Genesis

In the beginning, what did God create? (1:1) 

What comprised the first day?  (1:5b) 

Is God's creation good, or evil?  (1:4,10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31) 

What did God make on the sixth day of Creation?  (1:26-27) 

What did God do on the seventh day?  (2:2) 

How did God make the first man?  (2:7) 

What rivers flowed from the Garden of Eden?  (2:10-14) 

What was the man's name? (2:18)

Who was blamed for Adam and Eve eating the forbidden fruit of the Garden? (3:12-13) 

Read Genesis 3:15.  Believe it or not, this is known as the first mention of the Good News of Jesus Christ in the Bible! We'll talk about it more at Bible study!

Why did Adam name his wife “Eve?”  (3:20) 

What does the cherubim guard with his flaming sword?   (3:24)

Note:  This great thing is also mentioned in Revelation 22:14, as being in the New Jerusalem!

Of Adam and Eve's children, who killed whom?  (4:8)

What does God put on the murderous son so that others will not harm him?  (4:15) 

Lamech is one of Cain's offspring.  What does he do that is evil?  (4:23)

Adam and Eve have another son. What is his name?  (4:25) 

What do Seth and his offspring begin to do?  (4:26) 

How old was Adam when he died?  (5:5) 

Enoch was the father of Methusaleh.  How many years did Enoch live on earth?  (5:23) 

Everybody else in this geneology dies.  Not Enoch.  What was different about him?  (5:24) 

Methusaleh was the oldest person who ever lived.  How old was he when he died?  (5:27) 

Methusaleh has a son, Lamech (not the same as previous one).  Lamech has a son when he is 182 years old.  What is the name of this son?  (5:29) 

Noah had sons.  What are their names?  (5:32)

Who was in the earth when the sons of God had children with the daughters of men?  (6:4) 

What were the people of the earth like, as described in 6:5? 

What was God sorry about? (6:6) 

Who found grace in the eyes of the Lord?  (6:8)

What did God ask Noah to make?  (6:14)    

What does God establish with Noah?  (6:18) 

What was Noah to take on the ark with him?  (6:18-21) 

What else was Noah to take?  (7:2) 

How old was Noah when the flooding started on earth?  (7:6) 

How long was it going to rain?  (7:7) 

What happened to every living thing on the earth?  (7:22)  

Where did the ark come to rest?  (8:4) 

What is the international symbol of peace, as taken from the Noah story?  (8:11)

What is the rainbow a sign of between God and humankind?  (9:13-16) 

What happened to Noah after the flood?  (9:20-21) 

Ham did something wrong when he saw his father naked.  What?  (9:22)

Note:  Because of this, Ham's offspring, Canaan, and his family, were cursed. 

Who was Nimrod?  (10:8-9)

What land was the tower of Babel built in?  (11:2)

(What ancient land do you think was named for “Babel?”)

Why was this place called “Babel?”  (11:9)

Who was called to leave his own country and go to the land that God would show him?  (12:1)

 

Who went with him?  Where did they go?  (12:5) 

Where did Abram build an altar to the Lord? (12:6-7) 

What did God say to Abram in this place? (12:7) 

Why does Abram head to Egypt?  (12:10) 

Because his wife, Sarai, is so beautiful, what does Abram tell her to say if she is asked about her relationship with Abram?  (12:12-13) 

Who took Sarai into his own household?  (12:15) 

Did Abram do well in these circumstances?  (12:16) 

Did Pharaoh do well in these circumstances?  (12:17) 

Pharaoh gave Sarai back to Abram and told them to leave Egypt.  They headed back toward the Promised Land.  Where did Abram pitch his tent, and begin his continuing worship of the Lord?  (13:3-4)

 

Both Abram and Lot had grown wealthy.  They had lots of “stuff,” and this led to quarrels between their families.  What did Abram suggest that they do to remedy this situation?  (13:13:8-9) 

Abram settled in Canaan. What land did Lot choose? 

