The Creation Account (Part 2)

Introduction

Why does Creation Matter?

Creation by God’s design directs our hearts to bow in humble adoration of Him.

Look at this passage

Romans 1:19–20 (LSB) 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

Creation reveals God’s Great Power!

Romans 1:19–20 (LSB) 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, both His eternal power

Creation reveals God’s Wisdom!

Creation reveals God’s goodness!

Romans 1:19–20 LSB

both His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen,

So how am I going to approach Genesis 1 and early chapter 2?

I had at least two options.

I could preach it from the scientific perspective and on the back of the outline I have a recommended resource that opens up Genesis from that angle. It was wonderful and helpful

I could preach this with a focus upon the literary emphasis of this text, which is not a scientific textbook but instead exulting in God as the Creator.

This does not mean that what is revealed in Genesis is unscientific but its not written as a Science textbook.

It is written purposefully and wonderfully to reveal God!

So I have as my objective for each of us to bow in worship of God as we contemplate…..

His Great Power

His Great Wisdom

His Great Goodness

Let’s pray

Day 1: Material Ordered and Delivered (Genesis 1:1-5)

Genesis 1:1–5 (LSB) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 And the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then 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 And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

Genesis 1:1 (NASB95) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Created Out of Nothing

Time

In the beginning

Spaces

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia Chapter 1

הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם

Term means heavens or spaces

Dual- legs, arms, eyes, etc

God created dual spaces (heavens)

What this means is that space is a created thing, space is not nothing, a vacuum or void, space is a real, physical substance but different from matter.- Amunrud.

Material

Genesis 1:1 (NASB95) 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

the term earth or land here is not given its common usage until later in the creation week.

In Genesis 1:9-10

Now look at what is said about this earth or material 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

formless – no structure to it at all.

void – nothing could live there in its initial condition.

dark – there was no electrical-magnetic radiation in the original matter. This and the formlessness suggest that it was not in atomic structure yet.

deep – it was all the physical matter of the entire universe. Everything will come from this mass.

The land was liquids (waters) – the material was not solid, but a liquid.

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. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.

Light is Created

Light is separated from the darkness

Light is called day and darkness is night

So where does this light originate?

It could be God himself who is described as light in John 1:5, Revelation 21:23-25.

John 1:5 (NASB95) 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Revelation 21:23–25 (NASB95) 23 And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 25 In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;

I dont think so because…

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

God creates this light instead of it being His quality

Therefore it seems that God lit the land (earth) from which all things will be formed.

Summary Day 1

God speaks into existence

time, spaces, material, light

All the building blocks from which he will form and fashion.

Which of us can speak and it be?? Who is our God?

Day 2: Everything in its Place (Genesis 1:6-8)

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

Waters refers to liquid earth/land materials

Expanse refers to spaces dividing waters below and waters above

God called the expanse heaven

This is facinating when you read passages like

Isaiah 42:5 (NASB95) 5 Thus says God the Lord, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,

Isaiah 45:12 (NASB95) 12 “It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it. I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host.

Isaiah 44:24 (NASB95) 24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself And spreading out the earth all alone,

Summary: Day 2

God has divided water earth/land material some above and some below

God has stretched out the spaces and calls it heaven

Day 3: Earth, Sea, and Plants(Genesis 1:9-13)

9 Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens 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 waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good.

The liquid material is gathered together

The dry land appears

God defines terms

dry land=earth/land

waters=seas

11 Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. 13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

The earth sprouts vegetation designed to reproduce with seeds in them- by design

I take for granted seeds designed within plants so that they reproduce?

Who came up with that? Why do they function like that? Why do some trees only release seed if it gets hot?

Stop and think how infinitely powerful He is and wise to create. Why when the seed goes in the ground does it produce?

Unbelievable!!!

Summary: Day 3

Dry land appeared= earth

waters gathered= seas

vegetation sprouted, seed within themselves, according to their kind.

What wisdom!! What Design!! What a Designer!!!

Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars (Genesis 1:14-19)

14 Then 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 for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.

The Lights in the expanse of the heavens for…

signs

seasons

days

years

God’s Use of Signs

God used a star to declare the Birth of Jesus

Matthew 2:9–11 (NASB95) 9 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The Crucifixion of Jesus for 3 hours darkness covered the land

Matthew 27:45–46 (NASB95) 45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Jesus’s Second Coming will bring with it Signs from the Heavens

Matthew 24:29–30 (NASB95) 29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory.

