The book of Genesis expresses the themes of family strife and forgiveness through the stories of the characters. Starting with Adam and Eve and continuing through the story of Joseph, readers can relate that the results of all their actions consist of the Lord's displeasurement and anger. Their punishments are similar in the sense that God makes them suffer and eventually forgives them. There are questions that arise in midst of these stories that require the reader to read between the lines and make inferences upon what they have read.

The first characters that are presented are Adam and Eve. Living in the Garden of Eden, and being the first man and woman ever their minds are simple and guillable. Upon God's command to not eat from the tree of knowledge, Eve does just that. It is clear that God is angry with them when he banishes them from the garden. Cain and Abel are the sons of Adam and Eve. Cain was a farmer and in an attempt to please God, he brought forth an offering of his flock. However, God having no interest i

Abram, the son of Terah, who lived in the land of Canaan, had set out from Egypt. As they settled there, Abram experiences strife with his brother's son, Lot. The land to which they arrived at was not capable of providing food and land for the flocks of both men, so the two split apart. Upon hearing that his nephew Lot had been captured in his land, Abram comes to his aid and rescues Lot from slavery. The Lord found favor with Lot and allowed him to flee to safety before his land was to be charred. Also, after Lot's wife had been turned to a piller of salt, his two daughters seduced him to preserve the family name. This to was forgiven in God's eyes.

Abram had his own family problems as well, because his wife Sarai cannot bear him any children. However, as the story is told, Abram has a son with Sarai's maid, Hagar. This son, Ishmael, in contrast to his son with Sarai, (as she is able to concieve later) Isaac, is not as important in Abram's life, as Isaac is to be his heir. The fact that Abram has a son by both women causes Sarah (the name that God gave Sarai later) to grow

Some common words found in the essay are:
Adam Eve, Eve Cain, God Abraham, Esau Esau, Due Esau, Garden Eden, Themes Genesis, Isaac Abram's, Ishmael Isaac, Eve God, adam eve, abram son, strife forgiveness, god's command, family strife, tree knowledge, family strife forgiveness,
Approximate Word count = 736
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)