WEBVTT 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:01.120 Amen. 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:07.540 Please take your Bibles and open them up this morning again to the book of Genesis. 00:00:08.179 --> 00:00:09.400 The book of Genesis. 00:00:09.640 --> 00:00:13.759 If you are just joining us for the first time this morning, you came at a very good time. 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:16.100 We're beginning a new series in the book of Genesis. 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:20.260 We started off last week just looking at chapter 1, verse 1. 00:00:20.660 --> 00:00:24.260 And this week we're going to zoom out just a little bit beyond that and look at the first 00:00:24.260 --> 00:00:26.780 five days of creation. 00:00:26.780 --> 00:00:30.900 And so if you would, take your Bibles and open them, turn them to Genesis 1. 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:34.719 We'll read from verses 1 all the way through verse 23. 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:39.120 And when you found that in your Bibles, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:39.520 this morning. 00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:53.260 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 00:00:53.259 --> 00:00:59.939 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep, and the Spirit 00:00:59.939 --> 00:01:02.140 of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:05.679 And God said, Let there be light. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:07.019 And there was light. 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:11.539 And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 00:01:12.280 --> 00:01:15.299 God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. 00:01:15.620 --> 00:01:18.439 And there was evening, and there was morning, the first day. 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:23.439 And God said, Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:24.659 waters from the waters. 00:01:25.179 --> 00:01:29.400 And God made the expanse, and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:31.159 waters that were above the expanse. 00:01:31.480 --> 00:01:32.420 And it was so. 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:35.200 And God called the expanse heaven. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:38.539 And there was evening, and there was morning, the second day. 00:01:39.239 --> 00:01:44.019 And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the 00:01:44.019 --> 00:01:44.979 dry land appear. 00:01:44.980 --> 00:01:46.260 And it was so. 00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:52.540 God called the dry land earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called seas. 00:01:53.060 --> 00:01:54.659 And God saw that it was good. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:02:01.040 And God said, Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing 00:02:01.040 --> 00:02:05.100 fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind on the earth. 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:06.420 And it was so. 00:02:07.260 --> 00:02:12.099 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees 00:02:12.099 --> 00:02:15.439 bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. 00:02:15.960 --> 00:02:17.659 And God saw that it was good. 00:02:18.280 --> 00:02:21.019 And there was evening, and there was morning, the third day. 00:02:21.959 --> 00:02:26.240 And God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the 00:02:26.240 --> 00:02:26.519 night. 00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:30.840 And let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years. 00:02:31.299 --> 00:02:35.039 And let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. 00:02:35.579 --> 00:02:36.299 And it was so. 00:02:36.300 --> 00:02:41.800 And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:43.939 to rule the night, and the stars. 00:02:44.700 --> 00:02:49.439 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the 00:02:49.439 --> 00:02:52.260 day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. 00:02:53.020 --> 00:02:54.780 And God saw that it was good. 00:02:55.380 --> 00:02:58.700 And there was evening, and there was morning, the fourth day. 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:04.480 And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:06.739 the earth, across the expanse of the heavens. 00:03:07.379 --> 00:03:11.239 So God created the great sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which 00:03:11.239 --> 00:03:15.979 the waters swarm according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. 00:03:16.459 --> 00:03:18.159 And God saw that it was good. 00:03:18.799 --> 00:03:24.839 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, 00:03:25.259 --> 00:03:27.179 and let birds multiply on the earth. 00:03:27.839 --> 00:03:31.819 And there was evening, and there was morning, the fifth day. 00:03:31.819 --> 00:03:34.739 This is God's holy word. 00:03:35.019 --> 00:03:40.039 Lord, we praise you for this creation account, this familiar story. 00:03:40.180 --> 00:03:43.799 And we pray now, as we preach your word, would you show us Christ? 00:03:43.979 --> 00:03:44.939 We ask in Jesus' name. 00:03:45.759 --> 00:03:46.039 Amen. 00:03:46.659 --> 00:03:47.419 You may be seated. 