Genesis 1-2: Verse by Verse With Bible Study FellowshipSample

Why Genesis?

Life in this world raises challenging questions. From childhood, we ask:

• Who am I?
• Why am I here?
• What happens when I die?
• Why do I feel this way?
• What does this experience mean?

Have you found that these questions defy simple answers? People in every age seek the answers, revealing our limited understanding of our meaning and purpose as well as how and why creation exists.

Why is there something rather than nothing? Science and philosophy have pondered this foundational question for centuries. Three main answers exist:

• Atheism says there is no God; something has always existed.
• Pantheism says everything is God, and God is everything.
• Theism says there is one, personal Creator God who made all that exists out of nothing.

Genesis 1 speaks truth into our quest to understand our existence. Every generation explores life as we know it. We draw conclusions from our flawed and finite observations, facts and theories. Who can provide true and satisfying answers? Only our perfect and infinite Creator God.

Beginning in Genesis, God reveals truths about Himself, this world and our origin, identity and destiny. Although we might be tempted to approach the Genesis creation account with inductive questions like, “Where?” “When?” and “How?”, the Bible is more concerned with establishing who is responsible for the world, and why it matters. God is our sure foundation for life in this world and hope for the future. The Bible does not conflict with scientific facts. However, God intends all people to accept His revelation of Himself and His creative work by faith.

Will you study Genesis not only for information, but also to meet God? He made you, loves you and knows you better than you know yourself. Bring your hard questions to Him. He gives more than answers; He gives Himself.

Two Parts of One Story

Genesis 1 and 2 affirm God exists eternally. They announce that God is Creator and Sustainer of all, so no life is meaningless. We offend Him – we sin – when we set our own standards or define our own reality. He establishes our purpose. We are accountable to Him – our good, loving, all-powerful, life-giving God.

The one true God of the Bible defines reality. Our beliefs about God, the world and ourselves drive our actions and attitudes. Biblical Christianity affirms this truth from Hebrews 11:3, “By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”

Both chapters give the account of creation. They describe the same event, only from a different perspective and for a different purpose.

• Genesis 1 reveals God’s majestic transcendence, forming and filling all things by the power of His Word.
• Genesis 2 shows God’s intimacy, drawing near to personally create man and woman in His image.

Center Stage

Genesis presents all of creation in direct relationship to God’s interactions with humanity on planet Earth. Our planet is a mere speck in the immeasurable vastness of creation. Astronomers estimate our Milky Way galaxy contains between 100 billion and 400 billion stars. An estimated 500 billion more galaxies lie beyond our own. Yet the Lord says people are more precious to Him than all these worlds.

God Almighty ordained this planet as humanity’s home and as central to His story. God created Earth as the scene the Son of God would enter into as the promised Messiah, fully human and fully divine. One day, when the Son of God returns, God will restore the earth and fulfill His purposes for creation.

Questions

1. Scan today’s verses. Who is the main subject of these verses, and how do you know?
2. What do you find to be amazing, mysterious and beautiful in our universe and existence that points to a Creator?