Genesis: How do we get the good life?
There are two ways to get the good life: (1) Work really hard, and do it on your own, or (2) Receive it. Genesis advocates the latter. It is not against work, but against striving. It is not against taking action, but is concerned about what motivates our actions. Are we trying to earn something from God? Or prove ourselves to the world? The good life, in Genesis, is open to “all the families of the earth” who simply receive the “blessing” of Abraham and carry it forward (12:3).