The God of Creation

Introduction

Why This Study?

Biblical Foundation

Genesis 1-11 is the foundational basis by which the rest of Scriptures address is seen. Within it we meet God, we see Creation and it’s perfection, we see the fall of man and the ravages of sin. We witness the holiness of God, His wrath, and His grace. Genesis 1-11 sets the drama of the Scriptures. It answers much of life’s questions. It answers the questions, What happened? and how is this going to be fixed?

Basically put, the rest of the Bible is much of a commentary regarding the established, corruption, and correction of the events in these chapters.

Questions

Have you ever wondered:

How did we get here?

What’s the point?

Why are things the way they are?

What about marriage, sexuality, gender, the value of human life?

Well, these are some of the things we will see in our series, but today we are diving into Genesis 1 where it is as though God Himself is parting the darkness of man’s blindness and introducing Himself as none other than the Almighty Creator to whom we should be in awe over.

Now, I’m not going to get into science today because even though I believe in a literal 6-day Creation, I don’t believe that that is the goal of this chapter. K.A Matthews worded it best when he said,

“The creation account is theocentric, not creature centered. Its purpose is to glorify the Creator by magnifying him through the majesty of the created order. The passage is doxological as well as didactic, hymnic as well as history.”

My hope for today is that we would leave with our eyes ready to behold the beauty of the world and glorify God for it and that we would simply be in awe of His greatness.

The Living God, Unmistakably Active

Derek Kidner said, “From the outset, Genesis confronts us with the Living God, unmistakably personal. The verbs of the opening chapter express an energy of mind, will and judgment which excludes all question of our conceiving God ‘in the category of the “it” instead of the “Thou” ’ (to borrow E. Brunner’s phrase”

Take note of the verbs in this chapter. All of them depicting the actions of God as He created all things.

There is a view called “deism” which teaches that God created the world, but now simply sits back and watches with no involvement whatsoever.

Have you ever found yourself wondering, “God, have you just left us here?” or “Is God really active in the world today?”

Well, not only is the the Creator of the world as we see here, but He is the Sustainer as well!

Hebrews 1:3 “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power...”

Not only is He active in sustaining the World physically, but He is active in the world Spiritually. As He is seated at the right hand of the Father He is placing His enemies beneath His footstool as He bring His elect to Himself!

He is also active in your life personally.

Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

The Wise God, Displaying His Glory in Creation

In Ancient Pagan religions they told stories of the “god’s”, who the people at the time fashioned after their own tendencies, went to war against one another and that the universe was created with the dead bodies of the losing gods and that humans were created with their blood.

Well, in Genesis we don’t get that. Instead we see the all wise God of Heaven and Earth creating, “Ex Nihilo” which means out of nothing.

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.”

Revelation 4:11 “11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things...””

As we look at Genesis 1:1 we see the word “created”. This came from the Hebrew word “bara”. Now, most of the time the word “asa” is used in the Bible to refer to human activity where they create from material that already exists, but here we see the word “bara” which is used exclusively of God’s activity where He creates where there is no preexisting material present. He creates out of nothing at all and He does it with wisdom to His glory!

As we read this passage we see that as God is working in creation, we find that on days 1-3 God forms the world, and on days 4-6 He focuses on filling the Earth and as He is working He finds the fruit of His labor to be good and very good. This is testimony to God’s wisdom as He works.

Proverbs 3:19-20 tells us of His wisdom in founding the Earth “19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; 20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, And clouds drop down the dew.”

In this work, God has declared Himself in such a way that Romans 1 tells us that no man will be without excuse for their sin against Him but that by ignoring the wise declaration of His glory, they have behaved like fools!

Psalm 29 tells us more about His glory in creation.

As so, as Christians, when we go out to the mountains and see the sun beaming off the snowy mountain tops, or when we go to the beach and see the waves crashing on the sand, or when we go to the Grand Canyon and see how massive it is, we can sit there admiring it’s beauty with full hearts knowing it was created by God Himself! Whereas the Atheists shouldn’t be too amazed. I mean, according to them being materialists, all those things are is light reflecting off of matter. But we can rejoice, because we know the might Creator.

The Only God, Absolutely Sovereign

Proverbs 16:4 “4 The Lord has made all for Himself, Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.”

Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”

The Significance of His Name:

As we look at Genesis 1:1 we see the title “God”. The word that Moses used here for God comes from the Hebrew word, “Elohim” which broken down means “The mighty One” but the word used here is what is called a Majestic Plural (THERE WAS A QUEEN WHO USED THOSE). What that means is that instead of it simply meaning “The Mighty One”, the title is now emphatic and it says “The Almighty One”. Essentially, there is no power in the universe but what belongs solely to God.

So, the power of horses and elephants and the strength of men both large and small all possess this by the allowance of God, the true possessor of might.

The Power of His Voice

Notice how there is simply nothingness, yet in the midst of nothing God thunders forth in Genesis 1 and we simply read, “And God said” and earth is made, stars are made, animals are made, oceans are made. This is the power of God! That He doesn’t lift a finger and the beauty that we behold both small and large comes into being simply because He wanted it to!

The Action of Naming

Lastly, notice what happens in v5, 8, and 10. What is He doing there? He’s naming things. Now why does that matter?

In ancient times naming things authenticates their existence and demonstrates His superiority above them all!

Conclusion

Go to Job 38, or recap depending of time.

So to review, as we read Genesis 1 we shouldn’t just skim through. But we should read it with our eyes on the page and then glance up to behold the beauty of Creation and we should be stunned by how amazing and impressive the One who made us is!