Genesis Study Guide, Part 1
Introduction
It is clear throughout scripture that God wants to be known and He deserves to receive honor and glory for all that He is and all that He has done. Isaiah 43:7 tells us: “…everyone who bears My name and is created for My glory. I have formed them: indeed, I have made them.” Psalms 150:6 says, “Let everything that breathes praise the LORD.” The book of Genesis begins to reveal to us God’s creation and His eternal plan.
Both Jews and Christians accept the first five books of the Bible as having been written by Moses. These books include Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. They are often referred to as the Pentateuch (five books) by Christians, or Torah (Law) by Jews.
While the events recorded in Genesis pre-date Moses, we know from many scriptures in Exodus that God called Moses, and “the LORD spoke to Moses”. Moses did not have to rely on oral history, or ancient records. The LORD spoke directly to Moses and gave him the details that He wanted communicated and remembered. From Exodus 24:4, we know that “Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD.”
As we begin a study of Genesis, we see God’s purpose in creation: mankind is to exercise dominion over the earth God created, on behalf of God, and for His glory. Submission, trust, and obedience were essential, but man chose autonomy over all that God had given. As we study Genesis, we see details of multiple accounts of rebellion, and re-starts (such as the flood) through God’s mercy and patience.
Ultimately we know that a new Adam (Jesus Christ) is necessary to make it possible for mankind to be truly reunited with God. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22) This new Adam has conquered sin and death, and makes it possible for believers, in a future time, to be returned to the initial purpose for which God created mankind: reigning on earth, in submission to God, to the praise of His glory. We wait in eager anticipation for that day.
Lesson 1
Genesis Chapters 1 and 2
It is recommended that you read Genesis 1 and then answer the following questions.
1. From Genesis 1:1, who is responsible for the earth and universe as we know it?
2. What do John 1:1-3, Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 1:2 add to our understanding of how God created the heavens and earth?
3. From Genesis 1:2, what existed and what were the conditions, before God spoke?
4. Who else was present at that time, according to verse 2?
5. In Genesis 1:3-5, what did God create, and in what period of time?
6. What did God do on the second day, according to Genesis 1:6-8?
7. What did God create on the third day, according to Genesis 1:9-13?
8. What did God create on the fourth day, according to Genesis 1:14-19? How did the lights differ from the light that He called forth on the first day?
9. What did God speak forth on the fifth day, according to Genesis 1:20-23?
10. According to Genesis 1:24-25, what did God call into being?
11. From Genesis 1:26-30, we learn that on the sixth day God created mankind and assigned his role. What was significant about the makeup of man and woman, as repeated in verse 1:27?
Read Genesis 2 and then answer the following questions:
12. What additional details are given about man’s creation in Genesis 2:7?
13. According to Genesis 2:18, what did God say regarding what man needed?
14. What details are added about woman’s creation in Genesis 2:21-22?
15. Returning to Genesis 1:28-30, what did God assign them to do and to eat?
16. In Genesis 1:31, God declares all that He made that day to be “very good”. How did that differ from what He said about the other days’ creations?
17. According to Genesis 2:2-3, what did God do on the seventh day?
18. What does Genesis 2:8-10 tell us God did next and what was in it?
19. Who was placed there and what specific instructions were given in Genesis 2:15-17?
20. Adam, the first man, is named in Genesis 2:20. What task is Adam given in verses 2:19-20?
21. What was Adam’s response to creation of woman, according to Genesis 2:23-24?
22. As you read Moses’ account in Genesis about creation, what are some of your thoughts about the greatness of the universe that God created?
Lesson 2
Genesis Chapters 3 and 4
Read Genesis 3 and answer the following questions.
1. What do we learn about the serpent in Genesis 3:1, and what did he say to the woman?
2. Who does Revelation 20:2 (and many other verses) identify the serpent as?
3. What did Eve respond, according to Genesis 3:2-3, and what did she add to God’s instruction to Adam, that God did not tell him in Genesis 2:17?
