Creation and Fall

What Shapes Us: Creation and Fall

WARM-UP

Describe the weirdest picture or scenario you have ever seen. What made it look odd?

Have you tried using a face filter? How does it make you feel looking at an image of yourself that you do not recognize?

Tell us about something you have created (e.g., painting, story, art, photo). What inspired you to create it?

WORD

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. GEN 1:31

When we look at the world around us, what we see—including destruction and injustice—is far from ideal. Our lives are marked by how we have adapted to this fallen world. But this was not God’s plan when he created the universe. So what happened? Let’s look at God’s word to discover his plan for us and the rest of creation, and what disrupted it. Today, let us see how the way we live will be shaped by the truths in his word.

1 God created the entire universe.

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. GEN 1:31-2:2

(Study GEN 1.)

In the beginning, God created everything out of nothing just by the power of his word. He spoke the world and all that is in it into being. He also brought order from chaos and disorder (Gen 1:1-2) and designed the natural order of things. That is why God is the only true Creator. To this day, he sustains and governs creation for his glory and for our benefit. Knowing this, what should our posture be? (Mat 6:25-26)

2 God created man in his own image.

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

27 So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him;

male and female he created them. GEN 1:26-27

(Read also GEN 1:28-30; 2:4-9, 15-25.)

God made humans, both male and female, in his image and likeness. Like God, we have the ability to think, feel, communicate, be creative, and be in a relationship with him and others. Being made in his image means that God has called us to be his stewards and representatives on earth, reflecting his character, heart, and will. This also speaks of each person’s inherent value. Regardless of our background or status, our lives matter to God. He loves us so much that he desires a relationship with us and has set a purpose for us (Gen 1:28). How do you think this could change the way we see God, ourselves, and others?

28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

God provides purpose (Seedtime & Harvest: The Inevitability of an Abundant Future Is in the Seed)

From the beginning, God entrusted man with the responsibility of taking care of his creation. When God gave Adam and Eve the charge to have dominion over every living thing, it was a blessing—not a burden or job description. His purpose was to bless them. This is true for us today. God has a specific purpose for each of us. We don’t go to work just to get our job done. We work to fulfill God’s purpose for us. Knowing that your work is a blessing from God and is meant to fulfill his purpose for your life, how does this change your attitude towards it?

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

And God blessed them—The man and the woman he had made, with all the blessings of nature and foresight; with all the good things of life; with his presence, and with communion with himself in a natural way, through the creatures; and particularly with a power of procreating their species, as follows.

And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth”—If this is not an express command, as the Jews understand it, for marriage and procreation of children, it seems to be more than a bare permission; at least it is a direction and an advice to what was proper and convenient for the increase of mankind, and for the filling of the earth with inhabitants, which was the end of its being made (Isa 45:18). This shows that marriage is an ordinance of God, instituted in paradise, and is honourable; and that procreation is a natural action, and might have been, and may be performed without sin.

And subdue it—The earth; not that it was in the hands of others, who had no right to it, and to be conquered and taken out of their hands; but is to be understood of their taking possession, and making use of it; of their tilling the land, and making it subservient to their use.

And have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the face of the earth—Which was giving them a universal and unlimited dominion over all the creatures; of which see an enumeration in Psa 8:6-8.

Mishneh Torah, Marriage 15:1

It is permissible for a woman to authorize her husband to ignore her conjugal rights. When does this apply? When he has children already and has fulfilled the commandment to be fruitful and multiply. If, however, he has not fulfilled the commandment of being fruitful and multiplying, he is obligated to engage in sexual relations whenever his conjugal duties require, until he fathers children. For this is a positive commandment of the law, as Gen 1:28 states: "Be fruitful and multiply."

29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.

