And God Said…

Genesis 1:2-3

There are two threads of profound truth that run through the book of Genesis. The first thread describes the powerful Person of God. The second thread reveals how this all-powerful God personally works in the details of our lives. A simple outline of Genesis shows these two threads presented in three sections of the book.

God’s Work in Creation (1-2)

God’s Work with Humanity (3-11)

• • Adam (3-5)
  • Noah (6-10)
  • Nations (11)

God’s Work with His Covenant People (12-50)

• • Abraham (12-25)
  • Isaac (25-26)
  • Jacob (27-36)
  • Joseph (37-50)

We will cover Genesis in depth but keep the big picture in mind. This is the way, Moses, the inspired writer of the book laid it out. In fact, Moses is the author of the first five books of the Bible—Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Sometimes we call these books the Pentateuch—a word that means “five books.”

Moses was well qualified to write these books. He was “instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7:22). Most commentators believe that Moses wrote the first five books, the Pentateuch, after he led Israel out of slavery in Egypt and while Israel was wandering in the desert. He wrote these books to explain to the Israelites how God brought them into existence, why God brought them into existence, and how they were to live as God’s people. Moses was reminding the Israelites how God was writing his story in them.

With that background, let’s consider Genesis 1:1-2.

Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Last time, when we considered Genesis 1:1, we learned that the name for God is Elohim, the plural form of El. This is not a reference to the Trinity. Elohim is called a “plural of majesty” or “plural of intensity.”  It describes the power and uniqueness of God for there is no one like him. We also learned that in the beginning, Elohim already existed. This speaks to the truth that he is eternal. There has never been a time when he was not; there will never be a time when he is not. One more thing—the word “created” is the Hebrew word, bara. That word is exclusively used to describe the action of God. Only God is the Creator.

In Genesis 1:2, we learn that the earth was “without form and void.” Interestingly, when those two words are used together, for example in Jeremiah 4:23, they describe the judgment of God. Added to the formlessness and emptiness, there was darkness “over the face of the deep.”  Darkness is a word that often represents evil and wickedness (see Exodus 10:15; 1 Samuel 2:9, Psalm 105:28).

How did this formlessness, emptiness, and darkness come to be?

It is important to note that Genesis 1 is not the first time God had created. In Job 38, God told Job that when he was creating the heavens and the earth, the angels were singing and shouting for joy (Job 38:7). So, at some point in eternity past, God created the angels. One outstanding angel was named Lucifer, meaning “light-bearer.” Many commentators believe that Ezekiel 28:12-15 describes Lucifer’s beauty and power. He was the most beautiful and most powerful of all the angels. God did not create the angels as robots. He gave them free will. At some point, Lucifer, also called Satan, became filled with pride, desired to be like God, and led an uprising. Satan, and the angels who followed him, were cast from heaven because of their revolt (Isaiah 14:12-16).

Many biblical scholars believe that the formlessness, emptiness, and darkness could be describing what resulted from Lucifer’s rebellion and fall from heaven. If that is the case, the creation of the heavens and the earth is God’s first act of redeeming the chaos brought on by Satan. The final redemption will be the new heaven and earth that believers will inhabit for eternity. At that point, Satan will no longer be in the picture.

Also, in Genesis 1:2, note that the Spirit of God was “hovering over the face of the waters.” The word “hover” means “to flutter.” The same word is used of an eagle fluttering over its young (Deuteronomy 32:11). Here is a beautiful picture of God’s Spirit fluttering over the formlessness, emptiness, and darkness, preparing for a new beginning, the magnificent creation!

The first acts of God’s creation remedied the darkness and formlessness. Let’s look at one more verse today.

Genesis 1:3
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

The power of Elohim is demonstrated as he spoke the physical light into existence. Okay…let’s slow down here to unpack a significant truth of Scripture.

From our vantage point as New Testament believers, we see important theology in these first verses of creation. We have been introduced to God—Elohim—the Creator. His Spirit hovered over the deep. And God spoke the world into existence. It’s no coincidence that the gospel writer, John, describes Jesus as the “Word.”

John 1:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

John clearly says that Jesus is God and that he is eternal. Then he places Jesus in the creation story.

John 1:3
All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

Jesus is the eternal God, and by being the eternal God, he was there at creation. In fact, Paul describes Jesus as the Creative Agent.

Colossians 1:16-17
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

So—this is amazing! In the first three verses of the first book of the Bible, we see God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit at work in creation. And here’s something that is even more amazing—this great God, the Creator God, desires a personal relationship with you. In fact, he sent his Son to die to make that relationship possible.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Genesis 1:1-3—Consider this astounding truth that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit were all present at creation.

Read Colossians 1:15-17—Reflect on Jesus, the Agent and Sustainer of creation.

Prayer and Application
How does the understanding of the Trinity’s work in creation deepen your trust in the person of God and his work in your life today?

Have Questions?
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