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In The Beginning: God Speaks
15 Comments | Posted by Javetta Mercadel in Genesis, Old Testament
Reading through the creation story always induces a feeling of awe and admiration for our great God in me. If you walk outside right now, day or night, you will behold the evidence of the sovereign goodness of our great God. The fact that He wills and does according to His own volition is a sobering reality that should drive each of us to worship Him, namely through obedience.
It is easy for one to do a brisk reading of Genesis 1-2 and see that God created the earth–the animals, the plants and trees–and humans and simply regard that as recorded history. However, a careful reading of the text reveals its complexities and glories.
For example, have you ever noticed that chapter 1 and chapter 2 are two versions of the same story? The first story gives us great detail of the actual creation of the earth and a brief summary of the creation of humans; yet, the second story gives us a condensed version of the creation of the earth and a more detailed version of the creation of humans. Also, have you ever noticed that God spoke everything into existence except humans? He formed man from the ground and woman from the man.
Despite its complexities, one cannot help but see the glory in the power of God’s speech throughout the text. Every single time the Creator spoke, the creation listened and therefore responded and it was good.
Reading and thinking on this stirred up something in me that needs to come under subjection to this great reality: I have spent a lot of time acting like the Creator instead of listening to Him. This, my friends, should never be! God is the sovereign Creator of the universe. He speaks; we listen and therefore respond. This is the essence of obedience which is the only true form of worship.
So with the beginning of this new year upon us and all the talk of new year’s resolutions buzzing around us, our resolve should forever be to listen when our God speaks.
15 Comments for In The Beginning: God Speaks
Author comment by Alan Knox | January 1, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Lionel Woods | January 1, 2010 at 2:30 pm
Yes Javetta, I will also join in that resolution. Let me add, what is also complex to grasp is God’s careful forming of man. He spoke the others, but took the time to shape man and then says “we are created in His image”. How much more would we love others and cherish others if we understood God’s value of them? Yet this isn’t even as valuable as God sending His Son as the very humans he created to redeem them! But I am too far ahead!
Hutch | January 1, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Amen Javetta.
When I read Chapters 1 and 2 of Genesis, I see God starting his revelation that mankind is needy and that He alone is the one who always provides what mankind truly needs.
Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him an (ezer kenegdo)suitable for him.”
I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help (ezer kenegdo) come from? My help (ezer kenegdo) comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.-Psalm 121:1-2
We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help (ezer kenegdo) and our shield.
-Psalm 33:20
The overarching narrative of God’s Word tells us that He graciously supplies what we lack and are totaly incapable of attaining in and of ourselves: salvation, sanctification, glorification, deliverance from slavery to sin and death etc.
The Hebrew word ezer kenegdo in Genesis 2:18 is translated helpmeet or helper in the majority of english bible translations. In nearly every other instance that ezer kenegdo is used in the OT, the person being described is God Himself coming to the aid of one who is in desperate need.
I think of myself like Adam as he is described by God as being in a bad situation, that of being alone. Adam had no way to remedy that situation, God through his helping/delivering power came through for Adam and provided for him what he lacked a wife.
So when I look at Stacy, I view her as my ezer kenegdo a strong power suitable or me, the one whom God had to graciously supply for me to make me complete.
Author comment by Alan Knox | January 1, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Did you notice that God always speaks of himself in the plural? “Let us make man in our image…” In the same way, we are not completely when we are lone. God’s image is demonstrated in community.
-Alan
Javetta | January 1, 2010 at 11:00 pm
Thanks for the encouragement guys!!
Woods-You preachin’!! One of the things I will be focusing on this year is valuing people as God values them. Dying to self is the start of considering others more important that yourself and therefore seeing their value.
Hutch-You just made me kiss my husband and thank God for seeing that Adam (and therefore Jeff) not be alone 
Not only that, but you said, “God graciously supplies us what we lack” and I am learning how to trust Him in that. He is so worthy…
Alan-You are so correct–we are NOT complete when we are alone. Community is IMPERATIVE!I’ve never thought about this text like that before. As much as I am a “people-person,” I love being alone that much more, and I would rather sit in a room full of bibles and books and seek God alone until Jesus comes back….but you said it best, “God’s image is demonstrated best in community” and oh how I long to behold such a glorious image!
Steve Scott | January 2, 2010 at 3:15 am
Interesting account of creation. Beware of naysayers who take chapters 1 & 2 as literalist chronological to point out contradictions.
Also, nowhere does the text give the elapsed time between Adam’s creation and 1) Eve’s creation, 2) the fall – and thus when God commanded them all that he did, 3) Cain’s birth. Could Adam have lived for years – as opposed to minutes – without Eve and before the fall? It took 130 years to get Seth afterall.
Also, interesting parallel between Gen and Matt. A man wakes after a deep sleep to take a wife.
Javetta | January 2, 2010 at 9:54 am
Steve-I met the naysayers in college which drove me to find the truth ……Question: You said, “Also, interesting parallel between Gen and Matt. A man wakes after a deep sleep to take a wife.” Are you referring to Jesus taking His bride, the church? If so, can we justifiably say He was in a “deep sleep?”
Hutch | January 2, 2010 at 10:31 am
I am really excited about this project as we share the scriptures with each other and learn from one another.
My brothers and sisters, I am sure that you are full of goodness. I know that you have all the knowledge you need and that you are able to teach each other.-Romans 15:14
Author comment by Alan Knox | January 2, 2010 at 11:05 am
I’ll add one more thing about Matthew 1. Alot of times we jump over the genealogy in Matthew (and Luke). But, those genealogies served a very important purpose. Primarily, they show connection and continuation. Thus, Matthew is showing how the story of Jesus is not a new story as much as a continuation of God’s story. (Plus, there are some very interesting characters in this genealogy.)
-Alan
Author comment by Lionel Woods | January 2, 2010 at 11:41 am
Alan,
I taught on this last Christmas. Jesus is just as much a gentile as a Jew. Not to mention we have a prostitute, an adulterer, some wicked kings and yet God still used them to bring about His promises!
Author comment by Alan Knox | January 2, 2010 at 11:57 am
Lionel,
Looking at that list, I’m beginning to think that there might be hope for you too.
-Alan
Author comment by Lionel Woods | January 2, 2010 at 12:13 pm
LOL @ Alan!!!!! Yep, that is why I am a Christian 
That is acutally what I taught, what a glorious Gospel.
Steve Scott | January 2, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Javetta,
I was referring to Joseph, if you count his dream as sleep. He took Mary as his wife, although a bit of a delay.
Lionel,
And a Moabitess.
Laura | January 4, 2010 at 12:37 pm
The resolution to listen when God speaks corresponds to two events this morning. First, I am meditating on Matt 2:1-11 and 3:13-17 this week and, in reading the passages this morning, noted that the magi saw and worshiped, while Jesus saw and was announced worthy of worship. Second, as I waited at the bus station, the sunrise here in So. California was just spectacular.
So, I resolve to worship by submitting when God’s divinity and power are demonstrated to any of my senses.
Author comment by Javetta Mercadel | January 4, 2010 at 5:10 pm
Amen, Laura. Thank you for your thoughts
That’s a good resolution.
-Alan