
God Sees Societies Evil (6:1-8)3.Toledoth of Noah (6:9-9:28)
Toledoth of Noah (6:9-9:28)a.God Tells Noah to Build the Ark (6:9-22)
God Tells Noah to Build the Ark (6:9-22)b.God Tells Noah to Get in the Ark (7:1-8:14)
God Tells Noah to Get in the Ark (7:1-8:14)c.God Tells Noah to Get Out the Ark (8:15-22)
God Tells Noah to Get Out the Ark (8:15-22)d.God's Covenant with Noah (9:1-28)
God's Covenant with Noah (9:1-28)4.Toledoth of Noah's Sons (10:1-11:9)
Toledoth of Noah's Sons (10:1-11:9)a.The Table of Nations (10:1-32)
The Table of Nations (10:1-32)b.The Problem at Babel (11:1-9)
The Problem at Babel (11:1-9)5.Toledoth of Shem (11:10-11:26)
Toledoth of Shem (11:10-11:26)a.From Shem to Abram (11:10-11:26)
From Shem to Abram (11:10-11:26)6.Toledoth of Terah (11:27-25:11)
Toledoth of Terah (11:27-25:11)a.Introduction of Abram (11:27-32)
Introduction of Abram (11:27-32)b.The Covenant of God with Abraham (12:1-17:27)
The Covenant of God with Abraham (12:1-17:27)c.Testing of the Covenant (18:1-25:11)
Testing of the Covenant (18:1-25:11)7.Toledoth of Ishmael (25:12-18)
Toledoth of Ishmael (25:12-18)a.The Descendents of Ishmael (25:12-18)
The Descendents of Ishmael (25:12-18)8.Toledoth of Isaac (25:19-35:29)
Toledoth of Isaac (25:19-35:29)a.The Life of Isaac (25:19-26:35)
The Life of Isaac (25:19-26:35)b.The Life of Jacob (27:1-35:29)
The Life of Jacob (27:1-35:29)9.Toledoth of Esau (36:1-43)
Toledoth of Esau (36:1-43)a.The Descendents of Esau (36:1-30)
The Descendents of Esau (36:1-30)b.The Kings of Edom (36:31-43)
The Kings of Edom (36:31-43)10.Toledoth of Jacob (37:2-50:26)
Toledoth of Jacob (37:2-50:26)a.The Corruption of Jacob's family (37:2-38:30)
The Corruption of Jacob's family (37:2-38:30)b.Joseph the Slave in Egypt (39:1-41:37)
Joseph the Slave in Egypt (39:1-41:37)c.Joseph the Ruler in Egypt (41:38-50:26)
Joseph the Ruler in Egypt (41:38-50:26)3. Observations
Characters
The central figure in the Genesis account is God the creator who can be seen throughout the narrative as judge, redeemer and covenant maker. The narrative is not focused solely on the character of God but it is centered on the relationship of God with humanity. This relationship is best illustrated in connection with the various patriarchs of Genesis who capture our attention; Individuals like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob's twelve sons. Abraham is the key personality of all the patriarchs because he is the first to receive the covenant of God and it is due to him that all the other patriarchs receive the covenant. The wives of the patriarchs also play a key role in the narrative of Genesis. Women like Sarah, Rebekah, Leah and Rachel all are active participants in the out working of the Genesis story.
Other key characters within the story are individuals like Adam, Eve, the serpent, Cain, Abel, Seth, Noah, Noah's Sons, Pharaoh, Hagar, Ishmael, Esau, and Laban.
Geography
The three areas of focus within the text are Mesopotamia, Canaan and Egypt and throughout Genesis there is a distinct pattern of movement that makes the land of Canaan the focal point of the narrative. The Geographical pattern is mapped out as follows...
A.Mesopotamia (1:1-12:3)
Mesopotamia (1:1-12:3)B.Canaan (12:4-9)
Canaan (12:4-9)C.Egypt (12:10-20)
Egypt (12:10-20)B.Canaan (13:1-28:20)
Canaan (13:1-28:20)A.Mesopotamia (29:1-31:21)
Mesopotamia (29:1-31:21)B.Canaan (31:22-38:30)
Canaan (31:22-38:30)C.Egypt (39:1-50:26) ends with anticipation to return to Canaan.
Egypt (39:1-50:26) ends with anticipation to return to Canaan.The Genesis writer intentionally makes Canaan the location of focus in his writing in anticipation of the future Israelite homeland. God sends Abraham to Canaan and makes a covenant with him that involved the promise of land. The geographical movement of Genesis intentionally brings the story back to Canaan because it is this particular region that God has promised to Abraham and his descendents (Israel) and though Genesis ends in Egypt it leaves a feeling of expectancy for a return to Canaan.
4. Theme of the Book
The main theme of the book of Genesis is God's covenant relationship with the people of Israel. When God created the heavens and the earth at its completion he pronounced that everything that was created was good (1:31). The fall of humanity into sin perverted this goodness and separated all souls from relationship with God. It is at this point that God works toward reestablishing His relationship with humanity. He does so by way of making a covenant with faithful individuals who find favor in his eyes (e.g. 9:9; 17:2). The earliest indication of God's attempt to restore humanity to its former state can be found shortly after Adam and Eve sinned. When God rebukes the serpent for his actions He says, "I will bring enmity between you (serpent) and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (3:15). This is a depiction of humanity overcoming the snare of sin, which the serpent set for them.
