Read Genesis 1:1-2.

Introduction⤒🔗

Many years ago, the brilliant scientist, Sir Isaac Newton, made a working model of the solar system. At the center of his model was a large golden ball representing the sun. Revolving around it were the planets, represented by smaller spheres attached to the ends of rods of varying lengths.

One day a friend who did not accept the biblical account of creation stopped by to visit Newton. When he came into Newton’s study and saw the working model of the solar system, he exclaimed, “What an exquisite thing! Who made it?”

“No one,” replied Newton.

“No one?” the man responded with a look of unbelief and skepticism.

“That’s right,” continued Newton, “these various-sized spheres and rods and gears just happened to come together and form this intricate working model.”

Newton’s friend got the message: If this little table model bore silent testimony to its creator, how much more do the heavens declare the glory of God their Creator!

Sinful man willfully ignores the fact that the LORD our God is the Creator of the world and all things in it:

¹⁸...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. ¹⁹God’s wrath is being revealed because that which is known about God is evident to men; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰Since the creation of the world, the invisible attributes of God, namely, his everlasting power and divinity, have been clearly seen, being perceived through the things that have been made. So men are without excuse;²¹because, knowing God, they did not glorify him as God, neither did they give thanks; rather, they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened... ²⁵they exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is forever blessed. Amen.Rom. 1:18-21,25

The first sentence of the first chapter of the first book of the Bible sets before us the truth about God as the Creator of the world and all that it contains, in contradistinction to the false views held by sinful man. We must acknowledge the fact that the LORD our God is the Creator of all things and we must refrain from entertaining any unbiblical and ungodly views of the world.

God is the Sovereign Creator←⤒🔗

In the beginning...←↰⤒🔗

The very first words of the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth,” teach the absolute beginning of all things (space, time, energy, matter)—at a particular point in eternity, the immortal God brought everything into existence out of nothing.¹

On May 29, 1919, Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity was validated. On that day, on the island of Principe off the coast of West Africa, and at Sobral in Brazil, photos were taken of a solar eclipse; those photos confirmed the truth of Einstein’s theory. Einstein immediately recognized the implications of his theory and looked for a way to avoid those implications. In an effort to do so, he arbitrarily introduced into his theory something called “the cosmological constant.”

But in the years that followed, the brilliant astronomer, Edwin Hubble, demonstrated that Einstein’s original theory of general relativity was correct without the added “cosmological constant.”

What did Einstein’s theory demonstrate? What was the implication/conclusion he was seeking to avoid?

Einstein’s equations of general relativity revealed that the universe is simultaneously expanding and decelerating. This aspect of his theory implied that the universe began this expansion at a specific time in the distant past. Einstein immediately realized the theological implication: a beginning requires a Creator. To avoid the conclusion, he arbitrarily introduced his infamous “cosmological constant,” which forced his equations to predict an infinite and static universe.

But, Edwin Hubble showed Einstein that the galaxies were, indeed, moving away from us, and the farther you looked the faster those distant galaxies were receding. This evidence proved to Einstein that the universe is, indeed, expanding and that his original equations were correct, without the “cosmological constant.” Einstein came to admit that there is, in his words, “a superior reasoning Power behind it all.”

Based on this theory of relativity, which is now extremely well proven, Steven Hawking and Roger Penrose developed the space-time theorem of general relativity. This theorem establishes that not only were matter, energy, and space created, but time was created as well.²

...God created...←↰⤒🔗

According to the O.T. commentator, H.C. Leopold, verb בָּרָא, occurring in the Hebrew Qal tense, always means "to create," and is only applied to a divine creation, the production of something that had no existence before.³ In this initial act of creation God brought into existence the very materials He would fashion and form in the subsequent acts of creation. As St. Augustine wrote in his Confessions (XIII.33),

...you created them from nothing, not from your own substance or from some matter not created by yourself or already in existence, but from matter that you created at one and the same time as the things that you made from it.⁴

Consider the testimony of Revelation 4:11,

You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and to exercise the power; for you did create all things, and because of your will they were brought into being, indeed, they were created.

