In the Beginning

The interpretation of Genesis 1-2 has befuddled people for the past 150 years since the publication of Darwin’s “Origin of the Species.” This has caused confusion among believers on how we understand the world when “science” tells us the universe is billions of years old. Whereas scripture tells us that God created all things in six days. Today is not a day to try and understand the cohesiveness of science and the biblical narrative. We will not focus on the how of creation but the why. No matter how we try to get to the “how” the universe exists, even the most atheistic scientist is left asking, “Why?” Science cannot answer that question. Atheists can say that everything happened through the “Big Bang” theory. But how did that infinitely small particle that apparently threw the universe into existence get there? Where did it come from? Why did this happen the way that did? Science can search for the how, but it will never be able to satisfy the why.

‌It is important to note what seems to be the bazaar nature of the creation story compared to the narratives in other cultures. The cultures that surrounded Israel had stories of violence that created the world. The Babylonian “Enuma Elish” begins with the divine spirit and primeval chaos, where the chief Babylonian god, Marduk, defeats the watery chaos monster. Light emanates from the gods, and then firmament, dry land, the heavenly lights, and eventually, human beings are created. The gods then celebrated and rested.

‌The Israelites knew this story and similar ones from other cultures. But Moses, when writing Genesis, deliberately rejects them. No multiple gods are involved in creating the universe for their selfish purposes and enslaving humanity. Moses declares that God does so out of love.

‌On this Trinity Sunday, we take time to read through the creation story not only to recognize the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit within creation but to provide the foundational understanding that God is One God in Three Persons and has given humanity a special place within creation to be in relationship with him.

1. God is Creator of all things. (vs. 1-2)

This seems like an obvious first point. We even declare in the Apostle’s and Nicene Creeds that we believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. This is the first point in the ecumenical creeds because acknowledging God as the creator of all things is foundational to all that comes after it. God, as the one who brought all things into existence, gives us the first point in understanding the why.

‌There are three things that I want to note here. The first is that God created the world out of nothing. The theological phrase that is used is “ex nihilo.” (It’s just a fancy Latin term.) This teaching makes the Christian understanding unique. It affirms that God, in creating the world, relied on nothing outside of himself, so creation is an act of divine sovereignty and freedom, an act of personal willing that there be something other. This means that creation is not an extension of God, making creation somehow divine. This would imply that God created the world out of himself. God created all things apart from himself. This becomes even more important when we get to the creation of humanity. Simply put, God took nothing and made something.

‌Because creation was not an arbitrary act or accident on God’s part, we are led to two other things I want to note about God as Creator for this point. Creation derives from the love of God, not simply his will. Certainly, God’s will is based on his character as a loving God, but creation is the outcome of God’s unconstrained love. Understanding God as Trinity shows us that God already exists in a communion of persons in loving relations. God does not need the world to express his divine love. Creation is not a necessary outcome of what God is, but creation is contingent upon the loving character of God.

‌Understanding creation as something outside of God’s self gives the created order purpose and meaning. The psalmist writes in Psalm 148:5, “Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded, and they were created.” It is a call for all creation to praise the Lord because God has created all things according to his purposes. It is a declaration that anything that comes from God is good. Because that which God has created is good must bring praise to him because, without God, nothing would exist.

2. Creation springs from God’s Word. (vs. 3-25)

As we move into the narrative of creation, God speaks all things into existence and brings order to the chaos. We see God the Son (the Word) intimately involved in creation. John 1:1-3 tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” We also find in Colossians 1:16, Paul says, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” Both of these passages point to God being intimately involved with creation. He is not the watchmaker who sets things in motion and allows it to work without any continued input.

The Spirit gives life through the Word. Where there is no life, God brings life in the Spirit. A place where we see this in scripture is in Ezekiel 37 and the valley of dry bones. The prophet is given the authority to speak the new bodies of Israel into existence, but it is only when the Spirit comes upon them that they are given the breath of life.

It is out of this creative relationship that God brings the good creation into existence.

3. Humanity is made in the image of God. (1:26-2:3)

The question we must wrestle with is, “What is the nature of our being?” What is the relationship between us and God?

Psalm 8:5–6 ESV

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,

Colossians 1:15 ESV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.