Walk Through the Book of Genesis: A Verse-By-Verse Exposition

By Ian Toppin

Walk Through the Book of Genesis: A Verse-By-Verse Exposition is as the title suggests, an exposition of each verse of the book of Genesis. It begins by explaining the need for faith to believe some of what it represents. However, it makes the case that the need for faith is not unique to the Bible, but to science as well. This book offers insightful commentary about how science affirms biblical truths about creation, and it clarifies traditionally misunderstood views about the seven-day creation week. Unique perspectives are presented about the fall of mankind, their expulsion from the garden of Eden, and the plan of God to redeem them to himself. Readers will be encouraged to observe God's commitment to his covenant, which he established with Abraham and his descendants, who were all fallible individuals; yet God blessed and provided them with hope for a brighter future in a land he promised to give them as an inheritance. Finally, Walk Through the Book of Genesis: A Verse-By-Verse Exposition pinpoints successes and failures in the lives of characters in the text. Their experiences serve as examples and inspire readers to persevere despite life's challenges.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Resource Publications
• Release date: Nov 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781666755640

Ian Toppin

Ian Toppin has over thirty years’ experience in higher education as a professor and college administrator. He is author of several academic journal articles covering a wide range of topics in his academic field. Having completed a post-doctoral degree in Christian apologetics, he also authored two books, Biblical Patriarchs and Their Legacy of Family Dysfunctions (2006), and Separation of Church & State: A Growing Moral Divide (2013).

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WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF GENESIS

A Verse-By-Verse Exposition

Ian Toppin

WALK THROUGH THE BOOK OF GENESIS

A Verse-By-Verse Exposition

Copyright ©

2022

Ian Toppin. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers,

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Resource Publications

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paperback isbn: 978-1-6667-5562-6

hardcover isbn: 978-1-6667-5563-3

ebook isbn: 978-1-6667-5564-0

10/18/22

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright ©

1973

,

1978

,

1984

, by International Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Preface

Introduction

Genesis Chapter One

Genesis Chapter Two

Genesis Chapter Three

Genesis Chapter Four

Genesis Chapter Five

Genesis Chapter Six

Genesis Chapter Seven

Genesis Chapter Eight

Genesis Chapter Nine

Genesis Chapter Ten

Genesis Chapter Eleven

Genesis Chapter Twelve

Genesis Chapter Thirteen

Genesis Chapter Fourteen

Genesis Chapter Fifteen

Genesis Chapter Sixteen

Genesis Chapter Seventeen

Genesis Chapter Eighteen

Genesis Chapter Nineteen

Genesis Chapter Twenty

Genesis Chapter Twenty-One

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Two

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Three

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Four

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Five

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Six

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Seven

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Eight

Genesis Chapter Twenty-Nine

Genesis Chapter Thirty

Genesis Chapter Thirty-One

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Two

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Three

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Four

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Five

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Six

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Seven

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Eight

Genesis Chapter Thirty-Nine

Genesis Chapter Forty

Genesis Chapter Forty-One

Genesis Chapter Forty-Two

Genesis Chapter Forty-Three

Genesis Chapter Forty-Four

Genesis Chapter Forty-Five

Genesis Chapter Forty-Six

Genesis Chapter Forty-Seven

Genesis Chapter Forty-Eight

Genesis Chapter Forty-Nine

Genesis Chapter Fifty

Bibliography

While I appreciate the love and support of family and friends who encouraged me in this endeavor, this book was written to strengthen the faith of believers, and to refute those who doubt the existence of God, and His involvement as Creator and Sustainer of everything. The Book of Genesis is often used by believers and unbelievers alike, to support their cases for accepting or rejecting the existence of God. It has become an adversarial battleground between those who believe in the Bible and those who believe in science as the only source and final arbiter of truth. I dedicate this book to those who are interested in examining the facts about how, from the very beginning, God made all things perfect for mankind, and when they messed it up, He embarked on a plan to redeem them and make it perfect once again. This does not infer the need for an adversarial relationship with science. On the contrary, unbiased science affirms God’s wisdom and superior intelligence by the way creation is ordered, and it helps reveal creation’s beauty, which is an undeniable tribute to God’s handiwork. The scientific fact is, creation could not have happened by itself, it had to have an original source outside of itself. The Book of Genesis reveals that Source. This book is dedicated to those interested in learning more about that Source, and His plan for the future of everything He created, particularly those He created in His image through Jesus Christ. This book traces God’s plan to redeem mankind by establishing a covenant people, starting with the patriarchs, the nation of Israel, and finally the Church.