4. From Genesis 3:4-5, what did Satan say to deceive the woman?
5. In Genesis 3:6, what did the woman do, and what caused her disobedience according to 2 Corinthians 11:3?
6. According to Genesis 3:7-12, what happened after Adam and Eve ate of the fruit? Describe what you think might be the significance of verse 8.
7. From Genesis 3:11-13, describe what might be considered the worst case of finger pointing ever.
8. God dealt with each participant separately, as the nature of their sins differ somewhat. List the major consequences for each of the following:
Serpent:
Eve:
Adam:
9. Genesis 3:15 is often referred to as the “first gospel”. God was already laying out His intentions for eternity.
a. Who would be considered the “seed” (or offspring) of the serpent; who is considered the “seed” of Eve in this verse?
b. One will be “bruised”, or stricken on the “heel”, and one on the “head”. Which to you think would be more damaging, and how do you see the gospel in this?
10. According to Genesis 3:21, what did God provide for Adam and Eve? How did this differ from their own covering in Genesis 3:7?
11.From Genesis 3:22-24, what was God’s concern about leaving Adam and Eve access to the Garden of Eden, and what did He do?
Read Genesis 4 and answer the following questions.
12. In Genesis 4:1-2, who was born to Adam and Eve, and what life work did they each engage in?
13. How would you summarize what God said to Cain in Genesis 4:6-7?
14. How did Cain respond to what God told him, and what did he do according to Genesis 4:8?
15. In Genesis 4:9-15 we learn of God’s response to what Cain did. What characteristics do you see in these verses for Cain, and for God?
16. In Genesis 4:16-17, what do we see that Cain did next?
17. What did God give to Adam and Eve, according to 4:25?
18. After Seth had a son, whom he named Enosh, what were people beginning to do, according to 4:26?
19. How significant do you think this would be after the events given throughout Genesis 4?
Lesson 3
Genesis Chapters 5 - 7
1. Chapter 5 gives the linage of man, from Adam to Noah. Genesis 5:1 reminds us of the uniqueness of mankind. What is it and what does it mean to you?
2. According to Genesis 5:5, how long did Adam live?
3. How many families are given in this account from Genesis 5?
Read Genesis 6 and answer the following questions.
Note: There are different understandings on what “the sons of God” refers to. Often this phrase refers to angels. We understand from Matthew 22:30 that, according to Jesus, angels do not propagate. It is likely that, in the Genesis account, these could be fallen angels (demons), possessing men.
4. According to Genesis 6:5-7 and 11-12, what did God observe at that time, and what was His reaction to it?
5. What does Genesis 6:9-10 tell us about Noah?
6. What instructions did God give Noah in Genesis 6:13-21?
7. What are we told Noah did in verse 6:22?
Read Genesis 7 and answer the following questions.
8. According to Genesis 7:1, what did God say to Noah, and what was His reason.
9. What did God say He would do in seven days, according to verse 4?
10. What happened according to verses 11 and 12? How old was Noah at the time?
11. In Genesis 7:13-16, what are we told?
12. From Genesis 7:17-20, describe what the water did for 40 days.
13. What was the result, according to verses 7:21-24?
Lesson 4
Genesis Chapters 8 - 11
It is recommended that you read Genesis 8 to answer the following questions.
1. From Genesis 8:1-3, what did God do? Describe what happened.
2. From verse 8:4, what happened to the ark?
3 From Genesis 8:6-12, how did Noah determine that the water had receded?
4. After the water was dried up, what instructions did God give to Noah, and what did Noah do, according to Genesis 8:15-17?
5. According to Genesis 8:18-19, who exited the ark with Noah?
6. As Noah made an offering to the Lord in worship and thanksgiving, what did God respond, according to Genesis 8:21-22? Who did God make this vow to?
It is recommended that you read chapter 9 before answering the following questions.
7. What was God’s message to Noah and his sons in Genesis 9:1-7?
8. What were the prohibitions given and the consequence of violation (9:4-5)?
9. What was the covenant God made with Noah and his sons, according to Genesis 9:8-17, and what was the sign of that covenant?
10. What are the names of the sons of Noah who came out of the ark with him, and what were they responsible for, according to Genesis 9:18-19?
