The Book of Genesis comprises two parts . It is called the ‘seed plot’ of the Bible as it contains important biblical doctrines in ‘seed’ form that mark major changes in man’s life, ranging from Creation and Introduction of Sin to Wrath, Depravity, Sovereignty and Responsibility.
Creation involves God making the world and man in His own image (Holy Bible, 7). Introduction of Sin occurs when Adam and Eve disobey God (Holy Bible, 12). The sins of Adam and Eve’s descendants incurs God’s Wrath, making Him destroy the world with a Flood while saving only righteous Noah and his family in the Ark. The generations of Noah son Shem brings the biblical genealogy down to the Abraham cycle (The Holy Bible, 27) when Israel begins to take shape. God chooses Abraham {‘Abraham’ means ‘Father of a great multitude’ (Holy Bible, 27)} to lead His chosen people to Canaan, promising to turn it into a great nation (Holy Bible, 29). Depravity is introduced in the evil activities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Israel continues to form during Isaac’s cycle. Sovereignty is completed and guaranteed to Jacob and his descendants (Holy Bible, 58), which God confirms: “No longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name” (Holy Bible, 71). Responsibility for Israel rests in the descendants of Jacob’s twelve sons who spawn the twelve tribes of Israel .
God’s reactions to various situations in the Book range from Love to Forgiveness to Wrath to Relenting to Protection. He shows His Love for man by making him in His own likeness. He shows his divine Forgiveness by allowing Adam and Eve to procreate and inhabit the world. God unleashes his Wrath on sinners by destroying the world with a Flood, and by destroying the land of the depraved Sodom and Gomorrah with fire and brimstone. God Relents after the Flood, making a covenant with Noah and his descendants never again to destroy the earth by a flood (Holy Bible, 22). God gives Protection to His chosen people several times such as punishing Pharaoh and his house with plagues for coveting Sarah, warning Laban against harming Jacob and his family, inspiring Joseph to correctly interpret the dream about prosperity/famine, and helping his chosen Patriarchs to continue their lineage .
In conclusion, the Book of Genesis relates how God created the world and mankind, punishing sinners but also nurturing and protecting His chosen people until Israel is formed. Now, although He is more reticent and does not get directly involved as He used to, permitting us to arrive at our own decisions and exist with their consequences, He never abandons us and promises eternal salvation to all who have faith in Him.
Reference
“Holy Bible King James Version.” USA: Thomas Nelson. 1993.