PREFACE

The intended audience for this book is individuals who consider the Book of Genesis to be a viable source for proving or disproving the existence of God and His involvement in creation. This book is also intended to highlight the hope God gives through His redemptive plan for humankind, as demonstrated through His interactions with Adam and Eve, and their descendants, particularly the Nation of Israel.

Scientists have made several discoveries, which appear to be in conflict with what is written in the Book of Genesis. For example, there appear to be conflicts between biblical and scientific views about the age of the earth and rest of the universe. This has implications for the apparent biblical view that the earth was created and literally populated in six days. This book is intended to discuss and offer explanations to some of these apparent conflicts.

This book will discuss events surrounding the fall of Adam and Eve, and its impact upon all their descendants. Following their fall, they were expelled from the Garden of Eden, sin and death was introduced to the human realm, and the need for a Savior became necessary to reconcile humankind to a Holy God. Humankind chose to believe the lie Satan told Adam and Eve, that the knowledge of good and evil would cause them to become like God, but such knowledge actually caused them to become more like Satan.

The condition of humankind is hopeless without a Savior. Hence, God immediately embarked on a plan of redemption. His plan commenced with His involvement in the lives of individuals such as Seth, Enoch, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It continued with His involvement with the Nation of Israel, and particularly with Joseph, who was used to preserve the nation, and Judah, who became a forefather of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This book contends that Jesus is the Savior and Redeemer humankind needs, and He is the only way back to a right relationship with God.

Introduction

The book of Genesis is the first book of the Bible, and first of five books or Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) attributed to Moses as their primary author. The traditional view held by Jews and Christians alike, that Moses was the primary author of these books is supported by passages in the books themselves, such as: Exod 17:14; 24:4; 34:27; Lev 1:1; 4:1; 6:1, 8, 19, 24; 7:22, 28. In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles also affirmed Moses as author of the Pentateuch. Notice Mark 1:44; 7:10; 10:3–4; Luke 5:14; 16:29, 31; John 5:45–46; 7:22–23; Acts 3:22; Rom 10:5, 19; 1 Cor 9:9; 2 Cor 3:15.

Though there is a preponderance of evidence to support Moses as primary author of the Pentateuch, there are also reasons to conclude that Scribes made editorial changes and additions to the original manuscript. Two key reasons for this conclusion may be found in the fact that Num 12:3 asserts that Moses was the humblest man on the face of the earth. Certainly, if he wrote that statement himself, he would not have been the humblest man on the face of the earth, rather, the opposite would be true. Additionally, Deut 34:1–8 discuss circumstances surrounding Moses’ death, and how the Children of Israel mourned for him. He could not have written these details himself. It is more likely they were written later by Scribes who translated the original manuscript.

Scholars who delve into criticisms of the Mosaic text, may fall into any of the following four categories: Yahweh (J), Elohim (E), Deuteronomy (D), or Priestly (P). In simplified terms, these critics examine the names used for God and attempt to determine authenticity of the text and its likely author. It is important to note that none of this scrutiny has been successful in diminishing the Bible’s core message, nor its power to lead unbelievers to faith. As 2 Pet 1:21, and 2 Tim 3:16 teaches, Holy Spirit is really the Bible’s author; hence, believers can be confident in its authenticity.

Genesis Chapter One

The Foundation of Faith

Hebrews Chapter Eleven is often called the Hall of Fame of Faith. If this is true, Genesis Chapter One, should be called the Foundation of Faith. Notice verse 1 says, In the beginning God (Elohim—plural) created the heavens and the earth. This is the point where faith must begin. If the reader doubts these words, reading the remainder of the Bible may prove to be a futile exercise, and may call the reader’s motives into question. It should also be noted that the word beginning does not refer to the beginning of God, but to the beginning of everything He created—the heavens and the earth.