11. What did Noah begin doing after leaving the ark, according to Genesis 9:20?
12. The last verses of Genesis 9 gives account of an incident that is difficult to understand, and which commentators and Bible experts struggle to explain clearly. The result, however, ends with some very significant prophesies that Noah gives regarding his three sons.
a. What does Noah say about Ham’s son Canaan in verse 9:25?
b. What blessing does Noah give Shem according to verse 9:26?
c. What does Noah pray for his son Japheth in verse 9:27?
13. Genesis 10 gives detailed genealogy of Noah’s sons. What do we learn from Genesis 10:32?
Read Genesis 11:1-9 and answer the following questions.
14. As the inhabitants of the earth banded together, what did they want to do, according to Genesis 11:4?
15. As their plan is described, what do you see as concerning about it?
16. According to Genesis 11:5-9, what was God’s reaction and what did He do? What did it result in?
Genesis 11:10-26 gives us the genealogy of Shem. In verse 27, the records of Terah begin, and we find that he was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran. We begin to see names that will be a big part of the record of the nation of Israel. Haran is the father of Lot. Abram married Sarai.
17. What does Genesis 11:30 tell us about Sarai, the wife of Abram?
18. In Genesis 11:31, where did Terah intend to take his family to settle, and how far did they get?
Lesson 5
Genesis Chapters 12 - 14
Beginning in Genesis 12, we see God’s instructions and covenant with Abram. (Remember that Moses wrote this account approximately 700 years after Abram entered Canaan.)
Read Genesis 12:1-9.
1. What do you see as the main points of what God told Abram in Genesis 12:1-3?
2. What did God tell Abram in Genesis 12:7 and what did Abram do in response?
Read Genesis 12:10-20.
3. What occurred in Canaan, according to verse 12:10 and what did Abram do?
4. Describe Abram’s deceitful plot from verses 12:11-13.
5. How did God intervene, and what happened after that? (Verses 12:17-20)
Read Genesis 13 and answer the following questions.
6. According to Genesis 13:1-3, where did Abram go next and who was with him?
7. In what ways does it seem that God blessed Abram and Lot?
8. According to verses 13:6-7, what was the downside of God’s blessing and how did the herdsmen of both men react?
9. What was Abram’s proposal to Lot, according to 13:8-12, and where did Lot decide to go?
10. What does 13:13 tell us about Sodom?
11. In 13:14-17 God repeats His covenant with Abram. What was it?
12. What do we see Abram doing in 13:18? What was his purpose in doing this?
Read Genesis 14 and answer the following questions.
13. Genesis 14 begins with a history of the kings near Sodom. It did not end well for Sodom and Gomorrah, as the local kings united against them. According to Genesis 14:12, what happened to Lot?
When a fugitive came to Abram and informed him of what happened to Lot, Abram rallied his own forces and allies to pursue the release of Lot.
14. What does 14:16 tell us Abram was able to accomplish?
15. As Abram was returning home, who does Genesis 14:18-20 say came out to greet him along the way? What are we told about him in 14:18 and what did he do?
16. What does this interaction tell you about this person?
17. What was the request of the king of Sodom to Moses in Genesis 14:21?
18. Why did Abram not want to receive anything from the king of Sodom, according to verses 14:22-24?
19. What principle do you see that we can learn from Abram in this exchange?
Lesson Quiz
Lesson 6
Genesis Chapters 15 - 17
Read Genesis 15 and answer the following questions.
1. How did God communicate with Abram, according to Genesis 15:1, and what did He say to Abram?
2. In verses 15:2-3, what was Abrams concern?
3. Summarize God’s response to Abram, from Genesis 15:4-21, and how God confirmed His message to Abram.
Read Genesis 16 and answer the following questions.
4. Genesis 16:1 basically repeats from Sarai’s perspective, the same concern that Abram had expressed to God in Genesis 15. Rather than being willing to wait on God’s timing, Sarai devised a plan. From Genesis 16:2-6, what was Sarai’s plan, and what was the result? Include from verse 4 the maid’s attitude towards Sarai.
