The Neighborhood God Created

Which Picture Represents a home?

Which one is true?

Which one is real?

Genesis 1:3–31 (CSB)

3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 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.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.” Evening came and then morning: the second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so. 12 The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 Evening came and then morning: the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. 15 They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. 17 God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, 18 to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21 So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23 Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image;

he created him in the image of God;

he created them male and female.

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” 29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 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.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” … 8 God called the expanse “sky.” Evening came and then morning: the second day.

9 Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” .... Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so. 12 The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 Evening came and then morning: the third day.

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons and for days and years. … 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. … 18 to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.

21 So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23 Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.

25 So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

27 So God created man in his own image;

he created him in the image of God;

he created them male and female.

28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” 29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

In order to grasp the overwhelming message God sends here, we must understand the context.

It is not the Roman Catholic Magisterium.

It is not the Reformers.

It is not the Early Church Fathers.

It is not Darwin.

It is certainly not the current modern science.

Do you believe there is no bias in modern science? Media? News?

While it is OK to find areas of parallel in the Biblical truth and our modern world. We must remove our selves from the temptation of trying to cram our questions and assumptions upon the people God chose to reveal Himself and write His message through. We need to be wary of taking the bait of a modern skeptic who wants to mock truth of message God has given us because He didn’t package it in a way that appeals to their pride.

Beloved, no one would mock Shakespeare because he didn’t write plays about rocket ships and lunar landings.

No one would disparage Julius Caesar for not utilizing submarines in his campaigns.

Such things did not appear on their radars. If they wrote about such things then, they would have been incomprehensible to the people receiving the message.

So if God told the truth in a way that would make a powerful statement like no other religious group our culture, utilizing ideas and concepts familiar to them, that would be appropriate wouldn’t it?

Imagine if Stephen Hawking, or Einstein complained about God describing Creation too simplistically and God sat down with them and played their game, what would happen?

1. If modern skeptics were to directly ask God for the absolute truth, His response would exceed their understanding.

Job 42:3 CSB

3 You asked, “Who is this who conceals my counsel with ignorance?” Surely I spoke about things I did not understand, things too wondrous for me to know.

2. God isn't obliged to address every question we have.

2a. Back then, atheists didn't challenge God's authority.

2b. Their worldview then didn't separate science and religion.

2c. The act of Creation glorifies God and reveals His unique purpose for humanity.

3. In just 31 concise verses, God unveils His purpose for creating the material world, setting it apart from other beliefs.

...

We see a progression from Day 1 from Chaos into an ordered place to live.

We see paralleled in the Days God’s making a place for His prize possession

Day 1 and 4 we see God running the power lines so we can be warmed, see, and be guided.

Day1: Light, separated from darkness, day and night Day 4: Lights in the heavens: greater light (sun), lesser light (moon), stars

In days 2 and 5 we see God making the backyard, giving us a well for water, and creatures and things that are far out.

Day 2: Firmament, waters above and below Day 5: Swarms of living creatures, birds, great sea monsters

Day 3 and 6, God makes the land that we will live upon and the creatures we will have near us and use to sacrifice until Christ.

Day 3: Seas and dry land Day 6: Cattle (meaning large animals), creeping things, all other animals, human beings.

3a. God's ultimate creation goal was humanity made in His image

3b. Our relationship with God wasn't an afterthought but the very reason for Creation.

3c. Observing nature reveals that God made a cosmic home for us to enjoy with Him!

John 1:14 (LEB)

14 And the Word became flesh and took up residence among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the one and only from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 14:3 (NLT)

3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

IN the first book of the Bible, God made a Cosmic home and a beautiful Garden to live with us. We quickly left it. In the last book of the Bible, Jesus comes to our homes and asks to live with us again.

Revelation 3:20 NLT

20 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

Next Steps:

Reflect on your ideal home and thank Jesus for the place He has been preparing for believers for two millennia.

Consider God's care for all creatures and find ways to show kindness to those who seem neglected or lonely.

Offer food at a shelter.

Extend hospitality by inviting someone for a meal.

Support a student in their pursuits.

Visit someone who is home-bound.