The Hebrew verb בָּרָא (occurring in the Qal tense) is used only of God in the Scriptures, and implies absolute creation, (creation without the use of pre-existing material). This concept is utterly different from ancient pagan creation stories, such as the Babylonian Enuma Elish or the Greek poem on origins by Hesiod, called, Theogony. These ancient accounts picture a god working on some sort of already existing primeval “stuff.”⁵

He that did the creative work is identified as God, or, Elohim, ( אֶלהִימ ). This Hebrew name is derived from a root meaning “to fear” or “to reverence.” It, therefore, conceives of God as the one who by His nature and His works rouses man’s fear and reverence. The work recorded in chapter one of Genesis in a very outstanding way sets forth God’s mighty works of power and majesty. God’s omnipotence outshines all other attributes in this account. Omnipotence rouses man’s reverence and holy fear⁶ Note the commentary by the divinely inspired Psalmist as recorded in Psalm 33:6,8-9,

⁶By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, and the starry host by the breath of his mouth... ⁸Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him; ⁹for he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

...the heavens and the earth←↰⤒🔗

The Hebrew phrase translated, “the heavens and the earth,” consistently refers to the totality of the physical universe: all of the matter and energy and whatever else it contains.⁷ The statement, “God created the heavens and the earth,” also includes the creation of all the spiritual beings as well as the entire physical realm.

In Colossians 1:16 the Apostle Paul declares, “by him [Christ] were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth.” Paul goes on to define the things of the earth as “things that are visible” and the things in the heavens as “things that are invisible.” Among the “things that are invisible” Paul lists “thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.” He concludes by stating, “all things have been created through him [Christ] and for him.”

The Creation is God’s Majestic Handiwork←⤒🔗

God the Creator as Master←↰⤒🔗

Workman←↰⤒🔗

In Genesis one God reveals Himself as the Master Workman (note Job 38:1-7 and Proverbs 8:22-31, printed below) who carries out His awesome work of creation in the course of a six-day workweek that culminates in a Sabbath rest on the seventh day.

¹Then the LORD answered Job out of the tempest. He said, ⁴Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? ⁵Who marked off its dimensions? Who stretched a measuring line across it? ⁶or who laid its cornerstone— ⁷while the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God sang for joy?Job 38:1-7

²²The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old... ²⁹...when he marked out the foundations of the earth. ³⁰At that time I was with him, a master craftsmanProv. 8:22-31

Note: In this passage, divine wisdom, which may be a poetic representation of the pre-incarnate Christ,⁸ is giving its testimony.     

The Perspective of Genesis 1:2←↰⤒🔗

Genesis 1:2 reads, And the earth was formless and empty; and darkness was over the surface of the deep; and the Spirit of God moved upon the surface of the waters.

It is important, here, to appreciate three things. First, the Genesis account of creation was recorded by Moses about 3500 years ago and was intended to communicate to as many people—ancients through moderns—as possible; thus, the creation events necessarily are described in the simplest possible terms. Second, the apparent purpose of the account is to document various demonstrations of God’s miraculous power in forming the Earth and life upon it. Therefore, with obvious necessity, the account is selective. Only brief sequences in the development of the planet and its life forms are given. In fact, only the twelve most stunning miracles God performed in shaping the Earth and life are described. Third, the point of view, or frame of reference, of the Genesis creation account is established in Genesis 1:2 as “the surface of the deep...over the waters.” In other words, the events of creation are being described from the perspective of an observer on the surface of the ocean, (which at that time covered the entire Earth), and below the cloud layers.⁹

We may say that God is not describing His work of creation to us from His divine perspective, looking down on the creation; rather, He is describing His work to us from our earthly perspective, as though He were standing beside us upon the earth describing His works to us. Note, also, that from Genesis 1:2 and following, the focus of the creation account is on planet Earth, the rest of the universe is only referred to incidentally (cp. 1:16c).

