What Genesis 1 Reveals about God's Intent (Genesis 1)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

What is Genesis 1 all about?

This is a question that has brought sharp division among certain Christian groups.

Biblical scholar John Walton writes, “It is regrettable that an account of such beauty has become such a bloodied battleground, but that is indeed the case.”^[1] While scholars have differing views, in The Reason for God, Keller writes, “I think Genesis 1 has the earmarks of poetry and is therefore a ‘song’ about the wonder and meaning of God’s creation. Genesis 2 is an account of how it happened.”[2]

If this is the case, how should we view this passage? I think Sandra Richter offers a helpful perspective when she writes,

What did the author of Genesis 1 feel was necessary to set up the theological and historical lens for his audience as he launched his readers into redemption’s story? I must tell you that I do not think he was concerned about the chronological and geological details of the creation event, nor do I think he was occupied with explaining the end of the dinosaur age or the “old” and “young” earth theory. Rather, I think his most central concern was probably educating Yahweh’s wayward people about who this God was and what this God expected of them. And certainly a major point of confusion for the recently liberated, too-long-in-Egypt Israelites was the concept of monotheism. Yahweh was a god unlike the others of the ancient Near East, one who stood outside and above his creation, a god for whom there were no rivals and who had created humanity as his children as opposed to his slaves. Thus I think Genesis 1 was intended as a rehearsal of the creation event (where else would you start the story?) with the all-controlling theological agenda of explaining who God is and what his relationship to creation (and specifically humanity) looked like. Basically, Genesis 1 was written to answer the questions: “Who is God and what is his relationship to us?” Or…“What was God’s original intent?”[3]

“Who is God and what is his relationship to us?” “What was God’s original intent?” Start with answering these questions, and Genesis makes sense. Avoid them, and you’re likely to wind up going down some rabbit trails that the original authors never intended you to travel.

In Genesis 1, we see the foundation for all of Scripture. God is our creator. We were made in his image. And our responsibility is to steward all we’ve been given. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” And Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.” These two verses help form the basis of reality.

A Meditation to PRAY

Praise | Lord, you are my creator.  As man molds and makes clay pots, you made me. I cannot begin to fathom your glory and majesty. I praise you and lift your name high.

Release | I give you my limited understanding of how the world works. I trust your plan, and I commit to seeking your perfect way.

Ask | Please show me areas where I am not appropriately stewarding what you have placed under me.

Yield | Thank you for making me in your image. Continue to make me more like Christ as I commit my way to you.

A Challenge to Act Like Christ  

Colossians 1:16 says, “For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities.”

God the Father created the world through Jesus. And his first intention was for humanity to live in perfect relationship with his creator. But as we’re about to see, God’s desire for this world is soon rejected by the free will humans He creates. Only as we understand the importance of Genesis 1 will we understand all Christ did for us by dying for our sins and rising from the dead.

Sandra Richter writes,

Although Christians too often think that the story of salvation begins with Jesus, the story actually begins with Adam and Eve. I know for myself that I am unable to share the gospel without speaking of Eden. Because when we ask the salvation question, what we are really asking is, what did the first Adam lose? And when we answer the salvation question, what we are really attempting to articulate is, what did the Second Adam (i.e., Jesus) buy back?^[4]

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[1] Walton, John H.. The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate (The Lost World Series Book 2). InterVarsity Press, 2010. Kindle edition. Location 62.

[2] Keller, Timothy (2008-02-14). The Reason for God (p. 92). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

[3] Sandra Richter, The Epic of Eden, 94.

[4] Sandra Richter, The Epic of Eden, 118