The first thing I would like to do is go around the room and ask the question “what is the most you can get done in a week?”
I’ll go first.
If I really and I mean REALLY put my mind to it, I can edit a few podcast voice memos, post reels, my scripture of the week, prepare bible study notes and read. In reality I spend my time in bed, allowing procrastination to dwell on me like a weighted blanket until I have enough energy to throw it off me and get some work done. As I type this near eleven p.m. with a mild headache I’m even questioning why I waited so long to do this when I had the whole day to do it.
Aren’t you glad that God isn’t a procrastinator like us? I know I am. Can you imagine him creating the earth each day and then shrugging to himself saying “eh I got time” as each day kept going by until he’s like “oops, let me finish what I started.” It brings me comfort knowing that his timing is the best timing. If anything I should be taking notes on how to better my time management from Him.
Let’s keep in mind that before God created everything there was nothing. Literally, without a form similar to a void. For a better reference, close your eyes for five seconds then open it. This is how I imagine the “nothing” being created into something because at first when you close your eyes you see nothing but darkness. There are no forms, no shapes, no colors, etc. There is simply emptiness but once you open your eyes you see the shapes, the colors, the variety of life and the forms. Darkness is also a potent biblical symbol of evil and wrong, which makes it even more symbolic with God bringing light into darkness. As God’s children one of our titles is literally “child of the light” because God represents the light. The term “created”, a verb, means to fashion a new. In other words, to make from nothing. “Elohim” (meaning plural of majesty) a.k.a. God is the sole actor in creation. That’s cool, I can get down with that. So, for the pleasure of skipping around the chapter I want to point out verse 26:
“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26 NKJV
The key word is “Let us”. Here is the first chapter of Genesis. The beginning. The history of creation. In the literal first two verses it says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:1-2 NKJV). The Hebrew word for Spirit is “Ruah” which means wind or breath, acting as his agent in creation. If we know that God himself created everything then who the heck is He talking to? Me? You? Some random dwelling spirit in the back they forgot to mention? Who is it?
Verse 26 is a later revelation of the triune Godhead that consists of God the Father, Jesus Christ: the Son of God and the Holy Spirit. The author of Genesis is Moses, who got his information from God to write these details because where else would he get it? Humans aren’t even created yet, it’s not like Moses is chilling in the water with a book and writing utensils like “Oh wow Lord! What else is next? And can you make some land while you’re at it for me to stand on?” while taking notes. God told him to write this verse down because He said what He said, “let us”. This also shows that Jesus is not to be seen as a detachment from God, since He is God. If you want a full explanation I suggest you go to my page and watch the long video on my IGTV where I speak on the Trinity while knitting a yellow scarf that I keep forgetting to finish.
We the people (no this isn’t me about to recite the constitution) were created in God’s image. Now wait, don’t expect yourself to randomly call down fire from heaven when someone steps on your sneakers, or start thinking you hold God’s exact powers. We’re more diluted. In a more traditional view, God’s image is certain moral, ethical and intelligent/God placed humankind as living symbols of himself on earth to represent his reign. In more broad terms, “our likeness” -knowing God is Spirit there can be no “image” or “likeness” of him in the normal sense. WE are HIS image, it’s we who are in his likeness. To rule as God’s regent/people are to rule as God would wisely and prudently over all that God has made (ex. fish, cattle, birds and so on).
Moving to the first day: God creates the Heavens & Earth. The Hebrew word for Heavens is “Shamayim” (don’t ask me to say that out loud because I probably can’t) and this refers to sky and realm, just above the surface of the earth, otherwise known as a dwelling place of God. The Hebrew word for Earth is “erets” (I am more confident that I can pronounce this word but don’t count it) which is a temporal scene of human activity, experience and history. Let us not foolishly forget that God wasn’t out here popping nameless things to life, okay? Our Father was out here naming these elements. This showed not only his sovereignty, but his overall power over all. His Lordship. I like how the commentary points out that “each act of separation and distinction brings order out of disorder, form out of formlessness, cosmos out of chaos. (Three cheers for the Creator, He was on a role.)
To keep the pace moving along, God created the following the next couple of days:
- Separated water from the sky (I’m personally still trying to comprehend this imagery. It sounds amazing)
- Dry land, seas, vegetation
- Lights (signs to mark sacred times and days and years, two great lights, stars)
- Creatures of the sea, winged birds
- Land living creature, livestock
- Mankind and his authority to rule over the living creatures, reproduce, “fill the earth and subdue it”. All that jazz.
Since we know that God, the creator, created everything. It’s obvious that He created the stars. Fun fact about the stars (according to my handy dandy commentary): “In ancient Near East other religions worshipped, deified and mystified the stars and Israel’s neighbors revered the stars and looked to them for guidance, such a statement showed great contempt for ancient Babylonian astrology.” Another case of the people who don’t accept God, but accept the things HE created and choose to give their all into worshipping that.
God saw everything He made and saw it was good. Similar to a project we aim to work hard on and devote our time into until the work is done. Then, we look at it, see that it’s good and feel satisfied with what was done. The term good means favorable and it is a powerful term of God’s blessing. Anyways, after God created everything and saw it was good he rested. A.K.A. The birth of the Sabbath (Heb. Shabbat), which means to “cease”. In this case, ceasing from labor and dedicating the whole day to God by separating this day from the rest of the days. Even our powerful Creator rested! Remember not to overwork yourself. As you’ve probably seen within today’s society many people keep one day in each week special.
Overall, whatever day you choose to rest is on you. No one should be making anyone feel that they should only be resting on a certain day. Why? Well one of the important things to understand is we are restored both physically and spiritually when we take time to rest and focus on God on any day because Jesus made it clear that true rest is found through him.
We’ll go deeper into that another day.
PraiseBreak 