Genesis

A Study Guide for Understanding God’s Plan from the Start

Genesis means “origin” or “beginning.”
It covers creation, the fall, the flood, the Tower of Babel, and the beginnings of the covenant people through Abraham’s family.
It’s not just the first book of the Bible—it sets the stage for the entire redemptive story.

Reflection: If you understand Genesis, you’ll understand why we need salvation, what God promises, and how faith begins.

God creates everything by His word—perfect and purposeful (Genesis 1–2).
Humanity is made in God’s image, male and female, with authority over the earth and intimacy with God.
Work, rest, marriage, and responsibility are all established before sin enters.

Takeaway: Your life has value, identity, and purpose because you were created by God—not by accident.

Adam and Eve disobey God, introducing sin and death into the world (Genesis 3).
Cain murders Abel, and sin escalates quickly (Genesis 4).
The curse affects all of creation—but God immediately promises a future Redeemer (Genesis 3:15).

Lesson: Sin separates us from God, but grace begins right where the fall happened.

Humanity becomes increasingly wicked; God judges the world with a flood but saves Noah and his family (Genesis 6–9).
The ark becomes a symbol of salvation through obedience and faith.
God makes a covenant never to flood the earth again, sealing it with a rainbow.

Truth: God always provides a way of salvation for those who walk with Him.

At Babel, humans try to reach heaven on their own terms—God confuses their language and scatters them (Genesis 11).
In response, God chooses one man—Abram—to begin a new nation and a new promise (Genesis 12).

Reminder: God doesn’t need human towers—He works through humble faith and obedience.

God makes a covenant with Abraham: land, descendants, and blessing to all nations (Genesis 12, 15, 17).
Abraham’s faith is tested, especially when called to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22).
Isaac continues the covenant line, followed by Jacob, who is renamed Israel (Genesis 32).
Jacob’s sons become the twelve tribes of Israel.

Encouragement: God keeps His promises—even when people stumble.

Joseph, Jacob’s favored son, is betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery (Genesis 37).
Through suffering, false accusation, and prison, Joseph rises to power in Egypt (Genesis 39–41).
He ultimately saves his family and forgives his brothers, saying, “You meant evil… but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20).

Hope: God can redeem even the most painful stories for His greater purpose.