v.1-13
1. Observation:
A. What exists in the beginning from v.1-2 are: God, heaven and earth, water, and darkness. In the following 6 days, there were 2 cycles (day 1-3, and day 4-6). In each cycle God did something with the darkness (day 1, 4), with the water (day 2 and 5) and the dry land (day 3, 6).
B. In the beginning the status of the earth was (A) without shape and (B) empty. In the first cycle (day 1-3) the shape was form (with light, air, and dry land, and vegetation), while in the 2nd cycle (day 4-6) the spaces are filled (with the great lights in the sky, with water creatures and birds, and with land creatures and mankind)
C. What God created He approved them as good v.4 (day 1) , 10 (3), 12 (3), 18 (4), 21 (5), 25 (6)
D. The action of creation includes 4 verbs: said, saw; and separated, called. Said and saw were mentioned the most while separated called less often.
- God separated the light from the darkness v.4, the upper and lower water v.6-7, day and night v.14, 18
- God called the light day and darkness night v.5, called the expanse sky v.8, and called the dry ground land and the gathered waters sea v.10.
(NET) The idea of separation is critical to this chapter. God separated light from darkness, upper water from lower water, day from night, etc. The verb is important to the Law in general. In Leviticus God separates between clean and unclean, holy and profane (Lev 10:10; 11:47 and 20:24); in Exodus God separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (Exod 26:33). There is a preference for the light over the darkness.
The separation of clean and unclean is an object lesson of the holiness. God is holy and separated from all the creatures and distinct.
2. Reflection
Right at the beginning, God shows us Who He is and What He has done for us was something that has organization. He has a plan and in control of this earth. We have no fear no matter what will happen to us.
What He has created was created according to His will and beneficial to mankind (good). He did not just leave us with a space that we can live, but a space thrill with things that we can enjoy. He is a generous God. His goodness is abundant.
He did not just allow good things to happen on the earth, but darkness, water (without air), water itself still exists to teach us that God is a God of preference. There is thing that is beneficial to us, and some not so. We need to chose.
3. This Morning with God
Genesis introduces every theme and problem discussed in scripture. Genesis is the key to God's eternal plan and purpose in creation and to man's fall and increasingly deeper estrangement from God, him-self, and others. And it is above all a record of God's continuous reconciling actions both in and through individuals and the Jewish nation.
Genesis 1 1/ Given a formless void, how would you have created the universe differently (not that create does not mean re-fashion)?
When I am in control, I want everything according to my desire. But, God did not. Although He is in total control, He did things for our good.
2/ How, do you think, are God's imagination and his words related?
He said what He wanted to do and it was so. They matched
v.14-31
1. First set of repeated verbs:
A1. Rule over v.16, preside v.18-the functions of the lights in the sky were repeated twice v.14-16 and then in v.17-18, and they were to shine the earth, to rule over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. Perhaps, the relationship between these function is this: the shinning of light make light the ruler and this light-ruler shows its preference of light over darkness.
Humankind was made to rule over the creatures in the water and air (fish, and birds), and creatures over all the earth v.26, 28, and to subdue the earth v.28.
Subdue (NET) The general meaning of the verb appears to be “to bring under one’s control for one’s advantage.” In Gen 1:28 one might paraphrase it as follows: “harness its potential and use its resources for your benefit.” In an ancient Israelite context this would suggest cultivating its fields, mining its mineral riches, using its trees for construction, and domesticating its animals.
Image and likeness (NET) God’s purpose in giving humankind his image is that they might rule the created order on behalf of the heavenly king and his royal court. So the divine image, however it is defined, gives humankind the capacity and/or authority to rule over creation.
(NET) In the Book of Genesis the two terms describe human beings who in some way reflect the form and the function of the creator. The form is more likely stressing the spiritual rather than the physical. The “image of God” would be the God-given mental and spiritual capacities that enable people to relate to God and to serve him by ruling over the created order as his earthly vice-regents.
A2. The theme of light, water, land was repeated and now the passage shows who rules among them. The light and mankind rules the water and the land. How mankind accomplish the role of the ruler was given by God.
God-kind of rulership was one of spiritual meaning. For the light, it rules and separates (to show its preference). For mankind, our rulership comes from God and after His image and likeness (spiritual likeness, not physical).
2. Second set of repeated verbs:
B1: swarm with swarms of living creature v.20 21, fly (NET-The Hebrew text uses the Polel form of the verb instead of the simple Qal; it stresses a swarming flight again to underscore the abundant fruitfulness v.20),
God blessed them (NET-The divine blessing occurs after works of creation and is intended to continue that work—the word of blessing guarantees success. The word means “to enrich; to endow,” and the most visible evidence of that enrichment is productivity or fruitfulness. See C. Westermann, Blessing in the Bible and the Life of the Church (OBT)), be fruitful and multiply and fill v.22a, b. (NET-The repeated emphasis of “be fruitful—multiply—fill” adds to this abundance God has given to life).
When God made mankind, He also blessed them with fruitfulness-multiply-fill v.28. The difference between mankind and creatures is that after God blessed them, He told mankind to subdue and ruler over them. Plus, God give the plants, and the fruits as food. And He also gave the creatures under our rulership food.
B2: What is the structure of authority in the whole creation: God blessed the creatures with an ability to multiply as a guarantee to success, which He also gave to the ruler of them, but their functions are different. Mankind was given the authority. In other words, the ability to be success but given, but God wants man to rule over the creatures with His image and likeness or on God's behalf. We do not have hard work to do. The resources to be success, i.e. foods, are also provided and they are provided abundantly and with an mechanism to be self-producing (I now give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it v.29). Man has nothing to blame to be failed.
2. Reflection: Privilege given to mankind cannot be missed. However, there is no way to not being humbled. Our rulership is not one accomplished by our own ability. As long as we are away from God, there is no way for us to function in that role and the only role given by our Creator. How do I do with my rulership over the earth and the creatures? What is God's will over the earth and the creatures in today's world? Are they still the visible evidence of God's abundant blessings? Or how do I do in general as vice-regent of God? Do I use my own way to rule or with God's way?
Our path to success was guarantee in this role, because the creatures were blessed by God to do so. Our job as the ruler was an easy task. When man failed to do so, it was 100% our own fault. God has done whatever He could have. Do I blame God when I fail? Complain about no talent or no resources? Or do I give thanks for what He has given to me and take responsibility for my own failure?
3. This Morning with God
3/ How is man in God's image? How does he differ in kind, not merely in degree, from other creatures?
The “image of God” would be the God-given mental and spiritual capacities that enable people to relate to God and to serve him by ruling over the created order as his earthly vice-regents. Animals were not made in God's image nor after His likeness.
4/ What difference does this fact make in your daily life, especially in your relations with others?
I need to serve God in what I rule over with His way, not my way.
5/ What in the story of creation shows not only God's greatness but also his goodness?
Humankind was given the privilege to rule with guarantee success. That is His goodness to us.
6/ How do you show God's concern for nature in your treatment of wildlife and natural resources?
To help them to thrill to show evidence of God's abundance blessings.
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