In the beginning, God created a very good world - part 2

Genesis The Creation of the World 1 1 In the a beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was b without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said, c “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6 And God said, d “Let there be an expanse 1 in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made 1 the expanse and e separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were f above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. 1 And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 9 And God said, g “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, 1 and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, h “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants 1 yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. 14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for i signs and for j seasons, 1 and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God k made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to l rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. 20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds 1 fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So m God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, n “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. 24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, o “Let us make man 1 in our image, p after our likeness. And q let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; r male and female he created them. 28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, s “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. t You shall have them for food. 30 And u to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 v And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. The Seventh Day, God Rests 2 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and w all the host of them. 2 And x on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. 3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Genesis 1:1-2:3

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Genesis 1 1 בְּרֵאשִׁ֖ית בָּרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֑ים אֵ֥ת הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֵ֥ת הָאָֽרֶץ ׃ 2 וְהָאָ֗רֶץ הָיְתָ֥ה תֹ֙הוּ֙ וָבֹ֔הוּ וְחֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל ־ פְּנֵ֣י תְה֑וֹם וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֔ים מְרַחֶ֖פֶת עַל ־ פְּנֵ֥י הַמָּֽיִם ׃ 3 וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֖ים יְהִ֣י א֑וֹר וַֽיְהִי ־ אֽוֹר ׃ 4 וַיַּ֧רְא אֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת ־ הָא֖וֹר כִּי ־ ט֑וֹב וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ ׃ 5 וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לָאוֹר֙ י֔וֹם וְלַחֹ֖שֶׁךְ קָ֣רָא לָ֑יְלָה וַֽיְהִי ־ עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי ־ בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם אֶחָֽד ׃ פ 6 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יְהִ֥י רָקִ֖יעַ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַמָּ֑יִם וִיהִ֣י מַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם ׃ 7 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֮ אֶת ־ הָרָקִיעַ֒ וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֙יִם֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר מֵעַ֣ל לָרָקִ֑יעַ וַֽיְהִי ־ כֵֽן ׃ 8 וַיִּקְרָ֧א אֱלֹהִ֛ים לָֽרָקִ֖יעַ שָׁמָ֑יִם וַֽיְהִי ־ עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי ־ בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שֵׁנִֽי ׃ פ 9 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִקָּו֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם מִתַּ֤חַת הַשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֶל ־ מָק֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד וְתֵרָאֶ֖ה הַיַּבָּשָׁ֑ה וַֽיְהִי ־ כֵֽן ׃ 10 וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ לַיַּבָּשָׁה֙ אֶ֔רֶץ וּלְמִקְוֵ֥ה הַמַּ֖יִם קָרָ֣א יַמִּ֑ים וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי ־ טֽוֹב ׃ 11 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תַּֽדְשֵׁ֤א הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ דֶּ֔שֶׁא עֵ֚שֶׂב מַזְרִ֣יעַ זֶ֔רַע עֵ֣ץ פְּרִ֞י עֹ֤שֶׂה פְּרִי֙ לְמִינ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ ־ ב֖וֹ עַל ־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי ־ כֵֽן ׃ 12 וַתּוֹצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ דֶּ֠שֶׁא עֵ֣שֶׂב מַזְרִ֤יעַ זֶ֙רַע֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וְעֵ֧ץ עֹֽשֶׂה ־ פְּרִ֛י 1 אֲשֶׁ֥ר זַרְעוֹ ־ ב֖וֹ לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי ־ טֽוֹב ׃ 13 וַֽיְהִי ־ עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי ־ בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם שְׁלִישִֽׁי ׃ פ 14 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים יְהִ֤י מְאֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ לְאֹתֹת֙ וּלְמ֣וֹעֲדִ֔ים וּלְיָמִ֖ים וְשָׁנִֽים ׃ 15 וְהָי֤וּ לִמְאוֹרֹת֙ בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל ־ הָאָ֑רֶץ וַֽיְהִי ־ כֵֽן ׃ 16 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת ־ שְׁנֵ֥י הַמְּאֹרֹ֖ת הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים אֶת ־ הַמָּא֤וֹר הַגָּדֹל֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת ־ הַמָּא֤וֹר הַקָּטֹן֙ לְמֶמְשֶׁ֣לֶת הַלַּ֔יְלָה וְאֵ֖ת הַכּוֹכָבִֽים ׃ 17 וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בִּרְקִ֣יעַ הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם לְהָאִ֖יר עַל ־ הָאָֽרֶץ ׃ 18 וְלִמְשֹׁל֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑שֶׁךְ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי ־ טֽוֹב ׃ 19 וַֽיְהִי ־ עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי ־ בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם רְבִיעִֽי ׃ פ 20 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים יִשְׁרְצ֣וּ הַמַּ֔יִם שֶׁ֖רֶץ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֑ה וְעוֹף֙ יְעוֹפֵ֣ף עַל ־ הָאָ֔רֶץ עַל ־ פְּנֵ֖י רְקִ֥יעַ הַשָּׁמָֽיִם ׃ 21 וַיִּבְרָ֣א אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֶת ־ הַתַּנִּינִ֖ם הַגְּדֹלִ֑ים וְאֵ֣ת כָּל ־ נֶ֣פֶשׁ הַֽחַיָּ֣ה ׀ הָֽרֹמֶ֡שֶׂת אֲשֶׁר֩ שָׁרְצ֨וּ הַמַּ֜יִם לְמִֽינֵהֶ֗ם וְאֵ֨ת כָּל ־ ע֤וֹף כָּנָף֙ לְמִינֵ֔הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי ־ טֽוֹב ׃ 22 וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ אֹתָ֛ם אֱלֹהִ֖ים לֵאמֹ֑ר פְּר֣וּ וּרְב֗וּ וּמִלְא֤וּ אֶת ־ הַמַּ֙יִם֙ בַּיַּמִּ֔ים וְהָע֖וֹף יִ֥רֶב בָּאָֽרֶץ ׃ 23 וַֽיְהִי ־ עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי ־ בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם חֲמִישִֽׁי ׃ פ 24 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים תּוֹצֵ֨א הָאָ֜רֶץ נֶ֤פֶשׁ חַיָּה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ בְּהֵמָ֥ה וָרֶ֛מֶשׂ וְחַֽיְתוֹ ־ אֶ֖רֶץ לְמִינָ֑הּ וַֽיְהִי ־ כֵֽן ׃ 25 וַיַּ֣עַשׂ אֱלֹהִים֩ אֶת ־ חַיַּ֨ת הָאָ֜רֶץ לְמִינָ֗הּ וְאֶת ־ הַבְּהֵמָה֙ לְמִינָ֔הּ וְאֵ֛ת כָּל ־ רֶ֥מֶשׂ הָֽאֲדָמָ֖ה לְמִינֵ֑הוּ וַיַּ֥רְא אֱלֹהִ֖ים כִּי ־ טֽוֹב ׃ 26 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֔ים נַֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֛ם בְּצַלְמֵ֖נוּ כִּדְמוּתֵ֑נוּ וְיִרְדּוּ֩ בִדְגַ֨ת הַיָּ֜ם וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וּבַבְּהֵמָה֙ וּבְכָל ־ הָאָ֔רֶץ וּבְכָל ־ הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ הָֽרֹמֵ֥שׂ עַל ־ הָאָֽרֶץ ׃ 27 וַיִּבְרָ֨א אֱלֹהִ֤ים ׀ אֶת ־ הָֽאָדָם֙ בְּצַלְמ֔וֹ בְּצֶ֥לֶם אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּרָ֣א אֹת֑וֹ זָכָ֥ר וּנְקֵבָ֖ה בָּרָ֥א אֹתָֽם ׃ 28 וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אֹתָם֮ אֱלֹהִים֒ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם אֱלֹהִ֗ים פְּר֥וּ וּרְב֛וּ וּמִלְא֥וּ אֶת ־ הָאָ֖רֶץ וְכִבְשֻׁ֑הָ וּרְד֞וּ בִּדְגַ֤ת הַיָּם֙ וּבְע֣וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וּבְכָל ־ חַיָּ֖ה הָֽרֹמֶ֥שֶׂת עַל ־ הָאָֽרֶץ ׃ 29 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים הִנֵּה֩ נָתַ֨תִּי לָכֶ֜ם אֶת ־ כָּל ־ עֵ֣שֶׂב ׀ זֹרֵ֣עַ זֶ֗רַע אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל ־ פְּנֵ֣י כָל ־ הָאָ֔רֶץ וְאֶת ־ כָּל ־ הָעֵ֛ץ אֲשֶׁר ־ בּ֥וֹ פְרִי ־ עֵ֖ץ זֹרֵ֣עַ זָ֑רַע לָכֶ֥ם יִֽהְיֶ֖ה לְאָכְלָֽה ׃ 30 וּֽלְכָל ־ חַיַּ֣ת הָ֠אָרֶץ וּלְכָל ־ ע֨וֹף הַשָּׁמַ֜יִם וּלְכֹ֣ל ׀ רוֹמֵ֣שׂ עַל ־ הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁר ־ בּוֹ֙ נֶ֣פֶשׁ חַיָּ֔ה אֶת ־ כָּל ־ יֶ֥רֶק עֵ֖שֶׂב לְאָכְלָ֑ה וַֽיְהִי ־ כֵֽן ׃ 31 וַיַּ֤רְא אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת ־ כָּל ־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֔ה וְהִנֵּה ־ ט֖וֹב מְאֹ֑ד וַֽיְהִי ־ עֶ֥רֶב וַֽיְהִי ־ בֹ֖קֶר י֥וֹם הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי ׃ פ 2 1 וַיְכֻלּ֛וּ הַשָּׁמַ֥יִם וְהָאָ֖רֶץ וְכָל ־ צְבָאָֽם ׃ 2 וַיְכַ֤ל אֱלֹהִים֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה וַיִּשְׁבֹּת֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִכָּל ־ מְלַאכְתּ֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָשָֽׂה ׃ 3 וַיְבָ֤רֶךְ אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶת ־ י֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י וַיְקַדֵּ֖שׁ אֹת֑וֹ כִּ֣י ב֤וֹ שָׁבַת֙ מִכָּל ־ מְלַאכְתּ֔וֹ אֲשֶׁר ־ בָּרָ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים לַעֲשֽׂוֹת ׃ פ

