THE BOOK OF GENESIS
GOD’S DIVINE SOVEREIGNY IN
CREATION, HISTORY, AND
REDEMPTION
I.
PRIMEVAL HISTORY (chapters 1-11)
Four Outstanding Events:
A. The Creation- Divine sovereignty in
physical creation
B. The Fall- Divine sovereignty in human
separation
C. The Flood- Divine sovereignty
in historical retribution
D. The
II.
PATRIARCHAL HISTORY (chapters 12-50)
Four Outstanding Persons:
A.
Abraham- Divine
sovereignty in election
(supernatural call)
B.
Isaac- Divine sovereignty in election
(Supernatural birth)
(supernatural care)
E. Joseph- Divine sovereignty in
election
(supernatural control)
“IN THE BEGINNING GOD
CREATED
THE
HEAVEN AND THE EARTH.” (Genesis 1:1).
This is the beginning of the word of God,
the foundation of all truth! In this
glorious pronouncement, there is the declaration of the sovereignty of God in
creation, that He is the One Who made all and is worthy of all glory and
worship. Anyone who really believes this
first verse of Scripture will have not trouble believing all the other miracles
recorded in God’s word.
One of the clearest overall pictures in the book of Genesis is the declaration of the sovereignty of God. His power and control over the earth, the heavens, the atmosphere, nature, mankind, and all of His creation cause us to bow in adoration and respect of His being. His requirement of righteousness, and His judgment upon disobedience should cause us all to reverence Him and all His commandments.
“IN THE
BEGINNNING GOD
CREATED THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH.”
This one statement of truth about the sovereignty of God in creation is also the denial of all false philosophies that men have fabricated. This first “testimony” of Jehovah is not only a declaration of divine truth, but a repudiation of human error.
“In the beginning God”---
that denies Atheism with its doctrine of
“no god.”
“In the beginning God”---
that denies Polytheism with its doctrine
of “many”
gods.
“In the beginning God created”---
that denies Fatalism with its
doctrine
of “chance”.
“In the beginning God created”---
that denies the doctrine of
Evolution with its doctrine of “infinite becoming”.
“In the beginning God created the heaven and
the earth.”---that
denies the
doctrine of Pantheism which makes God and the
universe identical.
“In the beginning God created the heaven
and the earth.”--- that
denies
Materialism which asserts the eternity of matter.
God Who created the heaven and the earth, who created man, also has perfect knowledge of all events
which would ever transpire. He has
declared the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are
not done, saying “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure…I have
spoken it, I will also being it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do
it.” (See Isaiah 46:10,11.) He knows the thoughts of man before they ever
take place. He knew the wicked schemes
and false theories and false doctrines men would contrive. Therefore, in the very first verse of
Scripture, He declares one great truth that would refute all philosophies of
men before they ever even thought of their evil imaginations! What a mighty God we serve! When David said of God, “Thou understandest my thought afar off”(Psalm
139:2), I doubt he realized the depth of his words. God not only knows what we are thinking, He
knows what we are going to think in the future.
He is omniscient, omnipotent, all wise, sovereign, and holy in every
way. His word is perfect. Praise His holy name!
The question often arises: “Did God create the earth in six literal, 24-hour days, or did He create it over millions and billions of years? Do the six days simply represent six ages or dispensations?” Satan wants God’s children to conform their thoughts to the world’s false theories. In the minds of most of God’s children, Satan will simply try at first to harmonize false teachings with the word of God. It is only later Satan will actually deny what God says.
Those whose lack of faith makes them want
to doubt the possibility of a literal “six-day creation” as God’s word says,
say that the word “day” is sometimes used in scripture to mean a period. Though that is true, in every place where the
word “day” is used to represent an age or general time period, it is clear in
each context of scripture that the word day is used in a general way, rather
than a “24-hour period”. The word
“day” is never used in a symbolic, or “age”, or period of time, when a specific
number of days are being recorded!
How long did it rain in the great flood?
40 literal days!
How long were the waters covering the
earth? 153 literal days!
How long was Moses on the mount? 40
literal days!
How long was Jonah in the whale? 3 literal
days!
How long was Jesus in the tomb? 40 literal
days!
How long did God take to create the heaven
and the earth? 6 literal
days!
How many days a week are we to work? 6
literal days!
“Remember the sabbath
day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou
labor, and
do all thy work…For in six days the Lord made the
heaven and
the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and
rested on the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed
the
Sabbath day, and hallowed it. (See
Exodus 20:8-11.)
Once again, God declares He created the
earth in six literal days, just as we are to work six literal days, and then
rest one day. There was darkness, then there was light.
The darkness God called night, and the light He called day. “The evening and the morning were the
first day… The evening and the
morning were the second day…etc.
Just as the evening and the morning make up a day in our lives, there
were clearly six literal days of creation.
We should thank our Heavenly Father for
faith to believe that nothing is impossible with God. God cannot lie. He does not exaggerate. He clearly declares He created the earth in
six literal days!