A. Overall Lesson Objective

B. Learning Competencies

C. Lesson

The biblical creation record ends with notable climax on Day 6 with the creation of “living creatures” or things that have the breath of life that live on land. The most notable part is the creation of man in God’s image. The myriad of creatures and man are all created on the same day—like the other facets of creation on other days. The earth and the heavens at this point are fully prepared for His work. The imprint of God’s image on man, in particular, makes the day entirely unique—even with no other things considered—compared to any other part of creation. Then God does something different on the seventh day. He declares it “holy” and makes it a day of rest from creating.

As instructed, post the answers to the assignment for the lesson. Re-read the account of the sixth day of creation in Genesis 1:24-31.

🦕 CT? Is there any gap between the ‘kinds’ of things that are listed and the next sentence that says, “and it was so”? Some translations say, “and it happened”. Is there any indication of experimentation or debate by God in the process of creating male and female?

🦕 CT? Note God’s final succinct assessment at the end of verse 25 of the creation that is in verses 22-25. Compare this assessment to verse 31 and discuss the difference in perspective for the second assessment as instructed.

Note that the creation of basic kinds of creatures include what are called ‘dinosaurs’ and other extinct creatures in the fossil record. The ‘kinds’ of creatures, regardless of habitat, varied vastly in terms of size, weight, and a myriad of other details. It is often forgotten that the world initially teemed with an array of life that we do not see today that was initially alongside humans. Of course, as we will study later, the actions of the first created people led to consequences within a few generations. One of the events was a worldwide flood (the Genesis Flood) that radically changed conditions of habitat and led to the w\ extinction\w* of many of the kinds that were created but did not survive the Flood or its aftermath. [Research note: dinosaurs—a term invented in the 1800s]

Verse 26-28 is the account of God’s making of man that occurs on day 6. Man’s separate creation is not connected to that of living creatures on the land except that it occurs on the same day. Man also has the breath of life and shares the same land habitat.

Note that in the first part of verse 26, God identifies Himself using the plural form “us”. In Genesis 1:1 the word for God is actually the plural form Elohim, but the verb “created” is singular. Read Genesis 1:2 and John 1:9-10 for more insight into this concept that God is both plural and singular.

Here God defines this part of His creation (the creation of man) with respect to Himself. He says that man is made in the image of God, something He does not say about anything else.

🦕 CT? Discuss what this means.

Read Genesis 1:27. With God’s authority and precision in the use of words in mind, is there a pre-man form to man? Is there any indication that the creation event was other than on part of this day (day 6)? Is there an experimentation, change, alteration, or modification recorded in the creation process? Can you see why this biblical view of man is radical compared to today’s typical explanation of man’s origin?

🦕 CT? Genesis 1:25-26 also express a universal task for man relative to the rest of creation. What is it?

🦕 CT? Read Genesis 1:28 and note God’s blessing then His commands. What are the commands?

Note 1: In contrast to today’s world, where humankind is considered more of an advanced animal (consistent with evolution), God sets man apart. God says in both 1:26 and 28 that man is to have dominion over His creation. We are not, as supposed by evolution, the same as any other part of creation. We, with God’s imprint upon us, are meant to be stewards over the rest of creation. We cannot be stewards without governing, ensuring its proper usefulness, enhancing its sustainability, and using its fruitfulness properly for our benefit. [Research note: dominion, stewardship]

Note 2: the verb “replenish” in the King James is the Hebrew word male, which simply means ‘fill.’ In modern English it has come to mean ‘refill’ but that was not the original meaning in English. [Research note: replenish the earth].

Read Genesis 1:29-30 and define the food types for man (first) and creatures (second) that are part of God’s original creation plan. Note the last words of verse 30 that indicate the execution of the command by His living creatures, including the people He has created.

🦕 CT? Compare Genesis 1:22 with 1:24. What is the plain meaning of the words in terms of how long it took for His command to be obeyed? Note that the command of God to “male and female” is a little different in Genesis 1:28.

🦕 CT? Note verse 31 and discuss God’s accurate and complete assessment of all of His six days of creating, which includes the results in terms of things, laws that govern the universe, processes, and responses to His commands. Is there anything He identifies as flawed or imperfect or NOT good? Is there mention of death, disease, famine, evil, cruelty, or similar things?

The situation leaves large questions with respect to what we see today. But the questions will be answered by God Himself as we continue the lessons. The biblical world view of creation includes the record of what went wrong, when it happened, and what it affects. At this point, however, every indication from God’s record and His stated assessment of the six days of creating shows creation to be working wonderfully.

Note the last words of Genesis 1:31 in terms of verb tense. These words note the beginning and end of the day 6 of creation. Check to see if it matches the expressions used at the end of the previous days. Also take note of Chapter 2:1, where God defines the definite end of the six-day creation period. Are the terms plain? Is the work of creation completed? According to whom?

Remember, God is brief but exact in description, so the final comment He makes, in addition to announcing that creation is completed, is a descriptive phrase for all that has been done: “vast array”. Indeed, His six-day creation is vast with an array of things, processes, kinds, and complexities that man has only begun to discover and appreciate. And, God’s opinion about that ‘array’ or the ‘host’ of creation is stated to be “very good,” which adds emphasis to the assessments of “good” that were cited during the process. At this juncture (at the end of the six days), there is no death, no evil, and no flaw in any part of the creation.

The record of Day 7 comprises two verses. Creating is finished. Mankind, as well as the rest of living creation, will not develop any further in an evolutionary sense. (This does not include the process of species changes from the flexibility in the genetic codes of living things.) With all of creation in view, God does two things. First, He chooses to rest from creating. Second, He declares the day “holy” and sets it apart as the final day of the creation week. There is more significance to the day, as the Bible reveals later, as a pattern for activity.

D. Assignment

Read Genesis 2:4-25. Describe in your own words and in two paragraphs what it may have been like in the garden, where both man and woman were in a special place, designed specifically and sometimes visited by God.

E. Learning Activity

🦕 CT? Discuss the following: since man is created in God’s image, what does our whole makeup (body, soul, and spirit) tell us about Him?

F. Concluding Assessment

The sixth day of creation results in the rest of the living creatures and mankind. Man is made distinct, however, in God’s image and given the command to multiply, subdue the earth, and have dominion over things in the sea, on the land, and in the air. God rests from creating on the seventh day and declares it holy.