Faith is required to believe that whenever the beginning was, God is before it. He caused the beginning, and it was He who created it. An exhaustive description is not given about how God created the heavens and the earth, it simply says, He did it! Faith is required to believe God has the power to speak and it be done! And, that all of the necessary ingredients for creation were brought into being and coalesced at the power of His word. Therefore, step-by-step procedures are not necessary. What is clear from the first verse of the Bible is that the heavens and the earth did not always exist, nor did they emerge from nothing or nowhere on their own. Rather, they were brought into existence (created) by God. Faith is required to accept this. However, faith in alternate philosophical perspectives is also required to reject it, since there is no reasonable scientific proof, which contradicts what the Bible says.

Erickson proposes that it may well be that what God did originally was merely to create matter from nothing, and then in His subsequent creative activity, He fashioned everything from the atoms He had created. The various species created at that later time would be just as much God’s doing as was the origin of matter.¹

The Big Bang Theory

Does the Big Bang theory conflict with the Biblical assertion that God created the heavens and the earth? The answer is no! In fact, cosmological evidence, still exists to indicate that the birth of the universe was initiated by a cataclysmic explosion! This is a discussion which is beyond the intended scope of this book but suffice it to say that the Big Bang was such a violent explosion, that to this day it is still the main reason why the universe is expanding, rather than contracting. The question is, who created the matter which banged? The naturalist response is, no one, it happened on its own. The Biblical response is, God caused it. The reader must decide which of these perspectives makes more sense.

The logical reason for believing God caused the Big Bang is simple. The universe is made up of matter, such as atoms and related compounds. There is no matter in the entire universe, which has ever demonstrated an ability to independently transform from non-existence to existence, much less cause itself to explode in a manner, which was evident in the Big Bang. Hence, those who claim that the universe came into existence from nothing, or brought itself into existence, can never provide scientific evidence to support that claim. Therefore, such a position is merely philosophical, rather than scientific, because it can never be duplicated or subjected to scientific method. In other words, creation of the universe is not a humanly observable phenomenon, nor can it be duplicated in a laboratory. Therefore, faith is required for any beliefs held about it.

Geisler and Turek noted that the less evidence you have for a position, the more faith you need to believe it.² It takes more faith to believe the philosophical claim that the universe brought itself into existence, than it does to believe the theological claim that God brought it into existence. One must either believe that God created everything from nothing (ex nihilo), or that nothing created everything from nothing. Obviously, the latter choice makes no sense!

Tillman pointed out that the universe cannot be younger than the objects contained inside of it. Therefore, by determining the age of the oldest stars, and by measuring how fast the universe is expanding, scientists were able to estimate the age of the universe. They estimate that the universe came into existence approximately 13.8 billion years ago.³ If this estimation is correct, from a scientific perspective, it means that prior to 13.8 billion years ago, nothing in the natural universe existed.

More importantly, the claim that the universe is eternal and always existed, is dismissed by the mere fact that science itself attributes an age to it. It cannot have existed eternally, and at the same time be approximately 13.8 billion years old. However, while nothing physical existed prior to that time, from a theological perspective someone spiritual did, God, and God alone existed. This is precisely what Genesis 1:1 conveys. Whenever the beginning was, God was already there, and it was He who created the heavens (universe) and the earth.

Who Created God?

Consider for a moment, the silliest of questions, which is sometimes asked by skeptics who desire to remove God from the creation narrative. The question they ask is, if God created everything, who created God? This is a ridiculous question! However, suppose one were to explore the nonsensical idea that God was created, wouldn’t it be true that whatever, or whoever created God is greater than God, and is therefore God? So, it obviously results in the very thing the skeptic would be trying to avoid in the first place! It takes them right back to God!

The fact is, God does not need a creator, because only created things need a creator. God was not created, so He does not need a creator. Therefore, the divine glory of God will indeed be a sight to behold! It is the only thing humans will ever lay eyes on, which did not come from anything else. God is totally self-efficacious! He does not need anything or anyone to exist! He has life within Himself and gives life to everything that lives.

