The first 12 chapters of Genesis span at least 2,000 years of human history, and possibly much more. They are the story of origins, beginnings and foundations, and as such they are fundamental to our understanding of the rest of the redemption story in the Bible. They introduce us to the origins of sin, and to God’s response to sin in both judgment and grace. They are key to understanding many fundamental questions that moderns ask about existence (e.g., “Who am I?”), society (e.g., “What is my responsibility to-wards creation?”) and theology (e.g., “What is God doing about the state of the world today?”).