(13:10-11) 

What city did Lot settle in?  (13:12)

Do you think this will become a problem?   

What was the covenant that God made with Abram in

Genesis 13:14-16?   

Where did Abram settle down next? (13:18) 

A major war occurred among the various tribal kings.  The kings of Sodom & Gomorrah are defeated.  The victorious kings take lots of plunder, and something else. What else?  (14:12) 

How many men did Abram take with him to fight the four kings and their armies?  (14:14) 

In a miraculous victory, brought about partly by the tactical wisdom of Abram, the four kings are utterly defeated by this small band.  Lot was rescued!  When Abram returns all the stolen booty to its rightful owners, and Lot to his home, the King of Sodom came to thank him.  Who else came to meet Abram?  Who was he? (14:18) 

What did this “man” offer to Abram?  (14:18) 

What did Abram offer to him?  (14:20) 

Note: this is the beginning of references to a tithe in the Bible and is very important for us to know and imitate! 

When the Lord appeared to Abram again, and said he will bless Abram, how did Abram respond? (15:2) 

What did the Lord promise to Abram? (15:4-5) 
 

Did Abram believe the Lord?  (15:6) 

Note: This is a key scripture that is built upon by Paul in the New Testament.  “Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to his as righteousness.”  For this reason, Abraham is seen as the father of the Jewish people and the father of our faith.  See Romans 4:18-25. 
 

Abram built an altar to the Lord and then fell into a deep sleep.  (The only other time the word for this deep sleep is used in the Bible is when God puts Adam to sleep in order to make Eve from his rib).  In that trance, God revealed the future to Abram.  What is that future?

(15:13-15) 
 

What passed between the animal parts on the altar? (15:17) 

Note: In the Hebrew language, the phrase we know as “to make a covenant” is known as “to cut a covenant.”  This is because the Lord passed between the pieces of the animals on the altar when he “made” this covenant with Abram. 

When Sarai could not have children, what woman did she give to Abram to take her place?  (16:1-2) 

Did this woman continue to be a good servant for Sarai?  (16:4) 

Sarai got Abram’s permission to deal harshly with Hagar, and she did.  Hagar ran away, but someone found her and told her to return, and that she would be greatly blessed.  Who found Hagar in the desert and told her to submit and go home? (16:7) 

Would her son be a nice, gentle man?  (16:12) 

What did Abram name the first son born to him?  (16:15)

 

What is the sign of the covenant that God tells Abram to do to all males born to him?  (17:11)

 

What is Abram’s name changed to, and who changes it? 

(17:3-5)

 

What is Sarai’s name changed to, and what promise is made about her?  (17:15-16)    

What did Sarah do when she overheard the promise?  (18:12)

(note:  Abraham did the same thing in 17:17)

 

When God goes to destroy Sodom, Abraham bargains with him for the fate of the city.  At the end of the bargaining, how many good people will it take to be in the  city for God not to destroy it?  (18:32)

 

Who was turned into a pillar of salt when she looked back at the destruction of Sodom? (19:26)

 

Sarah finally bears a son for Abraham.  What is his name?  (21:3)

(Can you find out what his name means?) 

Genesis 21:14-21 tells of the expulsion of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham’s house.  As the mother and son are close to dying, who hears and saves them?  (21:17) 

What was provided for them in the desert?  (21:19) 
 
 

God was with this young boy.  He got married.  Where was his wife from?  (21:21)

(Note:  We are still a world divided…and it all started here.)  

What is the test of Abraham?  (22:2)

 

Is Isaac actually sacrificed?  (22:13-14) 

How long did Sarah live?  (23:1)

 

Where was Sarah buried?  (23:19)

 

Who does Abraham send to find a wife for his son, Isaac?  (24:10)

 

This unknown person says the first prayer that is recorded in the Bible!  What was he praying for?  You need to read carefully to find this?  (24:12-14)

 

Who arrives, as an answer to his prayer?  (24:15)

 

Who is Rebekah’s brother?  (24:29)

 

As the servant and Rebekah return home, who does Rebekah first see as he is walking in a field?  (24:64)

 

What brought comfort to Isaac after his mother’s death?  (24:67)

 

After Sarah died, Abraham married another woman.  What was her name?  (25:1)

 

How old was Abraham when he died?  (25:7)

 

Where was he buried?  (25:9)

 

Why did Isaac pray to the Lord for his wife, Rebekah?  (25:21)

 

The Lord answered his prayer.  Doubly.  Who was born to Rebekah and Isaac?

