God as Creator
The only totally reliable record of the formation of the universe is found in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. The early chapters describe the creation of the heavens, the earth, and mankind, and form the first of the weekly portions of the Torah (Gen 1:1-6:8) that are read by many Jewish and Gentile people through the year.
The Hebrew records this work of creation in a simple statement of fact (Gen 1:1): “Bereshit bara Elohim et ha’shamayim v’et ha’eretz”: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (see also Psalm 33:6).
The root r-sh-t (reshit) means the first or beginning of a series, and leaves no doubt that this phrase refers to the initiating act of the creation of the cosmos by God. This first name given for God, Elohim, is plural, yet the verb for ‘created’, bara, is singular, reflecting the God who has many expressions but who is yet One, in perfect unity; bara is only used for Divine creative activity.
Although everything else had a beginning, God has always existed (Psalm 90:2 - from everlasting to everlasting). Elohim both created the whole universe and sustains all things through the work of His Son Yeshua (Heb 1:2-3) and the action of His Holy Spirit, which brought to birth the creative Word of God (Gen 1:1; Ps 104:30).
Man’s Fall, God’s Plan for Rescue
This week’s portion also describes the fall of Adam and Eve into sin, following the subtle, evil deception of satan which brought doubt, lies and rebellion into the world. For this, satan was punished with the Lord’s full curse, while God’s prophetic assurance was given to the woman that her seed (Jesus) would crush the serpent’s head. This was fulfilled at the Cross of the Messiah, later in history (Genesis 3:14-15).
Chapter 5 gives the genealogy of Adam’s nine descendants to Noah (a righteous man who walked with God). The Hebrew meanings of their names, in sequence, form a beautiful prophetic message of the Gospel:
Mankind (Adam) / turns its face toward (God) (Seth) / and is appointed mortal, to die, to grievous sorrow and calamity (Enosh) / to lament and mourn. (Kenan) / God, who is praised, (Mahalalel) / comes down (Jared) / to instruct, to teach, to dedicate, to consecrate. (Enoch) / He is sent forth as a Prophet and Priest, (Methuselah) / to be beaten and struck, to be smitten and scourged, to die, (Lamech) / and to give a condition of rest and security, a quiet Shalom (Noah).
This is the Gospel of God set in place at the beginning of time - His covenant of grace.
It is through knowing God as Creator that we can learn of His grace and faithfulness. God has made this plain, for His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen through what He has made (Ps 19:1-6), so that Man is without excuse (Rom 1:20). The doorway to worship of our Creator God is to acknowledge that He has created us, also, in His image. God is our Maker to whom we owe our life and obedience.
It is His desire that we trust Him completely in all situations, and be drawn to the immanent life of His Son Yeshua, the creative Word of God.
The Messianic Commission
The Haftarah (a related portion of Scripture from the Prophets) for this week, from Isaiah 42:5-43:10, echoes the truth of Creation: “God the Lord who created the heavens and spread out the earth...” and “gives breath [life] to all on His earth”.
Isaiah also gives details of the calling of the promised Messiah to open blind eyes, free the captives and release those that sit in darkness, and to be a (new) covenant for Israel and a light to the Gentiles (42:6-7). Jesus gave this apostolic commission to the Gentiles to Paul (Acts 26:18) and to all His disciples today (Matt 28:19).
God’s Creation was thus for a purpose: to draw all mankind into the Kingdom of Light by sharing the good news of salvation through the finished work of Jesus our Saviour. Let us worship Him.
Author: Greg Stevenson
