GOD THE CREATOR
Gloria Phifer
The purpose of this Bible Study is to know God in a more intimate way. Paul, the writer of most of the New Testament Books of the Bible said in Philp. 3:10 “That I may know Him and the Power of His resurrection…in vs. 8, Paul said “I count all things loss
You. I pray this study will be a deep revelation of God’s love for you.
In what way do you want to know God better?
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.
(The element of Atoms consists but can not be seen by the human eye.)
We are going to begin in Genesis at the beginning. This will lay a foundation for the study. We will be looking at God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in creation. The earth was created for you and me.
What are some ways that you see God sustaining us on this earth?
If we were any closer to the Sun we would burn up and if we were any further from the Sun we would freeze. We have oxygen, gravity, sunlight, night time, Eco systems, water…the God of Creation prepared this planet for you and me... The Life Application Bible says about Genesis: “Purpose: to record God’s creation of the world and His desire to have a people set apart to worship Him.” Genesis was written by Moses during Israel ’s wanderings, somewhere in the Sinai Peninsula…presently known as the Middle East . Date written: 1450-1410 BC. (LAB).
Let’s read Genesis 1:1-10. Let’s begin with the “Beginning”…the Hebrew is reshiyth (ray-sheeth)…the 1st in place, time, order or rank, chief, principal thing…especially a first fruit… (Jesus, in 1st Cor. 15:20 is called the First Fruits).
God in Hebrew is Elohim –Creator-the Supreme God...plural –Deity…from El-strength. The Almighty- the Mighty One…Power, strong.
What comes to your mind when you see that God, Elohim, is plural?
What I immediately think of is the Trinity. In chapter two, when making man He said, “let Us make man in OUR image.” Plural.
In vs. 2 the earth was in terrible shape…no form and void. The Hebrew – tohuw-(to-hoo) to lie in waste, a desolation-of surface, desert-a worthless thing, in vain, confusion, empty place, wilderness –without form.
The darkness was over the face of the deep. “Darkness in Hebrew is choshek (kho-shek) dark, darkness, misery, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness, night, obscurity.”
The Hebrew for “Deep is tehown (the-home) an abyss, (as a surging mass of water) especially the deep (the main sea or the subterranean water supply) deep (place) depth. It came from a root word “huwn” (hoom) to make uproar or agitate greatly, destroy, move, make a noise, put, ring again.”
So evidently the deep, that the darkness was over, was a noisy place. What I see here is no peace or light whatsoever.
I can see an analogy of my own life without Christ. Much of my life was a desert, confusion, empty, a wilderness and darkness, no spiritual light, misery and sorrow. In my home where I grew up there was a lot of uproar and a lot of agitation.
Can you relate? What was your life like before Christ – the Light of the World?
This darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Spirit in Hebrew is” ruwach-(roo-akh-) Wind-by resemblances breathe – a sensible (or even violent) exhalation. A rational Being ( includes it’s expression and functions)-air-anger-blast-breath-cool-courage-mind- Spirit. This word came from another Hebrew word that means to blow-breathe, to perceive- to anticipate-enjoy- make of quick understanding.”
What part of this word” Spirit” speaks to your heart?
I was surprised at the word “anger”. Could it be that the Spirit was angry about the condition the earth was in? I know in my own life I feel some anger when I see circumstances that are a mess…and I want there to be light, life and peace there.
What touches me the most is thinking of the Breathe or Exhalation of Elohim. The Spirit is the Breath of Elohim. To me, the Holy Spirit was anticipating and enjoying and had quick understanding of what the earth would be.
When the Spirit of God (Elohim) moved upon the face of the waters the word “Move” in Hebrew means to brood (by imp. To be relaxed) move – flutter.
I thought it was interesting that He moved in a relaxed manner.
What do you picture from these words? Was there a time you would like to share when the Holy Spirit brooded and moved over your life when it was a wilderness- void and empty?
The Application Study Bible says: “The image of the Spirit of God hovering over the earth’s surface is similar to a mother bird caring for and protecting its young. God’s Spirit was actively involved in the creation of the world” Ps. 91:4, Deut. 32:11, Is. 31:5.
Ps.104:30.
Vs. 3 God said“Light”! And was light!
(When I looked at the Hebrew “Let there be” was not in the original)
The Full Life Study Bible says “The method God used in creation was the Power
Of His words.”
“Said” in Hebrew is Amar-( Aw-mar.) To say with great latitude, Command. Appoint. Challenge –charge-declare-Demand- Expressly Speak.
