“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). We find these words written at the doorway to divine revelation. The record of the creation which follows in Genesis 1-2 reveals a number of important truths we would do well to note. We continue this week to consider that the creation account…

Reveals The Beginning Of Man: On the sixth day of creation “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” (Gen. 1:26). Then, “The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Gen. 2:7). God called the man He created Adam, meaning “of the ground.” Man is God’s crowning and favored creation, divinely given dominion over all other things on the earth (Gen. 1:26-31). Most importantly, man has been created in the image of God, and given a soul that will last for time without end. In this we see what is different in man from all the other things God created. When an animal dies, their existence ends and they go into the ground (Eccl. 3:21). However, when a man dies, his spirit still continues to exist. For, though “the dust will return to the earth as it was…the spirit will return to God who gave it” (Eccl. 12:7).

Reveals The Beginning Of The Home: God said of the first man, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Gen. 2:18). God brought every beast and bird before Adam, yet “there was not found a helper fit for him” (v. 20). So, “The Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man” (vv. 21-22). As God institutes the home, it is stated, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (v. 24). We should note that from the very beginning to this present day, God’s plan for the home has been the same — one man and one woman until death parts them (cf. Matt. 19:4-8).

Let us have our eyes open to see that, even today, the creation cries out, testifying to the existence, eternal nature, glory, power, and plan of the Creator! “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard” (Ps. 19:1-3).

David Eldridge