The writer of the book of Hebrews explains why faith is required to believe Genesis 1:1. Hebrews 11:3, reveals that by faith we understand that the worlds have been formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made from what is visible. In other words, the visible world did not evolve from the visible world, instead it was created by the invisible God! But, if the Biblical evidence is not enough, logical reasoning should suffice. There is undeniable, intelligent orderliness in what is observable about the universe. It would be extreme to assume that such orderliness resulted by chance, or by means that are not themselves intelligent and orderly. In other words, chaos in nature only produces further chaos, it does not consistently produce intelligent order.

Elohim and Monotheism

Skeptics are not alone in their struggle with what is written in Genesis 1:1. Some within monotheistic faiths also take issue with portions of this verse. For example, the fact that the Hebrew word used in this verse to describe God is Elohim, is an issue. In discussing the meaning of the word Elohim, Ryrie pointed out that this term means strong, indicating a deity of great power.⁴ It is a plural rendering, which suggests that from the very beginning of Judeo-Christian Scripture, the idea of multiple persons in the Godhead was at least hinted. The problem is, at surface level, this idea appears to contradict monotheism, but deeper observation will show that it really does not.

In everyday life there are many examples of objects and substances, which are one, yet comprised of multiple attributes. Fire is such an example. It produces heat, light, and smoke, but it is one entity. Another example is water. It is made of three bonded atoms—two hydrogen atoms (H2), and one oxygen atom (O) to form water (H2O). The fact that these examples exist in the physical realm, should make it easier to conceptualize how it could also be possible in the spiritual realm, and how the one divine essence known as God, can consist of distinct persons.

The word Trinity is commonly used by Christians to refer to the concept of three distinct persons in the Godhead. This word is not found in Scripture, but the idea it conveys definitely is. Admittedly, belief in the Trinity also requires faith, but the plural description of God, Elohim, as presented in Genesis 1:1, is unavoidable. What is this saying? It is saying from a Christian perspective that God, the Trinity, created the universe. And, since He (God) created the universe, He is greater than the universe, or anything in it. It also means He must exist in a different realm, which is separate from the universe He created In the beginning.

Also notice, God created the universe, the universe did not create Him! And, though it is possible to explain how things in the universe, such as fire and water, consists of multiple components, and yet are one, it is impossible to explain with certainty how God is one divine essence, and yet three distinct persons. Faithless people usually do not care whether or not God is a Trinity, this is more of a concern for some who claim to be among the faithful.

It should also be mentioned here that there are discussions among Biblical scholars who delve into the area of textual criticisms, about whether the commonly accepted claim that Moses wrote most of the Book of Genesis is actually true. The reason these scholars question this claim, is because the Hebrew word Elohim is only used in the Book of Genesis, but not in other Old Testament Books attributed to Moses. Instead, in most cases Yaweh (YHVH), and Jehovah are more commonly used. These critics contend that if Moses wrote Genesis, he would have been consistent in his use of words to refer to God.

The most likely explanation for the apparent discrepancy is, in Genesis 1:1, the intent was to show that the entire Godhead was involved in the act of creating the heavens and the earth, whereas, in most other areas of Scripture, emphasis may have been on one member of the Godhead, so there was no reason to imply tri-unity, when there was only unity. Additionally, Jesus Himself affirmed Moses (Exod 17:14; 24:4, 7; 34:27; Deut 31:9; Matt 19:8; Mark 12:26; John 5:46–47; John 7:19; Acts 3:22) as the author of the Pentateuch—first five books of the Bible.

Separation (Gap) Theory

Before moving on from Genesis 1:1, it may be worthwhile to briefly insert the discussion of Separation, or gap theory. This theory proposes that there is a gap in earth’s history between the first and second verses of Genesis chapter one. In other words, events mentioned in those two verses could have been separated by billions of years. The reason some adhere to this position is because, as mentioned above, verse 1 asserts that God created the heavens and the earth, but verse 2, does not seem to present details of an earth that was being brought into existence. Rather, it seems to present a chaotic earth, already existing, but needing to be fixed up.

Erickson explains that gap theory holds that there was an original, quite complete creation of the earth perhaps billions of years ago. Some sort of catastrophe occurred, so that the creation became empty and unformed. God then re-created the earth a few thousand years ago. . .⁵ Notice verse 2, says, the earth was formless (tohuw—to lie in waste) and empty (void), darkness (choshek—obscurity) was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering (rachaph—grow soft, relax) over the waters. Observe that there was already an earth, and there was water on it. But it says, the earth was formless, and empty. No details were presented here about how the earth or water were created. It does not describe how water came to be on the earth or any other planet, or how the earth became formless and void. No information is given about how or when water came into existence.

