The Creator
God created everything that exists in the heavens and on earth. God alone is eternal. Matter, the stuff this universe is made of, had a beginning when God spoke it into existence. Scientists think that the universe came into existence about fourteen billion years ago. “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” God spoke everything into existence. (Hebrews 11:3, John 1, Genesis 1 )
“The earth was without form and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) Though God had created the heavens and the earth in the beginning, there came a time, several thousand years ago, when He set about to establish His order on the earth. Genesis chapters one and two are primarily about God creating this order, God’s Kingdom order, and assigning roles, responsibilities, and functions.
God separated light from darkness and thus established day and night. God assigned the sun to rule the day, and the moon to rule the night. God designed day and night to set off time for work and rest, and seven days marked off a set time for Sabbath. The moon in its orbit marked off the lunar month which was important in observing Jewish festivals. God separated the waters on the earth from the waters in the heavens, the clouds. God separated the land from the seas, setting boundaries for them.
God spoke to the earth, and it brought forth plant life, yielding seed and fruit, assigning plant life the role of providing food. He then spoke to the seas and they brought forth fish and all sea creatures. He spoke to the ground and it brought forth animals, assigning some the roles of being domestic, and others of being wild.
It is as though the man who built himself a house initially just built the walls and the roof, and then left the house empty for many years. But then there came a time when He returned and set to work. He put in lights, He painted the rooms in bright colors, He laid down soft carpets, and hung curtains on the windows, and He placed furniture in the rooms. One room He made into a kitchen, and He stocked it well with food. One room He made into a large and comfortable family room with sofas and chairs. He then put beds and dressers in many rooms.
It was now more than a house, it was a home, warm, inviting, beautiful, and ready for Him to share with a large family. And the first to live with God in this beautiful and comfortable home were Adam and Eve. (Isaiah 40:28, 42:5; Psalm 33:6-9, 148:5; Colossians 1:15-16)
Discovery Bible Studies
Lesson 5: The Creator
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- Who created the heavens and the earth, and when did He create them?
- What did God use to create the heavens and the earth?
- Where did matter come from?
- What was the earth like when the Holy Spirit began to move over the earth?
- What order did God establish in verse 5?
- What boundaries did God set in verses 10 and 11?
- What useful roll did He assign to plants and trees?
- In verses 14 to 18 what rolls did God assign to the sun and the moon?
- What did God direct the sea creatures and the birds to do?
- After God created domestic and wild animals what did He say about all that He had done? What did He mean?
Additional passages for study: John 1:1-3; Isaiah 40:28; Psalm 148:5; Isaiah 42:5; Psalm 33:6-9; Colossians 1:15-16
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