Origins: The Beginning (Genesis 1–11)Sample

By Pastor Dan Hickling

“God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1b (NKJV)

Moses didn’t waste any words when he recorded the existence of everything. “God created the heavens and the earth.” It’s only a few words . . . seven words . . . but he really says so much here with so little. Volumes upon volumes have been (rightly) written about these seven words. We could justifiably go in a multitude of directions with them, as well, but let’s just focus on three things they tell us about God.    

Responsibility. First and foremost, this passage settles the question of responsibility for us. Mind you, our world is filled with great minds that will, sadly, go to the grave wrestling with this question and never find resolution. Like a dog chasing its own tail, mankind’s intellect goes round and round when it comes to who or what is responsible for everything around us. “Why are we here?” “What did this?” “What does it mean?” 

All this is answered for us right here. Everything in existence—including us—was deliberately put in place by an intelligent, personal, and benevolent Creator. There is a “Who” for all of the “what.” And this revelation is the bedrock of our faith; that our existence has an ultimate purpose and meaning.   

Competency. Being responsible for all that exists also reminds us that God is completely competent when it comes to His Creation. He understands how it all works because He made it! There’s nothing that exists that God is stumped by. The understanding of the architect transcends all that He has built!

What a comfort to know that God understands how everything works, including us. Even when we don’t “get” ourselves, when we do or feel something that we don’t understand, God does. He’s completely competent when it comes to us, and we can rely on His guidance to navigate not only ourselves but the world around us, as well.

Authority. Lastly, this establishes God’s authority over all that exists. My daughter loves to paint and draw. She will painstakingly pour over a portrait or landscape for hours. Whenever she finishes a creation, she possesses the authority over it and has the sole right to decide where and to whom it goes.

So it is with God. Having created everything, He has ultimate authority over everything. All is His to do as He wills, including our own lives, which really aren’t ours to begin with. How differently we live with this understanding!

Today, dwell on God’s responsibility, competency and authority as your Creator.  

DIG: What do we learn about God from, “God created the heavens and the earth”?

DISCOVER: How do these apply to your personal life?  

DO: Consider the way this passage might change the way you see and live out your life. Journal about it! Resolve to live in light of this understanding.