The Flawed Family of God: Stories about the Imperfect Families in Genesis

by Carolyn B. Helsel; Song-Mi Suzie Park

Publisher:

Westminster John Knox

, 2021

Overview

The best stories in the book of Genesis involve families. The issues these stories raise―married vs. single life, sibling rivalry, infertility, family relocation, blended families, and the like―are startlingly relevant to families of today. This Bible study examines the families of Genesis, starting with how the Adam and Eve story encompasses far more ways of being family than most of us think. It looks at the sibling rivalry of the Cain and Abel story, pointing to the jealousy and violence to which the whole human family seems addicted. It uses the ups and downs of the relationship between Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael can help us understand the complicated dynamic of blended families. Carol Helsel and Suzie Park invite readers these and many other connections as they reexamine the joys and complications of modern family life.

This engaging Bible study includes questions for individual reflection or group use.

Key Features

• Examines the families of Genesis, starting with the Adam and Eve story
• Invites readers to consider multiple connections reexamining the joys and complications of modern family life
• Explores how the ups and downs of the relationship between Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael can shed light on the complicated dynamic of blended families

Contents

• Not Good to Be Alone? Singleness and Breaking the Norm
• Brothers’ Keepers: Sibling Rivalry and Violence
• Trauma and Family Interventions: Noah and His Family
• Trailing Spouses (or Family Moves): Abram and Sarai’s Story
• Dealing with Infertility: Sarai and Hagar
• Blended Families: Abraham, Sarah, Hagar, and Ishmael
• Who Will Save Isaac?
• The Traps of Competitive Parenting: Keeping Up with Rachel and Leah
• Reconciling with Your Siblings as an Adult
• A Death in the Family

Praise for The Flawed Family of God

In this most creative book, Carolyn B. Helsel and Song-Mi Suzie Park have taken an unorthodox stroll through the book of Genesis. Where others find the creation story, Noah’s Ark, and the Tower of Babel, Helsel and Park find families—wonderful, human, complicated families…. The authors provide insight into the frayed edges of our family life, but because the authors also find God in the broken places, they bring us profound hope.

—Thomas G. Long, Bandy Professor Emeritus of Preaching, Candler School of Theology

The Flawed Family of God provides an honest, thoughtful overview of the dysfunctional families in the book of Genesis. The authors pose difficult questions and avoid easy answers. Helsel and Park use examples from psychology, current events, and pastoral experience to show the many connections between these strange old stories and contemporary life. This book will be a valuable resource for preachers and all those interested in substantive study of the Bible.

—Lynn Japinga, Professor of Religion, Hope College, and author of From Widows to Warriors

Helsel and Park have produced an excellent resource for adult Christian study groups looking for ways to find relevance in the biblical text of Genesis. They ask probing questions, deal sympathetically and empathetically with the characters of the bible, and push readers to think deeply about their own familial and communal relationships.

—Reading Religion

Product Details

• Title: The Flawed Family of God: Stories about the Imperfect Families in Genesis
• Authors: Carolyn B. Helsel, Song-Mi Suzie Park
• Edition: First edition
• Publisher: Westminster John Knox
• Print Publication Date: 2021
• Logos Release Date: 2025
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Bible; Families › Biblical teaching; Genesis › Criticism, interpretation, etc
• ISBNs: 9780664265984, 9781646980383, 0664265987, 1646980387
• Resource ID: LLS:FLWDFMLYFMLGNSS
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2025-06-23T15:50:23Z