There are many important insights we can glean from the first chapters of the Bible regarding Creation, and how God decided to go about it.
First of all, there are noticeably TWO creation accounts - a poetic overview in chapter 1 followed by a more detailed, personalized story in chapter 2. These chapters are not necessarily contradictory but may be seen as two ways of describing the same thing, like the Four Gospels or the parallel descriptions of Kings and Chronicles.
What do we learn about God from Genesis 1? Here's a short list of lessons I find in these verses:
- The story of Creation begins with God. God pre-dates anything else in our experience.
- Everything was created by God. As opposed to many polytheistic mythologies with various deities in charge of different areas, God is the only one mentioned as the architect of Creation, and He reigns supreme.
- Creation occurs with design, meaning and intent. It is not random, pointless or unguided.
- God is seen as responsible for both the world and the life in the world.
- Human beings are made in God's image. Something of God Himself is stamped in our souls.
- Human beings were given authority over the rest of Creation to serve as its stewards.
- The fullness of God's image is reflected in both male and female genders.
- Everything we needed was provided by God in Creation.
- Everything that God created is deemed by Him to be "Good," except for the completeness of Creation reached with humankind on the sixth day, which is regarded as "Very Good."
- The idea of a Sabbath rest (on the seventh day) is ancient and goes all the way back to Creation itself.
What other lessons about God (or us) do you find in the opening chapters of the Bible?
I have started reading the Bible many times in my life, so Genesis 1 is probably the most read chapter for me. However, tonight I started with a new intent using this plan. I saw something I never noticed before (and maybe it's just my version). The waters were separated by the created firmament which was called "Heaven", so that there were waters below Heaven and waters above. The waters below Heaven were gathered into one place and dry land appeared, but I don't see anything about the waters above Heaven. There is talk of lights in Heaven, but I never see any more mention of the waters (or anything) above Heaven. Just an observation.
ReplyDeleteFor a more detailed and technical exploration of this issue (sometimes referred to as "the canopy"), you can check out:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gotquestions.org/canopy-theory.html