Lesson for June 3, 2020
Knowing the Bible
Lesson 3
Creation of the Heavens and the Earth
Genesis 1:1-13
When examining the creation of the universe, which includes planet earth, we will consider only what the Bible says about these events. It is not my intention to delve into scientific data or attempt to disprove the theory of evolution. If a person believes the Bible, he cannot believe in the theory of evolution – they are not compatible. It must also be pointed out that there are numerous theories about the creation of the universe among Christians. Some Christian scientists attempt to make the Bible fit their particular theory, instead of letting the Bible interpret itself. A lack of study of the original languages leads one to a misunderstanding of Creation. We will examine the words from the original languages that describe Creation in order to arrive at an accurate understanding of these events. The Bible is not a science book, but when it speaks of true science it is always accurate.
Verse 1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” This verse seems very straightforward as stated, but let’s examine the original Hebrew words in the context and some Greek words referring to Creation. Verse one is the only verse in Genesis that presents the original creation of the universe. The Hebrew language in this verse is a key to understanding Creation. There are three words in Hebrew for creation: Bara, Jatsar and Asah. “Bara” means to create something out of nothing. “Jatsar” means to fashion something on the exterior like a sculptor. “Asah” means to build out of something that already exists. These words are important to our understanding of the account of Creation.
“In the beginning” is a prepositional phrase made up of the Hebrew words “be” meaning “in,” plus “rishah” meaning “beginning.” However, in the Hebrew there is no definite article. Therefore, this indicates “a” beginning, not “the” beginning. A more literal translation would be “In a beginning that was not a beginning” which is a reference to eternity past when the original earth was created. We have a similar verse in John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” The Greek words are “en arche” and mean the same as the Hebrew – first beginning. John refers to the existence of God in eternity past and Moses, the writer of Genesis, refers to the existence of the universe in eternity past.
The truth is that it did not take six days to create the universe as many think it did. Its creation was instantaneous and occurred sometime in eternity past before man was created. Therefore, we cannot put a date on the age of planet earth. What we find upon examination of the Bible is that after the creation of the universe and between the creation of angels and man, the earth became chaotic. This chaos was most likely the result of a battle among the elect and fallen angels (Satan as their leader) and God’s judgment of them we call the Angelic Conflict. The Angelic Conflict is the result of Lucifer (Satan) and one-third of the angelic beings rebelling against God when all the angels made a decision for or against God.
The Angelic Conflict refers to two “trials” of Satan and fallen angels, the original trial in eternity past and the appeal trial during human history. There are five satanic “I will’s” that caused Lucifer (Satan) to rebel against God: 1) Pride when Satan said he would ascend into Heaven and take over the throne of God and replace Him 2) Inappropriate ambition when Satan said he would exalt his throne above the stars (angels) of God and rule over all the angels 3) Power lust when Satan said he would sit in the mount of the congregation and rule over earth 4) Ego lust when Satan said he would ascend above the heights of the clouds and displace God as the Sovereign of the universe and override His authority 5) Power madness when Satan said “I will be like the Most-High” and counterfeit God in every way. (Isaiah 14:12-15; Ezekiel 28:15-16)
“God created” is the Hebrew words “Elohim bara” meaning God (Elohim which is a plural noun) and “bara” meaning created which is a singular verb. Together they are an indication of the Trinity. Therefore, the entire Godhead was involved in Creation. “The heavens and the earth” are the Hebrew words “ha shamajim” (notice the “im” suffix indicating a plural) and “ha aretz” meaning heavens (plural) and earth (singular). This verse should say, “In a beginning, which was not a beginning, in eternity past, God created out of nothing the heavens (universe) and the earth.”
Verse 2
“The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.” Since we know that the earth was created perfect by a perfect God in eternity past, the word “was” should be translated “had become.” It was created perfect, but it became formless and void. Formless and void are the Hebrew words “tohu waw bohu” –meaning desolate and empty. Animal life and plant life no longer existed on earth. The earth had become desolate and empty. And darkness was over the surface of the deep is the Hebrew word “choshek” for a darkness that keeps out light and heat, and “tehom” for deep meaning raging waters. Absence of light and heat would result in ice (perhaps a reference to the Ice Age). Under this ice were the raging waters.
And the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. The Hebrew words for the Spirit of God are “ruach Elohim” referring to the Holy Spirit. “Rachaph” is the Hebrew word for moving and means “to brood or to incubate.” The Holy Spirit incubated or provided heat to melt the ice pack. “Waters” is the Hebrew word “hamajim” and means “melted water.”
What was God doing? He was not creating the Universe, He is preparing the earth for habitation by mankind, animal life and plant life.
Verses 3-5
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”Light was necessary in the restoration of life on the earth for heat and energy. God was preparing the earth for habitation by man. The existence of light caused the earth to begin rotating. It became evening or dark and then it became light again as the earth was rotating. Up to this point the earth was held in an ice pack, unable to rotate. It was the incubation from the Holy Spirit and the introduction of light that caused the earth to begin to rotate once again. It should also be pointed out that the waters of the earth began to shape the earth’s surface.
Verse 6
“Then God said, ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”’ The Hebrew word for expanse is “raqija” and it means atmosphere. What God was doing was dividing the waters of the earth by the atmosphere. Some water will remain on earth’s surface and some water will be above the atmosphere. Our atmosphere, of course, is made up of gases and is unseen. We often call it the “air,” but the Bible calls it “atmosphere.”
Verse 7
“God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.” The Hebrew word for made is “asah” meaning to manufacture out of existing material. Verse 6 is the command from God the Father and verse 7 is the execution by God the Son Jesus Christ.
Verse 8
“God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.” The atmosphere was named by God. There are actually three heavens in Scripture: the atmosphere, the stars/planets and the abode of God.
The universe was created by an intelligent designer, God, not by the “big bang” theory. God is not the author of confusion; everything that He does is logical and organized. The Bible does not contradict true scientific data; it confirms it. And a person can have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe by faith in His Son Jesus Christ. There is an unseen Angelic Conflict going on, in which we as believers are involved. We can place our complete confidence in God and His Word.
Verses 9-13
“Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the gathering of the waters He called seas; and God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them, after their kind; and God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, a third day.” On the third day of restoration the earth was covered with water but God separated the dry land which He called earth from the waters which He called seas. The Hebrew states that the water came up from under the earth. Prior to the time of Noah, there was no rain on the earth because God had a system whereby all of the earth was watered by water which came up from the earth. When Noah’s flood came, water came from above and below the earth. The rain from above that would have been necessary to cover and flood the earth would have destroyed Noah’s ship. (Psalm 104:5-10) God saw it was good means that He was providing perfect environment for Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve would need food so God provided vegetation, seeds and fruit trees for them.
What is the practical application of this study of the first three days of creation, as God prepares the earth for habitation by man? There are several applications: 1) the universe was created by an intelligent designer, God, not by the “big bang” theory 2) God is not the author of confusion; everything that He does is logical and organized 3) the Bible does not contradict true scientific data; it confirms it 4) believers can have a personal relationship with the Creator of the universe through Jesus Christ 5) there is an unseen Angelic Conflict going on in which we as believers are involved 6) We can place our complete confidence in God and His Word in every circumstance of life.