Genesis 1
Vs. 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth.
The author of Genesis, likely Moses, is introducing the main character and setting the stage for the greatest meta-narrative ever written. The Bible, with all 66 books, 1,189 chapters and 31,102 verses, is used to help us know God. But if we look closely, Genesis 1:1 establishes the God IS God in just one verse.
· In the beginning- What was in the beginning? God. That’s it. Then he created. Some might argue that time existed because it was the beginning. Then it becomes the age-ole “which came first, the chicken or the egg” argument. If time existed before God, wouldn’t that make time god instead of YHWH? The answer is No. The phrase, “In the beginning” is a dependent clause. The verse could just as accurately read, “God created the heavens and the earth, in the beginning.” God established time for us. We use time as a point of reference for almost everything we do. The author, a man, used the “beginning” as a time stamp to show the eternality of God. God existed at, or in the beginning. Just as He said, when He met Moses in the burning bush, he introduced himself as the I AM, the self-existing one. Then he created.
· God created - No one else can say that, everything else is created. Thus, he deserves the title capital G, God.
· Hidden in this verse, is God being established as Triune, three in one. “Trinity” is not a word found in the Bible, but rather a concept interwoven from Genesis to Revelation. Sadly, we miss it in the English so let me draw it out for you. The Hebrew word here for God, is Elohim. This is a plural word BUT the verb connected to it, is singular. Three persons. One God. And the followig two verses will introuce each person of the Trinity.
Vs 2a. The Earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the face of the deep.
These words, formless, empty and dark, are the antithesis of God’s character. The word, formless, in Hebrew is often translated as chaos or confusion, useless. It was as if God saw this and said, No…I need to do some work here…and next we see the Spirit moving, trembling, hovering, like a Mama hen on her nest about to birth new life.
Vs. 2b. The Spirit was hovering over the waters.
Notice, God hadn’t created yet, but water was present, and the first person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit was present. Water is often a physical representation of spiritual reality. Baptism for example. Once our souls are washed of our sins and covered with the pure, cleanisng, Holy Spirit, we are baptized in pure, cleansing water. This is why baptism is so importnaat!
Vs. 3a "And God siad-"
God, the Father, the next person of the Trinity, said- what do we speak? Words? Who is the Word of God? Jesus. “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible” (Col 1:6)
John 1: 1-3 is a famous passage where John titles Jesus as the Word of God, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Vs. 3b. What was the first thing God spoke into creation? “Let there be light.” This was not the sun. This was the light of Gods glory bringing clarity, brightness and life to the universe, as John 1 continues in verses 4-5 "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Right here. God used a scientific fact to establish a spiritual foundation. The Light always oversomes the darkness.
He also used a physiological fact to establish a spiritual foundation for life. Did you know that EVERY person, at SOME point in their life will be afraid of the dark? Think about that. We are made to long for the light. To live in the light. And if you know someone living in darkness, or if its you, just know, that the Light will always overcome.
People that claim that science and God contradict one another need to come do bible study with me…
Vs. 4- 5 "God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."
God called the light good. Notice he didn’t call the darkness good. Every day of creation, God stepped back, admired, and procalimed His creation “good.” But not darkness. Rather, He seperated the darkness from the light. Again, God used a scientific fact to establish a spirutal foundation. 2 Cor 6:14 spells it out for us. “For what fellowship can light have with darkness? What do righteousness and unrighteousness have in common?” From here on out, darkness is used as a metaphor for evil in Scripture. Acts 26:18 implores us to “turn from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God.” Last note, God didn’t obliterate it- he gave it a purpose and a place. He uses it to help us appreciate the light.
God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. In just 5 short verses, God has introduced himself as - Self existing, Creator, Triune and Holy (which literally means to be seperate from). Now, He can continue creating the universe.
In everything he creates, He does it for us in two ways. 1. God is preparing a home for us. Have you ever marveled that the temperature of the Earth, based on the positioning of the sun, sets the temperature for our bodies that even just a 10 degree variation and we could die? Or how about that there is the perfect ratio of oxygen, carbon and other gaes to keep us alive and breathing? Or that everything God made is good for us? Water, Trees, plants, dirt even- Its like a mother preparing a nursery for her baby. Everything is beautiful, safe and designed with the greatest care and love.
2. Everything is designed so that we could know Him. Romans 1:20 says that “since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Vs 6 - 8 And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.” So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.
When the world was first created there was a “blanket” or “vapor barrier” of water that wrapped the Earth. Remember this when we get to Genesis 6, Noah’s story. Plants were likely watered with an irrigation system, from the ground up, since there had never been any rain. This barrier acted like a sunshield from the harmful UV Rays we spend billions of dollars on trying to block from our skin today, and likely why people lived to be hundreds of years instead of 80 as there was extra protection from radiation, UV rays, etc…
Vs 9-10 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.
You might ask how the seas were all “gathered to one place” when today we have 7 oceans and cotinents. It is thought by Christians and secularists alike that the world was originally one continent with one ocean. When you look at. Ampa, you can see how the puzzle pieces would fit together. The Flood is likely culprit of the division.
Vs. 11 - 13 "Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day."
Here we begin to see the heart of God. Fruitfulness. Each plant had seeds and the ability to reproduce, to multiply, to bear fruit. Just as God creates, he allows even plants to share that same re-creation purpose. Two phrases I want you to listen for from here on out- “according to its kind” and “be fruitful and increase.”
Vs 14- 19 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times,and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.
