The book of Genesis is a book of beginnings - the beginning of the world, of the human race, of a man of faith and a family of faith.
It can easily be divided into the lives of the principal characters of the book:
Genesis is above all the beginning of God's self-revelation. God reveals both his power and character through his names. It is also the beginning of the revelation of God's plan of salvation for a lost human race.
The record of the creation of all things by God.
Elohim - the first name used in Scripture for God.
The temptation and fall of our first parents, Adam and Eve. By them sin came on the whole human race.
Yahweh - the redemptive name of God appears already in Genesis but is clearly revealed in Exodus chapter 3 as well.
Faithful Noah and his family were preserved in the flood that destroyed the sinful human race.
Human pride led to the confusion of human language and thus significant separation among humans.
God chose a man, a family and a nation (Israel), through which to reveal salvation for the human race. Through Abraham the whole world was blessed in Jesus, the Christ. Also, the land of Canaan was promised to Abraham and his descendants.
Abraham, the friend of God, made right choices. Lot, the friend of this world, made wrong choices with catastrophic future results.
El Elyon - God Most high.
The covenant with Abram is here formalized. Abram and Sarai try to help God with His plans - unsuccessfully in the end.
Adonai - Lord
El Shaddai - God Almighty
Three "Angel" visitors to Abraham. One is a Christophany - an Old Testament appearance of Jesus. The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah follows.
El Olam - the Eternal God
Yahweh Jirreh - God provides.
God divinely provides Isaac with a wife.
As Jacob fled from his brother, Esau, he had a life changing experience at Bethel.
While in Haran, Jacob's spiritual journey was less than desirable. Yet, God watched over him, bringing him and his family back to Canaan and a reconciliation with Esau. On the way Jacob wrestled with God at Peniel.
While at Shechem in Canaan, the sons of Jacob revenged the rape of their sister, Dinah. God called Jacob back to Bethel, where he had first met with God.
Joseph had two astounding dreams that brought the wrath of his brothers down on his head. Those brothers sold Joseph into slavery.
While serving as a slave in Egypt, Joseph was unjustly accused of a moral failure and landed in jail.
While in prison, the just and good Joseph rose to leadership. He interpreted two dreams that led eventually to his freedom.
Joseph, a Hebrew, interpreted the dreams of the Pharaoh. As a result Joseph became the Prime Minister of Egypt - an astounding development.
A great famine extended from Egypt to Canaan, which brought the 10 sons of Jacob to Egypt for food. They appeared before Joseph. One of the most marvelous reunions in all of Scripture.
Skipping to the end of Genesis, we find a dying Jacob blessing his 12 sons. A prophecy concerning Jesus is revealed.