Genesis (beginning, becoming) is the book of beginnings. It contains the “seed” for all the dealings of God with this world, the principles of the relationships of God with man, and in type anticipates all future revelations of God.

Genesis describes the creation of the world, the fall of the first men into sin and its consequences, but not only the curse but also the first clear pointer to the redeemer.We see God’s righteousness in the judgment of the great flood, but also election of grace and the life of faith in Abraham.

In the story of Isaac we see the beloved son of the father who had to be sacrificed, and in the story of Joseph and his brothers the whole way of Israel with their Messiah.In the biographies of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob we are also presented with the personal life of faith.

The tent shows us that the believer is a wandering stranger in this world, who has no remaining city here, but is looking for the one to come.

The altar is the picture of fellowship with the only true God and the worship that He seeks.

Not only in Genesis, but in the whole Old Testament occur mainly two names of God: God (Hebrew: Elohim) and Jehovah (Hebrew JHWH: The Eternal One, probably to be pronounced Yahweh).

These two names do not however, as many critics think, point to different authors or reports, which would have been compiled by later “editors”, but are a proof for the divine inspiration of Scripture.

Everywhere, where the omnipotence of the creator should be emphasised, we read God. But when He turns in grace to man He is called Jehovah. For example we read in Genesis 7:16, after Noah entered the ark: “.. As God had commanded him.And Jehovah shut him in.”