- CHAPTER 3 -
In the Beginning

When a person visits a doctor, they want to know: “What is wrong with me?” A person comes because they have encountered persistent problems in life. The person knows something is wrong, and often times has a suspicion as to what it might be. They don’t always know exactly what is wrong, but they expect the doctor will be able to tell them.

Before we can understand the cure, we first need to understand the diagnosis. What exactly is wrong with humanity? What happened that lead to this demise? Let us begin by opening to the first page of the Bible and see how humanity has fallen.

God Created

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The first line of the Bible establishes the supremacy of God over all things. God created humanity and the environment we live in.

The weight of this statement is significant. At this point in Scripture, we know nothing else about God or humanity except that a being superior than ourselves created the universe. This means the environment we experience through our senses, what we term as “reality,” has not been engineered by our imagination. We are not God. Existence as we know it depends upon something other than ourselves. We did not create reality and neither do we control the laws behind it.

This truth becomes obvious by the lack of ability in our thoughts to animate or move objects outside of our minds. No matter how forcefully we try to bend a spoon with our thoughts, it will not happen. No matter how many times we flap our arms up and down, we will not fly. Our mere thoughts or desires cannot manipulate the world around us.

We have limited privileges as to what we can achieve on earth. With the aid of technology, humanity has made great strides in altering the universe. Despite gravity, we have launched into outer-space and set foot on the moon. However, we still cannot alter the physical laws governing the universe. We do use forces to oppose other forces, but have no control over the forces themselves. For example, we may be able to oppose the law of gravity by thrusting ourselves into the air, but we cannot control gravity simply by our command. We are subject to our environment. We must adapt to environmental changes or suffer death. This truth proves that humanity is not the creator of the universe. We cannot control the forces behind it.

Instead, the Bible says God created the universe. As such, the universe we experience was His design. He is the artist and we are the art. This is the significant of the first verse.

The following verses in the first chapter of Genesis describe the process of creation in metaphorical terms simplified for our finite understanding. It is important to note that this chapter was not written to provide an exact formula for the design of the universe. If this were the case, then the book of Genesis should be as large as the universe. Rather, this book was written for a people that lived thousands of years ago in a way to illustrate the work of God in creation. The literal process occurred when things such as physical water and light had not yet existed. The “waters” described in verse two are not physical water as is found in the sea as this water had not yet been created. Literal water was created in verse ten when the “waters” gathered to form the seas. The “light” described in verse three is not physical light for this was not created until verse fourteen.

Additionally, it is important to understand this metaphorical context when considering the time of creation. The word “day” used in this chapter does not refer to a literal 24-hour period as we might think. The first literal day could not have occurred until the sun was set into place as described in verse fourteen during the “fourth day.” In addition, the Hebrew word used here is also used in various places in the bible and translated as “year”, “age”, or “era.” In modern English, we may use the word “day” in such a context when talking about an era. We might say, “In that day...” As such, we should be careful to quantify the word “day” in this context. God could have created everything in five minutes or billions of years and we would not be the wiser.

Instead, the story of creation as given in the first book of Genesis illustrates God’s pre-eminence and supreme power over creation. This is first acknowledged in verse 2 when it says, “…and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) If you notice, it does not say God was hovering IN the waters. Rather, this verse is illustrating God’s supreme power over the universe. He acted above the “waters.” These “waters” were to become what we know as the universe. God, being the creator, rules over the universe and dictates how it should be.

This is further illustrated in each day. In six verses it says, “God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25) This means that God found the final product pleasing. The things He had created were exactly what He desired them to be.

To illustrate, imagine that you are an artist trying to create a sculpture of a tree. In your mind, you have a vision of what that tree looks like. You start carving away at a block of stone trying to bring that sculpture to reality. When finished, you step back to view what you have done. If the sculpture is exactly how you desired it, then you will be pleased. You will see that it is good.

