A. Overall Lesson Objective

B. Learning Competencies

C. Lesson

The first lessons began with our discussion of God, how His perspective is different, the record of His actions in the Bible, and what He starts with in terms of ingredients to create the universe (His word or command). This is unlike taking an impersonal or naturalistic view of the universe. We also examined God’s involvement within His creation in terms of oversight and quality control by looking at particular words and passages of Scripture.

We talked about the importance of word choices that God has provided in His Record for us. Important principles for studying the Record include paying close attention to the plain meaning of words and sentences as well as understanding multiple references that talk about the same topic. These principles become important as the lessons progress because specific verses will be examined. Less reading is involved, but more examination of words and phrases to make sure what God is conveying is understood.

This lesson covers the first day of creation as found in Genesis 1:1-5, which should be read now.

🦕 CT? Using notes from the assignment, list the items that were created on the first day. The teacher will call for verse reference and the items to display on a board.

In the last lesson, we introduced the first phrase (“In the beginning”) of the biblical creation account from God. As a letter or greeting between people often references a time of day, God introduces created time. He, being eternal, creates time for His purposes, which includes communicating the start of His creation work. The remainder of the sentence is plain. See for yourself the words that are presented. In one sentence, we have time, earth, and the heavens in their original form. This famous opening, because it is so well known but also disregarded, is worth thinking about. Genesis gives us no hint of anything involved or present at the beginning except God. In this verse also, the action verb, which is past tense, and the subject, who is God, leave no room for any other mechanism. It is simple. Eternal God created.

As the days progress (six days of creation), there are some patterns to watch for. They are repeated for our benefit—not His, because He is eternal and knows all things. But we would not know if He did not provide the record. If He repeats something or shows a distinct pattern, we take note of it. One of those patterns is shown in each of the first six days of creation. (He rests on the seventh day, but the clear presumption is that the seventh day was the same period as each of the first six.) Let us briefly look at it, because the implications are profound and the information that is conveyed is strikingly different from any other world view. Read the last sentence of each of the following verses of Genesis 1: 5, 8, 13, 19, 23 and 31.

Write out the repeating phrase and discuss the following questions:

🦕 CT? Discuss: Is there any other way that would be clearer to ensure that we understand that the creation events of each day occurred during a recognizable and common period that we know as the time period of one solar day (24 hours)? [Research note: ordinary days]

🦕 CT? With the plain meaning of words at the crux of how we define what is meant, is there any other reasonable interpretation for the time of each day of creating?

Some have argued for other definitions, but key biblical creation experts, Bible scholars who believe the accuracy of the Bible, and key Jewish scholars (since this was written in Hebrew) come to the same conclusion: each day is truly the length of one solar day or one full rotation of the earth. There are also several articles and studies that compare the phrase to other portions of scripture where similar and contrasting terms or phrases are used. The answer is the same: these days are regular 24-hour-period days. We, as God’s intended audience, are expected to see this without confusion. Other sources and references are given later if someone wishes to investigate the matter more fully.

Note: As long-age ideas became more dominant, there was an attempt by some Christians to insert a gap in Day 1 between verse 1 and 2. The ultimate purpose was to try to fit a long-age time frame into the Bible. All ‘gap’ theories have the same intention. In doing so, however, the straightforward words must be ignored, and millions of years of catastrophe, death, and disease (all bad) must be accepted in the face of God’s assessments of His work (all good). There is a problem taking this approach with the New Testament as well, which states that death and the effects of sin came through Adam’s sin, which occurs after creation.

As the reader, realize that the first verse of Genesis records the first reported event at the beginning of the first day. The Author of the statement knew what He was saying, and He placed the phrase at the end of each day so we could mark the time with Him as He explains the remainder of what He did.

Please note verse 2. In what manner does God identify Himself in this verse?

So, we have the first instance where the Spirit of God is mentioned. He is mentioned in many other scriptures. A well-known reference is in John 14:15-21, where His purposes, after Jesus Christ rises from the dead, are described. In this case, the hovering of the Spirit of God is portrayed in a watchful and poised manner—ready to act over a formless heaven and earth that are dark. There is no waste of time as God acts.

Note the following:

Read 1 John 1:5, John 1:5, and John 8:12 which refer to God as light—meaning perfect holiness, as opposed to moral darkness. But physical light is created by God on the first day of creation. By the end of day 1, we have night and day cycles. So, from this we can deduce that the earth is already rotating, and that the light is coming from one direction. This original Day 1 light source (we are not told what it was) cannot be the sun, since this is not created till Day 4, after which the Day 1 light is no longer needed. [Research note: light before sun]

Note the absence of any gradual appearance of earth. Note that the earth, while formless and void, is established along with the heavens and is described in terms of “waters”. In a sense, it is a watery sphere over nothing, which is part of the description of earth in Job 26:7. Its spherical shape is mentioned in Isaiah 40:22. (The idea of a flat earth never was a biblical viewpoint.)

🦕 CT? With the discussion of the verse so far, how would you describe the state of the earth at the end of the first day of creation?

D. Assignment

Read Genesis 1: 6-9 and describe in your own words each of the things that are created.

E. Learning Activity

Considering the results of the Master Chef’s actions and commands on the first day of creation, discuss what has occurred first in contrast with what most books in the secular world say occurred first.

F. Concluding Assessment