Page 8 - Pentateuch

Chapter 2: Pentateuch: Part II:
Creation and Marriage: Genesis 1:1-2:25

Connect…

When we open the Bible and begin reading, we are confronted immediately with the miraculous work of
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God in creation. God “created” is a Hebrew word bārā’ that is only used with God. Later in the chapter,
this word is also used of God’s creation of sea creatures (1:21) and three times of the creation of humans
(1:27). The verses emphasize an activity only God can do (2:3; 5:1,2; 6:7). The word is only used in
connection with the product of creation, never of the materials of creation, as if to say in these cases that
God used no materials. He created out of nothing. See also Ps. 51:10; Ps. 102:18; 148:5; Isa. 40:26, 28;
42:5; 43:1, 7, 15; 45:7, 8, 12, 18; 48:7; 57;19; 65:17,18.

The Lesson ...

Learning about creation.

Verse two adds to our understanding with the phrase “formless and empty.” The original creation of the
“stuff” of the universe is not yet organized. As an illustration, we might think of the confused condition of a
land destroyed by God’s judgment (Isa. 34:11; Jer. 4:23). We have no clue about the time in either of these
verses. We do not know how long God allowed the heavens and the earth to continue this way before
purposefully changing it for humans to live on. We only know of his miraculous work and continued
presence.

Now we come to a series of simple commands, “And God said,” followed rapidly by the appearance of light
(1:3), firmament or vault (1:6), seas and vegetation (1:9, 11), sun and stars (1:14), fish and birds (1:20), and
animals and humans (1:24, 26). Each takes one day to create, “the evening and the morning” (1:5, 8, 13, 19,
23, 31). As miracles of God, what is created has the appearance of age. Humans were created as adults, and
we should assume the same for the stars and the trees.

Throughout these verses, God gave his evaluation of the work. It was good (1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). He is
not disappointed in any way. He does not stop and remake anything. Light and soil, grass and stars, fish and
humans are all created skillfully and wisely with nothing left out or flawed.

The greatest part of creation is humankind. Here God pauses in his work. “Let us make mankind in our
image” (1:26). Both male and female are created in God’s image (1:27). While they are very different as
male and female, their humanity reflects God. Neither is actively involved in the creation of the other.
Later, we learn about sin’s entrance into the world, yet humans remain in God’s image (9:6; Jas. 3:9). God’s
purpose never changes. His salvation from sin includes restoration of his image (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10). He
wants humans to be like him.

7 Tomas E. McComiskey, “brh” in Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament, eds. R. Laird Harris, Archer, and Waltke,
(Chicago: Moody Bible Institute, 1980), 1:129.

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