The Initial Condition of the Earth←↰⤒🔗

In Genesis 1:2 the initial condition of the earth is described as being “formless and empty.” The first Hebrew word, תֹּהוּ, (translated, “formless”), basically means "unformedness" and so can come to mean "a waste," or, "wasteland," only in the sense of being not yet put into shape, not in the sense of having been laid waste by some catastrophe. The second term, בֹהוּ, is derived from a root meaning “to be empty,” therefore, “emptiness.” Both terms together then indicate two directions in regard to which the newly created world will undergo further changes. First, the earth must be shaped and formed into definite molds; secondly, it must be peopled (or populated) with all kinds of inhabitants or beings.¹⁰

The next phrase, “and darkness was upon the surface of the deep,” indicates the last two incompletenesses characteristic of this newly formed earth. All of what had thus far come into existence was wrapped in complete and absolute darkness. This is the first of this latter pair of "incompletenesses.”¹¹ The astronomer, Hugh Ross, writes, “Theory and observation both confirm that all planets start with opaque atmospheres, (i.e. atmospheres that are dense and do not allow light to pass through them to the planet). Thick layers of...gases, ...combined with a dense shroud of interplanetary dust and debris, guarantees that no sunlight (or starlight) can reach the surface of a primordial planet such as early Earth.”¹²

The second, in this latter pair of "incompletenesses," is that what lay under the darkness was “the deep.” Since “the deep,” derived from the Hebrew root word,תְּהֹומ,meaning “to resound,” signifies the surging, raging primeval waters, the term implies anything but a monotonous peace and uniformity.¹³ Hence, at the time of its inception, the earth was covered with a vast, surging body of water, which will need to be confined to specific parts of the planet if the earth is to be populated with advanced animal life and human life.

Conclusion←⤒🔗

The opening verse of the Bible introduces us to God as the Creator of all things. Genesis 1:2 describes for us the earth, which will be the focal point of the Genesis account, in its original state at the time of its creation. The following verses of Genesis one will describe the mighty acts of God as He fashioned the earth into the final form for which He intended it, and populated it with a myriad of animals and finally, man, the crown of God's creation. In the next study we will consider the six days of creation up to the creation of man. (The creation of man and the culmination of God's creative work will be the subject of the following study.)

Discussion Questions←⤒🔗

1. How does sinful man respond to God’s creation and the testimony with which it confronts him? See Rom. 1:18-21, 25 How did Albert Einstein seek to suppress the truth? When do you find yourself suppressing or resisting the truth of God? Why do you do so?

¹⁸...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness. ¹⁹God’s wrath is being revealed because that which is known about God is evident to men; for God made it evident to them. ²⁰Since the creation of the world, the invisible attributes of God, namely, his everlasting power and divinity, have been clearly seen, being perceived through the things that have been made. So men are without excuse; ²¹because, knowing God, they did not glorify him as God, neither did they give thanks; rather, they became futile in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened... ²⁵they exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is forever blessed. Amen.Rom. 1:18-21, 25

2. What did St. Augustine write in his Confessions (XIII.33) about God the Creator? What does Revelation 4:11 say about God our Creator? What does this passage tell us about God’s ability? How should we respond to such a God?

¹¹You are worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and to exercise the power; for you did create all things, and because of your will they were brought into being, indeed, they were created.Rev. 4:11

3. How does the biblical account of creation differ from pagan creation stories, such as those found in Babylonian and Greek literature? What does this tell us about those pagan accounts? Were they derived from God, or from man’s own human speculation?

4. Genesis 1:1 identifies the Creator as “God,” or, in Hebrew, “Elohim.” According to the biblical commentator, H.C. Leupold, from what Hebrew root word is “Elohim” derived? What attitude should we have toward Him? See Psl. 33:6, 8-9 Do you respond to God with a reverential fear?

⁶By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, and the starry host by the breath of his mouth... ⁸Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him; ⁹for he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.Psl. 33:6, 8-9

5. From what perspective does the Book of Genesis describe God’s work of creation to us? Why do you think God has revealed His work of creation to us from this perspective? What does this tell us about God our Creator?