Genesis is the very first book of the Bible and was written by Moses. The meaning of the word Genesis is “beginnings” and that is just what Genesis is all about. It teaches about the beginning of the universe, the heavens, the earth, man and woman, and human sin. In Genesis 1 we are given an account of how our Creator God created it all and everything in it. Creation is the expression of the heart of God and reveals the heart of God. It reveals the purpose of our existence.
Genesis teaches us the characteristic traits of God:God is eternal
Can be known
No other like Him
One person, yet 3 persons
In this book we learn the great power of God. All He had to do was speak and it was so. It not only shows His great power, but shows His wisdom, mercy and goodness.
1st day – God created the heavens the earth, light and darkness. – (Gen. 1:3-5)2nd day – God created the sky. – (Gen. 1:6-8)
3rd day – God created dry land, the seas, and vegetation. – (Gen. 1:9-13)
4th day – God created the sun, the moon and the stars. – (Gen. 1:14-19)
5th day – God created living creatures in water and birds in the air. – (Gen.1: 20-23)
6th day – God created land animals and people. – (Gen. 1:24-31)
As He created each day He saw that is was good. When He finished, He was very pleased. “God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.” – (Gen. 1:31)
Other scriptures give the same message of creation found in Genesis 1:Jeremiah 10:12 - declares that God made the earth by His power, wisdom and understanding.
Acts 17:24-25 – God made the world and everything in it.
Romans 1:18-20 – The creation of the world shows His eternal power and His divine nature.
There are those who think God did not create the world in 6 literal 24-hour days as we know it, but I believe it was literally 6 24-hour periods. At the end of each day God said “And there was evening, and there was morning” indicating a literal 24-hour period. God’s creation is beyond our understanding. God spoke this clearly and we should trust His Word over arrogant claims that say otherwise. God can do anything! He had His own reasons for the time and order of the creation events and who are we to question Him. He could have made everything in 6 seconds, but He chose literal days for making His wonderful creation.
Why did God create the earth?
Scripture teaches us that God created the world and all that is in it for His own glory. He desired to share His love with others. The creation of all these things demonstrates His love, His glory, grace, mercy, wisdom, power, goodness, etc. See Psalm 19:1, 8:1; 50:6; 89:5 If God created all things, then He alone is the source of the meaning in life. He has defined right and wrong and absolute standards that do not change.
Why did God create us?
He wasn’t lonely or bored and certainly didn’t need us. He had His Son and the Holy Spirit with Him, which is referred to in Gen. 1:26 – “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness ….’”. I think He created us out of His great love. “I have loved you with an everlasting love” – (Jer. 31:3). He loved us even before we were created. “God is love” – (1 John 4:8). He has great and wonderful creativity and made us to enjoy all that He is and all that He’s done. We were also created to fulfill His eternal plan. He didn’t need us, but we sure need Him.
How was Christ involved in creation?
(John 1:1-3) – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Jesus, who is the Word, created everything by simply speaking things into existence.(Colossians 1:15-16) – “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”
(Colossians 2:3) – “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
(Colossians 2:9) – “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”
(Hebrews 1:3) – “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
How was the Holy Spirit involved in creation?
(Gen. 1:2) –“… the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”(Gen. 1:26) – “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness….” Who are the “us” in this verse? God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.
(Psalm 104:30) – “When you send your spirit, they are created. And you renew the face of the earth.”
What different ways does God’s Holy Spirit work?
(Ezekiel 36:26-27) – “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone an give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” He puts His Spirit in us to guide us.(John 3:8) – “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” We can’t see His spirit, but we can hear Him.
(John 7:38-39) – If we believe, we receive the Spirit and He dwells in us.
(John 16:7-8) – He convicts the world of its quilt of sins.
(Romans 8:9) – If you belong to Christ, the Spirit controls you and lives in you.
(2 Cor. 3:3) – He lives in our hearts.
(2 Cor. 3:6) – The spirit gives life.
(2 Cor. 3:18) – The Spirit transforms us into Christ’s likeness.
(Eph. 1:13-14) – He marks us for salvation.
(Titus 3:5-6) – The Spirit is poured on us through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
The Holy Spirit plays a big role in a person’s conversion by convicting the sinner of his sins. Then when we believe, the Spirit comes and dwells in us to guide, teach, and counsel. He dwells inside us and transforms us day by day into the image of the Son.
Have you received Christ into your life?Are you sure God has put His Spirit into your heart?
Are you willing to make changes in your life and follow Him?
In Genesis 1:3-5 God created light on the 1st day. God brings light into our lives by sending His Son, Jesus.Psalm 18:28 – He turns our darkness into light
Psalm 36:9 – In His light we see light
Psalm 119:105, 130 – He bring light through His blood
John 1:4-5 – “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”
John 3:19 – “This is the verdict; Light has come into the world…”.
John 8:12 – “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
2 Cor. 4:4-6 – “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
1 John 1:7-10 – We have light by walking in the light of Jesus.
What “things of darkness” do you have in your life?Will you ask God to bring light into your life?
On the 4th day God created the sun, the stars and the moon. What do these heavenly bodies point us to? They point us to God, God’s glory and His son Jesus.
See Psalm 8:3-4; Psalm 19:1-6; Jeremiah 8:7; Matthew 2:2; Acts 2:19-20; Revelation 8:12.
When God created the heavens and the earth, on the 5th day He filled it with birds of the air and living creatures of the sea and land, each according to their own kind. He blessed them and said for them to be fruitful and to increase in number. He gave them every green plant for food. God made provisions for the creatures of the earth.
On the 6th day He made man in His own image, He blessed them, told them to be fruitful and increase in number, and to rule over the earth. God provided for humanity. He gave every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it for their food. .
How has God provided for you?Where do you need to bring order into your life?
What encourages you from Genesis 1?
How do you acknowledge that God is your creator?
How has creation taught you about Him that someone else needs to know?
What are you holding back because it doesn’t make sense? Ask God to help you in your unbelief and to help you to respect His creation.