Read Genesis 16:7-16 and answer the following questions.
5. According to Genesis 16:8, what did Sarai’s slave Hagar do after that, who found her, according to verse 16:7 and what did he ask her?
6. What instructions did the angel of the Lord give Hagar in verse 16:9?
7. What blessing did Hagar receive in verse 16:10?
8. What was Hagar told to name the child that she would bare, and what characteristics was she told that he would have according to verses 16:11-12?
9. From Genesis 16:13, by what name did Hagar refer to the one who appeared to her, and what does it mean?
10. What does this name lead you to understand about how Hagar was impacted by this encounter? How do you think she felt at this time? Have you had a time in your life where you felt like Hagar?
11. What did Abram name the son that Hagar bore? (verse 16:15)
Read Genesis 17 and answer the following questions.
12. When God appeared to Abram in Haran he was 75 years old, according to Genesis 12:4. How old is Abram as God lays out details of His covenant with Abram (Genesis 17:1)?
13. What new name did God give Abram in Genesis 17:5, and what was the significance?
14. Summarize what God told Abraham about His covenant in Genesis 17:6-9.
15. What was the sign of the covenant to be done by Abraham and his descendants, according to Genesis 17:9-14?
16. God also renamed Sarai as part of the covenant. What name and blessing did God give her in Genesis 17:15-16?
17. According to Genesis 17:17-21, what made Abraham laugh and how did God respond, including His message about Ismael?
18. What did Abraham do, according to Genesis 17:23-27, and what do you think this showed about him?
Lesson 7
Genesis Chapters 18 and 19
Read Genesis 18 and answer the following questions.
1. In Genesis 18:1-5, who did Abraham see as he was sitting at the tent door in Mamre, and what did he ask permission to do?
2. As Abraham’s guests were partaking of the feast he prepared for them, what was Abraham told, according to verse 18:9-10, and who was listening?
3. According to 18:11-13, why did Sarah laugh at this?
4. In verses 18:14-15, what was the LORD’s response? What should Sarah have realized from that, and how does that apply to our prayers and desires?
5. From Genesis 18:17-21, what was God debating with Himself about? Why does it seem He decided to tell Abraham what He was about to do?
6. What was the main concern or principle that Abraham expressed to the LORD, according to 18:23-25? Who might Abraham have been thinking of specifically? (See Genesis 14:12)
7. What did the LORD agree to, according to Genesis 18:26-33?
Read Genesis 19 and answer the following questions.
8. According to Genesis 19:1, who came to Sodom and met Lot at the city gate? What form did they take, as referred to several times in the chapter?
9. What was Lot’s invitation to them in verses 19:2-3?
10. Describe the encounter with the men of the city, as given in 19:4-11.
11. What did the two men (angels) tell Lot about the reason they were there, according to 19:12-13?
12. In the account from Genesis 19:14-29, we see God’s compassion and mercy extended to Lot (and Abraham). How do you see God’s mercy extended to Lot? Do you think you would have responded differently than Lot, or his wife?
13. What does 19:29 inform us about God’s motivation for saving Lot?
14. According to 19:30, how did Lot’s idea to settle in Zoar, instead of the mountains, work out?
15. According to 19:31-37, what was the concern of Lot’s daughters, and what was their solution?
Lesson 8
Genesis Chapters 20 - 23
Read Genesis 20 and answer the following questions.
1. In Genesis 20, Abraham goes on a journey again. According to verse 20:2, he repeated something that he had done before (See Genesis 12:13). What was it?
2. How did God intervene in this situation with Abimelech?
3. How did Abimelech respond, according to 20:8-16?
4. What was the punishment God placed on Abimelech and his family and how was it removed? (See verses 20:17-18)
5. What responsibility do you think Abraham had in this incident?
Read Genesis 21 and answer the following questions.
6. According to Genesis 21:1-2, what promise did God keep with Abraham and Sarah?
7. How old was Abraham according to 21:5?
8. In 21:9-11, what was Sarah’s concern about Hagar’s son, and what did she ask Abraham to do?
9. What was God’s message to Abraham from verses 21:12-13?
10. After Abraham sent Hagar away, where did she go, according to verses 21:14?
Read Genesis 22 and answer the following questions.