Separation, or gap theory is not an accepted belief in many Christians circles. MacArthur stated that the order of creation itself rules out the possibility that the days of Genesis 1, were really long ages.⁶ Yet, some Christians regard gap theory as reasonable. The latter argue that though Genesis makes it clear God created the heavens and the earth, it does not say when He created either. They agree with scientific evidence, which seems to indicate that something traumatic happened to the earth between the time when God initially created it (v 1), and where it says it was formless and void (v 2).

The idea that a gap in time may have occurred does not seem farfetched. In fact, it may have been during that gap, when creatures, such as prehistoric man (Neanderthal), and dinosaurs existed; However, the second verse in the Book of Genesis, begins the story of when God renewed the earth to make it livable for modern humans, as it is today. Psalms 104:30, may support those who hold to this position. It infers that when God sent forth His Spirit, they were created, and He RENEWED the face of the ground (earth).

One thing is clear, dinosaurs existed at some point in earth’s history. Those who adhere to gap theory find it inconceivable such imposing beasts could have co-existed with humans, and yet the Bible makes no mention of them, such as it does with relatively less significant beasts, such as lions and bears. The thought is, the Bible does not mention dinosaurs because they were extinct and irrelevant by the time it was written. They perished during the gap period between Genesis verses one and two.

To be clear, Christians who adhere to gap theory have no problem with Genesis 1:1, which states that God created the heavens and the earth, but they view verse 2, as a renewal of the earth following some dreadful event and period in time, which resulted in the earth becoming un-inhabitable, formless, and void. If this is true, it raises questions about the actual age of the earth. The most popular view held by Christians is that the earth is only approximately 6000 years old. MacArthur asserts that the Bible will not support a date for the creation of man earlier than 10,000 B.C.⁷

On the other hand, Tillman contends that by dating earth’s crust, as well as rocks on its neighboring planets such as the moon and other meteorites, scientist calculate the earth is 4.54 billion years old.⁸ Several methods, such as fossil records, carbon dating, and radioactive mineral decay rates, have been used to calculate earth’s age, but scientists believe the latter method is most accurate. For example, Braterman regarded the controversy as having been resolved by the adoption of the radiometric timescale, which incorporated advances in spectrometry, sampling, and laser heating.⁹ The resulting knowledge has led to the current understanding that the earth is 4.5 billion years old.

Archer noted that in the Gulf of Mexico, sediment is deposited at a rate of a few inches a year; Yet, successive layers of deposit as thick as 28,000 feet have been found, indicating the passage of well over 100,000 years in time.¹⁰

Turn on the Light

Verse 3, states that God said, Let there be light, and there was light. Where did the light come from? Skipping ahead in this chapter, it shows in verses 14–19, that on the fourth day, the sun and moon were commissioned to govern the day and the night, so where did this early light, prior to the sun and moon’s commissioning come from? An exhaustive response at this point would pre-empt the discussion ahead dealing with events on day four, but what is warranted here is to point out that in this verse, God said, Let there be light, singular. On day four, He said, Let there be lights, plural. This single light probably came from no other celestial source, except the sun, and may indicate that the moon and other celestial objects currently visible in earth’s galaxy may not have been created yet.

As fascinating as it may be to speculate about where the light God referred to came from, suffice it to say that when God said, Let there be light, there was light! The light immediately obeyed God and penetrated the darkness. In that moment, time began. God made it so that day and night would become measurements of times and seasons. Unbelievers, who discount God’s involvement in creation have no other reference for how time began and can be measured, other than that, which is presented in the Book of Genesis. The world would be a much better place if humans would endeavor to obey God in the same way the light, He commanded obeyed Him.

Day One

Verses 4–5—God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day and the darkness He called night. And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

The only way light can be separated from darkness is by turning on the light. Therefore, when God caused light to shine on earth, it would have continued to shine unceasingly on one portion of the earth, had He not set limits on where it would shine at various times. In other words, He caused earth to rotate on its axis, so that the light would be turned on and off in different places at different times. Note that God did not need light in order to see, but He knew the creatures He would create to live all over the earth, would need it. And, that they would also need darkness in order to rest, so He separated light from darkness, by causing it to shine in different places at different times.

