Genesis Wrap-Up

The beginning has come to an end. Soon we embark on a new journey. But first let's recap a few arbitrary points about Genesis that I thought important to bring up. Feel free to suggest more!

When the Firstborn is Not Heir

While the firstborn is traditionally the favored son, frequently this is not the case in Genesis. The writers seem to be saying, “Hey, this is unique; this is different. Check out what we’re doing here by supporting the underdog.” Examples:

God favors Abel’s offering over Cain’s.

• Though the only child of Sarah, Isaac is the second-born of Abraham.
• Though Esau is born before Jacob and is his father’s favorite, Jacob manages to steal his brother’s birthright and blessing.
• Joseph is the firstborn of Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife, but is not Jacob’s firstborn child.
• Perez (of Tamar and Judah): Though Zerah’s hand comes out before his twin Perez’s, it is Perez who is born first.

Jacob the Builder

Jacob is the great builder of Genesis. He works with stones and makes pillars all over the place. Here are some examples with which you may do what you like:

Dreams at Bethel and erects a pillar (28.18)

• Moves the stone at the well near Haran (29.10)
• Sets up a pillar at Galeed as a sign of a covenant with Laban. In an alternative interwoven version it is a heap of stones (31.45)
• Erects an altar in Shechem, called El-Elohe-Israel (33.20)
• Erects an altar at Bethel (35.7), specifically a pillar (35.14)
• Sets up a pillar to mark Rachel’s grave (35.20)

Herd the Word

As Joseph’s brothers explain to Pharaoh in Genesis 47.4: “Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors were.” Indeed this seems to be a preferred occupation of these people. Who was the original sheepkeeper? Abel, of course! He was favored over his brother the farmer. And though Cain killed Abel, this passage sets a precedent for favoring future shepherds.

Barren Women

For some reason, a high percentage of matriarchs are barren, a paradoxical state of affairs when you consider the divine promise of progeny. However, if God controls a woman's fertility, any child of that woman is God-given. The children come according to God's actions. These children have a history with God that most children do no have - and are therefore better members of the divine line. The procession from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to his descendants is very controlled. Births are meaningful because they are a blessing from God.

Up the Down Staircase

A common theme of Genesis that will resonate in the following chapters is the idea of descent into Egypt and return to Canaan. Characters frequently are driven “down” into Egypt due to famine or other reasons, and then come back “up” into Canaan.

At the end of Genesis the Israelites are all in Egypt, loved very much by Pharaoh. But something must change as the next book is ominously titled…Exodus. [Okay, it is not exactly fair to say that the book is ominously titled “Exodus.” That is the Greek title, a later addition that concerns the thematic content of the article. The Hebrew title translates to “These are the names,” referring to the first few words of the text, which is how the books of the Pentateuch (first five books) is named in Hebrew.]

But seriously, we’re going to have to follow people upwards out of Egypt at some point in the near future.