What specifically moves you in these words? Would you like to share when the LIGHT OF JESUS CHRIST shone into your life?
Let’s look further at the Voice of God.
Ps 29:2-4, Ezekiel 43:2, Rev. 1:10 and vs. 15.
What would the voice of many waters sound like?
Would the voice of many waters be like the roar of a mighty water fall? Or like a rushing river or the sound of the ocean?
Light in “Hebrew is “Or” (ore) illumination or luminary (in every sense including lightning, happiness etc.) bright, clear, day, morning, sun. From a prim root…to cause or make luminous…break of day…glorious…kindle. (Be, give, show) light (enlightened) set on fire, shine.”
The Full Life Study Bible “The Hebrew word for “light” is “Or” referring to the initial waves of light energy coming upon the earth. On Day 4 God placed “lights” Hebrew “ma’or”, literally “light-bearers vs. 14….in the heavens as permanent generators and reflectors of light waves. The primary purpose of these light-bearers was to serve as signs to mark seasons, and days and years”. (The sun, the moon and stars)
In vs. 4 God saw the light that it was Good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
Notice He did not say anything good about the darkness. God is still dividing…separating the light from the darkness in this world and in our lives. He is always proclaiming Light into our lives. His Word is Light Ps 119:105. And vs. 130.
Vs. 6 Then God said let there be a firmament…vs. 8 God called the firmament Heaven.
I wanted to share with you what I found about firmament and Heaven in the Hebrew. (In the New Living Translation of the Bible firmament is sky.)
“Hebrew for firmament is ragiya (raw-kee-oh) an expanse; the firmament… (Or apparently) Visible arch of the sky. From a prim root word “raqa” ( raw-kah) to pound the earth ( as a sign of passion) by analogy to expand ( by hammering) to overlay with thin sheets of metal. Beat, make broad, and spread abroad into plates. Stamp, stretch.”
God’s Word is like a hammer…Jeremiah 23:29
.
“Heaven in Hebrew is Shomayim (Shaw-mah-yim)…dual of an unused sing. To be lofty…the sky (as aloft-alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move as well as the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve) air, astrologer, heaven or heavens.”
I just found this fascinating…is there “ether” in the upper atmosphere where the stars and planets are? Also, I watched a documentary on the stars and planets and the universe. They do not know what holds the universe together…they call it ‘black matter”
Could there be invisible plates that God has hammered with His Word that holds the universe together?”
Ps 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.
I want us to think of our own lives as this earth. Without Christ our lives were void and empty. We were in darkness and then the Holy Spirit begin to brood over our lives and God the Father commanded the revelation…the Light of His Son Jesus Christ to be revealed to us and we became a new creation. 2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away and Behold, all things are made new!
We actually had two creations one was in our mother’s womb Ps 139:13-18 (you were fearfully and wonderfully made) and the other one was a New Creation in Christ.
Eph 4:23-24. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that you put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
GOD THE SON, THE CREATOR
John 1:1-4 The Word…Greek “Logos” The Devine Expression…Christ…say, utterance…Word…work.”
Notice He is God. He was in the beginning with God. He is the Creator. He is Life and He is the Light that shines into the darkness.
Col.1:12-17 Christ the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation. For though Him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth…..vs.17 He existed before anything else and He holds all creation together.
Hebrews 1:1-4. God (Elohim) created the universe through His Son. Jesus radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God.
1 Cor. 8:6…God made everything and we live for Him. There is only One Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom God made everything and through Whom we have been given life.
What are your thoughts when you realize that your Savior is your Creator?
(The Hebrew words were taken from Strong’s Concordance of the Bible)
God created everything according to a plan and order (Taken from The Full Life
Study Bible)
DAY 1…Light Bringing order to
Creation
Day 2…Expanse
Day 3…Dry Ground
Day 4 Light-bearers
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Day 5 …Fish and Birds Giving Life to Creation
Day 6…Animals and Humans
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Day 7…Rest
Creation is complete and good
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| CREATION |
Life Application Bible footnote: the vast galaxy we live in is spinning at the incredible speed of 490,000 miles an hour. But even at this brea
THE HEAVENS DECLARE THE GLORY OF GOD!
A Word on Jesus being the "Work" of God. ..John 9:4-5. Matt 20:28, John 10:36-38
One of my favorite scriptures …John 6: 28-29 what must we do to do the works of God? Jesus
replied "
This is the Work of God that you believe on Him Whom He has sent. (How incredible, the work of God is believing in Jesus!)