Notice, it says God saw that the light was good, but it does not say that about the darkness. In fact, it appears that because God saw the light was good, He separated it from darkness. Darkness was neither commended for being good, nor condemned for being bad. Darkness is necessary, but it is simply prohibited (separated) from co-existing simultaneously with light, and vice versa. Sadly, many do not see things the way God did. He commended light as being good. Many today, commend darkness as being good. John 3:19 says that men love darkness because their deeds are evil.

Obviously, there is much symbolism in this verse where God separated light from darkness. It illustrates the reality that He ordained them both to have periods of dominance. Light dominates the day and typifies His eternal glory, while darkness dominates the night and typifies eternal condemnation. Yet, God is in control of both the day and the night, and one day He will bring both to an end, when time (day and night) will be swallowed up by eternity.

Day Two—What is a firmament?

Verse 6 shows that God said, Let there be a vault (raqia—expanse or extended surface) between the waters to separate water from water. There is no mention here of how, or when water came into existence, only that it needed to be separated. This is another reason why gap theory adherers believe creation week to be a renewal of earth, rather than the initial creation of it. It appears that before the vault (firmament, expanse) was created, earth had become a blob of water, like a water balloon. If this was the case, the light God made to shine on day one, would not have had much effect, because earth was nothing but a deep watery planet.

Notice, God not only commanded there be an expanse to separate water from water, but He also made (created) the expanse. Verses 7–8 says, So God made the vault (firmament) and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault Sky." Wright describes what God did on day two as the most significant geological event to ever occur in the history of earth’s existence.¹¹ And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day." So, the firmament or expanse, which God created, was formed by separating oceans, which covered the entire earth below, from clouds that were densely filled with water in the heavens above. He created empty space between the two. The fact that God created empty space is literally mind-boggling! And yet, the entire universe is filled with it!

The work God did on day two, made the light he commanded to shine on day one more effectual. Though thick clouds of water filled the entire sky (firmament above), which hovered over the oceans covering earth’s surface below, there was now a space between them, which needed to be illuminated. Incidentally, this imagery explains why some Christians believe there was a canopy of water-filled clouds above the earth prior to the flood, which occurred in the days of Noah. This canopy is said to have reduced the impact of the light of the sun, and may have contributed to why people lived much longer during pre-flood days than they did post-flood.

MacArthur asserts that before the flood, it was common for men to live nine hundred years or longer. After that, the human life span decreased notably almost immediately.¹² During the flood, it is believed that God essentially burst the water-filled cloud canopy, which hovered over the earth. This not only caused most living things on land to drown, but it also reduced the lifespan of subsequent generations, by affording them greater exposure to the sun’s rays.

Day Three

In verses 9–10 God said, Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear. And it was so. God called the dry ground land, and the gathered waters he called seas. And God saw that it was good.

The work God did on days one and two, was concentrated on preparing areas of creation that were above the earth, such as causing light to shine and separating the firmament above from that below. But starting with day three, He turned His attention to preparing earth itself. Therefore, He commanded the sea to roll back and gather in one place, so that there may be dry land. This was by far a more spectacular miracle than what He would perform years later, in rolling back the Red Sea, to allow Israel to escape from captivity in Egypt (Exod 14:21–22).

With dry land available, verses 11–13, states that God said, Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds. And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.

Notice, the land God made to appear was previously covered by water, so it did not initially have anything growing on it, nor would anything have grown on it, had God not commanded it to be so. In other words, vegetation on the land did not come into existence on its own, but by the command of God. Does this mean that microevolution has not occurred with time? No, it does not mean that. Indeed, vegetation can adapt to its surroundings, and through natural processes, plants do evolve within their species. But, God is the initial cause of everything there is, including plants.

It should also be observed that God commanded plants to bear according to their kind. In other words, He set an order in motion, such that plants do not bear fruit of other plants that are different from their kind. As such, no reasonable person should approach an apple tree, expecting it to produce oranges. The reason this does not occur is not arbitrary, it is so because God designed it that way. From simple to complex, both the heavens and the earth are filled with evidence of God’s handiwork, and His intelligent design.

