Week 1 / Beginnings

Creation

Read: Genesis 1:1-2:3

SOAP***: Genesis 2:1-2

"The heavens and the earth were completed with everything that was in them. 2 By the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing, and he ceased on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing." (NET)

Into the Text

The words "in the beginning" are some of the most famous in all of Scripture. Notice that in the beginning God was already present. The Triune God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is an eternal being, meaning He has no beginning.

Time began through God’s intervention. It wasn’t chance and time that allowed our world to exist as we know it today. It was through God alone.

God started creating this world by making the "heaven and earth." It was “without shape and empty” (1:1), meaning it was in a state of chaos. It was in this chaos that God stepped in and created order and beauty.

By His Word, God diligently created all that we know and see. He carefully crafted the day and night, oceans, land, vegetables, fruits, flowers, trees, the sun, moon, stars, ocean life, birds, land animals, and mankind. It wasn’t a haphazard throwing everything onto the planet. God took His time and created everything exactly how it’s supposed to be.

We are the beneficiaries of God’s perfect design. We get to enjoy creation and worship our good and loving Creator.

When we are in the midst of the chaos of life, we can remember that our God is in the business of bringing order from chaos.

Prayer

God, thank you that you diligently created the world and humanity. Help me to worship you daily and trust that you are working to bring order from chaos. Amen.

***SOAP Method

S – SCRIPTURE
Physically write out the Bible verse
You’ll be amazed at what God will reveal to you when you slow down to write or meditate on what you are reading!

O – OBSERVATION
What do you see in the verses you’re reading?
Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? What words stand out to you? What is the main lesson or theme?

A – APPLICATION
When God’s Word becomes personal
What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read to my life? Are there any changes I need to make?

P – PRAYER
Pray God’s Word back to Him
If He has revealed something to you during this time in His Word, pray about it. Confess if He has revealed some sin that is in your life. Take time to thank Him for His goodness in your life.