God Created

God Created… (Genesis 1:14-25) *All verses in NLT*

– The book of Genesis is the story of how everything began. From God creating all things, to God and Abraham’s covenant relationship, to our history as God’s people… Genesis creates the foundation that the rest of the Bible builds on. It isn’t just where we came from, but describes who God is.

– Moses is the author of the book of Genesis. He communicated it to the people of Israel at the beginning of the Exodus. The people had just been slaves in Egypt for 400 years, but needed to know who their God really was if they were going to truly be free and enter into the Promised Land.

– The people had a slave mindset. Captive. They had been surrounded by the pagan culture their whole lives; born into it. How much about the true God do they even know? How much history had been lost? They carried pagan traditions with them and false ideas about life, they need to know the truth, their family story, history, traditions, God’s promises, and need to break free from the “world.”

– They need to understand God’s nature, and their place in His world if they are going to follow Him and serve Him. This is the same reason it is relevant to US today… SAME GOD!

– It is important to remember that many accounts in Genesis are descriptive, not prescriptive. The stories we read are not examples of what is morally right and wrong, but simply the accurate telling of our history, and life lessons learned along the way. They reveal the character of “man.”

– Humans are not the protagonist of the story, God is. God is the hero, and we are just players.    God is the “main character” of Genesis and the Bible, and when you read it that way, it makes a lot more sense, and the truth and meaning are more easily revealed. (It’s not about you!)

– Even through the story of creation, we are not created until the 6th day. The story of creation isn’t about who we are, it’s about who God is, His character, His standard, His all-powerful attributes… 

– Today we continue with the creation story: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”  The Egyptians, along with the peoples surrounding the Promised Land, often worshipped the creation, and false gods. We, as Christians, will worship only the Creator. 

– Understanding Genesis and God as Creator is foundational to having a Christian Worldview. 

– This is relevant, because in many ways we are in the same situation as the Israelites:

– Born into a pagan culture, and a slavery mindset…

– We need to be set free in our minds and learn who the real God is, and stop worshipping created things, materialism, celebrities, money… and need to devote ourselves to God alone.

– We need to understand God as He reveals Himself to us, not how we think/want Him to be…

– God reveals Himself through creation. He has set a natural order to things. He has made things perfect, and designed them for a purpose. BEFORE the fall and humans bringing sin into the world.

– Your filter should be: Creation was perfect. Man brought sin. What God created, sin corrupted. 

Genesis 1:14-25, Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years. 15 Let these lights in the sky shine down on the earth.” And that is what happened. 16 God made two great lights—the larger one to govern the day, and the smaller one to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set these lights in the sky to light the earth, 18 to govern the day and night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fourth day.

20 Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 Then God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply. Let the fish fill the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And evening passed and morning came, marking the fifth day.

24 Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened. 25 God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.

– These are days 4-6, God is filling the domains He created in days 1-3. 

– The “lights in the sky” (stars) mark the days, seasons, and years. They help us track time. Our and their calendar, festivals, celebrations, etc.. are all set in motion and tracked by this created metric.

– The “two great lights” (sun and moon), In pagan cultures, the sun and moon were worshipped as gods, but Genesis says that God created them and controls them… and they have God’s purpose. 

– Also, contrary to pagan beliefs about the mystery or the sea and wild sea creatures and monsters, God created all of that and controls it… So, the Israelites need not fear God’s creation, or believe in “other gods” that are all fake. Mystery solved: God created everything and is all-powerful!

– Pagans were also consumed with the idea of fertility, and practiced rituals and sacrifices trying to gain fruitfulness… Moses lets them all know that only the One True God can give the command to “be fruitful and multiply”  to all living things. 

– The focus of the creation story is on the power/purpose of the Creator, not on the creation itself.

– The psalmist testifies to this over and over:

– Psalm 136:7-9, Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights— His faithful love endures forever. 8 the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever. 9 and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever.

– Psalm 19:1, The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

– Psalm 148:5, Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being.

– Tonight’s sermon seemed like the perfect time to talk about creation vs evolution, but I don’t want to do that. Foundationally, the truths of the Bible are not up for debate… nor should they be.

– If you believe in an all-powerful God with the power of life and death in his hands, a virgin birth, and other miracles, why is it hard to believe in a literal creation account and timeline?

– If you want scientific evidence for creation, read the book, “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist” (by Norman Geisler). The details and scientific arguments SUPPORTING creation are fascinating! (It takes more faith to believe in time and chance, than it does a miraculous God…)

The main point: The creation story teaches us about God and His character. He is a God of natural order and purpose. Everything has a plan and design. His plan is perfect for us as He designed it.

– Something as big and magnificent as all of creation is well within His plans and purpose, how much more so you and me, and the details of our lives? 

– Sometimes we start feeling overwhelmed by the pressures and responsibilities we face day-to-day, but we can find reassurance in knowing that God is intimately involved in our lives. 

– God gives us peace in knowing that every detail is under His care. His promise to guide us offers a sense of comfort and hope. By relying on God’s assurance, we can face each day with confidence.

Application:

1. We need to trust God, not man (created). That should be the foundation of our thoughts/plans.

– Psalm 18:30, God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

– Psalm 37:5, Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

2. God knows what he is doing, even when we do not… He cares about YOUR details.

– Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

– Isaiah 55:8-9, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 

– Matt 10:29-31, What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

– Psalm 37:23-24, The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Conclusion:

– Genesis, and the story of creation, taught Israel (and us) that the one true God created all things, and has absolute authority over, all things. He alone is worthy of worship.

– The ancient poly-theistic world worshipped elements of nature as gods, but genesis shows that nature is created by God and moves at His will… This should fundamentally change your perspective and worldview.

– What are you putting our faith/hope in today, the creation or the Creator? (He holds your future!)

– God is bigger than politics, and counties, weather, and wars… and your problems…

– Isaiah 43:1-3, But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

– Put your faith and hope in Jesus, our Savior!

– prayer –