What do you think is the key message of Genesis Chapter 1?
Have you ever wonder why did God tell us the order of how the world was created? So that someday we can clone another planet? I doubt so. We cannot even create energy, as according to the Principle of Conservation of Energy. So why did God tell us about the order of His creation? To tells us about His sovereignty? Yes, but this is only part of it, there is more to Genesis 1…
Did you also realise that Adam and Eve were last to be created? When there are so many questions, it means that there must be something in Genesis 1 that is not obvious to us. So what is hidden?
Actually, hidden in Genesis 1 is the immense love God has for mankind. When you can understand this love of God for you, you will discover that God begins the bible with a love letter to you.
Analyzing the scriptures on creation
Study the table below, paying attention to the column “What it tells us about God” and you will discover that everything that God created was created for the purpose of blessing mankind. Everything was created out of God’s immense love for mankind.
| Bible Verse | What was written? | Scientific discovery | What it tells us about God |
| Genesis 1:1 | In the beginning God created the heavens and earth. | Take note that this is not day 1 of creation which was stated in Genesis 1:5. Astronomers believe that our universe began with a gigantic explosion (called the Big Bang) that began around 13.8 billions years ago. | God’s plan to prepare the universe for mankind started billions of years ago. For all these years, His love for mankind remains unchanged. |
| Genesis 1:2 | The earth was formless and empty and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. | Scientists believed that earth started as a disc of dust and gas, orbiting the young Sun about 4.54 billion years ago. Although the sun existed before the earth, they have discovered that the earth’s water is older than the sun. A new model of the chemistry of the early solar system finds that up to half the water now on Earth was inherited from an abundant supply of interstellar ice as our sun formed. | God’s Spirit orchestrated the entire creation of life on earth. |
| Genesis 1:3-5 | God spoke light into existence and the first day was formed. | Did this visible light come from the sun? Genesis 1:5 clearly tells us that the first day happened after God separated light from darkness. So this source of visible light mentioned in Genesis 1:3 must have been a state of the Sun before it reached its stable state as today. Scientists estimated that the Sun took about 4.6 billion years to reach its current state of temperature. | God waited till the Sun’s temperature was ready for our survival and for us to live comfortably. |
| Genesis 1:6-8 | God created the sky which is also the atmosphere. | Within this atmosphere is air which consists of 78% Nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of other gases. Oxygen is vital for living creatures to survive. The atmosphere also protects us from electromagnetic radiation from the stars. Read more about the atmosphere here. | God created the atmosphere to achieve many purposes for us. Beside giving us Oxygen, it also allows us to see a beautiful sky. The atmosphere acts as a shield of protection around the earth to protect us from harmful electromagnetic rays from the stars. It traps the warmth from the Sun and keeps the climate on earth moderate so that we can live comfortably. The air molecules in the atmosphere scatter sunlight from the sun so that we can see a blue sky and beautiful sunset and sunrise. |
| Genesis 1:9-13 | Formation of land, sea and plants. | Scientists believed that the earth was formed about 4.543 billion years ago. About 300 million years ago, most of the land was joined together in one big piece. Then it began to break up into smaller pieces called continents. Natural resources such oil, diamonds and onyx stones are also developed through billions of years. | To satisfy our eyes, our minds and our soul, God created beautiful nature with mountains, hills, seas, lakes, rivers that took billion of years to reach the beauty of what they are today. |
| Genesis 1:14 | Creation of years and seasons. | As the earth spins on its axis, producing night and day, it also moves about the sun in an elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete. The earth’s spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons. | Besides giving us the enjoyment of the beauty of the 4 seasons, God gives us specific time to sow, to harvest and to rest. |
| Genesis 1:15-19 | The Sun, the Moon and the stars were set in place. | The milky way is the galaxy we live in. Scientists estimated that there are at least 100 billion stars in the milky way. | Knowing that we will be afraid when the sunset, God went to the extend of placing a 100 billion twinkling stars in the sky so that we will not be fearful but could enjoy the magnificent beauty of the night sky. |
| Genesis 1:20-25 | Living creatures in the air, sea and land were created. | Researchers estimated that there are as many as 1 trillion species of living creatures on this planet. | God created a kingdom for Adam and Eve to inherit. |
| Genesis 1:26-27 | God created mankind to rule over all living creatures. | There are evolution theory that says that mankind evolved from apes million of years ago. This cannot be true. Archaeologists have discovered artifacts of earliest civilization that existed 6000 years ago which coincide with the timeline given in the bible on the existence of Adam and Eve. | God loves mankind. He created us in His image, to be His children. Mankind was last to be created so that we enter this world with no lack and enjoying God’s lavish love. |
Unveiling the secret : Genesis 1 is God’s love letter to us
If you study the above table, you will discover that Genesis 1 reveals to us, not just about God’s sovereignty but also about God’s immense, perfect love for us. It is God’s love letter to us.
