The very beginning… Genesis is not only the very first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, but it also serves as both a theological prologue and a foundational narrative for Israel’s identity. Composed over centuries and shaped by multiple sources, Genesis pulls from oral traditions, cultural memory, and theological reflection.Genesis doesn’t just recall facts or names and dates; it tells of God through stories that articulate theological principles such as human responsibility, divine justice, and the persistent grace of God amidst human failure. Themes of murder and incest, betrayal and bloodlust stand alongside stories of tremendous bravery, love and mercy. Genesis doesn’t hold back! We will meet characters that define the entire Old Testament, like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and finally as the book reaches a climax, Joseph. The narrative of Joseph will set the stage for the Exodus but will also leave the children of Israel with the tension of an unfulfilled promise and the hope of what is to come.