Genesis 1-2: Creation

There are so many things that deserve commentary in Genesis 1-2!  What I would highlight as the most important is this:  Genesis 1 and 2 set the table for everything that is to follow by establishing the relationship between the Creator God and humanity.

So, observe first that Genesis simply assumes that there is a God who has life in Himself.  There is no argument about the existence of God nor is there any philosophical discussion about Him.  For Genesis, God is the one unmistakable and unmitigated fact.  "In the beginning God . . . " (And, no, I don't think that just reflects the naivete of an ancient people who don't know any better.  We moderns think we're so sophisticated, but I don't accept that radical skepticism about anything I can't see or touch is sophisticated.  Our constant reliance on our senses actually seems a little childish to me.)

Second, observe that that God who has life in Himself shares that life outside of Himself.  God is under no compulsion to create.  He has no need of creation.  He is full and complete in Himself.  On the other hand, since the Triune nature of God is to share His life within Himself, it is also a natural expression of His loving nature to share that life outside of Himself.  He is not compelled to create, but His very nature is such that sharing the free gift of life is normal.  We do well, then, to consider Creation as the first act of God's grace--reaching beyond Himself in an act of pure gift.

Relatedly, we recognize that everything depends on God for its existence.  Paul speaks about all things having their origin and sustenance in the life of God (Col. 1:16-17).  Too often, we think of the world as having an existence apart from God--a sort of 'God-is-in-His-heaven' thing, which disconnects God and His world.Genesis will have none of that.

Finally, observe that humanity is the climax and culmination of God's creation.  Genesis 1 moves climactically towards Day 6 and, on Day 6, things crescendo into God's deliberation to make man in His image.  God's image is a rich metaphor.  Lutherans have understood the image of God as sharing in God's righteousness.  More than that, I'd suggest that it means sharing in God's moral nature.  So, it is only to humanity that God gives the specific command not to eat from one tree; that is a moral command, a choice to obey.  More than that, humanity has a special task within God's creation, that is, to rule it and to take care of it.  To bear God's image is extend His own care and His own gracious rule over His earth.  Humanity is designed to be an extension of God Himself, a gracious and loving presence.

All together, then, Genesis 1-2 establish the foundation on which everything else in the Bible will build.  Because God's purpose for humanity was always that they would share His life and His work, the disruption that we will read about tomorrow in Genesis 3 cannot stand.  The rest of the Bible will revolve around God's  long, slow work of overcoming that disruption and re-establishing His creation as He meant it to be.