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CHAPTER 1
DAY 1
God Makes Heaven and Earth
Genesis 1:1-19
In the beginning, God created heaven and earth. The earth was a dark and empty place. There was only a roaring black ocean covering empty land. God called out in the darkness, "Let there be light!" Suddenly light shone down and created the first day.
On the second day, God said, "Let the sky be separated from the ocean." The ocean and the sky obeyed God's command.
ON the third day, God said, "Let the ocean be separated from the ocean." The ocean and the sky obeyed God's command.
On the third day, God said, "Let the ocean be separated from the dry land and let there be plants and trees so that the earth may be filled with living things." Trees spread their big leafy branches, and little flowers and plants sprung up out of the ground to greet the sun.
On the fourth day, God said, "Let the moon and stars shine at night, and let the sun shine by day. These lights will mark the seasons and shed light on the earth." God looked around and saw that all He had done was good.
DAY 2
God Creates the Fish, the Birds, and the Animals
Genesis 1:20-23, 24:25
ON the fifth day, God said, "Let the ocean be filled with sea creatures!" Just then, the water began to churn with life. Great whales lifted their mighty heads. Dolphins jumped and splashed in the sunlight and little sea crabs scuttled along the sea floor.
God saw all this was good, so He said, "Let the sky be filled with creatures of the air!" Seagulls swooped in the breeze along with butterflies and buzzing insects. God created all of the them, big and small, and to each He gave His blessing. God was happy with the creatures of the sea and the air.
On the sixth day, God said, "let the deserts and valleys and mountains be filled with animals!" And that's what happened. Elephants trumpeted loudly: giraffes stretched out their spotted necks toward the trees, and porcupines waddled on the ground with their prickly bodies. The earth was home to animals of all shapes and sizes, both wild and tame. God loved watching them play with each other. He was very pleased and blessed each and every one of them.
DAY 3
Adam and Eve
Genesis 1:26-2:3; 2:7, 18-25; 3:20
On the sixth day, God looked around at all the animals of the earth and the animals of the sea and sky. Still something was missing. So God said, "I will create man. He will be special because I will make Him in My image."
Then God took a handful of soil and out of it He made Adam. God loved Adam. He even let Adam name all the animals. But God said, "It isn't good for man to be alone."
So God took Adam's rib while he was asleep, and out of it He created the first woman. Her name was Eve. She was the perfect partner for Adam, and Adam loved her.
God gave Adam and Eve His blessing. He said, "The earth is filled with animals you may rule over and many good plants and fruits you may eat. Fill the earth with your children, and care for all the living creatures!"
On the seventh day, God had no work left to do so He made it special day of rest.
DAY 4
The Garden of Eden
Genesis 2:8-17
Adam and Eve lived in a garden called Eden. The Garden of Eden was a lush and colorful paradise. Plump ripe fruit grew from the trees; flowers blossomed, and waterfalls crashed down merrily with clear, cool water.
In the middle of the garden, God placed a tree called the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The fruit eaten from this tree gave the power to know the difference between right and wrong. God told Adam that they could eat from any of the trees in the garden except for the fruit from the tree of knowledge. "If you eat from that tree," God warned, "you will die."
DAY 5
Adam and Eve Disobey God
Genesis 3:1-7
One day a snake slithered up to Eve as she was walking in the garden. He hissed at her. "Eve," he said, "why don't you take a bite from that juicy piece of fruit hanging from the tree of knowledge?" Eve remembered what God had said. "God told us we must not eat fruit from that tree," she replied. To this the snake answered, "That is only because the fruit will allow you to know the difference between the right and wrong. God doesn't want you to be as wise as He is."
The snake made Eve curious. "What would be the harm in one tiny bite?" Eve said to herself. So she sunk her teeth into the fruit and tasted it. Then Eve handed the fruit to Adam, and he also took a bite. For the first time, Adam and Eve looked at each other and realized they were both naked. They were embarrassed and quickly covered themselves up with the biggest fig leaves they could find.
DAY 6
Out of Eden
Genesis 3:8-130, 20-23
That afternoon, Adam and Eve heard God walking in the Garden of Eden. They were frightened because they knew they had disobeyed Him. They hid behind the trees and plants, hoping God would not discover what they had done. But God knows all things.
God called out to Adam, "Why did you disobey what I said and eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge?" Adam answered, "Eve was the one who took the fruit. It's her fault?"
And Eve said, "But it was the snake who told me to take the fruit. So it's the snake's fault!"
God loved Adam and Eve very much. He was disappointed that they did not listen to His command but choose to listen to the sneaky snake instead. He gave Adam and Eve some animal skins to cover themselves up from the cold. Then He cast them out of the Garden of Eden. They have to live on dry land and work hard for their food.
DAY 7
Cain and Abel
Genesis 4:1-12
Adam and Eve had two sons named Cain and Abel. Cain farmed the land. Abel was a sheep farmer. One time when the brothers were still young men, they made an offering to show God how much they loved Him.
Cain saved part of his harvest grain and offered it to God. Abel killed the firstborn lamb from one of the sheep. He butchered the lamb, cut off the best parts, and offered them to God. God was pleased. He accepted Abel's offering, but He didn't accept Cain's offering.
Cain was filled with jealousy toward his brother Abel. So God said to Cain, "Why are you upset? If you do what is right, I will accept your offering!" Bu Cain wasn't listening. He was too busy trying to figure out a way he could get back at his brother.
A few days later, Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go for a walk." Abel followed his brother far off into the fields and over the rocks. When Cain was certain that they were all alone, he attacked his brother Abel.
Later that day God called out to Cain. "Where is Abel?" Cain answered, "How should I know? Am I supposed to look after my brother?" But Cain could not fool God.
"Why have you done this terrible thing?" God asked him. "You've killed your own brother. From now on you will be without a home." So Cain had to leave his family. He wandered around from place to place never really belonging anywhere.
(Continues…)
Excerpted from "The 365-Day Storybook Bible"
by .
Copyright © 2014 Joy Melissa Jensen and Scandinavia Publishing House.
Excerpted by permission of B&H Publishing Group.
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