God of All Promises

Walter Brueggemann’s final work takes readers on a poetic journey through Genesis, bringing new hope, deep reflection, and discovery of all that God promises.

We are before you;

We are in the world;

We are unhindered; our lives are unhindered in work, in freedom, in companionship.

We gladly accept our vocation as your agents of blessing.

Because of us, the world has a chance for well-being.

We bask in your greatness;

We celebrate the good work you give us;

We rejoice in the life you make possible

as we stand as a sign of your good governance.

—from “On Reading Genesis 2”

In God of All Promises: A Poetic Pilgrimage through Genesis, Walter Brueggemann offers a fresh, prayerful journey that illuminates our shared faith. With poetic insight and theological depth, Brueggemann invites readers to find new meaning in each chapter of Genesis through his personal spiritual practice of praying back the Bible to the God who dwells therein. Those who engage deeply with these poems will find themselves taking time with each line, pausing so that they may engage in critical reflection on the text, appreciate the art of the text, and see the text as a script for prayer and meditation.

Beginning with a scriptural epigraph and ending in prayer, every entry invites deeper engagement with the living Word, gleaning a renewed sense of God’s enduring promises. Brueggemann’s lifelong passion for Scripture and the faith community shines through as he draws out the persistent themes of God’s presence, faithfulness, and creative love, even in humanity’s messiest moments. In Genesis, he shows us a God who brings order out of chaos, calls us beyond grief and fear, and forms a people meant to bless the world.

Whether you’re a pastor, seeker, or lifelong learner, God of All Promises is a spiritual companion that offers a rich, imaginative resource for individual devotion, group study, or communal worship. Let these poetic meditations draw you deeper into the bold, beautiful promises of the God who is still creating life today.

Author Biography

Walter Brueggemann was a beloved and prolific writer, astute biblical theologian and Old Testament scholar, and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. He was the author of dozens of books, including Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of Now, Interrupting Silence: God’s Command to Speak Out, and Truth and Hope: Essays for a Perilous Age. Often heralded as a prophetic voice in our time, Brueggemann constantly reminded readers of God’s covenantal love and God’s call to speak truth to power, to remember that grace abounds, and to loosen the bonds of injustice.