Today we begin our look at the book of Genesis. I’ll be printing the text below, but I suggest that you have out your own Bible, so that you can underline/highlight/make notes in it. Before each devotion, I’ll give you some notes about key words and phrases, and also some questions that you’ll then be able to answer as you read the chapter.
Verse 1 “In the beginning God created . . .” This phrase contains three important words. There was a “beginning” to all things. In the beginning, “God” was already present. He doesn’t have a beginning or an end. God “created” the heavens and the earth. The verb translated as “create” is a special word (1) used only of God’s activity and (2) always expressing the origin of something extraordinary, unique.
Verse 5 “And there was evening, and there was morning-the first day.” This sentence appears at the end of each of the six days of creation. We understand them to be specific days of 24-hour duration and not epochs or eons as some believe.
Verses 21,22 “According to their kinds”-This phrase is repeated regarding the fish, birds, and animals. God gave the command for animals to reproduce along specific lines that cannot be crossed.
Verse 26 “Let us make man.” God speaks of himself in the plural, which is completely compatible with the teaching of the Trinity found throughout Scripture.
“In our image”-God is spirit. Therefore, to be made in his image cannot mean that we look like him but that we are like him in holiness and perfection. (See Ephesians 4:22-24 and Colossians 3:9,10.)
Questions:
1. Can you find a reference to the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) in the first two verses? (Also look up John 1:1)
2. What did God create on each day?
3. God saw that everything he created was good. What does that tell us about God?
4. What commands did God give to Adam and Eve.