God’s Greatness

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Every person can grow in their relationship with God by understanding the abilities listed in this passage.

Introduction:

A few years ago the Detroit Art Museum had some of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings. It was amazing to look at the painting and see the layers and the thickness of the paint. So there was a painting, but there was texture that you might miss if you did not see the painting in person. It is amazing to see the detail of a master like Van Gogh.

What really gets me fired up is the work of old furniture makers. When I see what those men were able to do with hand tools or human powered tools. When I look at the joints those people were able to make with some simple tools, and to see the amazing details they incorporated into their work. Maybe you have some creative things that get you fired up as well. It does not matter what excites us about the creative nature of people, their creativity is almost nothing compared to what God did when he made the world.

Today we will look at the account of creation from Genesis 1, and we will look at the abilities demonstrated by God as he puts the world together that we are familiar with.

Ability I. He creates

A. This word is something that is unique to God. This is not something that can be done by just anyone. In v. 1 we read that God created the heavens and the earth. In v. 21 God created creatures. Finally in v. 27 God created man in his own image. Typically when this word is used in the Bible it is referring to something that God has done. It does not refer to human activity. We might be able to make things and we call it creative. This word indicates that this is something that only God can do. It is not something you and I are able to do. We can’t create in the same way that God is able to create. There are other words used to describe creating, but in this passage the word create describes a work of God that makes something out of nothing. God was able to make the heavens and the earth out of nothing. God was able to make the creatures out of nothing. God was able to create man out of nothing. God is able to create.

B. Humans have worked at manipulating things to be able to create life. In every situation they have had to rely on things that are already in existence. They manipulate things that exist in order to create. People can’t create the same way that God is able to create. Evolution is a teaching that says that everything we know came about as a result of random chances. There is nothing random about God’s actions here. He planned and he created the world the way that it is. It is not something random. God created the heavens and the earth and everything that is in them. God is creative.

C. God does something that no one and nothing else can do. He can create. He can make something out of nothing. It is not a magic trick nor is it some kind of an illusion. God creates. He is able to do greater things than anyone might ever imagine.

Ability II. He makes

A. God created things from nothing. Another word we see used in this passage is the word “made”. It is used much more often than the word “create”. While create is used three times in the passage we are studying, the word made is used about ten times in this section of scripture. The word that is used when we read made is indicating something that is severed from something else by cutting with a blade. In the case of a covenant it indicates the drawing up of an agreement. I think this is where we see God manipulating the things he has already made. God is making something out of the things he has already made. In v. 7 it says, “So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.” This seems to be the work of God manipulating the things he has already created. He is separating water in order to make an expanse. It is not something out of nothing; rather it is something from something.

B. Even though this appears to be a lesser demonstration of God’s power we still see God’s power being demonstrated. This same God who created claimed that things that he made were good. So God is satisfied with his work. Perhaps you have been around people who call themselves perfectionists, but I would guess that they fall far short of what God is in this category. God is much more perfect than we could ever imagine. He is masterful at his creation. He created a perfect world for us to live in.

C. I think that most of you know I enjoy wood working. Through the years I have had many projects that I have thrown away because they were not to my liking. In some cases the piece was damaged at some point while it was being built, and in some cases it just was not what I had envisioned that it would be. My journey into woodworking has been just that, a journey. I have not suddenly arrived at my ability. I have developed that talent over a period of time. The same is true for every person who does what they do. They did not just stumble onto their ability, but they have developed it over a period of time. We have not record of mistakes and development with God. God is a perfect God and he has been that from the beginning. God has not evolved into something better over a period of time. He has not developed his abilities.

D. We have gathered here today to pay tribute to a perfect God. I believe that we should be in awe of his perfection. His creation was marred along the way. It was not just from wear and tear. It was a matter of evil coming into the world. Even though our perfect world has been marred by sin we can still be in awe of God ability. We can also be responsible for the way in which we handle the world God has entrusted to us. We talk of stewardship in terms of money so much of the time; we are also stewards of the world that he has given us to live in. We need to make sure we are taking good care of our world also.

Ability III. He calls

A. One idea that people have about God is that he has established the world and then has let it go on its own. It is like the snow ball rolling down the hill. Someone started it rolling, but it has built up momentum and speed all by itself. Another of God’s abilities in this passage denies this as a possibility. As God names the things he creates he calls them by name. He called the light day, he called the firmament earth, he called the waters seas. He is calling these things, but he is also claiming them as his own. It is a way of saying that God has dominion over these things. In the dictionary that is to simply have complete authority over this thing. In naming these things he is also claiming his sovereignty over them. He is not just leaving them. He is calling them his own.

B. In the Dr. Seuss book Yertle the Turtle Yertle is given the opportunity to have dominion over everything he can see from his throne. So through the book he builds his throne higher and higher. He realizes that the farther he can see the more area he will rule. As the king he wants his kingdom and the area he controls to be as large as possible. The word used in Genesis for God to call things by a particular name he is claiming dominion over these things. He is like a king who is over all of the earth. So the idea of God getting things going and letting it go does not work.

C. When a child is born that child is typically given a name. The first name can be a family name or a friend’s name or it can be something that has some significance to the parents, it might just be something that they like. The first name of that child can be any number of things. But the last name connects them to their parents. When a child is born they are given the parents last name. However, if that child is given up for adoption then the child receives the last name of the people who adopt them. It is an indication of the parents claiming this child as theirs. They are making him or her their own. So they give that child their last name to share with them. God gave names to the things he created therefore claiming them as his own.

D. Clearly in the beginning God created us and he claimed us as his own, yet many have denied God. What has happened? We see later on that sin entered the world and caused a separation, yet we learn that God’s passion for the world did not stop. One of our favorite verses, John 3:16 tells us that God loved the world. Even though many reject him and even though we have changed dramatically, God still loves us. We still belong to him, but he has given us a choice of whether we would like to follow him or follow something else. He still claims us and he still desires for us to follow him.

Conclusion:

Isn’t it amazing that we can have a God who created the world from nothing? He made us and he still claims us as his. He must have a tremendous amount of love for us to do all of this. He is a great God. It is hard to imagine why anyone would want to live life separate from him.