(25:25-26)

 

Sometimes, parents have favorite children and this becomes a problem. Who were the favorites of Isaac and Rebekah?  (25:28)

 

When Esau was hungry one day, what did he sell to Jacob in order to get some food?  (25:31-33)

 

When Isaac was old and blind, ready to die, he wanted to give a blessing to Esau, the first-born.  Who overheard this, and worked with Jacob to deceive old Isaac?  (27:5)

 

What did this deceiver do to make Jacob seem like Esau?  (27:14-17) 

 

Isaac was confused but eventually gave the blessing to his second-born son, Jacob, thinking he was Esau.  When Esau finally arrived to get the blessing that was meant for him, do you think he was upset? 

What did he swear to do to Jacob?  (27:41)

 

Jacob fled from the wrath of his brother, and also to go find a wife for himself.   As he was on his journey, he slept under the stars and had a dream. What did Jacob see in his dream?  (28:12)

 

What did God say to Jacob in his dream?  (28:15)

 

Jacob built an altar at this place and gave it a name.  What is that name?  (28:19a)

(Can you find out what this name means?)

 

When Jacob arrived at his Uncle Laban’s, who did he see and immediately fall in love with?  (29:10-11)

 

Laban had another daughter.  What was her name?  Was she the first-born?  (29:16)

 

Jacob loved Rachel very much. What did he tell his Uncle Laban he would do if he could marry her?  (29:18)

 

Did this seem like a hard thing or an easy thing for Jacob?  Why? (29:20)

 

After he finished what he promised...whew!...what surprise did he find in his tent?  (29:25)

 

Laban did end up giving Rachel to Jacob, too, only a week after giving Leah to him.   But Laban made Jacob promise to do something in exchange for Rachel.  What?  (29:27)

  

Rachel, the beloved wife, was barren for many years.  But....Jacob had a number  of children born to him by Leah, Leah’s maid, and Rachel’s maid.  What are the names of Leah’s and Rachel’s maids?

Rachel’s maid?  (30:3)

Leah’s maid?  (30:9)

(Do you think that jealousy was a problem in this family?) 

 

Rachel finally has a son.  What is his name?  (30:24)

Jacob and his family finally leave Laban and they head for Jacob’s home country.  On the way, Laban  runs them down, claiming he has been wronged by Jacob.  After a discussion, they settle their differences and build a pillar to stand as a testimony to their reconciliation and of their renewed trust in one another. What is this pillar called?  (31:49)

(This gives us a famous phrase from the Bible: “May the Lord watch between you and me, when we are absent one from another.”) 

As Jacob returned to his home, whom did he prepare to meet?  (32:3)

 

What did the messengers find out?  (32:6)

 

When he received this news, what did Jacob do?  (32:9)

 

Jacob sent his wives and children and cattle on ahead.  He stays back, on the bank of the river.   What is the river’s name?  (32:22)

 

What happened to Jacob during the night?  (32:24)

 

What did Jacob’s opponent finally do to end the struggle?  (32:25)

  

Jacob believed his opponent was more than just a man, and asked for a blessing from him.  The blessing came in the changing of Jacob’s name. What was Jacob’s name changed to, and what did the name mean?  (32:28)

 

Jacob believed that he had seen the face of God and he named the place in honor of that great event.  What did he call the place where he wrestled with God?  (32:30)

 Jacob was sure that his brother, Esau, would be mad at him, and might even kill him.  But Esau didn’t kill him.  Instead, what did Esau do?  (33:4) 

Jesus told a story that had a similar ending in it.  What parable was it?  (Luke 15:20)

I believe that when Jesus’ audience heard his story, they probably

immediately thought of this part of the story of Jacob and Esau. 

