Why Am I Here? - Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 - January 7, 2007

Sunday school Lesson - Why Am I Here? - January 7, 2007

We begin a new series "Creation Faith: Living by GOD'S Design.

Our scripture is Genesis 1:1-2:3.

This to me is exciting scripture because it reveals some of the attributes of GOD and how they relate to our lives as HE creates within us a new mind and a new heart after we ask JESUS into our hearts and lives.

This will be a modified lesson because I am still having computer problems.

Let's read Genesis 1:1 - 2:3:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was[1] Or When God began to create the sky and the earth, 2 the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and He called the darkness “night.” Evening came, and then morning: the first day. 6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse[2] The Hb word for expanse is from a root meaning “to spread out, stamp, beat firmly,” which suggests something like a dome; Jb 37:16–18; Isaiah 40:22. between the waters, separating water from water.”[3] Isa 44:24 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. 8 God called the expanse “sky.”[4] Or “heavens” Evening came, and then morning: the second day. 9 Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land “earth,” and He called the gathering of the water “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds.”[5] Ps 65:9–13 And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 Evening came, and then morning: the third day. 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years.[6] Ps 104:19 15 They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made the two great lights—the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night—as well as the stars.[7] Isa 40:26 17 God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, 18 to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came, and then morning: the fourth day. 20 Then God said, “Let the water swarm with[8] Lit with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 21 So God created the large sea-creatures[9] Or created sea monsters and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. [He also created]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 So God blessed them, “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”[10] Gn 8:17 23 Evening came, and then morning: the fifth day. 24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth,[11] Syr reads sky, and over every animal of the land and the creatures that crawl[12] Lit scurry on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls[13] Lit and all scurrying animals that scurry on the earth.” 29 God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This food will be for you, 30 for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it. [I have given]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. Evening came, and then morning: the sixth day.

Genesis 2:1-3:

1 So the heavens and the earth and everything in them[1] Lit and all their host were completed. 2 By the seventh[2] Sam, LXX, Syr read sixth day, God completed His work that He had done, and He rested[3] Or ceased on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. 3 God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it He rested[4] Ex 31:17 from His work of creation.[5] Lit work that God created to make [6] Ex 20:11; 31:17; Ps 121:2

First of all Moses is the author of Genesis. Remember Moses had an intimate one on one relationship with GOD.

Genesis 1:1 is a summary verse telling us what is going to be discussed. The subject is the creation of the heavens and the earth.

GOD did not have to created Himself because HE already existed along with JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT. Verse 26 reads "let us". The us is GOD, the FATHGER, JESUS, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT.

As we review Genesis 1:2-2:3 notice the order and the stepwise work ethic of GOD. This is important because GOD likes order, organization and planning. HE creates first what is needed for the next step in creation. HE creates the plants, seeds, etc. to sustain life which will be HIS next step. HIS crowning creation is mankind.

GOD works in our lives to prepare us to serve HIM. HE prepares within each of us that which is needed first or foundational for the next work HE has planned for us. We have to trust HIS plan and design for our lives just as HE has a plan and design for the heavens and earth.

Genesis 1:2 is a beautiful verse because it reveals several things:

- Just as earth in the beginning is formless and empty, so are our lives before CHRIST.

- "the Spirit of GOD was hovering over earth, preparing earth to be energized and to be inhabited by life. Every thing had to be perfect. Just as the Spirit of GOD was hovering over earth to empower it, the Spirit of GOD hovered over Mary the mother of JESUS to empower her womb to be inhabited by GOD'S only SON JESUS!!!!! The same is true for us when we accept JESUS as our SAVIOR and LORD, the Spirit of GOD empowers us to be HIS sons and daughters through the miracle of rebirth for all eternity. WOW!!!! Think about that!!!!

- Just as a master designer and engineer checks very carefully their design and creation before they push the button or flip the switch on. GOD was checking every detail of earth to ensure every thing was in place before HE said another word.

Verse 3 - GOD is pleased and HE spoke and a special light was created.

I think this special light had a very special purpose. But first let's consider when we first ask JESUS into our lives, HE is the light that floods our souls with HIS light. We were spiritually blind but now we see.

Back to this special light at creation. I think this light is different from the sun as we know it today. I think GOD made the sun later (verses 15-18). Think of a ball of very moist clay and you take a heat lamp and let it shine on one area of that very moist ball of clay. What would happen? That one area would begin to dry out more than the other areas of the very moist ball of clay. I think this is what is happening. To see this, look at a flat map of the world. Doesn't is appear that you can fit the continents together like pieces of a puzzle into one mass? Do you think all of the continents were one mass at this time in creation? I think so.

Now notice what happens next. GOD said the light was good and then HE separated the light from the darkness. I think this is when HE allowed the earth to begin its rotation. This special light continues to bath mother earth with its rays removing some of the moisture.

Now what will rotation do? Rotation applies forces which would try to throw the mass out but at the same time gravity would try to hold the mass in. I think the one, still very moist, land mass, created before rotation, broke apart. Then the broken land masses were positioned such that they gave balance to this watery ball we call earth. We do know that the contintents do flow on water and move.

GOD continues HIS work in an orderly, stepwise, very organized way to create next what is needed to sustain HIS next creation. Read the verses and see how they build upon each other.

Again, as we journey through life think about this as HE works in our lives and as HE prepares us to serve HIM.

Where do we get our oil and natural gas from? We get it from the decaying plant and animal life that has been in the earth under much pressure for a very long time. Same is true for our coal, minerals and precious stones. GOD created order and HE created a system to sustain life for the duration of life upon earth. Just as HE creates in us, who are HIS children, that which is necessary to sustain us through life upon earth and for all eternity.

GOD gives balance to the universe which in turn provides earth a unique position in the solar system. A few degrees different and life as we know it would not exist.

GOD gave us the example of working and then resting.

Some may ask was this literally seven (7) days or was it over many years?

I can accept either. The main point is that we are here and alive upon plant earth.

Some may question GOD'S existence. I challenge those who question the existence of GOD to explain their own existence. I used to question it. But GOD led me to consider my own existence. My own existence is just a much a mystery as HIS. Where did I come from? My mother. But where did my mother come from? Her mother and so on until I came to a point-of-origin. In the beginning GOD.

My favorite verses in scripture Ephesians 1:3-4:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,[2] Eph 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12 in Christ; 4 for He chose[3] Rm 11:5–7; 1 Co 1:26–31; 1 Th 1:4; 2 Th 2:13; 1 Pt 1:1–2 us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.[4] Vv. 3–14 are 1 sentence in Gk. In love[5] Or In His sight in love

Before HE created the world, HE knew us. GOD knew each of us and we were in HIS mind and heart until we were conceived by our parents. Oh yes, GOD has a wonderful plan for each of us. What HE needs is our will to be yielded to HIM to make us into HIS image through the final work of salvation. HE wants to restore our souls and restore our fellowship with HIM through CHRIST.

This to me is awesome!!!!!

My prayer is that each of you will know HIM in a more intimate loving way through a genuine relationship with HIM from this day forward. Happy and Blessed 2007 !!!!!