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Q & A GOD CREATED MAN

Genesis0126qa.txt
Genesis: 1:26 - 2:3
Key Verse: 1:26

1. Read verses 26 through 28. When did God create man?

God created man on the end of the sixth day. This was at the completion of all the creation work. When we look at this creation story, no other animal or creature was created in the same way.

Verse 26, God makes a plan, “Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

Verse 27, God carries out his creation plan exactly according to his desire. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

Verse 28, God then blessed his creation with a purpose and direction. “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

What specific plan did God have for man?

Verse 26 has a specific plan that man should be made and live in God’s image. When we live the way we were created to live, we reveal God’s image in us. God’s purpose for us is to reveal his glory. Though through our sins people do not reveal the glory of God. Being made in the image of God means that we have an inner quality that is recognizable and like God.

Also in verse 28, there is a five point plan for man revealed in verse 28.
1. Be fruitful
2. Increase in number
3. Fill the earth
4. Subdue it
5. Rule over the creatures and the creation

Genesis 9:6
“"Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.”

Here we see that man is made in God’s image so life is precious and holy. When we see another man we should see the image of God.

Romans 1:23
“23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.”

When man does not know the creator God, he exchanges the image of God for images of animals, birds, and reptiles. This is how thinking that life originated in some other image comes about. It is like exchanging a gift at the store for an inferior gift. That is what we do when we deny that we are made in God’s image and do not give glory to God. When environment or animals are elevated over man, then this is not God’s image either.

2. Read 1:29-31. What does this passage show us about God's provision? (cf. Mt 6:33)

Matthew 6:33
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Verse 28, God does a particular thing. He gives man his mission first. Then in verse 29 he gives him “…every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it.” This shows us that if we carry out God’s mission first then God will provide us with everything we need. His mission is clearly given in verse 28. God is entirely trust worthy in this promise. He can and will provide every need for his servants who carry out his mission.

King David said in Psalm 37:25,
“I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.”

Why was he very pleased with his creation on the sixth day?

Verse 31, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.”

God was pleased with his creation because man was his crowning achievement. All creation had turned out exactly as God had wanted. Now the world had man to take care of it. This was what man was created for, this was his mission. We learn here that we can be pleasing to God when we carry out his mission first.

3. Read 2:1-3. How is the seventh day different from the other days?

The seventh day was a day of rest. God was satisfied and happy with what He had done that He wanted to celebrate the six days of His creation. So He chose the seventh as a memorial, in a sense, for His creation and proclaimed a universal holiday, and commanded all His creation to participate in His joy of completing His creation work in six days. He set apart the seventh day because on this day, He rested from the work He had been doing. We learn here that we should celebrate the Sabbath with Him.

What can we learn about the purpose of the seventh day?

The seventh day was a day of rest to not just have a good time, but a day to rest and to reflect on the awesome nature of God who created us. The six days of the week we should work hard for his glory, but the seventh day is the Lord’s day. Resting on the seventh day, or Sabbath, is not some outdated theological concept. God made this day a day of rest to spiritually become recharged and to be in communion with our wonderful creator. In a sense the Sabbath is a shadow of eternity with God to come.

If we are not finding fellowship with God on Sunday or we find Sunday a day of stress instead of rest, then something is wrong with our spiritual priorities. We must not include the Sabbath day with our own trip plans or shopping plans; this is not the day we can use for our own purpose because it is a holy day, belonging to God, not to us; it is not ours, but God’s.

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