In the beginning is God, that is what Genesis 1 tells us about. verse 1 told us that God is the beginning of everything, and He is the one that creates time and space. Before there is time, there is God. God does not live inside the time, unlike us. He created the time itself. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”, this tells us implicitly that His very first creation is not light; instead light was created after He created the time, that is why God use the time later on during His creation work - ie. “there was evening, and there was morning, the first day”. God created the time first which make a day. God is eternal, He has no beginning and no end, and not limited with space. God created the time and the space.
We learn here something about God: that is He is eternal - and God is the only being outside or above the time. Creation is living inside the time where as God (the eternal being) live outside the time - because He is the one that creates it. Eternal means that there is no limit to time and space; and if that’s the case we can see that our God is: omnipresence (or present everywhere) - because He is there before the creation, before time.
The greatness of God was very clear in the history of creation: He is not just proclaiming Himself that He is the master of time, but He had proven that every word that comes out of Him will definitely happen. We see patterns from the story of creation that God said “something”, and that “something” was created or happen: God created something out of nothing (in latin: creatio ex nihilo) by His Word. So here is the second thing we learn about God in creation: that He is omnipotent (having unlimited power) - to create something out of nothing (where as we can only create something from something that is already exist).
Now, when we look on what God has created - this creation as a whole: from the measureless number of galaxies to a very tiny single atom; or from a massive creature like a whale to a very small creature like bacteria, or virus; or look on how our organ works - there is one attribute of God that really stands out here: His wisdom. Who but an all-wise God could design and creates such a complex universe and fill it with such a beautiful and complex creatures? Science tries to discover all of these, but science had only discover some tiny bits of our universe. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” (Romans 11:33-35, ESV). Lastly, we learn that our God is omniscient (having infinite knowledge) - to be able to create with such grandeur, complex yet simple, beautiful, design which gives pleasure to Him. He said at the end of His creation “behold - it was very good” - and it was really good. Isn’t that prove that He has the highest wisdom?
Our knowledge about God should not stop just as a knowledge. Instead true knowledge should be reflected through our lives. And so, knowing who God is from Genesis 1 must have some implications to us. What can we learn?
1. Knowing God who is eternal, and God who is the master of time, should make us realise that time is in God’s hand.
When we know that time is in God’s hand, why do have to worry of what’s in the future? why do we have to be hurry in taking some decisions without waiting for God’s answer? This truth has implication not just for our future, but also our past, because even our past is in God’s control: Why do we need to regret of what’s happen in the past? Why do we need to give up our live as what happen to the past? If we believe that everything that happen in time is under God’s control, then we should live with acceptance to what seems “wrong” in our eyes, and also to pursue each and every moment as best as we could because God gives us the time to be used for His glory.
2. Knowing God who has all the power to make things to happen, should make us realise that His word (promise) is true.
When we see that everything God said in genesis 1 happen, (ie. “let there be light”, and there was light) it should give us confidence to believe in every word that is written in the bible. All of His word is true: we can get confidence to His promise about eternal life, to His word that He has been given all authority to command us to disciple all nations, to His word that He will be with us till the end of the age, to His word that we should be holy as He is holy, to His word that He who has started the work will complete the work in us, to His word that He has the power over death, etc.
3. Knowing God who has the highest wisdom, should make us realise that His plan is better (or perfect).
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV) This truth should lead us in a life that surrender all to Him: our burden, concern or weariness - leave it to Him who is wiser than us. What we could is to do our best to glorify Him, and whatever the result is: he knows best.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Paul
Previous: Exposition to Genesis 1 verse 1
We learn here something about God: that is He is eternal - and God is the only being outside or above the time. Creation is living inside the time where as God (the eternal being) live outside the time - because He is the one that creates it. Eternal means that there is no limit to time and space; and if that’s the case we can see that our God is: omnipresence (or present everywhere) - because He is there before the creation, before time.
The greatness of God was very clear in the history of creation: He is not just proclaiming Himself that He is the master of time, but He had proven that every word that comes out of Him will definitely happen. We see patterns from the story of creation that God said “something”, and that “something” was created or happen: God created something out of nothing (in latin: creatio ex nihilo) by His Word. So here is the second thing we learn about God in creation: that He is omnipotent (having unlimited power) - to create something out of nothing (where as we can only create something from something that is already exist).
Now, when we look on what God has created - this creation as a whole: from the measureless number of galaxies to a very tiny single atom; or from a massive creature like a whale to a very small creature like bacteria, or virus; or look on how our organ works - there is one attribute of God that really stands out here: His wisdom. Who but an all-wise God could design and creates such a complex universe and fill it with such a beautiful and complex creatures? Science tries to discover all of these, but science had only discover some tiny bits of our universe. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” (Romans 11:33-35, ESV). Lastly, we learn that our God is omniscient (having infinite knowledge) - to be able to create with such grandeur, complex yet simple, beautiful, design which gives pleasure to Him. He said at the end of His creation “behold - it was very good” - and it was really good. Isn’t that prove that He has the highest wisdom?
Our knowledge about God should not stop just as a knowledge. Instead true knowledge should be reflected through our lives. And so, knowing who God is from Genesis 1 must have some implications to us. What can we learn?
1. Knowing God who is eternal, and God who is the master of time, should make us realise that time is in God’s hand.
When we know that time is in God’s hand, why do have to worry of what’s in the future? why do we have to be hurry in taking some decisions without waiting for God’s answer? This truth has implication not just for our future, but also our past, because even our past is in God’s control: Why do we need to regret of what’s happen in the past? Why do we need to give up our live as what happen to the past? If we believe that everything that happen in time is under God’s control, then we should live with acceptance to what seems “wrong” in our eyes, and also to pursue each and every moment as best as we could because God gives us the time to be used for His glory.
2. Knowing God who has all the power to make things to happen, should make us realise that His word (promise) is true.
When we see that everything God said in genesis 1 happen, (ie. “let there be light”, and there was light) it should give us confidence to believe in every word that is written in the bible. All of His word is true: we can get confidence to His promise about eternal life, to His word that He has been given all authority to command us to disciple all nations, to His word that He will be with us till the end of the age, to His word that we should be holy as He is holy, to His word that He who has started the work will complete the work in us, to His word that He has the power over death, etc.
3. Knowing God who has the highest wisdom, should make us realise that His plan is better (or perfect).
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV) This truth should lead us in a life that surrender all to Him: our burden, concern or weariness - leave it to Him who is wiser than us. What we could is to do our best to glorify Him, and whatever the result is: he knows best.
Soli Deo Gloria,
Paul
Previous: Exposition to Genesis 1 verse 1
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