The Genesis Story: Reading Biblical Narratives

Among the primary aims of Hillsdale College are the teaching of the Christian religion “by precept and example” and the “diffusion of sound learning.” These aims rest upon a tradition that views faith and reason as an integrity and affirms their capacity to discover truth about man’s relationship to the divine.

Genesis is dominated by four types of relationships: God and creation, God and human, human and human, and human and creation. Adam and Eve’s transgression in the Garden of Eden transforms the relationship between God and man and sets the stage for the remaining narratives of Genesis.

The story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar illustrates the rivalry and pain that arise as humans struggle with divine promises. In spite of their failings, God remains faithful to His covenant and responds to the suffering of mankind.

The binding of Isaac is the Genesis passage that generates the most commentary—though it is frequently misunderstood. The narrative presents two acts of faith: Abraham offering his son to God and Isaac offering himself to his father. Abraham submits to God’s command, knowing full well that God will keep His promise.

Genesis is filled with sibling rivalries, beginning with the tragic story of Cain and Abel. The decades-long rivalry between Jacob and Esau demonstrates how such conflicts can be resolved and how the face of God is made visible through a beautiful act of forgiveness.

Genesis concludes with the long and complex Joseph story. Employing a series of parallel structures, this penitential narrative—a pinnacle of literary achievement in Genesis—serves as a fitting transition to Exodus.