Genesis Session 3

This evening, we are going to look at the rest of the creation account through chapter one of Genesis. Before we do, there are two terms I want us to first consider.

Term number one: RANDOM. What does this term mean and how does it apply to the beginning of all things?

Start with the first part of that question… what does the word random mean?

Webster defines it as without definite aim, direction, rule, or method. This would include having no plan and no purpose. For something to be described as random, no intentionality could be present.

Secondly, how does this word random apply to the beginning of all things? It does NOT apply from a biblical sense but the world has tried to offer that all of creation is something that happened at random. The world suggests:

There was no intelligent design or intelligent designer. All the right elements just randomly came together to form all that we know.

Life randomly began when conditions were right. It took billions of years but at the hand of accidental event after event, life evolved into what it is now.

Evolution suggest that life found the ability to adapt to the random conditions it might find itself in. In a sense, evolution is a go-with-the-flow concept meaning those who adapt survive, and those who do not will perish.

The secular world is wanting people to believe that random was behind the wheel at the dawn of all things.

Term number two to be considered is DESIGN. What does this word mean and how does it apply to the beginning of all things?

Webster defines design as to plan and make decisions about (something that is being built or created). Design includes intentionality and purpose. Design also indicates that a designer is the One calling the shots.

Things are not left to happenstance, but rather are given purpose and are put together to carry out that given purpose.

Secondly, how does this word apply to the beginning of all things? The Bible makes clear that design was ALL OVER creation as we know it. The Word tells us that NOTHING came into existence by accident but was spoken into existence according to design. The Word tells us:

That all creation was intelligently designed by an intelligent designer. Everything came together as God desired for it to come together.

Life began when God willed it to begin. It did not take billions of years to develop, God made it so in a moment.

Creatures were created for the conditions that God set forth. It was not a random trial and error type situation… it was an intentional design and placement situation.

This evening, I want us to see the intentionality behind EVERYTHING that God created.

Random speaks of accident and happenstance. Design speaks of purpose and plan. Our God has a purpose and plan for all that He created and we are going to look at that in the rest of chapter one.

Let’s read our text, Genesis 1:6-2:3. Recall that we studied day one of creation in our last study. On that day, God created (or introduced) light into the heavens and on the earth. With it He created time. Also recall that the Trinity is fully present as all things are made.

God the Father - the intelligent and purposeful designer.

God the Son - the powerful spoken Word through which ALL things are made.

God the Holy Spirit - present in creation as indicated in Genesis 1:2.

The New International Version Chapter 1

And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.

20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

26 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.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them 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.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

2 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

In six days, God creates everything! And as we dig deep into this text, I want us to see the design. I want us to see the purpose. i want us to realize there is NOTHING RANDOM about the world as we know it. We are not here by accident… but rather we are here for HIS PURPOSE AND GLORY!

Observance One: God CREATED Different “SPACES”

God began to create separations between the different spaces that we know.

On day one, He separated the light from the darkness.

On day two, He separated the sky from the water.

On day three, He separated the dry ground from the water.

On day four, He separated the day from the night.

On day four, He separated the seasons (sacred times).

And… through all of this we see the creation or separation of days. Each day is marked with a time stamp… morning and evening.

Why is this important to note? GOD CREATED A SPACE SUITABLE FOR LIFE TO FLOURISH.

Of all the different “spaces” we have observed throughout the cosmos… we have not been able to find anything like the space we know as earth. it is one in a million, church. It was created for all life as we know it.

This planet rotates and moves on an invisible axis that keeps us from freezing but also from burning up. The planet is the exact distance it needs to be from the sun to keep us warm and alive. The sky is a shield that keeps all that is alive under it safe from the harsh realities of the universe. God knew exactly what He was doing when He placed all of this together!

As the spaces were created, God began to fill those spaces with life. God began to created life that could flourish in each space.

Observance Two: God FILLED the Different “Spaces”

Not only did God produce life in many forms on the earth, He did so according to His order and design.

Once the waters and land were separated, He created the vegetation that would produce seeds “according to their kinds.”

God set in motion the various kinds of plants and the seeds they would produce. An apple tree will forever produce apples as God willed it to do so. It cannot move out of its design. God made the different kind of plants we know and enjoy today.

Once the seasons, night and day were set into motion, He created the creatures of the earth.

He filled the seas with creatures that could swim and breathe underwater.

He filled the skies with birds… with life that could fly and fill that space.

He filled the land with animals that could walk and move along the ground.

And in similar form to the vegetation, each were made according to their kind. God designed each kind and separated the species.

What God placed in motion was a world made up of different spaces… and then He filled those spaces with the kind of life that would flourish in each space.

Life did not evolve to fill each space… a fish did not learn how to walk nor did a pig learn how to fly. Each were made for the space God created them for.

His design is all over the place!

Observance Three: God Created Something UNIQUE

When God created Adam and Eve, He did not create them per the space they would fill, rather, He created them per the image they would bear.

Humankind stands out from the rest of everything that God created. Humankind had a very unique and distinct purpose. God did not create us to fill a space… He created us for His glory.

Romans 3:23 makes this clear.

The New International Version Chapter 3

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Before sin… there was no falling short. We were meant for His glory! We were designed with the most special plan in mind!

God created both man and woman… two unique and wonderful creations meant to be different… but complimentary of one another. BOTH were created in the image of God which means we carry his attributes.

And after He created humankind, He gave them… everything. God appointed us to be stewards of what He had created.

They were instructed to multiply… to fill the earth - all spaces.

They were instructed to rule… to be stewards of all life that filled those spaces.

Design and order. There was NOTHING random about what God had just done. It was all according to His plan and for His purpose.

Observance Four: God Created Something UNIVERSAL

God placed within the design of creation something that I fear is neglected most by many people… God rested on the seventh day.

God established a pattern… once the work was finished, He rested. The seventh day was blessed and set apart.

How important is rest to all of creation? It is SUPER important… yet it is often the first thing to go as we budget our time and resources.

Before sin entered the picture, there was rest. Before brokenness entered the picture, there was rest. Before there were deadlines and target dates and before there were schedules and busyness… there was rest.

God placed within the design of the world the need for rest. And we know that life without it… is not very much fun. Failure to rest is setting yourself up for… failure in all areas.

Resting impacts our entire being - mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Failure to rest also turns our back on God’s design.

in six days, God created. He made all that has been ever known. God felt that it was important for us to know what He did on day 7 as well.

As we are created in His image… we should see the need to follow in his footsteps. God set forth a pattern to help sustain life on the earth. He understood the need and importance of rest.

Now… Do you think that the eternal, all powerful almighty God, truly needed a day off? OR… did He just do what He had done throughout the rest of His created work…

GOD SEPARATED WORK FROM REST. AND… He filled that space with what? He set that space aside and declared it to be Holy.

Closing

The design in creation is important. Accident or random tells us do whatever, whenever, no matter the cost. Design tells us to do as the creator intended, be what the creator intended, and trust in the creator’s design.

All of this was planned and all of this has purpose. What we studied today helps to build the foundation for what will come in the following weeks ahead. NOTHING was done by accident. There is NOTHING random about God’s design… He has a plan for His creation!