Creation
THE PATRIARCHAL AGE, the first period of Bible History, begins with the Creation. This period contains events which are well-known to many people. After creation these events follow in order: The Garden of Eden, Sacrifice for Sin, Wickedness (that filled the world), The Great Flood, Abraham and Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, Joseph in Egypt, The Birth of Moses and Moses Frees Israel. Now we begin the account of God’s Creation.
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). The first verse of the Bible tells that God is the Creator.1 The time of creation was “in the beginning.” Scientists now recognize five components that make up the world: time, force, energy, space and matter. All these components are in the very first words of the Bible: “In the beginning (time), God (force) created (energy) the heavens (space) and the earth (matter).”
1John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Hebrews 11:3
AT FIRST THE EARTH was a shapeless mass as suggested by this painting. The Bible says, “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 1:2). Then God commanded, “‘Let there be light.’”1 This is the first recorded command of God.
1Genesis 1:3
AT GOD’S WORD LIGHT CAME INTO existence. We know today that light is necessary to sustain life. The creation of light before life illustrates the fact that God created all things in logical order.
GOD SAID: “‘Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear . . .’” (Genesis 1:9)). God called the dry land “Earth,” and the bodies of waters “Seas.”1 The earth was now prepared for plant life.
1Genesis 1:10.
NEXT, GOD SPOKE, “‘Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself . . . .’”1 Every living thing was created first by miracle, full-grown and able to reproduce after its kind. But after the miracle creation, reproduction followed according to God’s natural laws. Though begun by miracle, God’s creation is sustained by constant natural laws.2
1Genesis 1:11. 2Genesis 8:22.
THE BIBLE SAYS, “Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also” (Genesis 1:16, 17). The stars include many galaxies other than our own. The Bible refers to several constellations of stars such as Orion and the Pleiades.1
1Job 38:31.
FISH, OTHER SEA CREATURES and fowls were next in order of creation. The Bible says, “So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good” (Genesis1:21).
LAND ANIMALS WERE CREATED NEXT. God ordered, “‘Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind;’ and it was so” (Genesis 1:24, 25).
HAVING PREPARED THE EARTH for man’s home complete with plant and animal life for his welfare, God then said, “‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness . . . .’”1 Since God is Spirit, His offspring is also a spirit being.2 Man’s fleshly body is only the temporary house of the spiritual man or soul which is destined to live forever.3 Therefore, man, made in God’s image, was God’s highest creation on earth. He is far different from all other creatures. When God the Father, said, “‘Let Us make man . . .’” He was speaking to the other two personalities of the Godhead: Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit who were coexistent with Him from eternity. God made man ruler over all His creation when He said, “‘. . . let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth . . .’” (Genesis 1:26).
1Genesis 1:26. 2Hebrews 12:9, 10. 32 Corinthians 5:6.
AT FIRST ADAM WAS THE ONLY HUMAN being, but God said, “‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’”1 So God made Eve, a wife and companion for Adam. Adam said, “‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh . . . .’” God decreed, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:23, 24). Later, Jesus used the record of this original marriage of one man to one woman as God’s definition of marriage for all time.2
1Genesis 2:18. 2Matthew 19:3-6.
THE GARDEN OF EDEN was God’s special home for Adam and Eve. God provided the garden because of His great love. It was a paradise on earth! God also gave Adam and Eve the ability to make a choice. He placed among all the trees one tree of which they were not to eat. God said, “‘ . . . for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die’” (Genesis 2:17). “Death” always involves a “separation.”