The Book of Genesis

Introduction     iii
God: The World and People He Created
Genesis 1-The Beginning     3
The Heavens and the Earth     3
Living Creatures     14
Man and Woman     16
Genesis 2-The Crown of Creation     23
I Get Six and You Get the Rest     24
You Da Man!     27
The First Rule Ever Made     32
An Arranged Marriage     35
Genesis 3-Trouble in the Garden     41
Temptation and Sin     41
Consequences of a Wrong Choice     49
God's Gracious Provision     53
Genesis 4-5-The First Family     57
Cain and Abel     57
Seth     64
Walk Through the Cemetery     66
Genesis 6-7-Noah and the Flood     69
Evil Everywhere All the Time     69
Noah, a Man Who Stood Alone     71
The Ark-An Astonishing Assignment     72
What Holy Fear Built     75
The Flood     78
Genesis 8-9-A Fresh Beginning     85
God Remembers     85
Waking, Waiting, Waiting     87
A Covenant Established     91
Noah's Nations     95
Genesis 10-11-Birth of Nations     99
Noah's Descendants     100
The Tower of Babel     101
The People Scatter     102
A Close Look at Family History     104
God and Abraham
Genesis 12-Abram     109
God Calls Abram     109
Abram Moves to Canaan-Why Me?     111
Abram Travels to Egypt     113
Genesis 13-14-Abram and Lot     119
Abram and Lot Separate     119
Abram Rescues Lot     122
Abram and the King of Sodom     125
Genesis 15-God's Covenant     129
God's Assurance     129
Under the Stars-Abram's Question     131
God's Confirmation-A Solemon Encounter     133
Genesis 16-Hagar and Ishmael     139
Abram's Lack of Faith     139
God's Intervention     141
Genesis 17-God's Covenant Confirmed     145
The Mark of El Shaddai     145
Sarai: Mother of Nations     148
God Includes Ishmael-Bless Him Too!     149
Abraham Commits Himself to God     150
Genesis 18-19-Judgment on Sin     155
Three Unexpected Guests     155
Abraham Pleads for Sodom      157
Here Today, Gone Gomorrah     159
Genesis 20-Abraham and Abimelech     167
Abraham's Deception Exposed     167
A Mutual Agreement     170
Genesis 21-Reordering Life     173
The Birth of Laughter-Centennial Son     173
Hagar and Ishmael Are Sent Away     174
Agreement with Abimelech-Payback Time     177
Genesis 22-23-A Heartrending Test     181
God Gives Abraham a Test     181
Abraham Responds     183
Ramming the Lesson Home     185
Family Affairs-News from a Far Country     186
A Cave for Sarah     187
God and Isaac
Genesis 24-Isaac and Rebekah     195
Abraham Seeks a Wife for Isaac     195
A Trusted Servant Prays     197
God Answers     199
Time Out for Praise     200
Here Comes the Bride     203
Genesis 25-26-God's Covenant Is Passed On     207
Abraham Dies     207
The Other Half of the Family     209
Two Nations, One Womb     209
Jacob Purchases the Birthright     212
That Same Lie, Take Three     214
God and Jacob
Genesis 27-28-God's Blessing for Jacob     223
Jacob Gets the Blessing     224
Jacob Leaves Home     227
Jacob Dreams     229
Genesis 29-31-Jacob in Paddan Aram     233
Jacob and Uncle Laban     233
Jacob Marries     235
Jacob's Family and Wealth Increase     237
Jacob Runs from Laban     240
Laban Pursues Jacob     242
Genesis 32-36-Jacob Returns to the Promised Land     247
Jacob Prepares to Meet Esau     247
Jacob Wrestles with God     249
Jacob and Esau Meet     251
Dinah Is Defiled in Shechem     252
Jacob Returns to Bethel     254
Rachel and Isaac Die     256
Yet Another Parting     257
God and Joseph
Genesis 37-38-Joseph and His Family     263
Joseph's Dreams     263
Joseph Sold by His Brothers     265
Judah and Tamar     268
Genesis 39-41-Joseph in Egypt     273
Joseph in Potiphar's House-and in Prison     273
Joseph Interprets Dreams     276
Joseph Interprets Dreams of Pharaoh     279
Joseph in Charge of Egypt     282
Joseph's Food Pantries      283
Genesis 42-50-Joseph and His Brothers     287
Joseph's Brothers Appear in Egypt     287
Joseph Tests His Brothers     290
Joseph's Family Moves to Egypt     296
Jacob's Final Word     300
Twelve Sons, Eleven Prophecies     302
Devoted Son, Devoted Brother     305
Time Line     313
Map     314
The Answers     315
The Experts     321
Endnotes     323
Index     329