Creator & Creation

That is one meaningful sentence. It’s full of truth and wonder. It’s full of significance for me and for you. That first sentence and the rest of the creation account are foundational for us individually and corporately as a church family.

As we start our study in Genesis, it’s important to note that Genesis 1 is not seeking to make a scientific point. There is very little discussion in church history about the age of the earth and creationism vs. evolution, because these are primarily (really, only) modernistic concerns.

The age of the earth/universe and the debate over evolution/creationism are not the point of Genesis.

Genesis is an historical narrative with theological and literary (even poetic) wrinkles; this is not a science book (I repeat: it is not a science book), nor was it ever intended to be.

Genesis tells us a story of events that actually took place—this really happened—but it’s structured in such a way to make us sit up and take notice; we are meant to pay attention to the beginning of the story, a story of creation and the fall of man.

The point of the text, then, is this: God created ALL things, that He created mankind uniquely in His image and gave mankind a task: to carry His authority into creation and to fill His earthly tabernacle with God-worshippers; and that Adam and Eve failed at this task.

Textually speaking—meaning, from the plain reading of the Bible—we cannot know how old the universe actually is. There’s nothing in the text of the Bible that makes any mention or any case for the age of of the earth (either young or old).

You are well within your rights to believe the earth is 6,000-8,000 years old or to believe it’s much, much older. But realize, the Bible isn’t explicitly informing whichever view you might hold. And, no matter how much you’d like, you cannot foist said opinion on anyone else.

There are many men and women, scholars of the highest order, who diverge on this. I had three OT professors in college who took different views: Drs. Caulley, Paddock, and Alterman who have 20 advanced degrees between them.

Some pastors and scholars take a very dogmatic view of the age of the earth/universe, and they’re certainly welcome to do so, as are you. But please don’t confuse or conflate dogma with biblicism.

The Bible DOES NOT make clear (or make any mention whatsoever about) the age of the earth/universe. And so we—Bible people—should not force the issue or make it a test of fellowship.

Almost 20 years ago, an adjunct professor at Manhattan Christian College suggested MCC adopt a “Young Earth Creationism” policy, even though it’s an extreme minority view among evangelicals.

The professors, staff, and administration dismissed the proposed policy outright because the Bible does not speak to it. It’s a secondary, even tertiary issue. What’s more, it goes completely against the ideals of the Restoration movement, namely: “Where the Bible speaks, we speak; where the Bible is silent, we are silent.”

To put my cards on the table, I don’t know what I believe about the age of the earth/universe. I’m no scientist; I’m a student of the Bible and the Bible doesn’t tell me. How long ago God created, I do not know.

I believe that God spent six actual days preparing the earth for life and the mission He had for Adam and Eve, et al.

However, I also know that the Hebrew word for “day” (Hebrew: Yom) can mean one literal, solar day; and it can also mean an age, a span of time.

It’s also the case that Genesis was written for an ancient, pre-scientific people and was composed, in part, as an argument against the paganism of the day.

In a very clever move, the Holy Spirit led author of Genesis doesn’t mention the creation of the sun, moon, or stars until the 4th day. And then, when he does, he doesn’t call the sun “sun” or the moon “moon”. He merely calls them the greater light and the lesser light.

Genesis 1:16 NIV

16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.

Why doesn’t he name them? Well, because these were the names of the pagan gods of Israel’s neighbors. He’s making a not-so-subtle argument against the pagan worldview which believed the sun and the moon and the stars to be gods.

Israel’s God, the One True and only God, created these so-called gods, but not until the 4th day, after even the plants of the 3rd day. They are not gods. They are not all-important. They are only lights.

The creation account in Genesis is gloriously true, but it’s not without its mystery. There is much about the world we live in which we do not and cannot understand.

Genesis doesn’t attempt, or want, to explain creation. With reverence, Genesis wants to catch us up into its wonder.

When we look to Genesis to answer questions it wasn’t intended to answer, we will be disappointed.

We might want to know how it is the sun and the moon are created after the light. The writer isn’t stupid; he knows there is a logical problem there. But he leaves us with the mystery. He simply tells us the divine light is not dependent on the luminaries of the sun and moon.

Did God create the darkness as well as the light? We want to know. The author does not say.

I believe it’s deliberate. Genesis doesn’t get into the “how to” questions. The author of this book is concerned with safeguarding and proclaiming something of the unsearchable mystery of God.

There is no conflict between theology and science; they are just after different things. There is a whole mess of stuff science can’t observe or quantify, and certainly where God is concerned. And there are many science questions the Bible will not, and never set out to, answer.