“Lights in the expanse of the sky” are the stars, “to separate the day from the night,” and to “serve as signs to mark sacred times and days and years” These are constellations. This is God hiding Easter Eggs - God intentionally placed the stars in a patterned orbit as they shine through the galaxy and into the Earths sky so that we could see them and have an insdiers glimpse into what was coming next - If you ever doubt God’s love - just look up at the stars - He gave us the stars so we would be able to predict Day to day weather - protect against storms, heat waves or blizzards
Seasons - tell us when to plant/harvest so we have food to live on;
Sacred Times - how to worship God in a way that pleases him. This is only Day 4. God had not yet established the sacred times with His people. That happens in Leviticus 23. However, in His fore-sight and wisdom, He had it all planned before He lay the foundation of the world. This reinforces Ephesians 1:4 “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world.” Friend, as He hung the stars in the sky He had praise party celebrations planned for His people to enjoy. He was making sure we could know Him and worship Him without any excuse. God aligned Jesus’ Birth, Death and Resurrection, the coming of the Holy Spirit, and I believe eventually, his final return, with these Sacred Assebmlies.
Here they are in short: The first is one Christians practice every week! The Sabbath! We use the sun and moon to establish 6 days and nights, then we observe a day of rest.
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, held on the first new moon in the Fall, and when many scholars believe Jesus was born (spoiler alert - it wasn’t Dec 25). It leads way to Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. The notable feast of Passover, held on the the first full moon after Spring begins. Passover initiates The Feast of Unleavened Bread, a seven day remembering God’s provision while Israel wandered in the wilderness; AND the Feast of First Fruits, in which foreshadows Christs death and resurrection. 7 weeks after the Feast of First Fruits, or Fifty Days, Israel celebrates the Feast of Weeks - originally celebrating the wheat harvest, but later commemorating the day of Pentecost. Laslty, Rosh Hashanah, aslo known as the Feast of Trumpets, I believe, froeshadows Jesus’s return as well. There are others, but for the sake of time, those will come in another post. If you have a Glo4God Planner an Bible reading plan, we will go into fascinating detail on those days.
Vs. 20 - 23 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.
Now that the galaxy is set in place, the plants have sun to grow, God is going to fill the water and skies. Did you catch the two phrases again? Do you hear the repetition? Its said that if God says it once, its importnant. If he says it twice, its really importatn, but three times it’s really really really importnat! “According to their kinds.” And “Be fruitful and increase.” This God calls, good.
Vs 24 - 25 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Oh! Here it is again. In vs 24-25 God uses the phrase “according to their kinds” five more times! These verses alone ebunk Evolution. God made the animal kingdom according to its kind. Not blended, not morphing, not evolving. Yes, species will change over time to adapt to surroundings, but they don’t change their original composition and make up. Once a fish, always a fish, never a cat or a bear, or anything in between. And God calls this good. Good because it upholds the three pillars of beaty- integrity, because what it appears to be outwarldy, it is inwardly; proportionality- nothing is morphing, lopsided in phases of change, etc.. and clarity - it bears God’s original design, nothing more, nothing less.
No we’re at the best part - US!
Vs. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
Godd established the hierarchy of plants, animal, people. It doesnt mean your dog or cat is it NOT importnat, it just means its not as valuable as your neighbor down the street. And being a thte topp of ths heierachy, we have an importnat responsibliy to care well for these creatures. I know this is an upopular opinion in todays pet craze culture where some of your dogs eat better, dress better and are better groomed than I am, we need to remember that God prioritized People before Pets. Here’s why:
Vs 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
We have the imago dei in us. Just as rebeliious Israel eventually made images of false gods, we are the images (yep, same Hebrew word) of THE ONE TRUE LIVING GOD.
This line, he created them male and female is very important. God didvided the fullness of his image between men and women. As women, we bear the image of God differenlty than men. It is universally obvious, books have been writeen,, studies have confirmed, men and women are physically different and physiologically diffeernt. My little girls was born loving baby dolls, pretty things, and snuggles. My little boy was born loving fast trucks, loud engines and shows affection by jumping on me. We bear His image differently, but together we represent Him wholly. THIS IS WHY GOD HATES HOMOSEXUALITY. Two men and two women can never bear the full complete image of God. It’s not arbitrary. God hates all sin, but homosexuality is “detestable” to Him because his original Genesis 1 design for hmankind was twofold: to bear his image and be fruitful and multiply. And as a homosexual, you cant naturally do either.
Vs 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
This was God's first command. It was a positive command, Do this; not a prohibition. He wanted us to partner with him in multiplication. To bear his image and mimic him in creation. Thts a pretty good God if you ask me.
Vs 29-30 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.
Before the fall we were vegetarian. After the fall, we were able to eat meat. But there was no killing prior to the Fall.
Vs 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
I love this part. After every day of creation, God announced, It is Good. But here, after creting mankind, he announces it is VERY good!.
Thats the end of verse one, but I have to dip into Ch 2, verses 1-3
2: 1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.
God rested. After 6 days of work, he took a rest. Look hard, because you wont find those words anywhere else in the Bible. Since that day of rest, God has never rested again. He has been “working.” Creating, sustaining, protecting, providing, nurturing, forgiving, redeeming, and reconciling His people. No matter what you are going through, know that God is not resting. He’s working on your behalf. The resting is our job (at least once a week) in Him who IS our rest.
Watch the rest on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/ZcAI2_EsgqU