Clues from Creation

About a year ago I went to an escape room with some friends. Though I had never done an experience like this before, I was feeling confidence in my groups ability to finish the room well before the hour time limit. In the waiting room, I asked about how many clues people needed to figure out the escape. The number varied, but me and my friend assured each other that we wouldn’t need any help. Only a few minutes in, we heard a voice speak into the room saying that they would have to put the game on pause. Turns out the piping I was taking apart was not a part of the game. Whether I wanted to admit it or not we needed help. We needed guidance from the creator to understand that clues in order to win the game.

When we ignore God, we get off track. When we disregard his instructions we begin to destroy his creation and slow our own progress towards the intended design.

In the book of Genesis, God, the maker of all things gets on the intercom. He lets us know his plans and intentions. He gives us the clues of creation.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

No cute intro. No pointless details. The bible gets straight to the point. There is a God and he is the hero of the story. History is HIStory.

Four words into the bible, several theories are immediately denied. Pantheism: there are not multiple gods. Atheism: All matter had a beginning outside of itself.

Four words into the bible, several truths are affirmed: God can be known. God existed before the beginning. All that exists had a starting point. There is a divine plan.

And we see this plan begin to unfold.

2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Like Michelangelo looking at a slab of marble and seeing David. Like Da Vinci looking at a wood panel and seeing the Mona Lisa. God’s Spirit hovered over the dark deep waters ready to create something lasting and beautiful.

The world did not begin with light, color, and species. God made it that through his word. Initially the earth was formless, dark, and lacking.

Tonight, your heart may be empty. Like the chaos and weight of waves, you may be confused. Take heart. God took that dark void and made the cosmos. Be open to God’s spirit doing a creative work of life in your heart tonight.

In a few minutes we are going to cover the creation of everything excluding humanity. A work that took God six days. Let you heart be in awe of his creativity as we uncover six foundation clues from the first 6 days of creation.

Day 1: The world was crafted by the word of God.

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Everything that exists was spoken into existence by God. He didn’t sweat. He didn’t struggle. He simply spoke. He spoke and things like light and darkness were created. He named them. In ancient Israel, to name something indicated control and power over the object. But to name something also indicates relationship.

God was not passive in his creation. All that he spoke had purpose. He is the ruler of all. He is in control.

The same source of words that spoke the world into existence is the source we have access to. When you read God’s word, do you try to control the words, or do you let his truth take control of you? Let his words produce light in you.

Day 2: God’s word will happen.

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

Genesis is surprising. If God desires for people to believe in him, why did he not write the book like a science book describing facts? Why did he not write the book as a philosophical defense of the logic of God’s existence? Instead he simply tells us what happens and provides the meaning behind his making. Why?

This book was written to the nation of Israel who had interaction with pagan false gods like the gods of Egypt. Instead, defending the credibility of the creation account for Egypt God puts false beliefs on defense by explaining reality with full assurance that his word came to pass.

People assume that the Bible has to be on defense against atheisms offense. But the Bible itself doesn’t assume that it’s on defense. In fact, it is so assured that it is the source of reality that all other worldviews have to defend themselves against the reality presented in scripture.

How do the chaotic creation myths of Egypt make sense when the world gives evidence of design?

If the universe is both expanding and finite what was its origin if you press rewind?

If we are made of a single molecular source, why have animals not learned the human language or developed culture in a way that is comparable to human society?

God spoke and it was so. The fulfillment of his words is the evidence of his credibility that all of humanity seeks to make sense of.

If all that God says will come true, it is low priority to waste time explaining the credibility of something that is assured to come to pass.

Because all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in the past, we can trust in his word for our future.

Day 3: Diversity is the display of God’s creativity.

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

From the start, God began to separate his creation. He separated light and darkness. He separated water and sky. He separated water and land (thank goodness). People tend to think of “separation” as a negative word, but in this passage God’s activity of making things distinct simply show the beauty of contrast. Thank goodness we are not all the same. There is an estimated 9,000 types of bird species. How many do we know? Four? Owls, Chickens, parrots, and crows? God created a vast and diverse amount of all things? Why? Because he wanted to. Because the whole earth was made to show us his glory.

One of the songs we often sing begins with a request for God to show us his glory. In Genesis 1, God indicates that he already has.

His glory is in the cuteness of a puppy.

His glory is in the birth of a baby.

His glory is in the beauty of a flower.

His glory is all around us if we will open our eyes to see.

When you go to school tomorrow, observe all of the different types of personalities and people. Be thankful for everyone you meet. Even the unique ones display the multifaceted creativity of God.

Day 4: God established rhythms that promote flourishing.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Everything that God created, even things as foundational as the sun and moon were made for a purpose. Here God gives these two inanimate objects the roles of separating day and night, giving light, and for indicating seasons.

Imagine that we were going to play a game of football. In an attempt to make it more exciting, I removed the yardage lines. Then I removed the boundary lines. Then I removed the ball.

Removing patterns and boundaries seem fun until chaos and pointlessness follow.

This seems simple, but it is vital. Do you have patterns and rhythms in your life that flow the way our bodies were designed to live? Are you getting sleep? Do you let yourselves experience emotions? Do you have discipline? Do you rest?

God gave us different seasons to provide balance and peace. I encourage you to open your life and schedule to both variety and rhythm.

Day 5: God gives his creation joy through purpose.

With all of this talk of patterns and order, the image in your mind may be that creation was dull and mechanical. This next scene may surprise you...

20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds[g] fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

God provided the form and asked it to be filled! He blessed all of creation by telling them to multiply and grow.

"The Hebrew word for “create” (bara) is used in the ot to refer to divine activity only—Yahweh alone serves as its grammatical subject—implying the writer wanted to emphasize that people cannot create in the way that Yahweh creates." John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016)

Only God can create matter out of nothing. But he lets creation reflect his nature by being creators themselves.

When you work, make art, write, and enjoy music. You are reflecting God’s image in you.

You were made to create. You were made to be a reflection of God.

Day 6: God is the determiner and source of all goodness.

24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

God saw. He has been present the whole time. Engaged with the life he created. God is not distant. He is near to you. He sees you and is guiding your life while he also holds the cosmos together.

And as he looks upon what he made, he declares that it is good.

Light came from the one in whom there is no darkness.

Stable patterns came from the one who is constant in character.

Multiplying species came from a God who could have been content in himself, but made all things out of the explosive love within himself.

We uncover these clues as we learn from the word. The same word that created the world.

We are like people in an escape room trying to figure out the clues. God doesn’t leave us in the dark. He provides answers to those who ask.

For the next three months I encourage you to join us as we uncover the essence of everything.