There’s much that isn’t clear here, as much as we wish it was. Godly humility would have us say, from time to time, “I don’t know.” I’ve come to place where I like not knowing for certain anything beyond “God is Creator.”

That which is abundantly clear should be our focus.

To begin with, Genesis 1 teaches us right from the get-go that:

God is Supreme

Genesis 1:1 is the breathtaking declaration that all things begin with God and that God had no beginning.

We can’t wrap our heads around this. More than once, I’ve had people ask me to explain the fact that God has always existed. The Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—have no beginning and no end. They created all things, but they were not created.

There’s never a time when they weren’t; in fact, they are completely outside our conception of time. The Triune God is Supreme—higher, greater, stronger, more powerful, more majestic than we can even begin to imagine.

It’s mind-boggling. Our finite minds cannot grasp the infinite. You’ll never make sense of this, and I think that’s kind of the point. I love not knowing. I love the limitation. I love that His ways are higher than my ways. I love that He is beyond my comprehension.

I think the not knowing is part of the point and purpose of Genesis 1. The wonder of it all leads us to worship. The author of Genesis doesn’t want us stuck in the muck and the mire of scientific debate; the author of Genesis wants us to wade deeply into the glory and the mystery and the wonder of the Creator and His creation. The author of Genesis wants us worshipping:

O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder Thy power throughout the universe displayed

Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee How great Thou art, how great Thou art

God is Supreme and Sovereign

God exercises authority and reign over creation. That is clear as we read Genesis 1. There is nothing, nothing, absolutely nothin’ going on in Genesis 1 that is outside His control.

Nothing in creation is the result of some big, cosmic accident. It’s not “Whoops! There’s a solar system.” Creation is the intentional, authoritative, sovereign work of God.

There is nothing outside His control. Nothing in Genesis 1, or Genesis 2, or Genesis 3 that is ultimately outside His sovereign will.

The Author has authority. The Supreme is also Sovereign.

This truth was, no doubt, comforting for the people of Israel as they read this account. They didn’t need answers to scientific debate; they weren’t even asking those questions. Throughout their august history of wanderings, and wars, and exiles, they needed to know that God was in complete control.

And what better way to set their minds at ease than to remind them the God who fashioned and holds the whole world in His hands will also uphold His beloved, image-bearing creatures?

The Creator of all is the source of your life, and that truth will hold you, even in the dark.

God’s fearful people need the knowledge that God is the sovereign Creator who controls the world’s destiny and ours.

Whatever you’re facing personally, whatever we’re facing as a people, whatever is going on in the world is far, far outside our control, but it’s well within the Creator’s control.

That should inspire gratitude. And gratitude should lead us to worship.

Genesis 1:1 NIV

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Supreme, Sovereign, Triune God creates. And Genesis 1 teaches:

Creation is Fashioned by the WORD of God

I’ve got an odd sense of humor; I’m not sure if that’s my parents’ fault or what. But I’ve long enjoyed the single-pane comic “The Far Side.” Of my many favorite daily comics, this one takes the cake:

It just kills me. Please don’t think less of me. It’s hilarious, though not at all accurate. God didn’t whip up the universe or our planet in a laboratory or a kitchen, adding krill and trees and jerks to the mix.

Creation starts with the WORD of God. All God does is speak, and *snap*: light; *snap*: sky; *snap*: ground; *snap*: plants; *snap*: sun, moon, stars.

The repeated phrase throughout Genesis 1 is meant to capture our attention. Notice:

Genesis 1:3 NIV

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

“And God said”

We see this again in verse 6: “And God said”, verse 9: “And God said”, verse 14: “And God said”, verse 20: “And God said”, verse 24: “And God said”, verse 26: “Then God said”, verse 29: “Then God said”.

Everything in creation is brought into being by the word of God. God speaks, and there it is, just as He wanted it.

Long after creation, the second person of the Godhead showed that the cosmos He created still listened to His every word:

Mark 4:35–41 NIV

35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

“Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey Him?”

Well, He’s the Creator. When He speaks a word, the wind and the waves listen; at His word, the fig tree withers; at His word, the leper is healed, the blind receive their sight, the lame walk.

Colossians 1:15–17 NIV

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Creation is Sustained by the POWER of God

The omnipotence of God is on full display in Genesis 1. He is the all-powerful One, the One who places the stars exactly where He likes them, with all the care and precision of a perfect, timeless being. The oceans stop right where He tells them to. The all-powerful creator gathers up the water like a throw blanket and tosses it over the edge of the land in a decorative flourish.

