The Beauty of Creating

Warren Brosi

January 5, 2025

Dominant Thought: We reflect God’s image.

Objectives:

I want my listeners to identify the three primary actions of God in Genesis 1.

I want my listeners to feel gratitude for God’s creativity of the world and us.

I want my listeners to choose a response to God’s creativity.

Today, we begin four weeks through the first four chapters of the Bible, Genesis 1-4. These opening pages of the story of Scripture serve as a foundation for us to build our lives and a warning of dangers to avoid. In the coming weeks, we’ll look at the following themes: The beauty of creating (Genesis 1), the goodness of helping (Genesis 2), the danger of taking (Genesis 3), and the challenge of ruling (Genesis 4).

As we study Genesis 1 today, I want us to look at the three actions of God that we observe. We will look each of these three actions, then discover our response.

First, God creates (Genesis 1.1, 21, 27). We have seven words in the original language for Genesis 1.1 to summarize the creation of the world.

This word for create is used of God and describes something only God can do.

The Bible begins with the beginning. The writer gives credit to God for creating the heavens and the earth or the skies and the land. He is present in the darkness through His Spirit (Genesis 1.2).

As we read through the days of creation, we notice a theme of God bringing order to the chaos in days 1-3. Then, in days 4-6, God fills the creation.

On day six, God creates the great creatures of the seas and every living thing the moves in the waters and birds in the air (Genesis 1.21). Think of dolphins and whales and bass and catfish. Think of sparrows and swallows and hummingbirds and eagles and falcons. God created them.

Then, He creates the pinnacle of His creation, humankind.

Genesis 1:26–27 NIV

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.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Notice, “Let us.” This phrase appears to be a clear reference to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These verses affirm that human life is created in the image of God. People have said that we are “Divine Image Bearers” or “D.I.B.’s.”

God created them male and female. In an age of gender confusion, I want to remind you that God doesn’t make mistakes. You are created in His image with the gender He gave you from birth.

How do we respond to our giving God? We respond by recognizing He is the creator of all.

Second, God speaks (Genesis 1.3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29). Eleven times in Genesis 1, God speaks. We serve a God who speaks. That’s why we have the Bible. Listen to how John 1 describes God’s message.

John 1:1 NIV

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The writer of Hebrews also talks about God speaking and creating.

Hebrews 1:1–4 NIV

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

How to Read Genesis Where Is Meaning Found?

God speaks to people and directs them to act in very specific ways

God speaks the world into existence. At the end of each day of creation God saw that it was good. Then, on day six, after the creation of humankind, God saw that it was very good (Genesis 1.31).

How do we respond to our giving God? We respond by thanking Him for all that is good.

Third, God blesses (Genesis 1.22, 28).

God blesses the sea creatures and the birds of the air in Genesis 1.22. Then, in Genesis 1.28, “God blessed them [male and female] 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.”

We’ve started talking about the 4 B’s of following Jesus: Believing in Jesus, Becoming Spirit-filled, Building God’s family, and Blessing the world.

God blesses humans to bless the world. We are called to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it and rule.

We actually are commanded by God to join Him in ruling over creation. We have a responsibility to be caretakers of this world by how we treat one another and this beautiful world He has given to us.

We are looking at these opening chapters through the lens of Responding to our giving God. How do we respond to our God who gives everything we need for life and invites us to join Him in reigning with Him?

We reflect His image to the world by creating good and life wherever we go. We reflect His image in our speech by how we speak truth and life. We bless others with the blessings He generously gives us.

We talk about living generous lives as Christ is generous. Jesus was present in creation. He calls us to live faithfully with Him to spread His good news everywhere we go.

How do we respond to our giving God? We respond by embracing our blessed identity as His children.

We reflect God’s image.