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As you read the first chapter of Genesis, ask yourself: Do you believe in God? Do you believe in His Word? Do you believe God created the heavens and the earth?
The book of Genesis besides being introductory, is also explanatory. The first chapter of Genesis describes the most extraordinary event in the history of the universe: its creation.
The importance of the first word Bereshith is the first word in the Hebrew text and gives us the name for the book of Genesis which means "in the beginning.”
In English, we use the word beginning to define a point in time or space at which something starts. In regard to God's Creation, this definition is actually not accurate, because when God created there was neither time nor space. He created them both and then in time continued to create over a period of 6 twenty-four-hour days.
How important is Genesis 1:1?
Henry Morris explains that "this one verse refutes all of man’s false philosophies concerning the origin and meaning of the world:
• It refutes atheism because the universe was created by God.
• It refutes pantheism, for God is transcendent to that which He created.
• It refutes polytheism, for one God created all things.
• It refutes materialism, for matter had a beginning.
• It refutes dualism because God was alone when He created.
• It refutes humanism, because God, not man, is the ultimate reality.
• It refutes evolutionism because God created all things.
ILLUSTRATION:
Joe and Charlie were arguing about Genesis 1:1. Joe said he believed the record of creation just as it was written. Charlie was an unbeliever and went to great lengths in giving his own theory of how the world began and then how life developed from a primordial cell through reptiles, monkeys, and up to man. When he was all through, Joe looked at him and said, "Were you there, Charlie?" It was a good question. "Of course, I wasn't there," he replied. Joe said, "Well, God was. He was the only one there and I'll take the word of the Eyewitness rather than the guesses of those who rely on their own imagination."
APPLICATION QUESTION:
Considering God’s creation, what do you find astounding? What aspect amazes you about it? What inspires you to worship Him?
QUOTE:
A God wise enough to create me and the world I live in is wise enough to watch out for me. Philip Yancey
PRAYER:
Lord, I thank You that You are the Creator. Nothing happened by chance. You have a plan for the world and You have a plan for me. Amen
Scripture
About this Plan
GLEANINGS is a one-year devotional through the Bible. It contains answers to key issues, application questions and quotes to think and apply, and a prayer of commitment at the end. The word Genesis means “beginning” and this book records the beginning of everything—the beginning of creation, man, sin, family, culture, and industry—except it does not deal with the beginning of God, because God has no beginning.
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