From Richard

Good morning everyone (if it is morning). How are you doing today?

We are going to have a Mid Week Bridge series running through the first 11 chapters of Genesis and so today we will start at the beginning; right at the beginning. So turn with me to Genesis chapter 1 and read the whole chapter.

What do you make of all that? As you read that familiar passage once again, what struck you as significant?

There’s much to chew over but perhaps I could add my reflections to what the Lord has revealed to you.

  1. God created

The sheer enormity of creation – not just on this planet – is simply breath-taking. On a clear night we can see with our own eyes stars that are millions of miles away. A former work colleague of mine said that he saw a strange looking star one evening – almost 50 years ago. And when he spoke with someone who was an authority on these things, it was explained that my colleague had witnessed a star explode. How get your head round this: the star that had exploded was so far away; it was calculated that this star had exploded 6,000 years before we had even seen it explode here on planet earth.

And God created this all. Just pause for a moment and consider the vastness of creation. But then consider the greatness of the creator. The creator has to be greater than the created.

So this passage reveals the unfolding of God’s creation and culminates in the creation of human life (v 26-27). The same God who created all in this universe through speaking, created you.

  • It was good

We see the same refrain at the end of each day:

Verse 4 God saw the light was good.

Verse 10 God saw that (the sky and the land and seas) was good.

Verse 12 God saw that it (the vegetation) was good.

Verse 18 God saw that it (the sun and moon) was good.

Verse 22 God saw that it (the living creatures) was good.

Verse 31 God saw all that he made (including humans) and it was very good

There is much to consider here but perhaps I can focus on what happens at verse 31. We move from good to very good. Looking at each of the previous verses outlined, God says that each stage was good; but only when it is all finished does he say that it is very good. I simply take that as meaning that there is a wholeness to God and what he does. These days we often talk about solutions being “holistic”. Well – we have a holistic God. When things “come together” as he intended – it is then very good.

This is also God’s intention for you. He wants you to be whole. James 1: 4 talks about Christians being mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Maybe in your reflections, consider your whole self and areas in your life where you are not as God intended. Ask the Lord for his help so that you would mature and be whole and complete.

  • And he gave

If we were consultants advising God, and he said that he was about to create humans (and knowing how things would pan out) – what would you advise? I suspect we would say: stop!

But God goes ahead and such is the sheer outrageous generosity of God, not only does he give life to us but he gives people the authority to rule over animals and fish and he gives people trees and fruit and vegetation (verse 28-30).

Just re-read verses 28-30 and notice right at the end of verse 30, the writer simply states: “and it was so.” Such is the brevity of these words – it almost sounds like a throw away comment: “and it was so.” Extraordinary simplicity. But this points to the wholeness of God again. What he promises – he does. What he says – happens.

Maybe as we reflect on these verses, we can consider what the Lord has given us; and what is our response to that in using and giving these gifts given to us.


Category: The Bridge , Thought for the week