Genesis 1-2 – His Pleasure & Purpose

Intro:

I. Created for Good – Gen 1:1-5 – God’s heart for all people is seen in…

· v1–Who:Cre8tr G/Elohim. Which G? Gen 2:4 Yhwh Elohim (Lrd G). Nm pl(Deut 6:4).

o 1 G (Deut 6:4), 3 Persons (Gen 1:1-2/John 1:1-3), all 3 equally G ()

o What: cre8td. When: L G cr8td “n beg” (re sit). Heb wrd 4 end is (ah-a-rit). G, thru Mo mrkd cre8tn as beg pt n X, pointing 2 ending pt already n 1st 3 wrds!

o 8 M’s: Msn, Msg, Mes, Mas, Mand8, Mtr, Map, Motiv8n (I65:17, Rev 21:1)

o Where: universe (heavens & earth). Why:1:31-2:1/2:4=Lrd G/Boss/cause He can

o BTW: another key theme is erets=land (lst wrd in 7 of Heb v1). G promise lnd/sd

· v2a – The erets (earth/land) was tohu wabohu=formless & void. Land went from tohu to tob (gd). lnd/earth was n it’s “not-yet” state. G already preparing way 4 pinnacle of cre8n.

o it was “no gd” until G acted on r behalf 2 make it gd (Gspl: Eph 2:8-9/Rm 6:23)

· v2b – “Spirit (ruah) of God hovering” (no mstk Pentateuch begins/ends w/ hovering of G, see Deut 32:11). G preping way 4 man, then prepares way 4 man thru 1 fam all Script

· v3 – “and God said”…“and there was…” G spoke everything in2 existance. Pwr of G’s Wrd (cree8/brng life, re-cre8/brng new lf 2 Cor 5:17/Rm 1:16-17, bring fnl vctry Rev 19)

o G creating light first no mistake (Jn 1:4-5). G hmslf is light (Jn 8:12/Rv 21:23-27)

· v4 – “G saw” (G who sees/6:5). “was gd.” Gd 4 mn. G cre8ng all gd 4 r benefit! G lvs u!

· v5 – Day/night also “good “ for us. Post-Fall, we nd rest/sleep. G cre8 w/ u/ur gd n mnd

Þ God’s heart for all people is seen in Him creating all things good for us.

II. Created in His Image – Gen 1:26-28 – God’s heart for all people is seen in…

· v26 – We (men/women) cre8d in spcl act of cre8n. G moves from 3rd person “Let there b” 2 1st person “Let us make.” Plural “us” reminds of plural, Elohim, (1 G, 3 persn).

o Rather than w/ rest of cre8n made “n its knd,” G creates men/wmn “n image G”

o G lvs u so much He wants u 2 share n His image. Nxt wk: damaged, bt J restore!

o G made us to have dominion over (care for all of His creation).

· v27 – G moves back from pl (us/our of v26) to singular (his/he/him)=1 G, 3 persons.

o Image of G in man stated 2 X’s in v27, distinction between male/female here.

o Gndrs cre8d 4 animals, bt nt mentioned. G mks clear both md n His img (only 2)

· v28 – G ends His cre8n of man/woman w/ blessing. Important theme thruout Gen/Pent

o Living creatures blessed on 5th day (v22). Now blesses man.

o Blessed, nt cmnd, 2 inc/multiply (already G cmnd wl bring blessing of zera/seed)

Þ God’s heart for all people is seen in the giving of His image to us.

III. Created in Love – Gen 2:7 – God’s heart for all people is seen in…

· v7 – Cvr this 1 v, bt know creation of man/woman is really the topic of whole of Ch 2!

o G, thru Mo, making pt that although man is md in G’s image, he still cre8d being.

o B4 we think 2 highly, we made of “dust”. Will c next wk (qt Gen 3:19 b/c of Fall)

o G breathed into nostrils. Same Heb wrd ruah used here as in Gen 1:2. G, thru His very Spirit, desiring complete intimacy w/ you, breathed breath of life into u!

Þ God’s heart for all people is seen in His lovingly creating us. (r breathing=Yah…weh)

Conclusion:

Þ MI: G’s heart 4 all ppl is seen n His lovingly creating us n His image 4 our good.