What is the book of Genesis all about?
(i) The word “Genesis” comes from the first word in the Hebrew Bible, “In the beginning…” So Genesis is a book of beginnings. It begins with the creation of the heavens and the earth. We find here the beginnings of the world, of all material things, of life, man, sin, salvation and faith. Here we also find the beginnings of death, curse, and judgment; the beginnings of the gospel, blessing and redemptive history. There are also the beginnings of culture, language and nations. (ii) According to tradition, the author of Genesis is Moses. Genesis is sometimes called the “First Book of Moses.” It is the first book of the Pentateuch, the 5 books of Moses. These 5 books—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy—record the beginnings of the history of God’s chosen people, Israel. In Genesis we meet the Patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, and learn that God is the Sovereign Creator and Possessor of all the earth. From Exodus through Deuteronomy, Moses himself is the
