GE 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
1. The God of creation (1:1)
1 The Creator is identified as “God” (Heb. Elohim; Elohim (and its compounds) and Theos-- Elohim the plural form of El El and its compounds– El is the generic Semitic name for “God” or “deity.” El is one of the oldest designations for deity in the ancient world.) the God of the Fathers and of the covenant at Sinai. The proper context for understanding 1:1 is the whole of the book of Genesis and the Pentateuch. By identifying God as the Creator, a crucial distinction is introduced between the God of the Fathers and the gods of the nations (i.e., idols). This verse also explains the origin of all that exists in the universe, affirming that God alone is eternal and that all else owes its origin and existence to him. Created = bara – singular created (God’s acting as one- Trinitarian) (See Noel for further details) Perhaps this word means created out of nothing (ex Nihlo) but definitely this word means God’s creative action. (This word is only used in relation to God’s creative action. Different word for people’s creative, or personal work. In the beginning. The beginning of what – Not the beginning of God – But the beginning of this creation. (There is no mention that this is the only creation!!)The term “beginning” marks a starting point of a specific duration (cf. Dt 11:12), namely, the beginning of the story of God and his people. God created heavens and earth. Genesis is about what God did. It is not about how – so I will rarely go into the possibilities of the creation process. I am a theologically minded person not a scientist, it is not my place to evaluate the creation format. But it is my place to lead us through what God is saying to us from these verses. The bible is written for us to get closer to God. So if you have a different view than me or other people in the congregation – - Good – talk about it, but please – use the bible as your basis of discussion and belief. Another thing is that the bible does not set out to say how. Not even why – just that God did. The Jewish mind is more why orientated than the Greek thought process that we have developed. We tend to ask how, Jews ask why yet God just did. This series is about God and His dealings with us. Firstly through the people He first communicated to then, how we glean information about Him from these resources in the bible. So in the beginning God did – He created. The question is not how, nor why but what does that mean to me. What does it tell me about God. 1. To start with. God created Time. The beginning word creates in us an image of a time line. This is the beginning of time as we know it. God created time. Before this point God was but time wasn’t. he didn’t need time, He is outside of time. PS 90:4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. We get an inkling here of where God sits in time. He is creator of it, has control of it, and sits outside it. Some questions for you.Does God see time as a line, like we do? Or Does He look at it like a picture? Is He capable of seeing and being in the future, the past and the present at all times? No, this isn’t Doctor who, this is God. What limitations do we place on Him? 2. God must be huge. Here are big concepts and with them come some big words but they aren’t hard to understand.Omnipotent – All powerful.Omnipresent – All presence – that is everywhere at once.Omniscient. – All knowing. John Polkinghorn thinks God potentially created and knows everything including every instance that did happen, and every possibility that could have happened. Like a pool table full of balls. God knows every possibility that could happen to every ball hit in any place. That is a big God. How big is your vision of God? Is He just powerful but not all powerful?
Is He just in one place at a time, not everywhere? Is He clever but not all knowing? If He isn’t omni – then you aren’t biblical!!!!!!! Job recognized it – Ominpotent. He can do all things.
JOB 42:2 “I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
Abraham was confronted by it
Gen 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.”
We will experience it even if we don’t believe it!.
REV 19:6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
“Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
What about omniscient – All knowing.
The Psalmist understood God knew the little things and the big things.
PS 139:3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
PS 139:4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
Being everywhere – omnipresent has some big connotations too. God is not containable.
Solomon got it.
2 Chr 2:6 But who is able to build a temple for him, since the heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain him? Who then am I to build a temple for him, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?
See this little verse gives us a launching pad to evaluate who God is and who God is in relation to us.
One more thing.
3. Created for his purpose. Notice we have no reason why. God just did what He wanted.
We can debate how He created, we can argue as to why He created but we cant argue that He did. God wanted to be creative so He was. And look at His creation. Awesome.
PS 8:1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. PS 8:2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. PS 8:3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, PS 8:4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? PS 8:5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. PS 8:6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: PS 8:7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, PS 8:8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. PS 8:9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Then another Psalm
Do you get it! God created and we see His handiwork.
Enjoy, but Give Him the credit.
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