“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day” (Genesis 1:1-5, NIV).
If it is your first time in a group of people, what character or good quality of yours that you would like first to project or promote? Or, what is your particular character that you would like others to notice at once?
Is it your physical appearance?
Just your simplicity?
Now, how did God presented Himself in the very beginning?
So, this time, let us try what we could also ….. KNOW GOD IN THE BEGINNING… as we deal with our text (Genesis 1:1-5).
Again, what do you think God would like us to know about Him in the very beginning?
The book of Genesis is not an ordinary historical narrative. Modern histories focus only on the activities of the people, but the book includes within its scope the activities of God.
Genesis, as included in the first five books of the Bible, known as the Pentateuch, was unanimously believed both by Christians and Jews that it was compiled and written by Moses. He wrote it in the Wilderness of Sinai about 15th century BC.
“…Moses wrote and compiled Genesis to encourage the early Israelites while they were preparing to enter the land of Canaan, the Promised Land. The content of Genesis would have been especially significant to them…”
And I would say that in the initial verses of the Book, Moses reminded them just Who is this God, who will bring them to their destination.
We, in our time, who received the promise that we will be in His Kingdom, ought to really know and remember always the same God, who brought triumphantly the Israelites in the promised land.
So, what could we learn about God in the opening words of the Scripture?
First, He is the Eternal Creator (verses 1-2).
We read in verses 1-2, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
Notice the first few words, “In the beginning God…” Never the author hinted the he would attempt to prove the existence of God. Rather, he declared without any hesitation that there is God.
And if we will make a word study of the word “beginning,” we’ll realize that in the transliteration of the Hebrew “reshith” – it is not limited in the meaning of “beginning,” but could also be translated, “chief,” “choice part,” “absolute chief thing,” etc. Thus, instead of questioning the existence of God, we need to realize that He is the main thing.
But considering the common understanding of the word beginning in the text, the passage does not declare that is He just the Creator. He is the Eternal Creator. “Eternal” does not just mean, “everlasting,” but also “having no beginning and no end.”
“In the beginning God…” the author indicated “that at the beginning of recorded time, God was already in existence. From duration stretching backward without limit to duration stretching forward without limit, from eternal ages to eternal ages, God was and is forever.”
Let’s continue to read the passage, “…God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
It is also noteworthy that this this Eternal Creator was introduced as an Active God. He was not presented as an Eternal God who is just sitting, resting, lying down, or doing nothing. He is at work. In fact, He creates, He is hovering, He is really on the move.
The tendency of human beings is to brush aside this eternal creative power of God. We may take it lightly, but God does not. What do we read in Romans 1:18?
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness…”
What is this suppression? Let’s proceed to verses 19-21: “… since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
God’s existence is evident. His Eternal Creative Power is evident. So people are without excuse. Yet, they suppress that truth in their mind and manufactured a kind of god that serve their selfish purpose.
How about us, saints, do we acknowledge the intense Majesty of God, as Eternal Creator by glorifying Him not just by words, but also by our works?
Do we always thank Him, not only by the events He is creating in our life, but also for Who He is?
Do we really believe that He is the Glorious God? May no one of us here just believe it and yet think or behave as if he – not God -- is the one who deserves the glory, the attention, the favor, or every good thing from others.
What else could we learn about God in our passage?
Second, He is the Supreme Personal Being (verses 3-4A).
We read verses 3-4A, “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, ...”
God is not a just a “thing.” He is not just an idea or principle. He is a Person. He speaks. He sees or evaluates and determines what is good. But He is not an ordinary person.
When He speaks, it comes into being. When He said, “Let there be light,” light becomes a reality, though the physical source of it was not yet created (only during the fourth day). Some explanation have been presented why light was mentioned here in first day of creation, though the sun and other sources of light created only during the fourth day. It could be a problem, if we are just speaking of an ordinary person here.
But, we have here a Supreme Personal Being, Eternal and Creator. Whether there is no sun or moon, light could happen for He Himself is Light.
Further, He is not an ordinary Personal Being, just because what He speaks becomes a reality. Also, but what comes from Him, the result of His Creative Action, is really Good. In fact, because of it, not only it shows He is truly a Good Personal Being. He Himself is the standard of what is really good.
If human beings have the tendency to set aside the eternal power of God, it is even much farther from their minds to entertain that God is the Supreme Personal Being, who is really Good.
We are inclined to question the goodness of God.
And we even prefer to cling to the worldly standard of goodness.
And what is worst, we embrace more the good relationship that we could have from other human beings than the Supreme Personal Being.
As saints or true believers, do we truly regard God as the Supreme Personal Being? Do we really value the privilege that we could have a relationship with Him, because He is also a Personal Being? And as we realize that He is Supremely Good as well, do we seek a closer relationship with Him?
Do we love to spend our time with Him? Do we desire to come to praise and worship Him? Do we always talk to Him in prayer? Do we pray to Him when we are just in need, or are we also excited to share our joys and gratitude to Him?
Finally, are we always eager to listen to His Words? We ought to invest more time in reading, studying, meditating, listening to His Word. As Supreme Personal Being, His words have power effect. Remember also Isaiah 55:10-11:
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Finally, we could also learn about God that…
Third, He is Sovereign (verses 4B-5).
We read verses 4B-5, “… and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
God is not just a mere Creator; He is Sovereign, in absolute control of what He created. When He created the light, He could separate it from the darkness.
Also, when He called or named the light “day,” and the darkness “night,” it shows that He is ruler, in control, of the universe.
“The naming of these elements of creation is a mark of God’s sovereignty. In the thinking of the peoples of the ancient Middle East, naming something was a mark of power or lordship. For them, names were not merely labels, but descriptions with some force to them.”
God is truly Sovereign, or in control, not only over His inanimate creation, but also in the events of the world and the affairs of men.
In the New Living Translation, we read Proverbs 21:1, “The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.”
Notice that not just the heart of an ordinary man, but even of a sovereign human ruler – his desire or will is directed by God.
Now, in the NIV we read Proverbs 19:9, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.”
And in Provers 21:30-31, “There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the LORD. The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.”
We can plan. We can prepare. And it is our human responsibility to do so. But the result is in the Hands of the Sovereign God.
How about us, saints, do we acknowledge God’s Sovereignty over our lives? Or, are we influenced by the humanistic practice in the world that on our own ability, we can chart our own destiny? And because of it we even tend to manipulate others to fulfill what we want to achieve in life.
Or, are we on the other extreme, do we refrain to plan and prepare and just erroneously assume that God will make all things happen for us? We will fall in that error, if we fail to acknowledge that the means are also determined by God, not just the result.
But in spite of our best efforts and well prepared plan, and the result is not what we desire, we can still find comfort that our God is Sovereign. He is in control of all things. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
CONCLUSION:
In closing, just to know that God is Eternal Creator, that He is Supreme Personal Being and He is Sovereign is not enough.
The unbelievers know it, but they suppress it. The devil knows it and he hates it.
But, if we truly receive Christ or believe in Him as our Savior and Lord, we will really love to know that God is Eternal Creator, He is the Supreme Personal Being and He is Sovereign. We could really delight in that Truth, because we are given the right to become His children. He is now our Father, who is the Eternal Creator, Supreme Personal Being and Sovereign or in control of all things.
