Genesis 3
Over the last couple weeks we’ve seen the beginnings of God’s creation take shape. Out of nothing God created a universe. Something that had never existed before. There was no precedent for this. But our omnipotent God designed and created everything that exists.
On the first day He created a ‘space’ that would contain the rest of His creation. He then made a formless earth and a light dispel the darkness.
The second day the sky over the earth takes shape as the Lord made the firmament to be a protective shield that encapsulated His creation.
The third day the Lord made the seas and the land and all the vegetation that would cover the dry land that He had made.
Then on the fourth day God made all of the celestial bodies in space – the sun, moon and stars.
But God wasn’t done yet. Now that the earth and the solar system were in place, it was time to bring some life into the picture. So on the fifth day God started filling the earth with thousands of different creatures that would fill the skies and the seas with life. On the fifth day:
I. God created the fish and the fowl
[Read Genesis 1:20-23.]
When God created the sea life and the birds the earth was abuzz with activity and life. Fish swimming, eagles flying, dolphins jumping, mockingbirds singing. It must have been quite a sight. Especially since the Lord made so many different kinds of fish and fowl.
Now we don’t know exactly how many species of birds and fish He made, and how many species have dies out since then, but we do know this. Currently, it’s estimated that there’s 10,000 species of birds and 30,000 species of fish alive on the earth right now. And every species unique in some way – that’s why they’re called a species.
So much creativity the Lord has. If I was creating birds and fish I might have only made a few species.
Turkey – thanksgiving Bluebirds – blue
Chicken – eggs Bass - fun to catch
Eagles – cool Dolphins – fun to watch
Mockingbirds – songs Snapper – fun to eat
Pigeons, Geese, jellyfish, and sharks probably wouldn’t have made the cut for obvious reasons. But God made so many different birds and fish! God created all bird life and sea life – even the sea monsters or sea dinosaurs like the plesiosaur which we find in the fossil record. As Moses wrote about the sea monsters, I think his immediate readers understood exactly what he was talking about. After all, Job and David both mention dinosaurs that roamed the earth.
[Mention Job 40-41 and Psalm 104. Read Job 40:15-41:1.]
Job and David mention sea and land dinos as a display of the Lord’s mighty power – just like Moses does as he mentions them specifically on the fifth and sixth day of creation.
[Read Genesis 1:21a.]
So the seas and the skies are now full of life. It’s time to fill the land as well. On the sixth day:
II. God created animals, insects and reptiles
[Read Genesis 1:24-25.]
Cattle – livestock
Creeping things – insects and reptiles
Beasts – other animals
Again, there are thousands and thousand of different species of life that walk the land. Too many to even count or keep track of. But God made them all.
And to think that some people espouse the theory that billions of years ago the earth, that accidentally came into existence, was covered with a primordial ooze that had a few single-cell organism floating around in it. That single-cell organism then sprouted a brain that began to think and to want more. “I want to swim !” So soon it developed fins. “I want to walk!” “Walk where?” “I don’t know, but I want to walk!” So the fins turned into legs. Soon, the walking brain found some land and decided it wanted to roar, so it turned into a dinosaur. The dinosaur then wanted to fly. I don’t know why he wanted to fly, perhaps he’ll die. Some of the dinos turned into birds, some turned into monkeys, (the ones afraid of height). And the monkeys turned into us. How quaint.
No. The Lord made every living creature that inhabits the earth. But He wasn’t finished yet. His greatest creation would also be made on the sixth day. So after God made the animals:
II. God created man
God had created this perfect world in this perfect universe. A world that was alive with
water, with vegetation, with birds, with sea life and with all kinds of animals. A world that could actually sustain itself in this perfect environment that the Lord had made. But it was a world that needed more. A world that God decided need man.
[Read Genesis 1:26-27.]
As we’ve discussed before. The triune God created man and woman in His image. A likeness to God that no other creature has. A likeness that includes:
- Morality - Intellect - Spiritual
- Will - Communication - Eternal
- Emotions - Relational
1. God created man to reflect His image.
But along with that:
2. God created man to replenish the earth.
[Read Genesis 1:28a.]
God told Adam and Eve to fill the earth with little Adams and Eves. Have lots of kids. Fill this earth with My image.
[Lisette’s family vs. my family.]
So God wanted the earth filled with people. But along with that:
3. God created man to rule the earth.
[Read Genesis 1:28.]
The earth, even though it was designed to be an eternal place that could self-perpetuate, it still needed someone to rule or govern or administrate things. Later in the book we’ll see exactly what that means, but basically the Lord told man and woman that this earth is your responsibility. I’ve given you everything you need to be successful, so take care of it.
I think we still have that responsibility today. We need to take care of our earth. Not that we all need to run outside and hug a tree, or trade in our cars for bicycles or adopt a cat, but we should take care of our earth.
[Crying Indian commercial story.]
We need to do our part. So, God created man to reflect His image, to replenish the earth and to rule the earth. Also:
4. God created man to rely on vegetation for sustenance.
[Read Genesis 1:29-30.]
Uh-oh. We were all created vegetarians! Don’t worry, chapter nine is coming where God told them they could eat meat. But, we were all designed to be vegetarians.
[Eating fresh vegetables and fruit in Texas story.]
Everything was now complete. The universe, the earth, and life were all existing in perfect harmony. Working together as God designed it.
[Read Genesis 1:31.]
But this perfect place wouldn’t stay perfect for very long. God’s greatest creation really messes up. So when you think about it, why in the world would God create us if we were just going to mess things up? We know that He’s omniscient, He knows everything, so then, why? Why would He make this elaborate, intricate, lavish, perfect world if we were just going to ruin everything? Because:
4. God created man to have a relationship with him.
That’s why He created us in His image. Because He is relational. Because He is communicable. Because He is emotional. Because He is intelligent. Because He is eternal. God wants to have relationship with us no matter the cost.
[Letting my kids cook illustration.]
When I let my kids cook, knowing there’s a good chance dinner and my kitchen could be wrecked, it’s a chance for me to get to know my kids better and to watch them grow. It’s exciting and fulfilling all at the same time.
I give them all the tools and instructions they need to be successful and then I let them have a chance to live. If I never let them try, if I never let them take a chance, if I never let them fail, they’ll never truly live. And what kind of relationship would we have if I never let them grow up.
God created man to reflect His image while he rules the earth and relies on the earth’s vegetation for food. But most of all, God created us to have a relationship with Him.
Remember, in the beginning God and man’s relationship was very different than it is now. I mean, before the fall of man Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden. They had a face-to-face relationship that was perfect. They had unabated access to their Creator while they fulfilled what they had been created for.
And what’s amazing still, is that even though we sometimes don’t reflect His image very well, He still wants to have a relationship with us. Even though we sometimes don’t replenish the earth very well, He still wants to have a relationship with us. And even though we sometimes don’t rule this earth very well, He still wants to have a relationship with us. So much so that Jesus died on the cross so the relationship with our Creator could be restored.
I can’t help but think that someday when we’re in Heaven we’ll be able to have the kind of relationship with God that we were created to have. Walking and talking with our Lord while we walk the streets of gold just like Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the garden.
Next week we’ll talk about what God did after creation was completed – He rested. Was He tired? Come next week to find out.
[Pray.]
