Genesis

Lesson 6Genesis 1:20 through 2:3

This week our lesson in Genesis looks at God as he creates the first inhabitants for the earth. In Isaiah 45:18 we read:

 18 For this is what the LORD says—
       he who created the heavens,
       he is God;
       he who fashioned and made the earth,
       he founded it;
       he did not create it to be empty,
       but formed it to be inhabited—
       he says:
       "I am the LORD,
       and there is no other."

Beginnings

It is important to note from this passage that God intended the earth to be inhabited, and He created the earth accordingly. Having created the required environment, God now begins to create the first of many creatures who, along with man and woman, will inhabit the earth.

Read Genesis 1:20-2:3 and consider the following:

  1. Which of the fish in the sea that God created does the Bible tell us were created to serve as food, or "meat", for the other creatures in the sea, like the whale and the shark? (Gen. 1:29-30)
  2. When did God first create something with "life"? (Gen 1:20)
  3. When God created the creatures in the sea, did He create big or little fish first? (Gen 1:21)
  4. According to the Theory of Evolution, what size sea creatures "evolved" first? Big or little?
  5. On Day Two, God created two environments: the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. What did God do with these environments later, on Day Five?
  6. What did God command the creatures of the sea and the birds of the air to do?
  7. On Day Three, God created two additional environments: the biosphere and the lithosphere. What did God do with these environments later, on Day Six?
  8. Which animals and creeping things were created by God as food for the other more dominant, or wilder, animals? (Gen. 1:29-30)?
  9. What else happened on Day Six? See Genesis Chapter 2 and list everything that God did on Day Six.

As we continue our study of Genesis, we see that God had a well-thought-out and orderly plan, which he put into place one step at a time, and one day at a time. In the next lesson, we will see that plan further elaborated.

We can correctly infer from this lesson that God also has a specific purpose and plan for each of our lives, just as He did for creation. Chaos, random choice, and evolution have no place in a plan that is purpose-driven, and one that is implemented by the God of the universe. Even though at times we may see our lives as chaotic or in a constant state of change, we can be assured that God is still on His Throne, with Christ at his right hand; and His plan is the only one that will completely be accomplished.

May God bless you this week as you continue to study His creation story.

Yours in Christ,

Wes

[2010]

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