Displays in the Library

In the Beginning...events in the Genesis Narrative

This semester Regent University is embracing new beginnings - a new Chancellor, new students, new faculty, and a new theme of flourishing. What better way to celebrate than to start at the beginning, with the stories in Genesis. This display includes artistic representations of a dozen selected stories from the first book of the Bible, starting with creation. These stories stir within us a memory of our ancient roots. They bring us reflections on how these beginnings impact us today, and invite the Holy Spirit to teach us how to respond flexibly to our current culture and to imagine what the future can bring.

Take some time to prayerfully contemplate these events. Ask the hard questions - what if Jacob had NOT stolen the blessing - search for wisdom. Ask God to show you His purposes and His direction. Read the full story - the short passages provided here serve as an introduction to the Genesis account which is rich and deep.

May God bless you as you lean into Him through remembering these historic events.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Starry Sky, Attempt

Wenzel Hablik 1909

Genesis 2:21-22 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

Sleeping Adam

Tintoretto 1550

Genesis 3:22-24 And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.

The Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

Benjamin West 1791

Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

Cain Kills Abel

Palma il Giovane 1603

Genesis 6:13  And God said unto Noah, the end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

Noah's Ark

Kosov Vladimir 2018

Genesis 11:6-7 And the Lord said, behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now mothering will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.

Tower of Babel

Peter Bruegel the Elder 1563

Genesis 12:2-3 I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Abraham Hears the Promises of God

Luca Giordano 1694-96

Genesis 19:15 The angels hastened Lot, saying, arise, take thy wife and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

Lot and His Daughters Fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah

Joos de Momper the Younger 1581-1635

Genesis 27:19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.

Isaac Blessing Jacob

Wayne Forte 2013

https://wayneforte.com/picture/isaac-blessing-jacob-ii/

Genesis 28:12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Jacob's Dream

Bartolome Esteban Murillo 1665

Genesis 37:32-34 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, this have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no. And he knew it, and said, it is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

Joseph's Coat Brought to Jacob

Domenico Fiasella 1640

Genesis 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt.

Joseph and His Brothers

Charles Thévenin 1789