A Walk In The Garden

Greater Things Await

Genesis 1:1b–5 ESV

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Can everyone see what I have in my hand this morning? That’s right, a receipt. And what purpose does a receipt serve? It is proof that payment has been made. That’s what Jesus’ resurrection is. The receipt. The proof that payment has been made and that death and sin no longer have power over us.

Last week we laid down some rules for looking at the scripture and we focused on the first 4 words of Genesis 1. Today we will begin looking at the days of creation. As we move forward and dig deep into the book of Genesis, keep this in mind: Greater things await.

Today we will look at the earth and the first day of creation. First, let’s look at the name used for God in this portion of scripture. As noted last week, Elohim is the name used by Moses here. Why? Moses is introducing Israel to the God who creates from nothing. Creation extols God’s transcendence and the power of His spoken word. The name Elohim is appropriate for the creation accounts universal framework and repudiates the theories of the origin of the world held by pagans. From the very onset, Moses is establishing that pagan beliefs and gods have no place among Israel. Elohim, the greatest God of all, shall reign in Israel.

In the beginning God created. The Hebrew word for created, bara, is used consistently in the old testament in reference to a new activity. The subject of this word is always God. It therefore conveys the idea of a new activity accomplished only by God that results in newness or a renewing. Some scholars believe it to be the technical term for the latin phrase “creatio ex nihilo” which means “creation out of nothing”. What we mean is that there was no pre-existing matter which God used to bring about creation. In other words, we can affirm with John when he records in his gospel “everything was created”. God didn’t use matter that was already here; rather, He created the matter to create creation. So here we have Moses painting a picture for the Israelites of a God who creates from the creativity of His mind alone. The phrase “the heavens and the earth” alludes to the limitless abilities of the creator. Verse 2 says the earth was without form, and void. It is from this blank canvas that God begins His creation.

Several years ago when Grant was only 2 or 3, I worked in a mattress factory and got off work at 2:30 every day. I would get home just in time to watch Bob Ross on PBS with Grant. That was generally when Grant would take his afternoon nap. I remember watching this man take a blank canvas and “create” beautiful landscapes from his imagination using different colors of paint. I was amazed at how he could do that. How much more amazed I am at the creator.

“Without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep”, perhaps this describes how you feel this morning or at least at some point in your life. No purpose, no future, unproductive, surrounded by chaos and confusion. He is the God who creates out of nothing and greater things await. Each day in the creation narrative builds upon the last pointing to the fact that God’s intent is to bless man. He is making the uninhabitable ready to sustain man.

“and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters”. Here in Upper East Tennessee, there are creatures that live in the woods that are very elusive. When compared to the number of people that live here, few have even seen them but we know they are here. No, I’m not talking about Bigfoot. I’m talking about whitetail deer. Have you ever watched a doe with her new fawn? She just hovers over it and watches this new creation come to life. That is how I picture God hovering over His new creation, watching it come to life. What an awesome God He is.

Allow Him to create something new in you today. A new sense of purpose. Calm where there is chaos. Peace where there is anger. Joy instead of fear. He is the only one who can create something beautiful out of the nothingness. His plan, His intent is to bless you. He has a plan for your life, a plan for hope and a future. Greater things await.