(Originally written June 24, 2006 in Book 3)
Genesis 1:24 "And God said, 'Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind'. And it was so".
Question - Again the phrase 'according to its kind' appears, why?
Fact - This is the creation of animals and insects (creatures that move along the ground).
1:25 "God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the the things that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good"
Question - According to their kinds, what does it mean?
Theory - Could 'according to their kinds' denote that all creatures that God has made have been made to work in a society? Could it mean that in addition to creating the individual creatures He also created the social structure that each individual creature is to dwell in? I believe that this is very plausible.
Fact - God calls the animals 'good'.
1:26 "Then God said 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.
Fact - God is not an I; He is an us. God, which is singular refers to Himself as plural. Thus, God is one and at least two.
Fact - Man is made in the image of God and in the likeness of God.
Question - Is there a difference between the image of God and the likeness of God? Check the Hebrew references.
Fact - Man is to be in charge of the earth and all its inhabitants.
Theory - This (above) is a right bestowed on man, so what is the duty attached?
1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them"
Fact - Man and woman are both created in the image of God.
1:28 "God blessed them and said to them 'be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
Fact - Man receives God's blessing.
Theory - This blessing is the right to rule over the earth in verse 26. The duty that comes with this right is to 'be fruitful and increase in number, fill the earth and subdue it'. The right and duty are the same. They are inextricably connected.
Synopsis of Genesis 1
1. Heavens and Earth Created
2. Earth is formless, empty and dark. Spirit of God on earth. Earth has water
3. Light created
4. Light is declared good. Light is separated from darkness
5. Light named day; dark named night. End of day 1
6. Water separated to form an expanse
7. Water separated to form an expanse
8. Expanse called sky. End of day 2
9. Earth waters gathered. Dry ground appears.
10. Dry ground called land. Gathered waters called seas. God saw that it was good.
11. Vegetation created (1st life)
12. Vegetation called good.
13. End of 3rd day
14. Stars created
15. Stars created
16. Differentiation of sun and moon from other stars
17. Reiteration (vv. 14 -16)
18. Stars, sun and moon called good.
19. End of the 4th day
20. Sea creatures and birds created
21. Reiteration of verse 20
22. God blessed sea creatures and birds
23. End of the 5th day
24. Animals created
25. Reiteration of verse 24
26. The thought of man created
27. Actual creation of man
28. God blesses man
29.
Day 1: Heaven & Earth, water darkness, Light, day (light), night (darkness)
Day 2: Sky
Day 3: Land (dry ground) form? - Thus, God calls it good. Vegetation (life)
Day 4: Stars (Heavenly bodies) Sun & Moon
Day 5: Sea creatures, birds
Day 6: Animals, man
Day 7: Rest
1:29 "Then God said, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food"
Fact - Adam & Eve are given food to eat.
1:30 "And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground - everything that has the breath of life in it - I give every green plant for food. And it was so"
Fact - The vegetation is food for all the sea creatures, birds and animals
Question - Everything that has the breath of life in it - does the original Hebrew mean everything that has a soul?
1:31 "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning - the sixth day.
Fact - God saw that his creation was very good.
Theory - God looks at his creation as a whole and calls it very good, not just good. Could it be that He calls creation very good rather than just good because it is a perfect, harmonious society? Societies would then have a vital role in existence.
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