Reclaiming the Faith of Genesis
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There are those who believe with every fiber of their being that this world is a dismal place with no meaning. They claim that the world and human life emerged out of a dark welter of forces. The universe exhibits no divine will, or if a will is behind it, it is the will of capricious cruel indifference.
Against this bleak and somber fatalism Christians must continually turn to the life-giving reassurance of the faith of Genesis. The Hebrew mind was keenly aware of the tragedy of Adam and Eve. Over life there is the shadow of the darkest of all tragedies; that of human sin. Yet, we rejoice in knowing that it is not the last word because it was never the first word.
This is God’s world. Essentially all creation is such that a person may look at it rejoicing and believe that it is framed to let us live and grow. The sun and moon, earth and planets, rivers and oceans, beasts and birds, trees and flowers, do not belong to evil sprits and hostile demigods, but to God who makes Himself known within the heart and soul of man.
If we can believe and trust that life began in goodness, we can move forward into it with courage and perseverance and great expectations. The evil in the world is not due to some relentless fate; rather, it is a contradiction of the Creator’s purpose, and therefore can be redeemed. Creation is not a finished story. As there was the beginning in God, so there can always be new beginnings for each of us. Each day, each hour affords us opportunities for new beginnings.
The word “created,” embodies the Genesis faith in the creation power of God. The universe did not come into existence by chance. It did not advance by the blind groping of random energies. It was not some dark lifelessness inexplicably evolving into life. On the contrary, it was the purposeful creation of Him who is the Fountain of life. Thus, in God all things belong to some consistent blueprint. The universe was made to perfectly fit together and to have meaning.
Without that faith by which the Hebrew Old Testament is illuminated the whole framework of existence would not make much sense. A universe that has no divine Creator, like the universe assumed in the theory of evolution, could never make complete sense because it was not designed to make sense or to have purpose.
The evolutionary man is set in an environment that is far vaster than himself. Often it would seem that this titanic universe has no concern for him. Man is an insignificant accident, the atheist or the skeptic may feel compelled to tell us. He has no necessary relationship to the huge frame of things, nor it to him. But with faith in a divine Creator, the entire scene changes and its implications change. Then there is coherence in the whole fabric of existence; an unfolding purpose in history and in life. For a holy will created it and sustains it. How did the Israelites know that? How do we know it? This is the question curious minds in every generation will want answered.
In Christian understanding there are many who wonder how other people seem so certain of God when they themselves feel anything but sure. If they could see God at work and speak about Him as confidently as the writers of Genesis did, then they would not feel so uncertain and troubled. But must we assume that the certainty of the Bible voices is different from any conviction that is ours?
No. The faith that is expressed in Genesis is not different from the faith that can come to any and every honest and humble soul. The conviction expressed there in the Bible did not come from sight. The men who wrote about the creation were not standing by Yahweh when He created. God is not an object to be perceived like other objects in the world, and therefore no man ever saw Him. But, there is a “conviction of things not seen” as the Epistle to the Hebrews puts it; and those who contemplate the ways and works of God are given by Him an intuition of who He is and what He must be like. Out of a deep reverent regard for the facts of life within, and of the world without, arises faith.
When someone asks how we know faith to be something altogether different from wishful thinking and fantasy, our response is clear: Faith is validated when it proves to be a key that opens the gates to the narrow road of spiritual freedom and divine fulfillment. Walking on this road less traveled to which faith has given entrance; a person knows within himself or herself that this MUST be the reality which was intended all along.
The record that runs through the Old Testament, and all the religion represented there, sprung from the faith that behind everything are the hands of God. If God was the Creator, then nothing in creation can put a veto on His purposes. All men and women whom He has created as living souls can be sure that all the forces of this universe are working with us when we are striving to become what the voice of God has told us we are meant to be.
The humblest human soul can say nothing truer and the most learned scholar nothing wiser than that God made me, and God made the world I live in. Therefore, as long as I am faithful, I need have no fear of circumstances. God can make conditions work together to finish whatever is the best that He intends to create in me.