14 Then 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;

seasons

Spaceplace.nasa.gov

What Causes the Seasons?

Answer: Earth's tilted axis causes the seasons. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun's most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

The earth in combination with the Sun produces seasons.

days

defined as one complete rotation of the earth on its axis. Composed of an evening and morning (periods of light and darkness)

years

NASA- a year is determined by the time it takes the earth to complete one orbit around the Sun, which is approximately 365 days. This period is known as a tropical year and is used to keep track of seasons and time.

16 God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day, and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also. 17 God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to govern the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness; and God saw that it was good. 19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

Summary: Day 4

God made the Sun, moon, and stars

Purposefully for signs, seasons, days, and years

God is purposeful in every detail!

Power, wisdom, and Goodness for His creation.

Day 5: Sea Creatures and Birds (Genesis 1:20-23)

20 Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.” 21 God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

What did God create?

Sea creatures

Birds in the heavens

Great sea monsters

2. God created

bara- used all the way back in Genesis 1:1.

Not only fashioned and formed but gave life.

22 God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

Unlike vegetation they are to be fruitful and multiply.

Their are male and female.

They are to reproduce and fill the seas and sky to the glory of their creator!!

Summary: Day 5

God made Sea Creatures and birds.

Different than what has been formed and fashioned.

They have life given by God.

Sea Creatures and birds of all kinds.

Day 6: Land Animals and Humans (Genesis 1:24-31)

24 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”; and it was so. 25 God made the beasts of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind; and God saw that it was good.

Domestic Animals- cattle

creeping things

and beasts of the earth

Why does God repeat “after their kind”?

God did not form every species

God did form every “kind” or family

For example the family when thinking of cows is Bovine- this includes cattle, bison, water buffalo etc- they can breed and produce off spring according their family or kinds.

But different families/kinds cannot breed and produce.

Cats and dogs etc.

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Mankind is the only created being in God’s image

Only created being in God’s likeness

Our likeness why plural?- Triune God hint right here!

Created to rule and exercise dominion

Mankind is made in God’s image male and female.

Reproduce and have children populate the earth fill it with Image bearers!!

Rule and have dominion over God’s Earth

29 Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; 30 and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”; and it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

God has produced and given food to sustain his creatures.

God says it was not just good but very good!!!

Summary: Day 6

God made…

Land animals according to their kind.

Humans in his image male and female

They are to be fruitful and multiply

They are to rule and have dominion over his world.

Day 7: Day of Rest (Genesis 2:1-3)

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. 2 By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

God does not grow tired or weary but He rested establishing the work week as we saw in Exodus 20 last week.

Created- out of nothing

made- formed and fashioned

Conclusion

As we conclude Genesis 1-2:3 let us stand in awe of what is before us.

Do you see God’s infinite power to speak all of this into existence?

His Power is unmatched the one who created all of this.

Do you see God’s infinite wisdom- the complexity of the world in which we live.

He came up with our bodies and how they work, the animals, the insects, the plants, every detail.

Do you see a God who is purposeful in all he does?

No mistakes, no throw away, all purposeful, details matter to Him not chaos.

Do you see God as the ultimate artist?

He takes the raw materials, then forms and fashions them into great beauty and wonder!

We are artistic and creative because our God is!!

Do you see God as abundantly good??

Why the order of Creation like it is? Why blob to spread out to land and vegetation, sun moon and stars, why fish and birds, why animals and then finally humans made in his image to rule over them?

Do you see the order? The purpose? The beauty? Food was made so that when the animals were made they could eat. The food, birds, fish, and animals are made before man so that man will exercise domonion.

All that was done before it had to happen so that they could all survive and thrive.

God is so gracious who provided everything for his creation in the correct order.

The God of grace who provides all we need for life both physical and spiritual life in Him.

Does this not blow your mind? Does it humble your heart? Does it not lead your heart to a posture of awe??

Psalm 8:3–9 (LSB) 3 When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have established; 4 What is man that You remember him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the animals of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O Yahweh, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

Let us fall down and worship