Sabbath: Creation, a Biblical Theme
Read for This week’s Study: Genesis 2, Matt. 19:4-6, Psalm 8,Job 38:1-21, 42:1-6, Isa. 45:18,Acts 17:22-31.
Memory Text: “Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water’” (Revelation 14:6, 7, NIV).
Genesis 1:1-2:3 is the foundation for many Creation texts found in Scripture. Some references to Genesis 1 are clear, others more indirect. The more indirect references often involve a repetition of certain words or ideas without directly quoting the text, such as 2 Corinthians 4:6: “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (NKJV). A direct reference, in contrast, is Hebrews 4:4: “For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all His works’” (NKJV), a quote from Genesis 2:2.
This week we will look at various references that point back to the Genesis account and show how other Bible writers understood it as a literal depiction of human origins.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 26.
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Some one help me on this matter; how is fourth day of creation related to the fact that, a day is of evening and morning? What do you think of the fact that God was creating during the day hours and then leave let it be evening that is this the 1st through third day, if not so, how would the evening be available?
That remains a mystery Wambura. One thing that has been revealed is that GOD rested on the seventh day, so I believe that GOD never rested even at night.
Another thing is that the light spoken into existence was enough for GOD to distinguish between day and night even though the sun, moon and stars were not even there. The sun doesnt bring light but it just reflect the light already there. It is just like a clock which in itself is not time but reflect the time already there. Lets help each other if you didnt understand, feel free to ask.....
Thanks alot for your insight.The rest talked about here is not a break from work but a rest of appreciation of work(creation work)well done which brings along that intimacy with our creator.Thats why we are to rest to comprehend and appreciate the good work of creation done by our God.In fact our rest in it self is respect and reflection of God image in us.Thank you.
Thank you.
All I know God's word is powerful to all of us who read the Bible and make it a lodgement to our heart. Thank God for His word.
The beauty,grace and power of spiritual reference, compared to intellectual reference, is evident in 2 Corinthians 4:6 and Hebrews 4:4.Paul and John or any of the other Bible writers show how their lives are inspired and how their perceptions transcend in to a wider vision God has reveled through his creative power in Genesis 1 and 2. This blessing is not limited to humans only. Angels have brought a song of praise as they experienced God's act of creation through his living Word. Animate and inanimate nature call our attention to that Word. Jesus is that living Word. How direct or indirect our reference may be we are freely given an access to that Living Word. The Holy spirit will work in us to desire and to do the purpose of this Living Word. This will transform our hearts. The gospel in action will continue in its full authority as well as simplicity. For me that is the power of Genesis 1 and 2 🙂
Which of the two verses is first. Genesis 2:2 and Genesis 2:7, was man formed after Sabbath? Thoughts please!
Brilliant question Williams. You need to understand that everything was created by GOD in six days.
Exodus 20:11 combines the two verses, and the verse says, For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
The first point am trying to bring out is that all creation was finished in six days including the creation of human beings. Genesis 1:27,31 sums up this point and this is concluded as being the sixth day on verse 31. chapter two is an elaboration of the things said in chapter one especially the creation of human beings. chapters and verses were introduced for easy reading but when the bible was originally written it didnt have them so do not be confuzed
Thanks Ngoni.
Please hlep me with understanding. As everything was created in six days, was God creating the heavens and all its hosts while at the same time creating the earth? And how did different races come by? Have come to agree its not the geographical effect which spiced up the coloring because a white man and a white woman can never bear another type. Has sin distorted us that much?
Happy Sabbath to you all.
Lwazi read Genesis 11:1-9.
Lwazi, to add to what Khanyisa suggested, I'll repeat what I suggested earlier:
There is only one human race. We have different skin colors, as we have different eye colors and hair colors. It is all a result of the marvelous diversity of genetic possibilies with which God endowed our first father and mother.
Think of it this way: Just as God created flowers that can have many different colors (such as roses), so He created humans with the potential to have many different colors.
I believe the sons of Noah were probably very different from each other in appearance. And these differences were evident in the families of their children, grand-children, etc. When God confused the language at the Tower of Babel, I’m sure He allowed immediate family members to understand each other. So these family groups moved into different areas of the world, and when they became isolated from those with different genes, they lost the ability to have children with different colors.
When people from different color backgrounds now marry, they recombine the gene pool, and we can again see that marvelous diversity in just one family.
I don't believe that diversity in appearance is the result of sin. I believe that God created mankind with the genetic possibility of diversity, just like He created flowers and animals with the genetic possibility for diversity.
The environment played a very big part in the changes in complexion and the human body contained genetic variations. For example, the Edomites, the descendants of Esau, were hairy and they became a tribe of hairy people. This condition was suitable for their outdoor activities. People continued to differ in complexion, stature, and many other factors contributed to this. EG White says the first parents were RUDDY not white or black, that is they were like Red-footed Indians and they continued to reproduce and differences also increased, in as much as a tall parent can have a child shorter that he or she, a white person and a black person bring a coloured. We were not created in a way to produce kids who are identical to us in every way, although our Chinese brothers are blessed to be identical or similar in most features...
I have a friend who asked me a question and I could not find an appropriate answer....they claim that according to Genessis 2:4 the creation of the heavens and earth was all in one day. The verse says,"These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the 'DAY' that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens....based on that verse they claim that all creation according to the Bible was in a DAY....I told them about Exodus 20:11, but they still insisted that I explain what Genessis 2:4 meant by DAY....!
The word for "day" in Gen 2:4 in the KJV is the Hebrew "yowm." According to a Bible lexicon it can mean any of the following:
In the KJV it is translated thus:
day 2008x, time 64x, chronicles + 01697 37x, daily 44x, ever 18x, year 14x, continually 10x, when 10x, as 10x, while 8x, full 8x always 4x, whole 4x, alway 4x, misc 44x
You see, in Hebrew, the meaning depends very much on context and position in the sentence. Even though this is not as common in English, we do have similar examples. For instance:
It seems to me that arguing that "day" in Gen 2:4 means a 24-hour period is just as foolish as arguing that the second sentence refers to a baseball bat flying out of a hole.
I believe when we read our Bibles, we are reading in order to listen to God. It's a mistake many people do when reading the Bible and choose not to trust God at His word. Genesis 2:4 is explaining Genesis 1:1-8. Genesis 2 picks some of the things mentioned in Genesis chapter 1 and elaborates more on them. We need to trust God when we read our Bibles. God in Genesis 1 mentioned many times, the evening and the morning...more than 5 times. If we believe God, we should take Him at his Word.
The creation of man is mentioned in Genesis 1: 26-29 but chapter 2 explains how God created man. It gives us the better view of the creation of man. It's better to stand by God's word than to believe a lie said by 1000000000 scientists who do not fear God.
Last week I heard many theories on creation. The evidence of the rising and setting of the sun is not enough to believe God yet even scientists are silenced by this.