Three-in-One: The Relational GodSample

God's Children (1)

In the Beginning

The stories of creation in Genesis 1 and 2 are some of the most important words ever written. The birth of the entire universe is packed into just two pages of words.

Obviously, two pages—even 2,000 pages—can’t possibly include all the factual data and details about when, where, and how the universe came into being. The author doesn’t seem interested in those things. “Factual data” wasn’t really a thing in the ancient world.

The wisest biblical scholars throughout the centuries have different thoughts on how the creation stories should be read and understood. They don’t always agree on every point, but that doesn’t mean we can’t trust and believe the truth we find in Genesis 1 and 2. It just means we aren’t God, we weren’t there, and we don’t know everything (no surprises there).

What all biblical scholars do agree on is this: Genesis 1 and 2 make it clear that humanity is set apart from everything else in creation. Genesis 1:1–2:4 is like a wide-angle panoramic version of creation. We see the whole picture. Then near the end (verses 26–30) the camera zooms in on humanity. We learn that human beings are the final and most significant creation in God’s world, designed with a very specific purpose, and described in very specific terms. Genesis 2:4b–25 is an even more zoomed in view of creation, this time focused almost exclusively on humanity.

One thing is very clear: humanity was intended, designed, and created by God. Each and every person is God's creation. But it's only when we begin following Jesus that we are adopted into God's family and become his children who can confidently call him Father.

Reflect

• What do you learn about humanity from Genesis 1:26–31?
• What do you learn about humanity from Genesis 2?
• What do you learn about humanity from Genesis 3?