There are few if any scriptural passages that cause more debate and confusion than the creation account found in the first book of Genesis.
Not only do some evolutionists attempt to rip it apart and unbelievers ridicule it, but very few Christians, and even learned theologians seem to be able to agree on what it says.
In the last issue of Face to Face Magazine I explained how Christ Himself claimed to be central to all scripture, even the Old Testament, and that when we study the Bible our focus should be on him.
Some have asked just what I mean when I say that we need to learn to unveil Christ in the Old Testament scriptures. As a response I would like to take a portion of this very famous passage of scripture in Genesis, and focus, not on what we have traditionally thought or been taught about it, but to look for Christ and his saving work revealed in it.
Let me make myself clear right from the start. Im not saying that this is the only way to look at these very intriguing scriptures, but my goal is to provide a spiritual parallel to the physical account of creation. Running within the thread of Genesis, we unveil Gods redemptive plan for humanity through his Son.
In Genesis 1:1 we are introduced to God as creator of heaven and earth. God claims supremacy as Creator of all things and introduces himself to us in his fullness. He lets us know that the entire universe was created by him, thereby giving our lives meaning and worth, as we are not just a result of happenstance.
In verse 2 we are told of this world he had created found not only formless and empty, but also covered by a shroud of darkness. The word translated darkness here is the Hebrew word kho-shek, which literally means darkness but also has a figurative meaning of misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow and wickedness. 1
The scene is now set
The earth has been created, but it has become a world empty and in ruin, drowning in misery and destruction, filled with ignorance confusion, chaos and sorrow with the shadow of death hanging over all of mankind.
Enter Christ: Genesis 1:3,4): And God said Let there be light and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.
Lets pause here for a moment and see that we are not stretching this analogy too far. In studying the Bible, we should never take one scripture in isolation and try to tag our own meaning on it, but allow other verses to reinforce the interpretation.
The first book of John is considered to be the chronological beginning of the Bible, and he provides us with this spiritual analogy of the Genesis account.
John introduces Christ to us as the Word, who became flesh and dwelt among us, (John 1:1-3, 14), but John then goes on to describe Christ as the Light of the world.
John 1:4-5 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
Vs.9 The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
John supports the parallel of Genesis by explaining that Christ is in fact the light that came to a darkened world and shone hope where there had previously been only misery, destruction, ignorance and death.
What did God declare when he saw the Light now given to the world?
That it was good! (Genesis 1:4)
The word in the Hebrew that is translated good is tobe which can be used as an adjective as well as a noun with both feminine and masculine characteristics attributed to it. 2
Christ explained to the wealthy ruler in Luke 18:19 that there is no-one good, but God. Again, if we are looking at the parallel in Genesis, good can only be referring to God.
It is also interesting to note that the word translated as good in Genesis 1:4 is the very same word used in the 23rd Psalm, where David proclaims that goodness (tobe) and mercy will follow him all the days of his life. God is that goodness and mercy and he will never give up on us, will never leave us, but pursue us in love all the days of our lives. It becomes obvious then that in both instances the Hebrew word tobe can also refer to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
God is involved
Remember always, that you were created with a purpose. You are not the result of a chance, random happening. Although the Genesis account has been interpreted in many ways the central theme that Christians agree on is that all things were created by God, through Jesus, and by that process God reveals himself as a personal Creator who cares deeply for all he created. He is not impersonal, distant or aloof. Rather he meets his creation face to face desiring an intimate relationship with us. He did not create, then step aside, but remains involved with his creation, and through him all things are held together (Colossians 1:17)
Jesus is therefore not just someone that shows up in the new testament to shed light on Gods plan for us, but has in fact been the shedding that light on us since the dawn of creation.
God, in his infinite mercy and love for each one of us, sent his Son to free us from darkness and invited us to live in his light. Christ, who was slain from the foundation of the world became our radiant light and hope, saving us from the darkness of death and hopelessness in which we were trapped.
Hopefully now you see the Light!
Unfortunately we do not have the time here to deal with the other 6 days referred to in this account. But my challenge to you is to prayerfully study the rest of Genesis 1, (and why stop there?) and see for yourself how many of the other days have the same physical/spiritual duality to them. An interesting point to note is that each day ends with God declaring it good.
Happy studying, and remember; the Bible is His story!
1 Strongs concordance H2822
2 Strongs concordance H2896
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