By His power, plants grow, animals eat, the earth spins and orbits the greater light—all by His power. Life is sustained, by His power. It’s all God-sustained.

If you were to take God out of the picture for a split second, the universe and all that’s in it—you and me included—would cease to exist.

Our universe is an ordered universe; the chaos of the formless and void was replaced with perfect order by the One who creates ex nihilo, out of nothing. We might be able to make a table or a bookshelf; some of you can build homes and large commercial buildings; some of you can make quilts and clothing. But I guarantee none of you do it out of nothing. Only God can do that. Talk about power!

Everything taught to us in school about how plants grow and how bodies move—all of it expresses the sustaining power of God.

The Psalmist praises God for His power to sustain (possibly familiar to you from your Bible reading this week):

Psalm 104:14–30 NIV

14 He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for people to cultivate— bringing forth food from the earth: 15 wine that gladdens human hearts, oil to make their faces shine, and bread that sustains their hearts. 16 The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. 17 There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the junipers. 18 The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the hyrax. 19 He made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. 20 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. 21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. 22 The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. 23 Then people go out to their work, to their labor until evening. 24 How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small. 26 There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. 27 All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. 29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. 30 When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

It’s God who creates and sustains every single animal, plant, person, bacteria, single-celled organism He has created. What an incredible, matchless God.

All of Creation is Evidence of the GOODNESS of God

Go look at the night sky. Or gaze across a snow-covered landscape. Visit the coast, hike through the Rockies, stand at the edge of the Grand Canyon, drive through the Ozarks, look for miles over the vast Kansas prairie.

The beauty of creation reflects the beauty of God and His goodness.

Take note, once more, of another repeated phrase in Genesis 1:

Verse 10: “And God saw that it was good.”

Verse 12: “And God saw that it was good.”

Verse 18: “And God saw that it was good.”

Verse 21: “And God saw that it was good.”

Verse 25: “And God saw that it was good.”

And then, in verse 31, he switches it up a little: “God saw all that He had made and it was very good.”

“And God saw that it was good...” over and over, the author of Genesis highlights for us an unmissable truth—creation is the evidence of God’s goodness.

The harmony, beauty, and order here in Genesis 1 are a reflection of the goodness of God—including you and me.

Genesis 1:27 NIV

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

You are wonderfully made in the image of God, in a unique way, apart from everything else in all creation.

You might be the spitting image of your father or mother; maybe you look just like them, or act just like them, or reflect their character.

The deeper reality is that you and I are a reflection of God; God created you beautifully, with dignity and inherent worth as an image bearer of God. You are an expression of His goodness, evidence of His goodness. Never doubt that.

God’s creation—all of it—is good, simply because the infinitely, eternally-good God made it. He, the Creator, the Great and Mighty, stepped back, looked at all He had made, smiled, and said, “Very, very good.”

His creation was so good, so perfect (just like Him), He took the seventh day off:

Genesis 2:1–3 NIV

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

>Despite everything we’d like Genesis 1 to do for us, in spite of every question we’d love Genesis 1 to answer for us that it just doesn’t; Genesis 1 accomplishes what it sets out to do:

Genesis 1 leads us to worship

If we have eyes to see and ears to hear what Genesis 1 says—what the account of the Supreme, Sovereign, Triune speaking, creating, sustaining clearly teaches us—if we can see and hear, we will worship.

The Creator God didn’t just create and step away (as some believe). The Creator God remains intimately involved in creation, closely and personally involved with His creation.

God the Father kept dealing with His people, with His creation. No matter what His people did, no matter what we do, God keeps on providing for and sustaining His creation.

Jesus, the Son of God and second person of the Trinity, came with authority over and love for His creation, with power over the spiritual realm, power over creation, power over sickness and sin (see Mark 4-5). The One in whom all things hold together gave His life to save sinners and will return one day soon to make all things new.

The One who hovered over the surface of the deep before creation, is now with us. The Holy Spirit is helping us in our weakness, interceding for us as we long, together with creation, for our collective redemption.

The God who created all things has not abandoned us. He is with us, with us, with us. The Triune God made us and we are dependent upon Him.

These Three—Father, Son, and Spirit—are worthy of our worship and the worship of all the world, of all people. Spend your life worshipping the Creator and give yourself to telling others about Him.

“Praise, Praise, the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three-in-One.”

Let all creatures of our God and King stand now and sing to Him, in Genesis 1 -inspired worship.

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