In the Beginning: The Bible Stories

God says, "Let there be light". Then there is light. God creates order in the formless chaotic universe. God separates the sky from the ground, the land from the sea, and creates life on the ground, in the sea, and in the sky. The world is created in seven days. Then the first human beings are made in the image of the god. They are Adam and Eve.

Adam and Eve are expelled from Eden, and are given work and painful labor as punishment. Adam is forced to get food by the sweat of his brow, while Eve has to suffer tremendous pain in labor. Their children are named Cain and Abel. The elder brother Cain becomes jealous of his brother Abel because he is God's favorite. He attacks Abel and finally kills him. Thus Cain becomes a cursed man.

Humans abound on the earth. As their numbers increase, however, they begin to speak blasphemy against God and become corrupted. God decides to cleanse the ground with a deluge as punishment. So he orders Noah to construct an ark and put one pair of every creature on board. Although he is laughed at by those who do not believe in God, Noah works hard to make a huge ark, and puts the animals in it. Then the great deluge hits.

Humans begin to build a tower, hoping to reach God. At that time, humans were conceited enough to think that they could accomplish such a feat. So God, as punishment, collapses the Tower of Babel and makes the humans speak different languages in the different districts. They thus become unable to communicate each other.

Sarah, who has not had a chance to bear a child, is getting on in her years, but keeps praying to God to let her have a child. Her husband Abraham laughs at her, saying "Even God cannot make you bear a child." Then God tells Abraham, "God is almighty. Sarah will have a baby boy in a year."

As vice spread over the two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, people are corrupted. God's anger gradually leads to the destruction of these cities, which are full of decadence and blasphemy against God. Because Lot, his wife, and their two daughters are pious, they hear God's voice saying "Run away to the mountains, but never look back at the city." Lot's wife, however, turns around as pandemonium breaks out in the ruined city. Then she turns into a pillar of salt as punishment for breaking a promise to God.