God provides perpetually (Seedtime & Harvest: The Inevitability of an Abundant Future Is in the Seed)

God assured Adam and Eve that his provision was already there even before they asked for it. If he provided in the beginning, he is able to provide at all times, and until the end of time. Gen 1:12 tells us that God filled the earth with plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. God’s provision was not just for their current need but for their future need, and not just for them but for all earth’s inhabitants, which he told them to produce. The seeds ensure God’s continuous provision. We can be confident and secure that God’s provision for us will never run out. In what ways has God shown you and your family his continuous provision?

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

And God said—That is, to Adam and Eve, whom he had made in his image and likeness, and to whom he had given the dominion of the earth and sea, and all things in them.

Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth—Every plant which had a seed in it, by which it sowed itself again; or being taken off, might be sown by man, even everyone that was wholesome, healthful, and nourishing, without any exception; whatever grew in any part of the earth, be it where it would.

And every tree with seed in its fruit—All but the tree of knowledge, of good and evil, afterwards excepted; and both these take in all kind of vegetables, all herbs, plants, roots, even corn, wheat, barley, pease, beans and the various fruits of all sorts of trees, but that before mentioned.

You shall have them for food—Which is generally thought to be the food of the antediluvians, it not being proper, at least very soon, to kill any of the animals, until they were multiplied and increased, lest their species should be destroyed; though here is no prohibition of eating flesh; nor is it said that this only should be for food, which is before mentioned; and by the early employment of some in keeping sheep, and by the sacrifice of creatures immediately after the fall, part of which used to be eaten by the offerers; and by the distinction of clean and unclean creatures before the flood, it looks probable that flesh might be eaten: and Bochart refers this clause to what goes before in the preceding verse, as well as to what is in this, and takes the sense to be, that the fishes of the sea, and fowls of the air, and every living creature man had dominion over, as well as herbs and fruits, were given him for his food: but the Jews are of opinion, that the first man might not eat flesh, but it was granted to the sons of Noah.

(From Rom 5:12 there was no death before Adam’s sin, hence up until at least the fall, man did not eat meat. Ed.)

The Inevitability of an Abundant Future Is in the Seed (Seedtime & Harvest)

When God created Adam and Eve, he entrusted them with a huge estate—the whole earth. They were to fill it with inhabitants, manage and cultivate it, and enjoy its fruits. Even before they became aware of their needs, God had already informed them that his provision was in place. This week, we will look at the nature of God’s provision and what it means for us today.

30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so. GEN 1:28-30

3 Sin distorted the image of God in man and corrupted creation.

11 He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"

12 The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."

13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

14 The Lord God said to the serpent,

"Because you have done this,

cursed are you above all livestock

and above all beasts of the field;

on your belly you shall go,

and dust you shall eat

all the days of your life. GEN 3:11-14

(Study GEN 3.)

After creating the world, God blessed the man and woman, and gave them stewardship over creation (Gen 1:28). He also gave them a command with a consequence—not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:17). One day, a cunning serpent deceived them into mistrusting and disobeying God. Because of this, God’s good design was tarnished, his image in humanity was distorted by sin, and our relationships with God, each other, and creation were broken. Furthermore, the rest of creation had been corrupted and became subject to death and decay. What does Rom 8:20-24 say about the state of humanity and creation?

The good news is that God did not leave us in our sinful, fallen state. Even in the midst of our fallenness, God already had a plan to redeem mankind (Gen 3:14-15). It was fulfilled when God sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to restore his image in us and our relationship with him. Our response to this is faith in his finished work.

APPLICATION

Knowing that you were made in the image of God, what does this tell you about your God-given identity? How do you think this should affect your daily life?

In what ways do you see brokenness and injustice around you? How can you bring hope and be a steward of God’s creation instead?

Who do you think needs to hear this message of sin and salvation? How can you share this with him or her this week?

PRAYER

In a world that seeks identity in many places and people, pray that your identity would be secure in God alone.

Ask God to give you the grace to participate in God’s mission of restoring creation, people, and relationships, living every day in light of being made in his image.

Pray that everything you do for others would be motivated by love, and that it would lead them to a relationship with God as well.