“The high and lofty One who inhabits eternity,” alone is God. Over whatever the circumstance, His Spirit moves, moves broodingly and creatively according to a holy purpose which nothing can be strong enough to turn aside. That is good to remember when life seems empty within, or when over the life of the world around us darkness seems to descend and prevail over our home. The brooding Spirit of God has not vanished from our universe.
The reality of God does not need to be bolstered up by us. It vindicates itself. Many of our particular ideas about the ways of God’s workings may change, but through these changes the consciousness of God as a power to penetrate and inspire living can and does grow continually more certain. Christianity in the final analysis is not a matter of argument, but of experience. When all is said and done we stand with Paul in declaring,
“I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
Sometimes I think about the great souls in all ages whose lives have reflected that confidence. We are not befuddled or thrown into panic merely because we must reconstruct our conceptions of the ways in which God works. We feel Him working in ourselves. The faith of Genesis in the living God is more enduring than any noise of controversy.
To read Genesis is to have our conscience recognize the revelation which the whole Old Testament expands; that there is an eternal Righteousness to which all human souls must be accountable. It is to recognize also that this Righteousness is not impassive and aloof, but is the characteristic of Him who is also the God of mercy, and who offers to man in our individual and corporate life, the covenant of His redemption.
All glory to His name!
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Bless your kindness BB. I appreciate it. Thanks for being my first comment.
"Christianity in the final analysis is not a matter of argument, but of experience"
Dear Rev Lady,
I loved this whole hub so much and one to bookmark once again to read over and over..To experience God everyday is the believers road map in life. Resting in his provision and plans. For me letting go and resting in the assurance of God's plan has always been a struggle but as time goes on I realize that is the only way to live. Genesis reminds us of a God who had and still does have a perfect plan for us..Thank you so much for once more giving me the meat of the word to hold on to..
Blessings my sister,
Sunnie
Sunnie,
So glad you stopped by and left a precious word that honors and acknowledges our sovereign God. He does love us and will provide according to His mercy and plan for our lives. As you said, "Genesis reminds us of a God who had and still does have a perfect plan for us." We rest in this knowledge.
Love, peace and joy in Him
Good Morning Rev Lady!, you have picked a profound message, one of wonder to me yet the finest and greatest testament to man if they shut up, engage the brain look, listen, touch, feel, smell, inspect any rock, or plant or maybe an animal or another human. Having known those who couldn't read or write and a couple of blind people, even owned two blind dogs. One cannot with certainty, ever [if they are honest of heart] deny that there was creation at the helm of this earth and it's surroundings that go on seemingly forever in distance and scope. The illiterate and blind have a built in system that guides them as they seem to get on in a world void of the written word to teach them, they rely on instinct and voice, in the end those I've known had conscience of realization, right, wrong and so much more. I have faith that the book of Genesis is divine in it's beginning, no dime store novel writer in the 19th century much less in Moses's day have come up with the story we read today, with out divine guidance. To behold what we understand of how a plant grows, likes to eat and the soil they prefer over others. "Plants don't feel or know" I've been told, yet I disagree. Plant a tomato plant upside down, it knows to grow up toward the sky, and will. A tree in a dense triple canopy forest knows it need not put out branches of size bigger than needed to grow tall enough to get to the sun and then it turns loose growing the branches and leaves spreading wide to nourish it's roots a hundred feet below. Many trees are male and female, one providing the needs of the other to bare fruit/nuts, Chance? I laugh at that thought now days. I have seen the design and no one can sell me on a bang or happenstance. I open up a 150 year old pocket watch to clean and oil it's many shafts turning on Rubies shaped for bearings, so many tiny parts that a magnifying glass is needed to see the intricate design, perfect balance of parts set into motion be a spring smaller than a hair. No design? I wonder at the design, how did a man at mere chance build such a thing or even dream he could?