Day Four

Verses 14–19 reveal that God said, Let there be lights (plural) in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth. And it was so. God made two great lights, the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning the fourth day.

As noted above about verse 3, on day one, God had already commanded that there be light (singular). The source of that light was most likely the sun. This would mean that the sun was already in existence before earth, moon, and many stars visible in the Milky Way Galaxy. Therefore, verse 16, where it says God made two great lights, the greater (sun) to govern the day, and the lesser (moon) to govern the night, is not a commentary on when they were created, but rather, on what their functions were.

In other words, no conflict necessarily exists with what science asserts. They contend that the sun came into existence approximately 4.6 billion years ago, while the moon came into existence slightly before earth but both within close timeframe of each other, approximately 4.5 billion years ago. The point is, science itself affirms that the sun and moon came into existence approximately about the same time as earth, which was about the 4-billion-year timeframe.

The lights (plural) God commanded to shine during day four, did not only refer to the sun and moon (greater and lesser lights), but to stars as well. Because God caused it to be so, the firmament above the earth became a brilliant cacophony of lights, as it is to this day. Therefore, the Apostle James referred to God as the Father of heavenly lights (James 1:17), and king David proclaimed that the heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands (Ps 19:1).

A particularly important function of the lights God placed in the firmament above, was not only to give light to the earth below, but to also serve as signs to mark sacred times, days, and years. This is why Solomon said there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven (Eccl 3:1). Thus, unlike no other, humans were created as time-conscious creatures, with an ever-present awareness of the temporal nature of life. But, an ability to mark sacred times would become highly important once God started dealing with the Nation of Israel.

Day Five

Verses 20–23—And God said, Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky. So, God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.

As mentioned earlier, no information is given about when God created water. However, day five describes how He populated it. Apparently, there was water, but nothing inhabited it until God commanded the water to teem with living creatures. It says, He created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds. This means that fish and other sea creatures did not come into existence through evolution. Instead, they were created according to their kinds. In other words, fish and the great creatures of the sea, do not give birth to any species other than their kind. Everything was ordained to function within the specific order of its own kind.

Birds were also created and commissioned to fly across the sky. They too were instructed to increase in number and fill the earth, according to their kind. Again, there is unmistakable order and intelligence in creation. Most notably, fish and birds existed before modern humans did, and there was no inherent desire or planning on their part to reproduce, other than they were blessed and ordained by God to do so.

Following His work on day five, it says God did something He had not done on any other day to this point in His creation activities. He blessed the birds, fish, and great creatures of the sea, which He created. Why did He bless them and not the firmament, or the seas He rolled back, or the vegetation he caused to grow? Any response here would be speculative, but a reasonable answer might relate to the responsibility He assigned them. They were instructed to be fruitful, and increase in number, and fill the water and the earth.

Neither the water nor the earth had anything inherent within themselves to cause them to populate themselves. This task could only be accomplished with God’s blessing and approval for the creatures He placed in them to do so. New birth cannot occur unless God authorizes it. He, rather than the water, or earth, or even the doctor, or scientist, is the giver and sustainer of life.

Day Six

In verses 24–25 God said, Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind. And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. Notice that God created vegetation (day three) before He created the wild animals, who would need it for food. Once again, divine intelligence is undeniable.

An important notice from these verses is that God commanded the land (ground) to produce living creatures, such as livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals. In other words, their flesh was made from the same source as that of humans, the ground. And again, God instituted order in reproduction of all His creatures. Meaning, they reproduce according to no other kind, except their own. This was a perpetual barrier God placed on every species in nature.

Creation of Mankind

Verses 26–27 indicate, then God said, Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. So, God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.

Again, God said, Let us make man in our image, in our likeness. . . God, was again described using the plural term Elohim. But, how could mankind (male and female) be made in the image or likeness of God? The rationale God gave for creating mankind in His image, was so they may rule over the living things He had created. The list included: fish, birds, livestock, wild animals, and creatures that move along the ground.

God had also created lights in the heavens, and a firmament between heaven and earth (an atmosphere). He also created wind and water, but He did not expressly state that these things were placed under man’s rulership. In other words, man does not rule the skies, nor the heavens, though because of modern technologies, he may think he does. This is why natural phenomena, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, and hurricanes are vivid reminders of who is really in control of the land, sea, and skies.

