Explore the Bible
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile
GOD CREATES
Genesis 1:1–5, 26–31; 2:1–3
Genesis opens with a majestic description of how God first created the heavens and earth and then how He ordered the earth so that it may become His dwelling place. Genesis begins a true story. It’s not just another story; it is the story that defines each of us. The opening verse staggers the mind. It is foundational, simple yet profound. The opening verse declares truth, refutes error and affirms faith.
Out of Nothing (1:1–2)
Hold out your hand palm up and examine it. What do you see? Nothing, you’re thinking. And you are correct. Now meditate on the awesome biblical truth that God created everything that exists out of nothing. God is the Creator. He is mentioned 32 times in Genesis 1. The Hebrew translation of God is “Elohim,” emphasizing His power, majesty and personality. God is a real person. He has a mind that thinks, emotions that feel and a will that acts.
Although Elohim is plural in form, the verb “create” is singular, indicating God is thought of as one being. Genesis is consistently monotheistic, which distinguishes it from other ancient Near Eastern accounts of creation. There is only one God.
The Hebrew verb “bara,” or create, is always used in the Old Testament with God as the subject, that is, the One doing the action. Not every occurrence of bara is used to describe creation out of nothing but it does stress God’s power and sovereignty. “The heavens and the earth” here means everything. These verses indicate that God created everything in the universe, affirming the fact that He created it “ex nihilo,” Latin for out of nothing. The effect of the opening words of the Bible is to establish that God in His sovereign power is the Creator of all things.
By His Word (1:3–5)
Genesis 1 highlights the absolute power of God by the fact that He merely speaks and things are created. When God speaks, things happen. God created with a specific purpose in mind. He spoke light into existence and then declared it to be good. Everything He brings into being is good. This truth is repeated throughout the chapter.
In His Image (1:26–31)
Of all the beauty God created, the masterpiece was a man and a woman. God created Adam and Eve in His image to reflect Him. The statement “Let us make man in Our image” is a hint of the Trinity involved in the creation of humanity. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit were involved in the creation of the universe and in the creation of human beings.
The “imago Dei,” or the image of God, is God’s investment in humanity of God-like glory and moral capacity to reign and rule the earth as His representatives. These capacities set humanity apart from the animals.
These capacities include characteristics such as reason, language, a capacity for relationships governed by love and commitment and creativity in all forms of art. These insights enable us to see that the resemblances allow mankind to establish worthy relationships with God, with one another and with the rest of creation.
Human beings are to reign and be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. God’s beautiful design is that the whole earth should be populated by those who know Him and who serve wisely as His representatives.
For His Glory (2:1–3)
God has completed the process of ordering creation. God did not need to rest because of weariness. He rested because He was finished. All of creation was in harmony and was exactly the way it was supposed to be.
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