Adam and Eve chose to sin when tempted. Their fall resulted in psychological, and theological, sociological, an ecological alienation from themselves and humankind.

When God rejected Cain's offering due to his wrong heart attitude, God gave Cain the opportunity to change his behavior and thus his attitude. Instead, Cain's anger toward God was redirected toward his brother Abel, who had the right attitude toward God. Cain led Abel into a field and killed him. God gave Cain another opportunity to admit guilt and repent, but instead, Cain lied and was not remorseful, and God allowed Cain to suffer the consequences of his sin.

Babylon symbolizes the human achievement of unity, suppression of diversity, and technological achievement apart from God. It is the effort of humans to find meaning in their lives apart from God. As a result, the achievement never satisfies because only God can give us significance.

While Abram answered God's call to leave his homeland and security and to follow Him to a new land, Abram still had moments of faltering faith when he acted on his own apart from God. Despite his times of faltering faith, God counted Abram as righteous because of his faith.

Abraham encounters Melchizedek who blesses him and Abraham gives him 1/10th of everything. Melchizedek is a king of Salem and a priest of God most high. Melchizedek precedes the Levitical priesthood, thus establishing a precedent for Jesus as the one and only priest who is not of the Levitical line.

A study contrasting Abraham's decision to follow God and his nephew Lot's decision to focus on materialism and the impact these decisions had on their descendants.

God asked Abraham to make the ultimate sacrifice. Abraham had to make a choice to trust God or to not trust God. This story shows Abraham's incredible faith in God and God uses it to teach Abraham about the future sacrifice that God himself would make to save all of mankind.

Esau gives up his birthright for a bowl of soup. This has permanent consequences for both Jacob and Esau. This teaching covers the importance of our choices.

Jacob was a stubborn man who often outwitted others. He meets his match with his uncle Laban. Jacob ends up being humbled and he changes from being defiant to being dependent on God.

Joseph lived a life a great suffering. He was sold into slavery by his family, was jailed and displaced from his home. This story is about how God can take even the most difficult of circumstances and redeem it for the good.