The word “good” used in these verses simply means “pleasing.” God finds things pleasing to His person and then deems them as good. Humans also have a sense of good and evil, we also find things pleasing to our person. We may eat a bowl of rocky road ice cream and say, “that is good.” The ice cream is good because it is pleasing to our physical sense of taste. We might also see a person give money to charity and say “that is good.” The act of giving is pleasing to our sense of morality. We might witness the murder of new born baby and say, “that is evil” because it is displeasing to our sense of morality.

God, being the creator of all things, established the order and design of all things. When the things God has created act according to God’s design (in other words, when they fulfill the God’s purpose or will), they are pleasing to God. However, when they act against God’s will, they are displeasing to God.

Imagine again the sculpture in the previous illustration. Let us say that you are an inexperienced artist who has never chiseled a piece of stone. In your mind, you have an image of what you want to create. However, every time you attempt to sculpt this into a block of stone, a distorted figure surfaces. The final product would be displeasing to you because it did not become what you wanted it to be. At this point, you would have to discard the disfigured sculpture and start again.

This did not happen with God. In verse 31 of Genesis it says, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” All that God created was exactly as He desired. He found it pleasing. Because of this, God then rested at the completion of His work. (Genesis 2:2) There was nothing more God needed to do in the work of creating and so God rested. He had ordered the purpose of all things. “He set the earth on its foundations.” (Psalms 104:5). All was as He desired.

The Purpose of Man

In creating, God had a particular desire as to how He wanted all things to be. Like a master engineer, He had developed blueprints for the entire system of the universe as to how all things would operate. Like a successful builder, He saw those designs through to completion so that in the end He was pleased with His work. On the last day of His work, He created humanity.

Over the first six days, we see a steady progression as God finishes one day beginning the next. Six times, God pauses seeing that it is good. In the process, he paused after created the first man and said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” (Genesis 2:18) The purpose God had for humanity was not met in one male alone. God desired more. In creating humanity, God created a need for community. To meet this need, God created a partner to join the male, the first female. These two together pleased God.

This scripture highlights a significant truth concerning humanity. We were not created to be alone. It was God’s desire from the very beginning that we would build relationships with other people. God created us for community which means that we have an innate dependence upon other people. We need other human beings to form one whole or to reach a state of being complete. We are not complete or perfect in and of ourselves.

This also means we were not created to be autonomous. Just as we need one another, we need something to unite us in our diversity. We need a leader to rule over us so that we might be bound together as one people under one common law. At the beginning, God was our authority and rule. The first man and woman lived together in harmony under the care of God. He bound them together in purpose.

Genesis 1:26-7 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” God created humanity in His image and likeness. It is important to note that the above Scriptures do not say that God created man to BE His image. If God had created man to BE His image, then humanity would be God on earth. The image of God is the person of God. To see the image of God is to see God. If I were to look at you, I would see your image. If I were to look at a photograph, I would see an image created in your image.

Humans were not created to be God; rather, we were created in His likeness. We were created to be a reflection of God like the moon reflects the sun. When the light of the sun hits the moon, the moon illuminates beautifully in the night sky. When the moon is full, we are able to see through the darkness of night. However, when the moon is eclipsed by the earth causing the light of the sun to be blocked, the moon cannot be seen in the night sky. Without the sun, the moon is just a ball of dust as it cannot produce any light of its own.

Humans were created to reflect the light of God. We cannot produce any light of our own, in other words, we cannot produce life and goodness apart from God. Our life is dependent upon God to sustain us. Without God, we are just a ball of dust.

This establishes an important relationship and need for God. Our lives are directly dependent upon Him for the fulfillment of our purpose. God created us in His likeness: to be like His image and reflect His light. However, we need God to give us His light. If humanity is separated from God and cut off from His source of light, then we become dull, empty, and incomplete.

