Origins 03: The Creation Story
Origins 03: The Creation Story
In The Beginning God Created
God proves his ability to do anything in our lives and to overcome any impossible situation by the creation. The prophet Jeremiah said it this way,
“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17).
In this article, I have given you a summary of Genesis 1:1-2:4 and tried simplify the text. So, here we go.
5:30pm (CT) | FRIDAY October 30, 2020
If the Lord made the heavens and earth, then what problem could be too large for him to handle? Nothing is too difficult for God. The Apostle Paul says that the same God who said let light shine in darkness, has shown his light into our hearts and brought the new life of salvation. How glorious! How amazing! God creates new life in us.
Summary: Genesis 1:1-2:4
The creation story does not end in chapter one, but spills over into chapter 2:4. The account begins with a general statement of heavens and earth in their initial condition (Gen. 1:1,2). Then it gives specifics of the days of creation (Gen. 1:3-31).
Initial Condition (Genesis 1:1,2)
DARKNESS | FORMLESS | EMPTY
Days of Creation (Genesis 1:3-31)
LIGHT IN DARKNESS (Gen. 1:3-5)
FORM TO FORMLESS (Gen. 1:6-13)
FILLS THE FORM (Gen. 1:14-31)
Summary Comments (Genesis 2:1-4)
Everything created perfect, complete, lacking nothing.
Day of rest (7th day)
Creation of Angelic Realm not Mentioned
The creation of the holy angels, the fall of Satan and the demons. The timing of the creation of these beings is debated. However, it is plausible that the fall of Satan, and the other angels that followed him, had either already occurred or occurred at creation. This is not the place for this study.
The Trinity Involved in Creation
“Elohiym”
The name used for God in Genesis 1 is “elohiym.” This is a plural form for God, but refers to The Lord as one.
This early revelation of God in three persons is clarified throughout the Bible as we read how the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit all participated in creation.
The Father
Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter. we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64:8)
The Son
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:3)
For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:16)
The Holy Spirit
The Spirit of God has made me. The breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4)
Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. (Gen. 1:2)
The Spirit hovering over the waters leaves the impression that the He was anticipating the next step. He was awaiting the darkness, formless, emptiness to be light, to be formed and to be filled.
Four Important Phrases
“Let their be …”
God spoke. His wisdom, intelligence, his creativity and his power all came together in his spoken word. By God’s word the world was formed (Hebrews 11:3).
“God saw that it was good …”
The word “good” means perfect, complete and lacking nothing. In chapter 2 we will read that there was one thing that was not “good” – perfect, complete, lacking nothing. But in Gem. 1:1-2:4 we read that everything was created and was exactly as God intended it.
“… according to their kind(s)”
12 times the word phrase is used.
Plants produce plants, Birds produce birds, fish produce fish, land animals produce land animals and humans produce humans.
God expected that all these creatures “fill” the earth.
“and there was evening, and there was morning, the first day…”
No matter how you consider the “day” that is mentioned here. It seems that one option, and perhaps the most natural read is that these were 6 days. The mention of evening and morning and the day count doesn’t seem to morph from figurative days into 24 hours days. If so, where in the text does this take place
Notice the Order in Creation
The earth was formless, void and darkness covered the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:2). The rest of the chapter we see …
1. God created LIGHT in darkness
2. God created FORM
3. God FILLED the form
The following charts illustrate this.
Concluding Thoughts
1. God Created Humanity
The Psalms say,
It is He who made us and we are His (Psalm 100:3).
Since God made humanity, and He made us in His image. We are the rulers over all creation. We are not a slightly better evolved animal.
2. God is The Creator
As the creator, God is to be honored, worshipped, sought out, loved. He is also someone who gives love to His creation and we are receive the benefits of all that He has made.
3. God Speaks New Life
Every person has the opportunity to have a spiritual encounter with the Creator. The same way He spoke light into the darkness, He can speak light into your dark life and bring the light of life. He recreates each person new in Jesus. This same Spirit speaks today, into human hearts to create new life.
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:6)
Blessings,
Rich