In the generation of Noah society decayed to such a point that God was forced to devastate the world with a flood. Nevertheless the Lord spared only Noah and his family and commanded him to build an Ark. After the earth was destroyed God made a covenant with Noah blessing him and his sons, promising never again to destroy the earth with a flood. This covenant is an early illustration of God attempting to develop a relationship with humanity.
Genesis noticeably displays Abram as the individual that God utilizes to establish a relationship with humanity. God pledges to make Abraham a great nation with a great name, and with a great land, furthermore the Lord promised that all people on earth would be blessed through him (12:2-7). This promise is key for the whole book and God also promises to establish the covenant with his offspring, so that the Lord will be the God of both Abraham and his descendents forever (17:2-8). The Lord made a covenant with Abraham that would not only benefit him, but it would bless his descendents and the entire world.
Abraham's son Isaac was his promised son that came from God by way of Sarah his wife. Prior to the birth of Sarah and Abraham's first son God promised to establish his covenant with Isaac (17:21). The theme of covenant continues with the adult Isaac as God repeats the promises of Abraham to him and assures him that he too will receive the same blessings that his father had been guaranteed (26:24).
The covenant was then passed down to Jacob who acquired his blessing through a very controversial episode of deception and shrewdness. When Jacob's grandfather Abraham obtained God's blessing he received a name change from the former Abram (17:5), and the same is true of Jacob whose name was changed to Israel (35:10). It is at this point that the covenant is passed down to Israel (the person) who is promised all the blessings that his father and grandfather had been given.
The last few sections of the Genesis account deal with the twelve sons of Israel (Jacob), and focus primarily on Joseph. Joseph is sold into slavery and by the miracle power of God ends up ruling Egypt. It is through Joseph that the family of Jacob is brought to dwell in the land of Egypt. When Jacob is dying he blesses all of his sons indicating that the covenant would be unto all of them. This had been promised to him when Jacob was blessed at Bethel years before and God had said to him that the covenant would be passed down to his seed (Genesis 35:9-13). Therefore the covenant relationship between God and the twelve sons of Israel are an illustration of the covenant to come, which would be with the entire nation of Israel.
5. Theological Insights
Monotheism is a prominent theological emphasis in Genesis and is continually highlighted. Unlike pagan religion the creation story is one of God crafting the entire universe by Himself with no indication of any other gods participating in it (Genesis 1:1-2:3). Throughout Genesis there is only one divine Lord relating with the patriarchs and it is this one God that they all served and worshiped. When Jacob was in Bethel with his household preparing to meet Esau he said, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes. Then come let us go up to Bethel where I will build an altar to God who answered me in the day of my distress" (35:2-3). This idea of Monotheism can be found throughout the Bible and there are various scriptures that illustrate this theological concept. One such scripture is found in Deuteronomy "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). The apostle Paul also contributed evidence of monotheism in his letter to the Ephesians when he stated that we have, "One Lord, one faith and one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" (4:5-6). The Bible is a monotheistic text that points humanity to one God and this theological emphasis is present within Genesis.
Sin is yet another leading theological emphasis in Genesis that develops throughout the narrative. Sin enters the story shortly after Eve has an episode with the serpent and both her and Adam eat of the fruit that God forbid them to have (Gen. 3:1-24). Later on in the book of Genesis God is provoked to destroy the world with a flood during the time of Noah because of the great sin of humanity (Genesis 6:3-8). Sin plagues souls throughout Genesis for example Cain kills his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1-9), Noah gets drunk and is found naked by his son Ham (Genesis 9:20-22), Abraham and Isaac lie concerning their relationship with their wives (Genesis 12:14-20; 26:7), Jacob deceives his father and steals his brothers blessing (Genesis 27:28-29), Joseph's brothers mob him and sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:23-24) and Judah sleeps with Tamar his daughter in law (38:16). Sin is a recurrent and abundant problem throughout Genesis and continues to be one for humanity throughout the ages. Paul the apostle best depicts the problem that faces everyone in society when he says, "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). The Bible is filled with instances of human sin from the evil Pharaoh in the account of Exodus, to God's own Israelite people turning to false gods in II Kings sin has been a very colossal predicament.
Judgment is one of the strongest spiritual concepts found in the book of Genesis and is a by-product of a holy God and a sinful people. Adam and Eve disobeyed God and as a result they died spiritually (with physical death pending) and were banished from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:24). Throughout Genesis God punishes evil deeds for example when Cain killed his brother Abel God banished him (Genesis 4:14), when humanity attempted to build a tower that reached heaven God confused their languages (11:7), and there are numerous other examples throughout Genesis that illustrate judgment. Judgment is a common idea all the way through the Bible and is seen in both the Old and New Testament. For instance in the Old Testament Achan and his family were stoned and killed by Joshua and the Israelites for sinning against the Lord his sin did not go unpunished but harvested the wrath of God (Joshua 7:24-26). In the New Testament Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and were killed on the spot for doing so further showing that God judges sin (5:1-10). God is a holy and righteous divine entity that is just and will punish sinful behavior.
Neville Solomon