00:03:48.819 --> 00:03:54.979 I asked you last week to place yourself in Israel's shoes for a minute. 00:03:55.099 --> 00:03:59.740 As you can imagine, they received this text as a journey on their way to the promised land. 00:03:59.740 --> 00:04:02.580 And I want you to do it again this morning. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:07.939 Imagine with me for a moment that you are an Israelite. 00:04:08.920 --> 00:04:15.120 You have been evacuated from the place that you've called home for your entire life, you 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:15.680 and your family. 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:18.960 And you know that obviously it wasn't a great place to live. 00:04:19.019 --> 00:04:20.620 The living situation wasn't ideal. 00:04:20.780 --> 00:04:25.139 You were forced to do hard labor, but at least it was familiar to you. 00:04:25.139 --> 00:04:28.399 You knew that you had food to eat and a place to lay your head. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:29.759 It was all that you knew. 00:04:29.899 --> 00:04:35.620 But now you and everybody else that you know has been brought out of this place. 00:04:35.779 --> 00:04:39.439 And in fact, you've been told that a God is bringing you out. 00:04:40.599 --> 00:04:43.000 Now, gods are not new to you. 00:04:43.219 --> 00:04:44.219 You're there in Egypt. 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:46.339 You've heard about the gods of Egypt. 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.180 You've been surrounded by worship of many gods. 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:53.519 You've heard stories of the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. 00:04:53.780 --> 00:04:57.360 But really, again, all that you know is Egypt. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:04.680 For 430 years, your people have lived there amongst the gods of Egypt. 00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:09.579 But now, apparently this God is calling you out of Egypt. 00:05:09.819 --> 00:05:15.519 And apparently this God is saying that he wants you and your people to be his chosen people. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:23.560 And he's promising to bring you out of this chaotic darkness and into a new home where you will no longer be slaves. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:27.219 But instead, you'll have total peace. 00:05:27.339 --> 00:05:28.259 And it's hard to imagine. 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:33.620 A place with no enemies where you and your people can live happily ever after. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:36.779 And it almost sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? 00:05:38.139 --> 00:05:39.639 Put yourself in that situation. 00:05:39.799 --> 00:05:42.839 Now, I want you to think for a minute here as we look to this text. 00:05:42.839 --> 00:05:46.159 I said, what questions do you think you might be asking? 00:05:47.699 --> 00:05:51.060 Probably questions like, who is this God? 00:05:52.719 --> 00:05:55.539 What about all the other gods of the nations around us? 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:58.620 Is this God stronger than all of these gods? 00:05:58.699 --> 00:06:03.859 Is it even possible to come out of such chaos and to come into a place of such peace? 00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:08.139 Or can the word of this God be trusted? 00:06:10.100 --> 00:06:17.860 And it's in this context and to these types of questions that we open up and we read Genesis chapter 1. 00:06:18.520 --> 00:06:20.460 And we see the questions are answered. 00:06:20.580 --> 00:06:22.840 Who is this God who calls us out of darkness? 00:06:22.960 --> 00:06:24.319 The answer we're given here in Genesis. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:28.240 He is the sovereign creator of all the universe. 00:06:29.080 --> 00:06:31.720 What about all the other gods of the nations around us? 00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:32.759 Is he stronger than them? 00:06:32.759 --> 00:06:35.219 Well, we see he made them. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:36.819 In fact, there are no gods at all. 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:39.259 All things are the work of his hands. 00:06:40.039 --> 00:06:44.620 Is it possible to come out of such chaos and into a place of such beauty and peace? 00:06:44.719 --> 00:06:46.420 Well, God's done it before in creation. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:49.480 Certainly, he can do it again. 00:06:50.719 --> 00:06:53.279 Can his word be trusted? 00:06:54.519 --> 00:06:59.579 Genesis chapter 1 tells us his word created the universe. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:15.120 Genesis chapter 1 speaks into this moment of uncertainty to assure God's people that our God brings beauty out of chaos through the power of his word. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:19.139 That's the sermon in a sentence for you this morning. 00:07:19.579 --> 00:07:25.300 Our God brings beauty out of chaos through the power of his word. 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:30.780 This is the message that Israel needed to hear as they made their way into the promised land and church. 