In reflecting the image of God, we also see in verse 26 that we were made to rule over the earth. As God has pre-eminence over all things, we were created to rule over the earth. We were to rule over the earth as God rules, with love and care. In our day, rule is exemplified in corrupt kings and politicians who abuse power for their own selfish motives. To rule means to control with force and oppression. When given authority, many immediately think of ways to use that authority for selfish ends. This is shown by the wealth and status of those who rule. What ruler lives below the means of the lowest person they rule? Those in power live in abundance and wealth while those under power live under them in poverty. Governors live in mansions, while commoners live in houses. When have you ever seen a homeless Governor while there was a homeless commoner? When have you ever seen a CEO earn less money than the janitor? This is the way of this world. Those with power use it to leverage their own advantage. This, however, is not the way of God.

If indeed God is the supreme creator of the universe, then by nature God needs nothing. God created all things, so what Has He to gain? Throughout the book of Genesis, we see God at work making things according to His desire by the work of His hands. God has given the universe everything it needs to exist and operate according to His design. The universe exists because God gave and continues to give. If God were to take anything from it, this would contradict His supremacy as God. He would be dependent upon creation to fulfill some inadequacy. He would not truly be God. However, this is not the case. God is perfect and complete. Therefore, creation offers Him nothing. This means His motive is pure love. God gives because this is His desire, in other words, it is His nature. His nature is love and His desire is good. Our own life is no exception to this. We have life because God has given us life. We live because of Him. And it is His desire that we live. (Ezekiel 18:32) God wants us to live in absolute goodness and love just as He is absolute goodness and love.

As such, we were not created to rule over the earth as a leech drawing blood from it. We were created to rule as God does, with love and care. In Genesis 2:15, it says the first man was placed in the Garden of Eden to “work it and take care of it.” Humanity was created to help sustain life within the garden by caring for the needs there. We were created to give of our life in pleasure for the welfare of all life, in peace and harmony with God and all things.

Two Trees

God placed the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden with “trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9) And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

Under God’s care, Adam and Eve were provided with trees pleasing to their senses. They offered food to sustain them and beauty to enjoy. At the center of the garden, however, were two trees that offered them a choice into a new level of being. One tree offered eternal life where they could live forever in relationship with God. The other tree offered the knowledge of good and evil where they could independently decide what is right or wrong for themselves and suffer while finding their own way.

In the garden, God offered them complete freedom with only one restriction: do not eat off the tree of knowledge. They were permitted to eat from any other tree including the tree of life. However, the tree of knowledge came with a restriction and consequence. If they ate from the tree knowledge, they would suffer death. God gave this command for their good. Knowing full well the implications of eating off the tree of knowledge, God warned them. However, He did not strip them of their choice. They had the freedom to choose.

In this, we see a responsibility and accountability given to Adam and Eve. God could have easily removed the tree from the garden. Without the tree, Adam and Eve would have eternally lived in harmony with God. They would have never had a choice as to whether or not to trust and obey. They could have always lived happily in the garden. Instead, they were given the responsibility of having the tree made available to them. How would they respond to God’s command and the appeal of the tree? Would they respond rightly and do what is good in the eyes of God? Or would they respond poorly and bring harm upon themselves?

In addition to responsibility, they were held accountable. God could have given them the choice without any repercussions. He could have said, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” and left it at that. However, this would have belittled the significance of the act. For Adam and Eve to truly understand the weight and importance of the choice being offered them, God held them accountable by showing the effect of their actions. If they chose to disobey, they would be punished as is good, just, and fair.

Why were they given this choice? If Adam and Eve were to fulfill their purpose of reflecting the image of God fully, they must also choose what is good just as God chooses what is good. They were created for a higher purpose that called for a choice. It was not enough that they were created to rule. If they were truly to rule in love just as God does, they must be free to choose.

At the core of our design and purpose is a greater calling. We were not created to be servants. We were created to rule. We were not created to be alone. We were created for relationship. We were not created to be robots. We were created for love.