God the creator

Paul E Brown, Lancaster

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and in doing so, he revealed a great deal about himself. In the days of Moses, the pagan nations believed in many gods and strange ideas about the creation of the earth. But in Genesis 1 to 2:3 we have a clear straightforward account of one God whose character shines out through his creative activity.

This is actually the first thing we notice about God as we begin reading the Bible: God created. To create is the act of a person. It implies thought and intention; it involves planning and designing; it means decision and formation. A tree does not plan to produce apples, a mountain does not fashion itself. A bird builds a nest, but each type of bird only builds a certain type of nest. A spider spins a certain type of web depending on what sort of spider it is. But to make a universe; to plan it all and bring it into being takes someone who is wise and good and great – a personal God.

Throughout this passage of Scripture we see many other personal acts of God. God said (v3). He saw, and separated the light from the darkness (v4). He called the expanse Heaven (v8). In verse 17 God set the two great lights to rule over day and night. In verse 22 God blessed the creatures he had made. In verse 26 God spoke within himself and in verse 29 God gave. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done (2:2). The passage is full of verbs which indicate personal activity. In fact it is even possible to see something of the tri-personal nature of God here. The Spirit of God hovers over the waters; God creates by his Word; and he says, ‘Let us make man in our image’ (1:26. Some readers might like to read ‘The Holy Trinity’ by Robert Letham, P & R, where this is more fully explained).

So God is not some impersonal force or power. For all his greatness he is personal and that means he can enter into relations with other persons if he creates them, and converse with them. And this is just what he did when he created the first man and woman. He spoke to them and blessed them, gave them a task to do and provided their food (1:28-29; see also 2:8, 15-19, 22). The intimacy which was lost when Adam sinned is restored to us in Jesus Christ.

An all-sufficient God

God is self-sufficient, which means that he has all the resources for his life and activity within himself. He is not dependent at all on anyone or anything else. No one brought him into being, nothing existed before him, and everything that exists came into being because he willed it and brought it about. This is the clear teaching of our passage.

As self-sufficient he is also all-sufficient. He is fully competent to do all that wishes to do. He is the all-wise God. His mind is fully adequate to design the whole universe from the galaxies and stars to the microscopic machines we call cells. He is the all-powerful God. He is fully able to bring into being whatever he determines to make. When he speaks his word has power, so that he calls into being whatever he wishes. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host… For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm (Psalm 33:6,9).

This is the vision of God that is brought before us here. Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these? He who brings out their host by number… Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength (Isaiah 40:26, 28-29). The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms (Deuteronomy 33:27).

A God of goodness

Everything that God makes is good (vv4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31). Every day God created, and every day God saw that all he had created was good. Looking back over it all, it was very good. Why was it good? Because God is good. When Moses asked God if he could see his glory, God said, I will make all my goodness pass before you (Exodus 33:19). The glory of God is his goodness; his goodness shines out gloriously:

‘Yes, God is good; in earth and sky,

From ocean depths and spreading wood,

Ten thousand voices seem to cry –

God made us all, and God is good.’

There was no evil in the world at the beginning. There was nothing harmful, nothing unpleasant, nothing that spoiled what was there. There was no violence, no cruelty, no terrible disasters. The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food (2:8-9). Everything was pleasant to look at and all the fruits of the trees were good to eat, tasty and nourishing. This was paradise, the garden of God.

In spite of the Fall there is still so much that speaks of the goodness of God: the mountains and lakes, the birds and flowers. So much is enjoyable: human love, family life, a good meal together with others, hearty laughter, a bracing walk, music and singing. God’s goodness is experienced by everyone and it is intended to draw our hearts back to him, God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance (Romans 2:4). And for the believer: to know that this God is our Father – what a joy that is!

There is a stately progression through Genesis 1. Everything is planned out and accomplished step by step. There is no rush, no panic, no overlooking something which should have been done first. Everything is done in its place until it is all finished and then God rests. This is how God works; he has a plan and brings it to completion. What he starts he always finishes, in his way and his time.

Paul put it like this: God is not a God of confusion but of peace. And he drew this conclusion: All things should be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:33,40). God is always reliable; he is always the same. He does not start something and then change his mind and take up something different. He is a God who sees things through. Here is great comfort for all who trust him: he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).