There was a notable difference between mankind and everything else God had created. That difference was, mankind were the only creatures made in the image and likeness of God, and they were the only ones endowed with responsibility to rule. Therefore, the image of God, which was given by God to mankind, was one of rulership, and authority, rather than one of resemblance. The Bible makes it clear, God is not a man (Num 23:19; Hos 11:9). However, humans were made in His image, and to that end, have been endowed with some measure of authority over, and responsibility for, the environment they inhabit.

Having said that, it should also be pointed out that though every human has been made in God’s image as it relates to authority over things on earth, not every human has been conformed to His likeness. What this means is, humans have all been endowed with authority to rule, but not all humans rule like God would have them to. Humans do not act in the way God would act unless He enables them to do so. Hence, humans are inclined to act in their own self-interest, and they possess a proclivity to abuse the authority God gave them.

Verses 28–31—God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground. Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. God saw all that He had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

God blessed humans, just as He had blessed fish and birds when He created them and commissioned them to be fruitful and multiply. He gave this same command to humans, and it also came with a blessing, because it cannot be accomplished apart from God’s blessing and approval. Yes, children are a blessing from God. A notable difference was, fish and birds were blessed, but they were not given authority to rule over anything.

Additionally, God commissioned humans to not only rule over fish and birds, livestock, wild animals, and creepers, but also over plants and trees (vegetation). This means, man is steward of the earth. He is to care for it, rather than exploit and destroy it. To do such, is to dishonor God and His creation. Man’s disregard for God’s command causes nature to respond in ways, which are detrimental to humans themselves. Notice, God gave Adam dominion over everything, except other humans.

God’s stamp of approval was bestowed upon all His creation. He said it was very good! Therefore, the question begs to be asked, why are bad things evident in creation today? Clearly, mankind has not maintained it as he was supposed to. In fact, rather than maintaining it, humans have exploited creation for their own benefit. Consequently, extinction of many life forms, pollution, and global warming are persistent environmental concerns. Nature is under such stress that sometimes it responds violently in retaliation for the harsh treatment it endures at the hands of mankind. However, Rom 8:19–22, reveals that help is on the way, as creation eagerly awaits the Children of God to be revealed, because for too long it has been subjected to frustration, not by its own will, but by the will of the one who subjected it. . . the whole creation is groaning as in pains of childbirth to this very day. These verses make clear that God expects those who love Him, His children, to also love His creation and take good care of it. Especially, since He described it as very good!

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Genesis Chapter Two

The previous chapter surveyed God’s activities in bringing all things into existence within a timeframe described as six days. This chapter provides a summary, and in some cases, further details of what was described in chapter one, particularly as it pertains to creation of mankind.

Day Seven

Verse 3, states that the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. And, by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so, on the seventh day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done. Notice, on this seventh day, there is no mention of evening and morning. It was as if the rest God took continues to this very day.

What Does It Mean, God Rested?

This passage presents a few important questions that are worth considering further: 1. Why did God rest on the seventh day, was He tired? The answer is a resounding no! God does not get tired! God Himself is the source of strength. Indeed, strength gets it strength from God! So, why did He rest? Because His creation work as it relates to earth, was finished! God did not rest until then! He did not leave unfinished work in deference to creating a Sabbath, or carving out time for rest.

The Hebrew word rest (shebii) should not be viewed as God needing a nap. Instead, a more appropriate context is God, having completed all His creation work, and having nothing left to create on planet earth, ceased creating anything further. His creation work, where planet earth was concerned, was done! This rest, therefore, had nothing to do with God’s need for recuperation. Indeed, God’s creative hand is still observable in the vast realms of His universe. The heavens (space) were created in the beginning, but the work of populating it with stars and galaxies continues. This is why evidence of the birth of new planets, is still observable today. Rest, in Genesis 2:3, refers to God reaching a satisfactory conclusion where creation on earth was concerned.

2. Because God rested on day seven, some conclude that the seventh-day Sabbath was established from creation as a day of worship. Truth is, God rested but He did not, in this passage, command humans to do the same. Nor does it say, in this