Here’s what is in the love letter of Genesis 1
1. God’s love remained unchanged from eternity to eternity
The Bible began with Genesis 1:1 telling us that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Very often we read this as an introductory statement. However, it is not. It is a statement that reveals to us that God began preparing the universe for mankind billions of years ago. This is proven by scientific discovery that the universe began with a gigantic explosion (Big Bang) about 13.8 billion years ago.
Genesis 1:2 tells us that the earth was formless. Scientists have discovered that the earth began with a disc of dust and gases, about 4.54 billion years ago. We also know that Earth’s natural resources such as oil and diamonds took billions of years to form. Hence, the time period from Genesis 1:2 to Genesis 1:5 (when day 1 began) must be billions of years apart.
Genesis 1:3 stated that God spoke light into existence. Many people thought that this light is not the Sun because the Sun was mentioned only in day 4 (Genesis 1:14-18). However, science tells us that we have day and night because the earth rotates about its own axis with that part of the earth that receives sunlight as having day time. So the “light” stated in Genesis 1:3 must be from the Sun. However, the state of the Sun at the time of Genesis 1:3 is a state where the Sun was not what it is during this period when mankind exists. This is proven by scientific discovery that the Sun began with a cloud of gas and it took 4.6 billion years for the Sun to reach the stable state and temperature of what it is today.
So you see, God waited for 4.6 billions years for the Sun and Earth to be ready for mankind to live comfortably. It is at that point that day 1 counting began (Genesis 1:5) but God began around 13.8 billions of years ago to prepare the universe for us (Genesis 1:1). God’s love for mankind has not changed for all these billions of years!
This is what God is saying to us:
“My child, I have loved you for billions of years. I was thinking of you when I was creating the universe. I waited for billions of years for the stars and planets to be ready. During those billions of years, I was thinking of you and what you would need and desire. So I created the mountains, seas, lakes, oil, diamonds, and many natural resources in those years because I know you will like them. Everything was intricately planned so that you can live comfortably.”
2. God wants us to enter this world enjoying His lavish love.
Next, let’s examine the order of creation. Genesis 1:6-8 tells us that the sky (atmosphere) was the next item to be created after light came into existence. Why is the empty sky having such a high priority? Scientists have discovered that without the atmosphere, no living things can survive. Inside the atmosphere is Oxygen which is vital to living creatures. The atmosphere is also a shield that protects us from harmful electromagnetic rays emitted by the Sun and other stars. The air molecules in the atmosphere scatters light from the Sun. Without this scattering of light, we will not see a beautiful blue sky in the day nor the beautiful sunrise and sunset.
The next thing that God created was the land, the sea and the plants (Genesis 1:9-12). God does not create just to meet our functional needs. He always creates to delight us too (Genesis 2:9). If you surf the web on beautiful places, you will find thousands of breathtaking nature in the world, created by God.
After the land, sea and plants were created, God began decorating the sky with stars, moons, planets and galaxies (huge collection of gas, dust, billion of stars and their solar systems). The galaxy that we are in is called the Milky Way. Astronomers estimated that there are 100 trillion stars in the Milky Way.
God set our earth to spin about its own its axis, producing night and day. The earth also revolves around the sun in an elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete. The earth’s spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun’s most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
So you see, God intricately designed all these to bless us with time, day, night, years and beautiful seasons. He had carefully thought out all the details of giving us the time to sow, to harvest, to rest and to celebrate. When He was creating the heavens and the Earth, we were always in His mind. We were the focus of His love. Everything He created was created to bless us lavishly.
