GOD, THE CREATOR

Genesis 1:1-2:3

Key Verse 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Intro: This passage tells us that God created the heavens and the earth. Through this we can learn about who God is and who we are.

Read verses 1-2. What do these verses tell us about God? What does “the beginning” refer to? Why is the word “created” significant? 

** It shows us that God is the Creator. 

** it refers to the beginning of the creation of the heavens and the earth. The “heavens and the earth” refer to all created things.

** “created” here means made out of nothing. All things were made by God and come from him. He is before creation and time. We can learn about the purpose of created things and our own lives from God. And we can learn about him from his creation.

Answer the following for each day of creation:

What was made?

What was the purpose for which God made it?

Describe the order in which God made the heavens and the earth? What does this show about God?

** 1^st day:

Made: light

Purpose: Called good. To give light. Time began. Brought first morning, and first day.

** 2^nd day: 

Made: The sky

Purpose: Separate the waters and create an environment. 

** 3^rd day:

Made: Land, seas, and vegetation.

Purpose: prepared a living environment.

** 4^th day:

Made: Sun, moon, and star

Purpose: 1) To give light on the earth, both in the morning and evening, and 2) To tell time: as signs to mark seasons and days and years.

** 5^th day:

Made: birds and sea creatures

Purpose: to fill the skies and the waters

** 6^th day:

Made: livestock, wild land animals, and things that move along the ground. And Man.

Purpose: to fill the land environment. Man: to take care of all the creation.

**Days 1, 2, and 3, correspond to days 4, 5, and 6. He made the environment, then filled it, and then set a ruler/caretaker over it. God is a god of order and purpose and process. 

>The earth began as formless, empty, dark and deep. But God made it into a beautiful and wonderful creation. By starting here we see God had a plan and purpose. And he works the same in our lives too by the working of his word, spirit and plan.

What do the words, “And God said…And it was so” tell us about how God made the world? 

By his command he made the world. This shows us the authority and power of God’s word, which is above creation. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my word will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). See also Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3; Colossians 3:16; John 1:1-3, regarding God creating the world by his word. God’s word has creation power. 

What do these other repeated phrases tell us about God? 

“And God saw that it was [very] good”

“According to its various kinds”

“God called…”

** He is good, and what he made is good and for a good purpose. God saw value in his creation. Man is valuable to God. Of him God said that it was “very” good.

** God made everything wonderfully and uniquely. 

** God gives purpose to all things. 

 

What do verses 26-27 tell us about man’s: 1) design; 2) purpose? What does this tell us about our relationship to God? What does it mean to “rule over” the earth? How is this also God’s blessing ? (28) How did God provide for man? (29) What difference does it make to know that God created man in this way? 

** 1) made in the image and likeness of God; 2) to rule over the earth and its creatures.

** Made in his image and likeness means made to be like God. We have a special relationship to God as a creation made like him, and from him. 

>This tells us then that to know who we are, we have to know God for we were made by him and in his image and likeness. 

** To care for the world (with God’s image, meaning, like God). Here God created an order of man taking care of the world, under God, and above the created things. 

** He blessed them to be very fruitful, increase in number, and fill the earth and rule over it. It is his blessing to be very fruitful and to live for his great purpose. He gave the whole world to man to care of. Man was made to live for God’s purpose.

** He gave them their food.

** God is our creator. We are his creation, made in his image and likeness. To know about who we are we have to know God. And we’re made to serve God’s purpose. And God’s provides for his creation. Through learning of him and from him, we can know who we are and the meaning and value of our lives. 

What did God do on the seventh day? (2:1-3) Why? 

** He rested. Then he blessed it and made it holy.

** “Because on it he rested from all his work.” It signified that he was done with his work of creating the heavens and the earth. As a holy day we also find rest in him, as this day is a reminder of who he is and what he’s done. 

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