Background and setting
Written by Moses for Israel after the Exodus, Genesis answers the question: who are we and what is our God like? It distinguishes Israel's God from the gods of Egypt and Canaan and grounds Israel's identity in covenant promise.
Why it matters today
Understanding the world Genesis was written into helps us read it on its own terms — and apply it faithfully to our lives now. God spoke through real people, in real history, for the lasting good of His people in every generation.