Village Schools of the Bible

Genesis: A Devotional Study
by Max Frazier, Jr.

Let's turn our attention to Genesis 1.

Key Words: "and God said"; "it was so"; "God saw it was good"; "God blessed them"

Key Verse: Genesis 1:1 is the general statement on God's creation. It answers the "who?" - God; the "when?" - in the beginning; the "what?" - the heavens and the earth; and the "how?" - He created.

Purpose Statement: This chapter is a general statement of God's creative act.

Outline: THE CREATION

I. General Statement (vs. 1)

II. Creation primeval (vs. 2)

III. Events of creation (vs. 3-31)
A. Day One: Light from darkness (vs. 3-5)
B. Day Two: Sky from earth (vs. 6-8)
C. Day Three: Dry land from water; plants (vs. 9-13)
D. Day Four: Sun, moon, stars (vs. 14-19)
E. Day Five: Water animals; fishes; birds (vs. 20-23)
F. Day Six: Land animals; man (vs. 24-31)
1. Animals (vs. 24-25)
2. Creation and purpose of man (vs. 26-30)
3. God's conclusion (vs. 31)

Questions to Probe: Why is it only to fish and birds and man that God gives His blessing and instructions to be fruitful and to multiply?

Thoughts to Ponder: Can you discover the one thing mentioned in this chapter that God did not create? It is the one thing most unlike God. And yet its existence is almost from the very beginning and we know that its existence will continue on into eternity future. It is darkness. God is never the creator of darkness. In Him is light.

Two very unique Hebrew words are used in verse 1. The word "God" is "elohim." That is a plural form of the noun "el" or God." God is a triune being (compare verse 26). Also, the word for "created" is from the Hebrew root "bara" which depicts the making of something from that which doesn't exist. Only God could "bara-create." Man only manufactures or makes things from substances that already exist. Verse one seems to be a statement of fact. The purpose of the rest of the chapter is to describe the mechanics of the "bara." Initially, the earth lacked a definable form, yet the presence of God was there even in its formlessness. Creation was the product of God's voice, giving definition to His desires.

But not all things were a product of His voice alone: 1. Verse 3 - Light - "and God said" 2. Verse 6 - Firmament - "so God made" 3. Verse 9 - Seas and dry land - "God said" 4. Verse 11 - Vegetation - "God said", but "the land produced" 5. Verse 14 - Heavenly lights - "God made" 6. Verse 21 - Birds and fish - "God created (bara)" 7. Verse 24 - Animals - "God made" 8. Verse 27 - Man - "God created (bara)"

Also, it wasn't until the third day that God stated what He had created was good (see verses 9, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). Finally, according to verses 29-30, all forms of non-vegetable life were to be vegetarians. This would only change after the flood (see Genesis 9:3). It will also be what happens during the Millennium (see Isaiah 11:7)

Return to Table of Contents Genesis 2-3