Illustration: [SLIDE 2] Two little boys were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble and their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in their town their sons were probably involved. The boys’ mother heard that a pastor in town was good at disciplining children, so she asked if he would speak with her boys. The clergyman agreed, but asked to see them individually. So the mother sent her 8-year-old first, in the morning, with the older boy to see the clergyman in the afternoon. The clergyman, a huge man with a booming voice, sat the younger boy down and asked him sternly, "Where is God?" The boy’s mouth dropped open, but he made no response. The pastor repeated the question, "Where is God!" Again the boy made no attempt to answer. So the pastor raised his voice even more and shook his finger in the boy’s face and bellowed, "WHERE IS GOD!" The boy screamed and bolted from the room, ran directly home and dove into his closet, slamming the door behind him. When his older brother found him in the closet, he asked, "What happened?" The younger brother replied "We are in BIG trouble this time, dude. God is missing - and they think WE did it!" from Jeffery Anselmi’s message: “A God of Order” www.sermoncentral.com
Illustration: [SLIDE 3] A little girl in Sunday School was busy drawing a picture and it was clear she didn’t want anyone to see it until she was finished. Her teacher asked, “what are you working on?” She said “I’m drawing a picture of God”. Her teacher said “No one knows what God looks like, sweetheart”. The little girl said “They will when I’m finished”.
[SLIDE 4] We start this morning an examination of the book of Genesis, the book of beginnings.
It is a book of the beginnings of many things, but it is, most importantly, an introduction to God and His relationship with humanity.
We see here the beginning of creation, yet that is not really the focus. The focus is God.
As the Psalmist said [SLIDE 5]
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.” Psalm 102:25-28
[SLIDE 6] Quote: “Many people get the mistaken impression that the Bible is Geo-centric (Geo - “Earth” as in Geography) In other words they believe the Bible is centered on the earth and mankind. And that’s partly true. But (sic) the Bible is actually “Theo-centric” . . . It’s centered on God”. –Jeff Strite www.sermoncentral.com
Today we are going to look at the nature of the God of Genesis-the God of the Bible.
[SLIDE 7] In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
These words introduce us to the God with Whom all of the major characters of the Bible interact.
We can see quite a lot about him just from this opening line of the Bible.
[SLIDE 8] Our God is Creator
He Continues with New Creation
His creative power is reason for Praise
His pre-existence is provides Him power to predict
Because He created the cosmos, He is able to keep a covenant
He created [SLIDE 9]
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ׃ Genesis 1:1 The first question is “Who created?”
Much has been stated about the fact that the book of Genesis begins at the beginning of creation and God is already there . . . and that God created the universe out of nothing (Bara). Please read and listen to commentaries if you are not familiar with these things.
[SLIDE 10] One aspect of these opening lines which is rarely discussed is the presence of the little Hebrew particle “et”. The אֵת (et) is a direct object marker. That’s no mystery. But the particle is made of the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet-The Aleph and Tau. If this were written in Greek it would say “In the beginning God Alpha Omega created the heavens and the earth.
Jesus introduced Himself in the Revelation
[SLIDE 11] Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ, λέγει κύριος ὁ θεός, ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος, ὁ παντοκράτωρ.
I am the Alpha and Omega [The Aleph and the Tau], says the Lord God, which was and is and is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8
[SLIDE 12] As John stated “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . Through Him all things were made and without him nothing was made that is made” (John 1:1, 3).
“. . . and the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the deep” (Genesis 1:2)
So here, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit creates the universe.
And that brings us back to our first point from this message:
[SLIDE 13] Our God-Father, Spirit, Son-is Creator.
And His creative power is stated several times in the Bible (Genesis 1:21,27; 2:3-4;5:1-2;6:7, etc.)
Yet, His creative power is not limited to the beginning.
Indeed, He is the God of new creation. The Psalmist said:
[SLIDE 14] Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
And Every human being is a kind of special creation of God:
Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: Psalm 102:18
When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. Psalm 104:30
For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13
[SLIDE 15] Yes, He created each one of us. You are His special creation.
[SLIDE 16] Our God is Creator He Continues with New Creation
His creative power is reason for Praise
[SLIDE 17] “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” Revelation 4:11
Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
Why?
for he commanded and they were created. Psalm 148:1-5
Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26
I often think about the words of that great hymn, “Joyful, Joyful we adore thee . . .” (quote v2 –“All Thy works with joy surround Thee . . .”)
Quote: Many thought Abraham Lincoln was an atheist. But he had this to say about atheism:
[SLIDE 18]
“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.” –Abraham Lincoln
Though His Creative power is reason for praise, many choose to turn their praise elsewhere:
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Romans 1:25
[SLIDE 19]
Our God is Creator He Continues with New Creation
His creative power is reason for Praise His pre-existence is provides Him power to predict
[SLIDE 20]
“Present your case,” says the Lord. “Set forth your arguments,” says Jacob’s King.
“Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Tell us what the former things were, so that we may consider them and know their final outcome. Or declare to us the things to come, tell us what the future holds, so we may know that you are gods. Do something, whether good or bad, so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear. But you are less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless; he who chooses you is detestable. Isaiah 41:19-24
The time of our service doesn’t allow for a survey of all God’s predictions-but just a few from Genesis:
[SLIDE 21]
1. God predicted for Adam & Eve the pain of childbearing, the difficulty of providing for a family, and the Redeemer to bring salvation through the woman’s seed (3:14-15)
2. God predicted a flood would come & warned Noah to build an ark
3. God predicted a multitude of blessings on Abraham if he would just obey and move to a new place
4. God predicted Abraham & Sarah would have a child long after they were physically able
5. Through a dream God revealed to Joseph His plan for him to become a great ruler and save many nations from a famine.
This is a short-list of the hundreds of predictive prophecies God gives throughout the Bible. Only He can know the end from the beginning. Only He can tell the future.
[SLIDE 22] Our God is Creator; He Continues with New Creation; His creative power is reason for Praise; His pre-existence is provides Him power to predict; Because He created the cosmos, He is able to keep a covenant
[SLIDE 23] This is what God the Lord says— he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:5-7
But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. Isaiah 43:1
I will not accuse forever, nor will I always be angry, for then the spirit of man would grow faint before me—the breath of man that I have created. I was enraged by his sinful greed; I punished him, and hid my face in anger, yet he kept on in his willful ways. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will guide him and restore comfort to him, creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.” But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.
“There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:16-21
[SLIDE 24] Illustration: Pastor Chuck Smith relates how early in his ministry his family was very low on funds. He was praying because he didn’t have enough money to provide dinner for the evening. When the mailman came that afternoon there was an envelope with more than enough money to take care of dinner. He began to dance and rejoice and praise God. He says God spoke to him and said “You recently read ‘my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory’. Why weren’t you dancing and praising me then?” Pastor Chuck repented and asked God’s forgiveness.
God is Creator. He has the capacity to keep His covenant-His promises to us.
WHAT ABOUT US? SINCE HE IS THE ETERNAL GOD HE IS THE EVERY-DAY GOD. . .
Our God is Creator He Continues with New Creation – do we allow Him to create new life in us on a daily basis?
His creative power is reason for Praise do we live each day in songs of praise to him?
His pre-existence is provides Him power to predict
Do we seek Him for His purposes for our lives, and live in obedience to His plans?
He has the capacity to keep His covenant-His promises to us.
Do we trust in His promises moment-to-moment, anticipating His creative work in our lives?
