The God Of Genesis 1-3

Let me give you one more figure for those who fancy machines. In one second, the Sun’s power output is equivalent to 500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (23 zeros) horsepower.

Now, the Sun’s power is impressive by itself, but don’t forget that there are millions of stars like our Sun in our Milky Way Galaxy. And there are thousands, if not millions, of galaxies like our Milky Way in the known Universe.

Thus, the sheer magnitude of power necessary to create and sustain this Universe is so enormous that all one can do is stand in awe before it.

The Prophet Jeremiah (32:17) was awed by God’s power as revealed in His creation of the Universe - "Ah Lord God! Behold, Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by Thy great power and by Thine out-stretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for Thee."

4. THE PLURALITY OF PERSONS IN THE GODHEAD.

The next piece of information that we learn about God is found when He created Mankind as told in Verse 26 - "Let Us make Man." Who is God talking to? Who is "Us"?

The "Us" hints at the truth that though there be one God, there are three distinct Persons within the Godhead or Deity. In fact, the Hebrew word we translate "God" in Genesis (Elohim) is plural; it denotes more than one person.

There is one God but that God is three distinct Persons. You talk about a hard thing for our minds to comprehend, in my opinion, this takes the cake! Yet, we are taught that the three Persons in the Godhead are "the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19)."

Even though the triune nature of the Godhead is more clearly taught in the New Testament, God revealed it in the very first chapter of His Book.

5. GOD’S GOODNESS.

Another characteristic of God that is plainly brought to our attention in this passage is God’s goodness.

After the creation of the man, says Chapter 2:8-9, God placed him in a garden in Eden. The word "Eden" means ’delight’ and ’pleasure’ and that is exactly what God intended for Mankind.

In Eden, God provided Man everything necessary for his happiness and well-being. Physically, he had abundant food and drink. For his heart, God gave him a companion so as not to be alone. For his spirit, God gave him purpose and responsibility. God also surrounded Man with beauty. To satisfy the soul, Man had the ability and opportunity to walk and talk with His Maker, each day, like good friends.

Through His providence, God revealed His great goodness. But, there was another way in which God showed His goodness. God provided guidance and instruction to Adam and Eve. He told the first Couple to stay away from "the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil."

A lot of people do not think of God’s instructions and guidance as a manifestation of His goodness. They may see God’s commandments and instructions as a manifestation of His morality and His perfect righteousness (which they are) but do not see the connection between God’s commandments and God’s goodness.

In dealing with Adam and Eve, I think the connection is boldly established. Did God tell Adam and Eve to not eat the ’forbidden fruit’ simply because he wanted to keep them from something delicious and satisfying? Or, did God prohibit their eating the fruit merely to test their loyalty and obedience?