The Work Continues Series

A little boy opened the big old family Bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the pages. Suddenly something fell out. It was an old leaf that had been pressed between the pages.

He yelled out to his mum, "Mum, come hear quick, I think I’ve found Adam’s underwear!"

To close each day’s activities in summer and on holidays in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World a huge fireworks display lights up the sky.

One night I noticed a small boy about three years old perched on his father’s shoulder. The child sat mesmerized, aware only of what was exploding in the heavens. When the fireworks were over, the little boy looked up into the sky again and said, "Thank you, God."

Here’s a child describing the creation story. In the first book of the bible, Guiness, God got tired of creating the world, so he took the Sabbath off.

At our Mother/Daughter banquet the pastor’s wife asked for one of the daughters to come forward to share what their mother has taught them. She chose my 14-year-old daughter and as I sat their reviewing all the wonderful things I taught her, she said, "My mom taught me to love my body now, because I’m going to hate it when I’m 40."

In Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny was particularly intent when they were telling how Eve was created out of one of Adam’s ribs.

Later in the week, his mother noticed him lying down as if he were ill. "Johnny, what’s the matter?"

Little Johnny replied in an anguished tone, "I have a pain in my side. I think I’m going to have a wife!"

God created a new animal to be a companion for Adam and Eve.

And it was a good animal.

And God was pleased.

And the new animal was pleased to be with Adam and Eve and he wagged his tail.

And Adam said, "Lord, I have already named all the animals in the Kingdom and I cannot think of a name for this new animal."

And God said, "No problem. Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name, and you will call him DOG."

And Dog lived with Adam and Eve and was a companion to them and loved them.

And they were comforted.

And God was pleased.

And dog was content and wagged his tail.

After a while, it came to pass that an angel came to the Lord and said, "Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well."

And God said, "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them of their limitations, so they will know that they are not always worthy of adoration."

And God created CAT to be a companion to Adam and Eve.

And Cat would not obey them.

And when Adam and Eve gazed into Cat’s eyes, they were reminded that they were not the supreme beings.

And Adam and Eve learned humility.

And they were greatly improved.

And God was pleased.

And Dog was happy.

And Cat didn’t care one way or the other.

Intro

Today we continue our journey through the beginning of Genesis. Creation continues as God begins to make the earth habitable. We needed more than light so God begins to create a world that can sustain itself and provide an environment for life that can continue without his intervention.

Day 2: He Parts the Waters (vv 6-8)

A. His Declaration (v. 6)

“God said”. Once again we see how God creates through his words. Last Sunday on day one he spoke light into existence, today he moves down toward the earth and speaks the sky into existence.

B. His Creation (v. 7)

The expanse is an arch or canopy which He has put in the midst of the waters both on the earth and above the earth. He tells the expanse to separate the waters from under the expanse from above the expanse. In other words he is creating the atmosphere of the earth by separating the water on the earth, from the water vapor which makes up clouds, humidifies the air, and ultimately brings rain to the plants that he will create soon.

So now we have an earth completely covered with water, and a sky or the heavens or the universe containing water vapor. What does God call this? Well, let’s hear:

C. His Designation (v. 8)