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The Creation Account

Genesis 1:1-2:3

People throughout time have developed traditions about the origins of the world. In the ancient Near East, the stories that developed over long periods of time involved complex myths often describing cosmic deities in conflict, with the creation of mankind a byproduct of the battles. The language of Genesis 1 is sublime and its ideas are in strong contrast to the cosmologies of Mesopotamia and Egypt. In Genesis 1 there is one God, there is no cosmic conflict, and creation is purposeful—designed by God to bring glory to Himself.

The text is designed as a worship document. When the ancient Hebrews read the text aloud they had the libretto of creation to celebrate the majesty, power, and wisdom of God. Majesty is presented in the use of the term "God" (Heb. 'elohim) which describes the Creator as exhausting the concept of deity. He and He alone is God!  Power is manifest in the creative acts done by word. God speaks, and it was so! Wisdom is resident in the manner of creation; it is so wonderful that God Himself is pleased, describing it as "good" and "very good."

The major work of God in Genesis 1 is not the creation of the sun, moon, or stars, which became gods to many people. Instead, the greatest creation of God in Genesis 1 is mankind, created as male and female. Everything builds to the creation of man, given in three verses (26-28). The celebration of God's creation of mankind is a theodicy (a justification of the ways of God) for our redemption. It is only because God values people so highly that the Incarnation and the Gospel can be realized.

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