Genesis Chapter 1
There has been so much written about the book of Genesis by some amazing theologians that one could spend a year or more studying just this first book of the Bible itself. The book contains almost all the foundational doctrines that will be discussed in the other books of the Bible. So it is truly important that we take time to read it for ourselves. The very idea that this world and mankind had a literal beginning at the command of an infinite God is mind boggling.
God is the focus of the beginning, and His name is important. The word in Hebrew in this first verse is Elohim that is often translated “God” means mighty one or strong/powerful one. And the ending of the word Elohim tells us that He is plural – the “im” is a plural ending. It is foundational for us to remember that the eternal God we see in verse 1 is the trinity.
Let's Reflect
1. What does the first verse tell us about how the earth looked right after He created it (the earth) and the heavens (our atmosphere)?
2. Many creationists believe that God when He created a separation of the waters it meant He created a water vapor that surrounded the earth in the atmosphere (the Heaven). So right away we need to understand that there are different heavens. The heaven referred to here is the atmosphere surrounding the earth. This would create a beautiful greenhouse effect. What is the marker given to each finished work of God’s creation? See verse 8.
3. According to verse 9 when God gathered the waters together under the heavens, what did He create?
4. Imagine for a moment if you could watch a play-by-play video of all of the creation happening. In verses 11-13 what are you seeing that happened in one day, day three?
5. Verse 14 helps us to understand that the days of creation were literal 24-hour periods, because the sun and the moon were created after the creation listed in verses 11-13. Creation would not have survived to long without the creation of the sun and the moon. What did God say was His reason for creating the sun, moon and the stars?
6. Notice the Bible tells us exactly how the animals and sea creatures arrived on our earth – they were spoke into being by our creator. Which did He create first, the sea animals or the animals on the dry land?
7. Then God created man who was created to be in charge of taking care of the earth. Man had a job to do. When God created man (Adam) who did He create Adam to look like?
8. We know that God intended for man to have a companion because He told him to do what in verse 28?
9. What did God declare about His creation?
