The first book in the Bible is Genesis, which means “origin” or “beginning.” This book gives an account of Creation, how sin entered into the world, and how God established a special relationship with his cherished people called to be holy.
Genesis commences with the Creation Story, when God demonstrated his awesome sovereign authority and power through creating the starry heavens, and the earth and everything on it. See, Creation Story 1 (1:1 – 2:4) and 2 (2:4-25).
Adam and Eve are attributed to being the first humans. God explicitly forbade them from eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge. Satan disguised as a snake, tempted them into disobeying their Creator’s command. Their disobedience to God led to death for all mankind. Figuratively speaking, their disobedience opened the Pandora’s Box of sin with its self-generating effects rippling through subsequent generations (3:1-24).
Yet, despite our sin, God continues to desire a relationship with us, and promises to bless us, if we keep his commands. He longs to be our God, and us, to be his people, a blameless people, who walk with him (17:1).
We see the Father’s work in protecting his children, when he saved Noah and his family from the Flood. Afterwards, God promised Noah that he would never again permit the flood (of sin) to destroy all of his people (9:8-17), giving the rainbow as a sign of his pledge to us.
A substantial portion of the book of Genesis (11:27 – 50:26) tells the story of the patriarchs of the Jewish faith (2000-1500 B.C.), including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Jacob’s twelve sons, each of whom the twelve Jewish tribes have derived their tribal names.
Even as early as this first book in the Bible, God started to reveal his great salvation plan to rescue his people from the tentacles of sin coiling around us.
To test Abraham’s faith in him, God requested that Abraham offer his one and only son, Isaac as a sacrificial burnt offering to him. God did not permit Abraham to go through with killing his son. The Lord used this event as a type of sign (or acting-out) prophecy foreshadowing how the Father would one day send his only begotten Son as a sacrificial sin offering. Because of Christ’s obedience, his descendants by faith will be blessed and numerous (22:1-18).
Walking with Jesus Series, Reflection #118, June 2025
Copyright © 2025 by Christopher Clark