Yahweh, Yahweh, Yahweh, Yahweh, Yahweh, Yahweh, Praise Yahweh! He carved our hearts and minds, set a plan, provided elements and then at a time, one of "HIS Seasons" he knew way before the earth that man would benefit for good these things. As all things even in the Garden there was/is the chance for evil to spring forth, a watch for keeping time, seemingly harmless turned to device to set off a destructive bomb rose up in one of it's uses. God placed all things for purpose, he provided seasons for every one of them, all I ever had to do was shut up and observe with my senses to see that I, you, each and every single person has seasons and purpose. I live in a desert that is oft times described as "barren" but I could go on for days proving that wrong, even in the ever-changing forms of sand that rises with the winds and resettles a high point becomes a valley in places that appear pure sand, but days and hours spent roaming I found that there are sand critters that dig out in the dark of night with special eye coverings and breathing parts so they don't smother while buried in the light, they live a nocturnal life. The Sahara has oasis, growing trees in the midst of this turmoil, the sand dunes roam with the wind all around them, yet never seem to come to rest covering them, the suppliers of waters to the native animals and of men. I have to laugh when told this is all by chance but observing and learning I can only come to the conclusion that these miraculous oasis are but visions and demonstrations that indeed there is a heaven, a place protected by the hand of the almighty to demonstrate he can, will/has, prepared for us places that no harm comes while surrounded by catastrophic events. I chose the oasis for example as it is one I find amazing proof the designer set for those who doubt, to just open their hearts and minds and the Holy Spirit will fill us and guide us to the gate where we enter the narrow path. I have no doubts, but like all I slip and fall, then prayer brings me through these times. He has accepted my turning to him and the yoke is easy and the load is light, I am truly blessed in many ways. I am in the "Season" pre-ordained that I can spread my branches and listen and learn in fellowship with you and several more I have met here at the hub pages. When the churches ran me out I was in need of this fellowship and have been blessed in an age of electronic gathering of others.
Praise Ye Jah! I long to go home to the perfect garden that was and now will be.
Thank you for my daily bread this Sunday morning! It is a good day. Much peace and blessings to you beloved one, Dusty
RevLady, MARVELOUS exposition on God’s WORD! Wonderfully Profound! Thank you for taking us to the very BEGINNING! As you so wonderful well stated “
“This is God’s world. Essentially all creation is such that a person may look at it rejoicing and believe that it is framed to let us live and grow. The sun and moon, earth and planets, rivers and oceans, beasts and birds, trees and flowers, do not belong to evil spirits and hostile demigods, but to God who makes Himself known within the heart and soul of man.” AMEN! & AMEN!! I REJOICE in this profound infallible TRUTH! HALLELUJAH!
Genesis is the Beginning… The LORD is both The ALPHA & OMEGA! He is the beginning and the end! He is so much more than our little finite minds can ever fathom!
Few will admit, but what is going on in this world is in direct correlation to mankind ignoring our Creator & LORD! God is gracious, kind, loving and sovereign and continues to give the world an opportunity to repent! HIS WORD is being fulfilled just as it was in the Old Testament! God is speaking…… We whose eyes have been opened by HIS HOLY SPIRIT know that;”You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, buy SEE to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end WILL come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There WILL be famines and earthquakes in various places. ALL these are the BEGINNING of BIRTH PAINS…” Mathew 24. What we see happening in the world should increase our desire to draw closer to the LORD! PRAISE GOD for HIS “AMAZING GRACE!”
I as ALWAYS Thank the Lord for you and for you stirring up the gift that He has placed in you! May He continue to shed His Grace, Peace & Favor upon you Thank you for sharing “Bless Be the Tie That Binds” In HIS Love, Grace, Joy, Peace & Blessings!
"Plants don't feel or know" I've been told, yet I disagree."