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:39.279 I believe that this is the message the church needs to hear as we journey, as we make our way into the true promised land. 00:07:39.419 --> 00:07:43.659 So let's just walk through this big idea together as we look at Genesis chapter 1. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:52.279 And what we'll see here is, again, our God brings beauty out of chaos through the power of his word. 00:07:52.339 --> 00:07:54.799 We'll look at each phrase here in that statement. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:00.360 First, notice here that God brings beauty out of chaos. 00:08:01.319 --> 00:08:04.400 God brings beauty out of chaos. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:06.480 Look there with me to verse 1. 00:08:06.600 --> 00:08:08.840 This verse we studied last week. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:12.500 It serves as the introduction to the rest of this creation story. 00:08:13.139 --> 00:08:20.780 In the beginning, the sovereign, eternal God of the universe created the heavens and the earth. 00:08:20.779 --> 00:08:25.500 That's a term that means all things, the heavens and the earth, everything that we see. 00:08:26.219 --> 00:08:33.039 But as we get to verse 2, we see something seems a little off, doesn't it? 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.240 He describes this creation with three key terms. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:44.299 He says the earth was without form and void, and it was dark. 00:08:45.720 --> 00:08:47.699 This description is important. 00:08:47.700 --> 00:08:53.700 The creation here is formless, it is void, it's empty, and it is dark. 00:08:54.500 --> 00:08:55.540 It's not all hopeless. 00:08:55.720 --> 00:08:57.360 We see the spirit of God is there. 00:08:58.000 --> 00:09:01.660 He's hovering over creation like a bird hovering over her nest. 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:05.460 It is nurturing this universe that God is bringing into being. 00:09:05.860 --> 00:09:11.520 But when you hear those words, formless, void, empty, dark, those aren't very positive words, are they? 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:14.980 It's not that there's sin in the world. 00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:16.840 That's not introduced until chapter 3. 00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.039 But this is a picture of chaos. 00:09:22.340 --> 00:09:25.779 The earth, the job is not yet complete, is it? 00:09:25.840 --> 00:09:32.320 There's work to be done to take this chaos and then to turn it, to shape it, to form it into something beautiful. 00:09:32.800 --> 00:09:36.840 And so that's exactly what we see God doing throughout the rest of this chapter. 00:09:37.060 --> 00:09:38.580 Look there at what he does. 00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:41.420 In fact, I put a chart there in your bulletins. 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:42.300 Hopefully you have one. 00:09:42.360 --> 00:09:43.120 Hopefully you can see this. 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:48.940 Over the first three days of creation, God forms the formless. 00:09:49.779 --> 00:09:52.980 Days 1 through 3 are marked by forming. 00:09:53.320 --> 00:09:56.840 God begins to get to work over the first three days of creation. 00:09:57.000 --> 00:09:58.080 He works like an architect. 00:09:59.100 --> 00:10:04.659 He takes what is formless and he begins to give it shape and structure and form. 00:10:04.779 --> 00:10:09.620 And the very first thing he does in this dark, formless, empty creation, what is it? 00:10:09.960 --> 00:10:11.560 He gives it light. 00:10:11.559 --> 00:10:13.779 He turns on the lights. 00:10:14.619 --> 00:10:18.079 God said, verse 3, let there be light. 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:21.019 And there was light. 00:10:21.299 --> 00:10:28.539 And right away here, here's one of the scientific questions that we might come across that we want answered here in Genesis. 00:10:28.539 --> 00:10:32.120 And I won't deal with all of our scientific questions. 00:10:32.199 --> 00:10:34.299 I just want to put that out there here at the beginning. 00:10:34.539 --> 00:10:42.860 But I want to deal with this one because how in the world can there be light on day one before he makes the sun and the moon and the stars on day four? 00:10:44.099 --> 00:10:45.240 You ever think about that? 00:10:46.360 --> 00:10:51.659 If we're thinking naturally and scientifically, we should take issue with this. 00:10:51.659 --> 00:10:55.860 We should ask because ordinarily, you're right, there is no light without the sun. 00:10:56.799 --> 00:11:03.779 Just like ordinarily, there couldn't be vegetation and plants on the third day before the sun is created on the fourth day. 00:11:03.779 --> 00:11:11.319 And ordinarily, you couldn't even count day one or day two or day three before the sun and the moon are created on day four. 00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:19.500 For one thing, we shouldn't expect Genesis to read like a scientific textbook. 00:11:19.700 --> 00:11:21.500 It's not a scientific textbook. 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:25.100 It speaks to our scientific questions, absolutely. 00:11:25.760 --> 00:11:28.320 It's the foundation of all truth and all science. 