Week 49 - Genesis 1

Everyone loves a good story – and many favorite ones begin with “Once upon a time…”. However, God chose a different beginning for the story of his existence, his creation and his relationship and ultimate redemption of his most beloved creation – mankind. 

With the simple words “In the Beginning God created…” the Book of Genesis and the Bible itself begin. When you ponder these words, you begin the realization of how deep and multi-faceted the Word of God is – how in so few words   much meaning is conveyed to the reader. God existed and created by merely speaking his creation into existence. Such power is difficult for the mind of man to fully comprehend!  The expanse of our universe and the universes beyond is also difficult to comprehend how God can create such an expanse and yet also be so precise in creation of atoms and sub-particles that are the building blocks of all creation. 

I look forward to and appreciate the views and scenes of God’s creation when I open my computer to the landscapes and seascapes that appear each day. I also appreciate the views I see with my own eyes when I travel and appreciate the beauty created when viewing daybreaks and sunsets. As he was creating God also noted that each component was “good “indicating he was pleased with the result. Plants and living creatures came into being to populate the lands and the seas. Water flows in streams and rivers and even in the seas and oceans themselves which contribute to our weather and climates.  Each have its place in what we have come to identify as Nature. The sun, moon and stars we view at night were set in their course and have not deviated to determine days, times, and seasons, as was their stated purpose.  So exacting is these that man was and is still able to construct structures designed for one specific time and day each year.

Then God said “ Let us make mankind in our image “ and with that using his own hands God made mankind from the soil he had created and when completed breathed into him the breath of life. Mankind differed from other creatures because he was given an eternal soul being created in the image of God. And God saw all that he had created, and it was “very good”!  And so, begins the story of the relationship of God with mankind culminating with the redemption of man by the sacrifice of Jesus – the creator himself!

—Lee Smith