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In the beginning, God created a very good world - part 2 Introduction Recap last week; and next week we're focusing on the 'structures' God built into creation, leading to his sabbath rest at the end. Full of 7s and 10s; sense of complete and perfect. First verse, 7 words; 'God said', 10 times; It is good, 7 times. 1. God created a formless, empty world which he then ordered and filled Without form and void (ie empty). It needs to be structured/ordered, and then filled. The Spirit of God 'hovering' (connections to an eagle) (and the co-operation of the Son and the Father). The First Day: Light [light before there was Sun? Days before there was Sun and moon?]; Darkness The Second Day: Separation of Sky/heaven/expanse; and Waters The Third Day: Dry land; Seas; Vegetation (plants and fruit plants) The Fourth Day: Lights in the heavens The Fifth Day: Swarming water creatures, and 'great sea creatures'; Birds; Blessed them, be fruitful and multiply The Sixth Day: Living creatures on the earth, including livestock Note connection; days 1&3; 2&4; 3&6. Ordering, and then filling of that order. 2. God created humanity, male and female, in his own image and likeness Man in God's image [rulership] and likeness [sonship] male and female Dominion over fish, birds, livestock, all earth, everything that creeps Blessed them, be fruitful and multiply Subdue and rule Everything given to them Creation of humanity the goal and climax. Theological pause as God takes counsel beforehand. Humanity is uniquely related both to God and to the created order. Made for unique relationship with God, but also in our very beings we are referential; we represent and signify God. At the core of the 'likeness' is our creative natures. Turning chaos into order. This is the beginning (not Abraham!). cf German Christian movement in the 1930s. Repetition/allusion in Genesis 5.1-3 shows transmission of the image of God through this genealogical line, as well as sonship and the image of God. Also, after flood. Humans not to shed human blood, because of the image of God. Later, Shem, and then Abraham, and then Israel, continue this 'sonship' theme. Supremely then in Jesus. Dominion, subdue, Unmistakable, about power and authority. Kingship. Subdue i.e., bring it under rule. So the two terms belong together (lead and manage; conquer and govern). Implicit that not all creation 'complete' - needed to be subdued and ruled. The blessing is an indicative, not an imperative. Because God has blessed humanity, we are fruitful and multiply. 7 billion and counting, from just 2. His blessing is an enabling, just as with the animals. We cannot accomplish our 'dominion' mandate without reproducing and multiplying! Male and female. In-built distinction, equality of value. Different both in objective biology, and in functionally self-selecting ways. Different, eg in manifestations of depression. Where does humanity's value come from? Either functionality, or extrinsic worth, or intrinsic worth. Rubber hits the road with issues like abortion and euthanasia. But also in well-meaning mental health talk of 'self-esteem' - loving and accepting ourselves in the face of imperfections. But why should we love and accept ourselves?You can't have it without a solid grasp of your value in God's sight, purely by being a human being. God's glory: he has placed his image within the created order FCF: We reject this image: -by creating idols, which we claim are gods -mis-treating or despising other human beings, who are his image on this earth -rejecting male or female (downgrading or despising either) -refusing to subdue and rule (despising our authority as humans) -refusing to relate to God -NB how a feature of fallen humanity is its 'rest-less-ness' Jesus: the true WORD, the true HUMAN, the true SON -Fully and exactly revealing and representing God -Fully and exactly relating to God -the true priest and King Work of Jesus: -he subdued and ruled this broken age through putting it to death in his own body -all authority given to him, a name over every name -Humanity raised and glorified in him Union with Jesus: -ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven. Restored to true humanity and sonship -because he has dominion, I share in it. A true exercise in my little patch. -come and share in his sabbath rest Why did this even happen, if God knew about the fall? From eternity past God has treasured his glory displayed in the gospel. Never do we get language about his 'regretting' the need for the cross, since it was the display of his glorious love. 3. God rested and blessed the seventh day The Seventh Day: Finished; Rested; Blessed it; made it holy How the sabbath theme unfolds, and leads us to the 'Lord's Day'. More in Dig Deeper later this year. Wrap-up See also Psalm 8 and Psalm 90 The barren wasteland is now ordered and filled. cf Psalm 107. The barren place becomes a fruitful forest with pools of water.

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