“In the Beginning”

God Created Genesis 1:1 The writer assumes God exists –Psalm 14:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.” –“and God” is used 28 times in Genesis 1 –God’s name appears 4 times without the “and”

God Created Seven times the writer says God saw the things he created were good (the 7 th was very good) Creative days end in verses 5, 8, 13, 19, 23 and 31 –1—light created and divided from darkness –2—firmament (atmosphere) surrounding the earth –3—Dry land appeared & was covered with vegetation –4—Sun, moon and stars –5—Marine life and winged fowl –6—Land animals and man

Seven Days of Genesis 1 Each day had an evening and a morning Exodus 20:8-11 makes it plain the days of creation were 6 literal days just like we experience each week from Sunday through Friday The literal meaning of words in the Bible should always be accepted unless compelling reasons are given for adopting a figurative meaning

Man Is Different Until man, everything was spoken into existence, but man was different (1:26, 2:7) –Formed from dust of the earth –Made in God’s image (John 4:24; James 2:26; 2 Corinthians 4:16 God’s instructions –Be fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth and have dominion over all living things (1:27-28) –Dress and keep the garden (2:15) –Eat of every tree except tree of knowledge of good and evil (2:16-17)

A Help Suited to Man It was not good for man to be alone (2:18) –God planned a helper (aid) “corresponding to him” or “suited to him” –No animal fit this role, as man saw after God caused him to name all the animals (2:19-20) Woman was made from a rib out of man’s side (2:21-22) God intended one man to be joined to one woman for life (2:23-25; Matthew 19:3-9)

A Day of Rest God made a special day for rest—Genesis 2:1-3 Later, he made a law that the Jews would rest on that day—Exodus 20:8-22 Principles found in this rest –1 in 7 days man needs rest to recuperate –Man also needs time for worship, fellowship with God and spiritual development