All glory to God Dusty, for this beautiful testimony of faith in and honor to our sovereign God. Man desires to be god and therefore chooses to live under the illusion that this is his world and everything in it emanates from him, regardless of his inability to account for the impossible. He cannot discern even where life begins and ends much less tell us how to create something from nothing. He may be able to tell us about ancient bones but he cannot answer us when we ask, can these bones live again?
"One cannot with certainty, ever [if they are honest of heart] deny that there was creation at the helm of this earth and its surroundings that go on seemingly forever in distance and scope." AMEN! AMEN!
When Christ described the Spirit and His work, He used the image of the wind. Have you ever tried to catch the wind? We have trouble just trying to predict from which direction it is coming from or going. The wind can be gentle and soothing, barely ruffling the waters or it can howl and shriek and plow up tons of land and trees. How can egotistical man tame the wind? "And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” Mark 4:41
Indeed, the faith of Genesis is the Hebrew faith in God as the foundation of all life. The universe and everything in it depend upon a divine conception and can be understood only in the light of a divine plan.
DeBorrah,
You are correct, of course. We cannot comprehend ourselves, much less a sovereign God.
“Few will admit, but what is going on in this world is in direct correlation to mankind ignoring our Creator & LORD!” AMEN!
In our pathetic arrogance, we have chosen to rebel against the Almighty and He has chosen to let us, like the children of Israel, go on and on in our sins, though out of compassion for His saints, with some restraint. Yet, we know, as you pointed out, there is coming an end to this madness. God is not mocked. And though patient and longsuffering, in the time He set before the foundation of the world, all will be changed.
May the God of our Savior, Jesus Christ, rest and abide in you, now, henceforth, even forevermore!
In His Love,
Forever His,
All that Dusty said, oh my, how it blessed my soul. I know there is a God. I know that God made the world. Your message is wonderful RevLady. Thank you.
AE,
Dusty's comment is indeed inspiring and a blessing. So are you. Thank you for visiting and for the gift of encouragement.
In His love,
Forever His
"behind everything are the hands of God" How comforting.
I enjoyed your article of how creation including ourselves instinctively knows and has the potential to reflect who He is.
"For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" ~ Romans 1:20
I also enjoyed the message about new beginnings. I am happy to be reminded that I am not a finished story.
Thank you Tamarajo,
Your comment is nurturing and encouraging to the soul.
Love and peace my dear friend!
Forever His
Dear Rev Lady : I love to read Genesis. It is so dramatic. Your work is always wonderful. God Nless You And Your Beautiful Family.
Thank you Stars. Your encouragement is always balm to my soul.
God bless you and your lovely loved ones as well. All glory to His name!
Forever His
What a beautiful and wellspoken truth to start the day with. Genesis is so full of history, that I enjoy reading it time and again. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Thank you Tlpoague, Genesis does inspire us and give us the history of really the beginnings of the Christian faith.
Peace,
Forever His
I'm so behind! I'll have so much catching up to do when the snow starts to fly and I can get on here regularly. I really enjoyed the straight-to-the-heart preaching style of this hub. You went right at it. "If we can believe and trust that life began in goodness, we can move forward into it with courage and perseverance and great expectations." I've always believed there is a wording problem with the english translations that make it sound as though the world came out of darkness and an empty void. I believe it became that way - and the light that always was - came back and restored it once again. It seems as though the scientific mind always wants to start in a place of darkness, a place where the nothing that existed was absolutely nothing. As you said, our faith is validated when we get a glimpse beyond that door toward the narrow path. We see something He put inside of us that tells us there is more than what our mind can phantom and deduce. We are spiritual beings that live life based on faith - not by sight. Peace
AW,
I have had similar thoughts regarding darkness and light. God is Himself light and where He is there is no darkness, so it seems to me that "in the beginning" there had to be light because God is light. Well, at least it seems so to my little mind.
The bottom line of course, is that "we are spiritual beings that live life based on faith - not by sight." AMEN!
Love, peace and joy in the God of our salvation,
Forever His
BukowskiBabe 9 months ago
Beautifully written, eloquent, and faith affirming.