GENESIS 1:1

In the Beginning God Created   

INTRODUCTION

The Bible is first and foremost revelation concerning the person and work of God. And He makes Himself known here in Genesis 1 through His sovereign and powerful work of creation. The Psalmist says: The heavens are telling of the glory of God, and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands (Psalm 19:1).

It has often been said that if a person really believes the creation account of Genesis, he will not find it difficult to believe anything else recorded in the Bible. That is, if God really created all things, then He controls all things and can do all things.

The book of Genesis makes no attempt to prove the origin or existence of God. God is uncreated and has no beginning and in Genesis 1:1 the very fact of God’s existence is taken for granted, as though it were so obvious that only a fool could say there is no God (Psalm 14:1).

1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

 In the beginning

Although many liberal theologians would seek to undermine its significance, this verse serves as the theme of the creation account. It is a solemn declaration of God’s creation of the universe, including the seen and the unseen. It is a formal introduction to the entire creation narrative.

“In the beginning is an absolute clause linked or joined to “heavens and earth.” This shows that there was no physical matter prior to God’s creation of the heavens and earth; that is to say, God created the heavens and the earth (the universe) ex nihilo, which is Latin for “out of nothing.”

In the beginning God

The Hebrew name for God here is Eloheem. It is a masculine plural form of el, which means “strength and might”.  When used of the God of the Hebrews it has singular agreement; when it designates others gods it takes plural agreement.

God alone is qualified to speak with certainty on the subject of the origin of all things.

As God said to Job and by way of application to all mankind, Who is it that darkens counsel by words without knowledge..? Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone… (Job 38:2, 4-6).

In the beginning God created

God is only and always the subject of the Hebrew verb bara (to create).  Bara (to create) never changes its basic root or stem as a verb and is never used of an action of anyone or anything else but God Himself.

Only God can call into existence that which had no existence.

He calls things that are not as though they were (Romans 4:17).

…The universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible (Hebrews 11:3).

Men can “make” things or “form” things, but they cannot create things. The work of creation is uniquely a work of God.

The use of the word “create” here in Genesis 1:1 informs us that at this point, the physical universe was spoken into existence by God. It had no existence prior to the creative act of God. 

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The Hebrews had no single word to describe the universe. When they wanted to express the concept of a universe, they spoke of the heavens and the earth.

At this point in creation both parts of the universe (heavens and earth) that God created, were yet empty and void. There were no other planets, no stars, or material bodies in the universe; nor did any of them come into being until the fourth day. And as we shall see in verse two, the earth originally was empty and void of any life.

So as we conclude this morning we see that our universe is not the result of an accident. There was nothing there to have an accident. Human beings in rebellion against God hate the thought that before anything existed there was nothing but God. Does anyone really believe that nothing evolved into something?

Although they knew about God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools…(Romans 1:21-22).

Because the universe is the result of God’s creative activity people can be assured that there is meaning and purpose to life.

You are worthy oh Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11).