“In the beginning” Night 1 – The Divine Plan

EVERYTHING in the Bible comes out of Genesis 1-3 Seedbed of the Bible Challenge: EVERYTHING in the Bible comes out of Genesis 1-3 ALL Doctrines and Principles found in the Bible originate from Genesis 1-3 THM: We must value, understand and interpret correctly!

“In the beginning God” Yahweh Elohim 1 Cor 8v6 Isa 40v21 Isa 41v4 John 1v1-14 Prov 8v22-31

THM: God is in control. TRUST Him! Rom 8v28-31 A God of Purpose “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isa 46v10) “God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else” (Isa 45v18) “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever…and God doeth it, that men should fear before him” (Ecc 3v11, 14) “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev 4v11) THM: God is in control. TRUST Him! Rom 8v28-31

Genesis Breakup Prologue Chapter 1v1 General Account Chapter 1v2-2v3 Overview of entire work Specific Account Chapter 2v4-2v25 Focus on Man & Woman

Structure of Creation FORMING FILLING And the Earth was without FORM and EMPTY v3-5 1. Realm of Light 4. Creation of Light to Rule v14 -19 FORMING v6-8 2. Realm of Sky & Sea 5. Creation of Birds & Sea creatures FILLING v20 -23 v9 -13 3. Realm of Land, Plants 6. Creation of Animals. Man! v24 -31 7. Heavens and Earth Finished. God Rested

“Thy will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven” Divine Hierarchy “And God SAID…” Divine Word Isa 55v8-11 “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return (empty), That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.” (Isa 45v23) Days 1,4 HEAVEN Days 2,5 SKY Days 3,6 EARTH “Thy will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven”

Power of 7 Number of Perfection! First sentence of Gen 1 made up of 7 words* Second sentence made up of 14 words Word “God” occurs 35 times Word “earth” occurs 21 times in Gen 1* Word “heaven” occurs 21 times in Gen 1* “And it was so” occurs 7 times “God saw that it was good” occurs 7 times Account of 7th day has 35 words Verb “bara” (“create”) used 7 times (*Masoretic Text, same Hebrew words)

Interpreting Genesis How does God work? Interpreting Genesis? Barak – 10,000 men Gideon – 300 men Jesus – 3 days God – 7 days Kingdom (1000 yrs)? Heb 4v1-10 = “God did rest the 7th day from all His work” HOW God works is based on WHY! PLAN precedes the EVENT! A REVELATION of LITERAL events – PRINCIPLES behind FACTS!

Elpis Israel Let the reader peruse the history of creation as a revelation to himself as the inhabitant of the earth. It informs him of the order in which things narrated would have developed themselves to his view, had he been placed on a rock, the spectator of the events detailed. (Bro Thomas)

Literal Contradictions? Day 1 – Light created. Day 4 – Sun. Contradiction? “Made” (v16) – means to appoint, place in arrangement for seasons and pattern. Light and Sun symbol of Christ. 1 Pet 1v20, 2 Tim 1v9-10 Christ’s light proceeded his actual birth! “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was” (John 17v5)

Order in Creation “God saw that it was Good…very Good” Occurs 7 times “After its kind” God designated boundaries in all living things Stg: “species”…more scientifically an “Order” “Whose seed is in itself” Built in reproductive mechanism Blueprint for adaption & variety

God’s Promise “Darkness on earth” “Let there be Light” “The evening…” “…and the morning” THM: “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light” (Rom 13v11-12)

God is Light “Let there be Light…” “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign forever and ever” (Rev 22v5)

Divine Pattern God’s Work Week Gen 1 Man’s Work Week Ex 20v8-11 Man’s time of Release Lev 25 God’s time of Release

THM: Render to God the things that are God’s! Divine Purpose God had a focus – a special creation… Days 1-6 World & all in it Day 7 God’s Rest Day 6 Man for for “Image and Likeness” Isa 45v18 “I formed it to be INHABITED” – Heb “A place to dwell”. God dwells in us when we reflect & manifest Him. THM: Render to God the things that are God’s!

Divine Focus Heb 1 Col 1 John 17 JESUS CHRIST

Framed the Ages 1. Separate: Light & Darkness Word (light) preached to man. Called out of darkness (1 Pet 2v9, 2 Cor 4v6, 1 John 1v5) 2. Separate: Waters Sky & Sea Separation of Sons of God from Daughters of Men. Abraham called out, to “things above” 3. Separate: Sea & Dry Land. Plants Separation of Israel from sea of nations. God’s seed planted in Promised Land 4. Appointed: Sun, Moon & Stars “In fullness of time” God sent His Son (sun of Righteousness Mal 4). Moon (Ecclesia) reflects! 5. Appointed: Sky & Sea Animals Gospel preached to “all creatures” resulting in “new creation”, called to “things above” (Col 3) 6. Appointed: Land Animals. MAN Final creation, from dust (resurrection). Preparation for marriage of Christ to Bride. 7. God’s Rest Finally all labour ceased – God’s Millennial Rest and 1000 year reign of Christ & Saints over creation

Christ & the Ecclesia Christ Sun “greater light, rule day” “In the image of God created He HIM…” Formed man 1st from “dust of ground”(2v7) Ecclesia Moon “lesser light” (reflected) to rule night” “…Male and female created He THEM” Formed woman 2nd “out of man” (2v22)

Next Class… Night 2 – The Divine Allegory Night 3 – Divine Salvation