Other Details Of Creation Series

June 18, 2013

Commentary on the Book of Genesis

By: Tom Lowe

Lesson I.A.10: Other Details of Creation

Gen. 2.4-7 (KJV)

4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Introduction

In the first chapter we saw that there was nothing, and then the inorganic came into existence: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The next step in creation was the organic, that is, the creation of life. We saw that in verse 21, where it says that God created great whales and then all animal life. He created animal life, but the plant life already existed and became food for all the animals. Then man is the next step in the creation. There is actually no natural transition, and evolution cannot bridge the gap that brings us to the appearance of Homo sapiens on the earth. The earth, therefore, was prepared for the coming of man.

Here, a name given to the Creator, "Jehovah." Where the word "LORD" is printed in capital letters in our English Bibles, in the original it is "Jehovah." Jehovah is that name of God, which denotes that He alone has his being (essence, life) of himself, and that He gives being (essence, life) to all creatures and things. Furthermore, notice is taken of plants and herbs, because they were made and consigned to be food for man. The earth did not produce its fruits by itself: this was done by the almighty power of God. Likewise grace does not grow naturally in the soul, but is the work of God. Rain also is the gift of God; it cannot rain until the Lord God causes it to do so. Though God works by exerting His power and influence over men and nature, nonetheless when it pleases Him to do so, He can do His work without them; and though we must not tempt God by neglecting our duty to Him, we must trust God, both in His use of us and His purpose. Some way or other, God will water the plants which He has planted. Divine grace comes down like the dew, and waters the church without making any noise. Man was made out of the minute particles of dust, like that on the surface of the earth. The soul was not made from the earth, as was the body; therefore, if it cares for only earthly things it should be pitied. Remember, we must shortly give an accounting to God about how we have used these souls; and if He should discover that we have lost our souls, though we may have gained the world, we are more than any other man the most miserable and will remain that way forever! Fools despise their own souls, by caring for their bodies more than they do for their souls.

Commentary

4 These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created,

This is the first of ten section headings in Genesis—“These are the generations” (see 5:1; 6:9; 10:1; 11:10; 11:27; 25:12; 25:19; 36:1; 37:2). The term “generations” is actually better rendered as “histories of,” and the phrase is foundational to the structure of the book. “These” verses “are the” history or account of the creation “of the heavens and of the earth.” Where did Moses obtain this account, which was so different from the strange and absurd fantasies of the heathen? He could not have got it from any human source, because man did not exist at the time; and not from the illumination of nature or reason, since though they proclaim the eternal power and Godhead by the things which are made, they cannot tell how they were made. Only the Creator Himself could give this information, and therefore it is through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God—“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Heb 11:3; KJV). There are two explanations for the origin of this universe. One is speculation, and the other is revelation. By faith we accept revelation, and, my friend, by faith you will accept speculation. Speculation has many theories, and many of them have been abandoned. Right now the theory is evolution, but even evolution, I am told, is going out of style today. It is the best the unbeliever can hold on to, but it is mere speculation, and they have to have a whole lot of faith to go along with it!