11. How did God test Abraham, according to Genesis 22:2?
12. What did Abraham’s willingness to obey God in this unimaginable assignment demonstrate to God, according to Genesis 22:12?
13. What was God’s declaration to Abraham in Genesis 22:15-18, and what was the reason God gave?
14. How do you think you would have done in the same situation as Abraham? Can you recall a time when you felt God asking you to do something but you struggled, or refused, to do it?
Read Genesis 23 and answer the following questions.
15. What are we told about Sarah in verses 23:1-2?
16. In order to provide a place for Sarah, what did Abraham do, and why was that significant, considering the fact that Abraham had been wondering for years?
Lesson 9
Genesis Chapter 24
Read Genesis 24 and answer the following questions.
1. According to Genesis 24:1-4, what did Abraham want his servant (chief of staff) to do?
2. From Genesis 24:7, why do you think Abraham was confident that his servant would be successful in his mission?
3. Where did the servant go to seek a wife for Isaac? (See verse 24:10)
4. In verses 24:12-14, what was the servant’s prayer to God?
5. From verse 24:15, who was it who came out to the well even before the servant finished speaking?
6. In what ways were the servant’s prayer answered, according to verses 17-20?
7. Have you ever had a situation where you have prayed so specifically and seen an answer? If yes, please describe it. How does James 4:3 apply to our prayers?
8. After learning, according to verse 24:24, that Rebekah was the daughter of Abraham’s brother, what was the servant’s response in verses 24:26-27?
9. After the servant recounts the whole story to Rebekah’s family in verses 24:28-48, what does he want to know according to verse 24:49?
10. What was the answer given by Rebekah’s brother and father in verse 24:50, and what do they attribute that response to?
11. According to 24:52, when Abraham’s servant heard their answer, to whom did he give the thanks? How should we follow that example in our own lives?
12. Rebekah’s family gave the issue of leaving with the servant immediately to her. What was her response, and then the response of her family?
13. In the final verses of chapter 24 we see how Isaac and Rebekah met. What did Rebekah do upon learning that the man walking towards her was her future husband, according to 24:65?
14. In verse 24:66, we learn that the servant told Isaac the whole story about how God led him and provided this woman for Isaac’s bride. From her presentation based on verse 24:65, what would Isaac not have known about his future wife?
15. What about the servant’s account do you think would have motivated Isaac to marry Rebekah immediately?
Lesson 10
Genesis Chapter 25
Read Genesis 25 and answer the following questions.
1. By the time Abraham had buried his wife Sarah, and found a wife for his son Isaac, he was approximately 137 years old. What does Genesis 25:1-2 tell us he did at this time?
2. Considering Abraham’s reaction, in Genesis 17:17, to God’s announcement that Sarah would have a son by him when he was 100 years old, do you think he was surprised at fathering six sons with his second wife at a much older age? Consider God’s words to Abraham in Genesis 15:5-6.
3. What age was Abraham when he died, and what are we told about the end of his life, according to Genesis 25:7-8?
4. Where was Abraham buried, and what was surprising about who buried him? (See Genesis 25:9-10.)
5. How do verses 25:12-18 relate to what Abraham was told in Genesis 17:20?
6. According to Genesis 25:21, what condition did Isaac and his wife share with his father and mother, and what did Isaac do about it?
7. When Rebekah conceived, what was she told about the two children struggling within her, according to 25:23?
8. What were the sons named, and what was unusual about the delivery, according to 25:25-26?
9. Describe the characteristics of Esau and Jacob from verse 25:27. How were they different?
10. What does verse 25:28 tell us? What would you expect to come from this situation?
11. As the first born son, Esau had the birthright, which meant that he was to be given a double portion of the inheritance and the position of head of the family after the father’s death. What happened between Jacob and Esau in regards to the birthright, according to Genesis 25:29-34?
12. What do you learn from this chapter that is applicable to your own life?