The story of Dinah in Genesis 34 is very sad.  She was raped by a man (a prince) named Shechem.  What did Dinah’s brothers do to revenge her ill treatment? 

(34:25-27)

(There is more to the story, but if you have young children you might not want to read it to them!)

 

God renewed the covenant with Jacob in Genesis 35:11.  

What promise did God make to Jacob (Israel)? 

 

As the family of Israel neared Bethlehem, Rachel gave birth to another son.  But this was a difficult birth, and Rachel died soon after the baby was born. What did Rachel name the baby?  What did Jacob name the baby?  (35:18)

 

What does the Bible say about the pillar of Rachel’s tomb?  (35:20b)

 

The twelve sons of Jacob (Israel) are all named in Genesis 35:23-26. 

Name them, according to their birth-mother’s.

 

Leah:

 

Rachel:

 

Bilhah:

 

Zilpah: 

How old was Isaac when he died, and who buried him?  (35:29)

 

Jacob (Israel) loved his son, Joseph, the best. What gift did Israel give to Joseph to show him how special he was?  (37:3)

 

What did Joseph have, and told to his brothers, that made them jealous?   (37:5,9)

 

Joseph’s brothers hated him because of his “favorite son” status with their father. What did they decide to do with him?  (37:18-20)

 

Which of Joseph’s brothers doesn’t like these plans, and changes them?  (37:21)

(He is also the oldest of Jacob’s sons, and therefore may have felt some responsibility).

 

What did the brothers do to Joseph instead?  (37:23-24)

 

Who did they sell Joseph to, and for how much?  (37:28)

 

What did they do to Joseph’s coat?  Why?  (37:31-33)

 

In Egypt, who was Joseph sold to, and what position did this man have in the government?  (37:36)

 

Genesis 38 tells of the sordid tale of Judah and Tamar.  You can skip this if you want.

 

Who did Potiphar see was with Joseph?  (39:3)

 

Did Joseph prosper well in Potiphar’s house?  (39:4-6)

 

Who tried to seduce Joseph?  (39:7)

 

Joseph refused her advances and ran away from her.  But she grabbed his cloak, as he ran, and kept it.  Why?  (39:17-18) 

 

What happened to Joseph as a result of this lady’s lies?  (39:20)

 

Who was with Joseph, even in prison?  (39:21)

 

While in prison, Joseph became known for his ability to interpret dreams.  He interpreted correctly the dreams of two of his fellow prisoners, Pharaoh’s cupbearer and Pharaoh’s baker.   This gift was going to be his ticket out of prison, because eventually an important person had some dreams and needed help understanding them. Who was this person, and what were his dreams?  (41:1-7) 
 
 
 
 

Pharaoh’s cupbearer remembered Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams and told Pharaoh about him.  Joseph was sent for and listened to Pharaoh, then gave his interpretation for the dreams. What does he say about the dreams, as to their meaning?  (41:25-31) 
 

 

What did the doubling (the repetitive theme) of the dreams show?  (41:32)

 What was Joseph’s suggestion to Pharaoh, as to how to handle this problem?  (41:34-36)

 

Who did Pharaoh put in charge of this massive project?  (41:41-2)

 

Pharaoh changed Joseph’s name. What was the name that Pharaoh gave him?  (41:45)

 

Joseph married a woman named Asenath.  She had two children with Joseph. What were the names of Joseph’s sons?  (41:51-52)

 

When the famine came, who came to buy grain from Egypt?  (41:57)

 

Who, that Joseph knew, came to buy grain from Egypt? (42:6b)

 

Was Joseph glad to see them?  How did he treat them?  (42:7)

 

Joseph was still angry over how his brothers had treated him (who could blame him?).  What did he accuse them of?  (42:9)

 

Which one of his brothers did not come to Egypt, but stayed back home with his father? (42:13)

 

What did Joseph order to be done with these men?  (42:16) 

Why do you think he wanted the other brother brought to Egypt?