Ponder over God’s love and read this message of love from God:
“My child, look up into the sky! Do you know that to enable this beautiful sky to be seen, light from the Sun has to travel 151.12 million km to reach you? Above that, for every cubic centimeters of air, I have placed more than 10,000,000,000,000,000,000 molecules to scatter the sunlight.
At night, without the Sun, I know you will be fearful. So I placed more than 100,000,000,000,000 stars in the Milky Way, the galaxy you are in, so that the tiny twinkling stars will give you much comfort.”
3. God’s intention was for mankind to have no lack
God delights to lavish us with good gifts. He created Adam and Eve last because they are to enter into this world with no lack. Just like a new parent getting the baby room cleaned and decorated and buying the bed, blankets, baby clothings, milk bottles, etc., long before the baby is borned. Likewise when God was creating the sky (the atmoshphere and hence the oxygen and climate), the plants, the sun and moon and other living creatures, He was thinking of how everything will make a lovely home for mankind.
It was never God’s plan to make mankind to labour and toil, to sweat to make things happen or to even help God in the creation of this universe. God made mankind in His image, as His children, to be His heir, to enter this world to celebrate with Him and enjoy His perfect love.
This is what God is saying to us:
“You are my child. With Me, there is no scarcity. Come to Me, I will supply all your needs according to My glorious riches. Come and rest in My perfect love for you. Whatever is your need, I will supply and exceed your expectation, for I know exactly what you need and desire even before you ask.”
Refer to Psalms 37:4-5, Philippians 4:9, Ephesians 3:20, Matthew 6:8
4. God created a kindom for Adam to rule
God did not create Adam to work as a supervisor to work in His fields and to meet targets. In Genesis 1:26-28, we read that God blessed Adam and Eve to be the master and rule over all of God’s creation. In other words, Adam has a kingdom to inherit. A kingdom he did not have to build, he was made in God’s image, to be God’s child. He was God’s heir.
Can you see how much God loves Adam and Eve? This is how much God loves you.
When you can understand this love of God, you will know that God has great plans for your life. This is what God says to us:
“My child, my plan for you has always been to give you a full and satisfying life. For you to be the head and not the tail. For you to prosper and have good success. That you are blessed and protected in your going out and your coming in. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be full.”
Refer to John 10:10, Jeremiah 29:11, Joshua 1:8, Galatians 3:29, Deuteronomy 28:3-13, John 16:24, 15:7, 14:14, 16:33, 14:27,.
Think about it — God began the first page, first chapter of the first book of the Bible expressing how much He loves mankind. That love has never changed. When you can understand this love, you will have nothing to fear, nothing to worry because Almighty God, Creator of heavens and earth is your Heavenly Father. God still love us so deeply. He is still so fond of us, so proud of us. In fact, it is this unceasing, unwavering love that He sent His begotten Son, LORD Jesus to come and redeem us. This same love was expressed when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet.
The Good News : You have more than what Adam had
When Adam sinned and fall short of the glory of God, God sent His one and only Son, LORD Jesus to redeem mankind. So that whosoever believes and receives Jesus, all their sins are forgiven, forever. So, if you are a believer of Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God can live in you, forever (John 14:16). You are blessed with every spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3) because the Holy Spirit of God lives in you. So if you think that Adam was so blessed to have God going all out to do so much for him, you must know that you have more than what Adam had. With Christ’s finished work on the cross, what it meant is that whatever blessings that was lost through Adam’s sin have now been restored to us, and we have even more. We have every spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3). Not only does God want us to live a life filled with love and honor, He wants us to live a life of freedom, a life filled with authority and power.
If you are not yet a believer, you can become a believer right now by praying this prayer to receive Jesus as your LORD and Saviour:
“Dear LORD Jesus, thank you for Your love for me. You are the Creator of this universe, yet You love me so much to die on the cross for my sins so that I can be made right with God and be able to live a satisfying and fulfilled life that God has designed for me, to enjoy God’s riches in glory. Right now, I pray that You come into my life and be my LORD and Saviour. From this time forth, I am a new creation, all my sins are forgiven and I no longer live under the power of sin. I pray that You fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can live a victorious life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”
If you have prayed the above prayer, you have been saved. You are now a child of God. Look for a church near your place and start walking with Jesus.
