When you open the Book of Genesis, you’re stepping into a story about beginnings—a story that sets the stage for everything we believe as Christians. Genesis isn’t just an old book; it’s the starting point for understanding how God created the world and made promises that still matter today. Through the lives of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph, we see real people facing real problems, making mistakes, and experiencing God’s grace and guidance. These stories aren’t just ancient history; they’re lessons about faith, hope, and redemption that speak to us right now.
Genesis shows us that God made us with purpose. He created us in His image, which means we’re meant to reflect something of His goodness and creativity. He gave us important jobs—to care for the earth and to fill it with life. From the very beginning, God set boundaries to help us make good choices, but we also see how temptation can lead us off track. When Adam and Eve listened to the serpent instead of God, sin entered the world, and everything changed. That moment explains why there’s so much pain and brokenness around us today.
But Genesis doesn’t leave us without hope. Even after humanity’s first mistake, God began working out a plan to save us. He chose ordinary people—flawed and imperfect—to be part of His story of redemption. The message of Genesis is clear: God’s love and promises are unbreakable, and He never gives up on us. When preachers share these stories, they help us see that trusting God’s plan, even when life is confusing, can lead us to a deeper understanding of who He is and how much He cares for us.
So, whether you’re hearing these stories for the first time or the hundredth, Genesis reminds us that every beginning is an opportunity to walk with God. It’s a call for all of us to embrace our place in His unfolding story and to let faith, hope, and love shape our lives.
When we think about creation, it’s amazing to realize that out of everything God made—the stars, the oceans, every animal—He called humans His crowning achievement. The Bible says God made us “in His image and after His likeness.” That means, in simple terms, that people were designed to reflect who God is in a unique way. We were given hearts to love, minds to think, and the ability to create, care, and make choices.
At the very beginning, Adam and Eve had everything they could ever want: a beautiful place to live, meaningful work, a close relationship with God, and each other. Life was perfect. But then, trouble arrived. The Bible describes a villain—Satan, disguised as a serpent—who convinced Adam and Eve to doubt God’s goodness and break the one rule God had given them. By eating the forbidden fruit, they chose their own way over God’s, and that one decision changed everything. Hurt, pain, and brokenness entered the world, and we still feel the effects today.
It’s easy to wonder why things went wrong, but Genesis helps us see that God didn’t give up on humans. Even after that first mistake, He started a rescue plan—one that stretched through generations and reached its high point in Jesus. So, when you look in the mirror, remember: you’re made in God’s image, created for a purpose, and still a part of His story, no matter what’s happened in the past. God’s love and plans for people haven’t changed, even when we mess up. That’s the hope and promise at the heart of Genesis and the story of creation.
Minister A Francine Green
January 2026
afrancinegreen.com 