 

After several days, the brothers were released from prison, in order to take grain (food) back home to their starving families. Why did the brothers think they had been put in prison, and made to do things for this Egyptian?  (42:21)

 

As Joseph listened to his brothers, and they did not know who he was, what did he do?  (42:24)

 

Which brother was kept in Egypt, to ensure that the other brothers would come back? (42:24a)

 

Did Jacob want Benjamin taken down to Egypt?  (42:38)

 

The brothers returned to Egypt, and brought their youngest brother with them. What else did Jacob insist that they take with them?  (43:11-12)

 

Joseph invited them all to his house for dinner, and they still did not know who he was. What was his question for them?  (43:27)

 

When Joseph saw Benjamin, what did he do?  (43:30) 

 The brothers must have been very confused by the attention showered upon them.  They were especially amazed at the attention lavished upon Benjamin. What did Benjamin get for dinner?  (43:34)

 

Joseph wasn’t done with his revenge upon his brothers...not yet.  As they prepare to leave, he had something hidden in Benjamin’s sack. What was it?  (44:2)

 

After his brothers had left, Joseph sent soldiers after them, to stop and search them, to see if any of them had stolen Joseph’s cup. What did the brothers say should happen to them, if the cup was found with them?  (44:9)

 

When the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, what did the brothers do?  (44:13)

 

They are brought back to Joseph.  They recounted their family history, saying that Benjamin’s brother had died, etc.  Joseph watched them as they squirmed.  Finally, he made everyone leave his presence, except his brothers.  He wept again. Then, what does he say?  (45:3)

 

Joseph said an amazing thing as he revealed himself to his brothers. What was it? (45:7-8a)

 

So, Joseph, Benjamin, and their brothers were reunited.

When Pharaoh heard of this family reunion, what did he say that Joseph’s family should do?  (4:17-18)

 

What was Joseph’s advice to his brothers as they were leaving?  (45:24)

 

What happened to Jacob when he heard that Joseph was still alive, and that he was a ruler in Egypt?  (45:27)

 

In a night vision, what did God say to Jacob?  (46:3-4) 
 

Joseph and his father, Jacob (Israel) met in a touching reunion.  What land in Egypt did Pharaoh give to Joseph’s family?  (46:34)

 

The famine persisted and the people came to Joseph and sold themselves and their lands to Pharaoh,  in exchange for food. All of Egypt became Pharaoh’s property.  Only one group of people was exempt from this. Which one?  (47:22)

 

As he neared death, what request did Jacob make?  (47:30)

 

Do you remember how Jacob stole his father’s blessing from Esau?  Well, now watch what he did when Joseph brought his two sons in for their blessing from Jacob.  Joseph positioned his sons correctly, in front of Jacob, so that Jacob could stretch out his hands and give the blessing. But...Jacob is still Jacob! What did he do to give the blessing to the younger son, instead of the eldest?  (48:14) 

 

FYI: In the history of Israel, the names of these two boys lived  on...Manasseh and Ephraim.  When the Israelites  claimed the Promised Land, in the book of Joshua, the tribes of Israel consisted of the names of Jacob’s sons...except Joseph and Levi.  In their places, Joseph’s sons receive tribal names.

 

Chapter 49 is a reciting of the blessings that Jacob gave to his sons.  At the end of the chapter, Jacob died. How was Jacob’s body preserved?   (50:2)

 

Where did Joseph and his brothers go to bury their father, as he requested?  (50:13)

(I think it is interesting because he is buried here, and not in Bethlehem, next to his beloved Rachel).

 

The brothers all returned to Egypt to live.  As Joseph neared the time of his own death, what did he request of his family?  (50:24-25)

 

Write down the last verse of the book of Genesis...it has an ominous tone!  (50:26)