00:11:29.160 --> 00:11:31.220 And it gives us the foundation of the world. 00:11:31.300 --> 00:11:33.720 But it's not primarily a scientific textbook. 00:11:33.840 --> 00:11:37.320 We shouldn't expect it to answer all of our scientific questions. 00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:44.680 But also, we have to realize that this really isn't an ordinary moment, is it? 00:11:46.180 --> 00:11:48.820 This is what a miracle is, by the way. 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:54.320 It is a suspension of the ordinary and natural ways of the world. 00:11:54.420 --> 00:11:56.780 And if you rule that out from the start, I'll just go ahead and tell you, 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:59.780 it's not going to get better for you the more you read in this book. 00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:04.120 And in just a couple of weeks, we're going to meet a talking snake. 00:12:04.120 --> 00:12:08.159 As you keep reading and make our way to the New Testament, 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:12.279 I don't want to spoil the ending for you, but there's a man who gets up from the grave. 00:12:14.659 --> 00:12:15.620 Here's my point. 00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:23.519 We shouldn't be surprised that our God often works in extraordinary ways. 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:28.759 And if you rule out the extraordinary and the supernatural from the beginning 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.279 as a possibility of what is able to happen, 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:34.879 well, then you've just ruled out God as a possibility. 00:12:36.519 --> 00:12:40.519 But if there is a God, as Genesis 1 verse 1 asserts, 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:47.519 why shouldn't he work in extraordinary and supernatural ways? 00:12:47.519 --> 00:12:49.740 But also, you know, we should also realize, 00:12:49.860 --> 00:12:53.360 well, God isn't really breaking any laws of nature here 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:56.740 because these laws don't even exist yet, do they? 00:12:58.379 --> 00:13:02.360 What laws of nature are established before the earth itself is established? 00:13:03.759 --> 00:13:08.279 God, what we see here is God is in an extraordinary moment of creation. 00:13:08.439 --> 00:13:13.919 These first five days, he is using extraordinary providence 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:19.099 to create and sustain all these things that he will then use ordinary providence 00:13:19.099 --> 00:13:21.699 to sustain for the rest of time. 00:13:21.779 --> 00:13:22.579 So that's day one. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:28.379 Day two, he forms the heavens and separates the waters below from the waters above. 00:13:28.620 --> 00:13:31.059 It is a poetic language here. 00:13:31.139 --> 00:13:32.879 He hammers out the firmament. 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:36.439 He gives form and shape to all the skies above. 00:13:36.439 --> 00:13:38.740 Psalm 104 verse 2, it says, 00:13:39.299 --> 00:13:41.339 he stretched out the heavens like a tent. 00:13:41.340 --> 00:13:48.720 And so now there's a clear distinction between skies above and earth beneath. 00:13:48.879 --> 00:13:52.740 Third day, he separates those waters below from the earth 00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.320 and he brings the earth forth. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:56.340 He gives shape to the land. 00:13:56.480 --> 00:14:00.120 So you see here how he's forming and he's shaping the universe. 00:14:00.300 --> 00:14:04.300 On the first three days, he's making divisions and distinctions 00:14:04.300 --> 00:14:07.100 and he's putting everything in its place. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.820 We see here, don't we, God is a God of structure. 00:14:10.820 --> 00:14:15.180 And order and design and purpose. 00:14:15.420 --> 00:14:18.520 He is forming the formless on days one through three. 00:14:19.660 --> 00:14:24.180 And then he shifts his attention to filling what he's made. 00:14:24.300 --> 00:14:27.920 In fact, the end of day three, the description on the third day, 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:31.879 it serves as sort of a hinge here between forming and filling. 00:14:32.120 --> 00:14:34.200 He commands the earth to sprout vegetation 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.720 and plants with their seed, fruit trees with their fruit, 00:14:37.840 --> 00:14:40.640 each according to its kind. 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:43.720 Again, notice there's structure and order here, isn't there? 00:14:44.420 --> 00:14:48.200 There's a pattern to be followed for life and flourishing. 00:14:48.900 --> 00:14:50.220 The mold is made. 00:14:50.340 --> 00:14:51.860 The forms are put in place. 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.800 And now, days four through six, he begins to fill his creation. 00:14:56.980 --> 00:15:00.020 Days four through six are marked by filling. 00:15:00.019 --> 00:15:03.139 He's got a blank canvas in front of him. 00:15:04.139 --> 00:15:06.899 And so now he begins to work as an artist. 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:11.179 And he fills this blank canvas of the universe with life 00:15:11.179 --> 00:15:14.620 and with movement and with creatures and with beauty. 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:17.799 On day four, he makes the sun and the moon and the stars 00:15:17.799 --> 00:15:19.539 to rule over the light and the darkness, 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:22.340 to mark off days and times and seasons. 00:15:22.559 --> 00:15:26.179 Day five, he fills the waters with swarms of living creatures. 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:28.500 He fills the skies with birds. 00:15:28.579 --> 00:15:31.799 And day six, which we'll spend a whole week on next week, 00:15:31.859 --> 00:15:34.439 he fills the earth with living creatures 00:15:34.439 --> 00:15:38.879 and eventually with people made in his image. 00:15:39.039 --> 00:15:41.779 By the end of these six days, 00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:47.539 this dark, formless, empty nothing 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:53.319 has now been transformed into life and beauty and order. 00:15:53.320 --> 00:15:56.500 Now ask yourself again, 00:15:57.360 --> 00:16:01.580 why in the world would that matter to an Israelite 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:03.740 on the way to the promised land? 00:16:03.820 --> 00:16:07.300 Why would they need to be reminded of these truths? 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.000 I'll tell you. 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:11.900 It's because this creation story 00:16:11.900 --> 00:16:14.000 is a picture, 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:19.100 it's a foretaste of exactly what God is doing with them. 00:16:19.100 --> 00:16:23.560 This God was bringing them 00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:26.340 out of the darkness of Egypt 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:29.680 and into the light of his presence. 00:16:30.860 --> 00:16:33.100 This God who formed the earth and the universe 00:16:33.100 --> 00:16:35.960 was now forming them as his people. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:38.080 God who created all things 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:40.240 was now recreating them. 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:43.519 He was taking what was formless and empty and dark 00:16:43.519 --> 00:16:46.600 and he was turning it into something beautiful. 00:16:46.600 --> 00:16:49.759 He redeemed people for his own possession. 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:52.399 God was showing them that 00:16:52.399 --> 00:16:54.860 this incredible work that I've done in creation 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:58.180 is the same sort of work that I am doing in you. 00:16:58.300 --> 00:16:59.940 I am bringing you out of chaos 00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:01.420 and into something beautiful. 00:17:01.920 --> 00:17:04.519 Do you trust me to do it? 00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:07.160 Not only this, 00:17:07.240 --> 00:17:10.339 he's showing us something else here in the creation story. 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:14.359 He's showing them that he and he alone 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:17.980 is the God who brings beauty out of chaos. 00:17:18.299 --> 00:17:18.879 So second, 00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:23.480 second, we see here that it is our God 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:25.819 who brings order out of chaos. 00:17:26.639 --> 00:17:31.059 Our God brings order out of chaos. 00:17:31.179 --> 00:17:32.879 You remember the situation, don't you? 00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:35.539 They're surrounded by the gods of Egypt. 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:36.500 Now they're coming out. 00:17:36.579 --> 00:17:38.480 They're surrounded by the gods of the nation. 00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:41.920 This text is a firm rebuke to anyone 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.900 who would serve any other God 00:17:43.900 --> 00:17:46.839 besides the one God of creation. 00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:50.440 This text demands that there is one God 00:17:50.440 --> 00:17:51.319 and that there's one God. 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:54.779 He stands above all else as king of the universe. 00:17:54.980 --> 00:17:55.799 Look there with me again. 00:17:56.880 --> 00:18:00.279 Did you notice how often he separates in this story? 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.160 You see it there in verse 3. 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:05.700 God separated the light from the darkness. 00:18:05.700 --> 00:18:07.559 See it in verse 6. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:11.120 God separated the waters above from the waters below. 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:11.779 Verse 9. 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:14.019 God separates the waters from the earth. 00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:14.799 Verse 14. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:17.740 The lights separate the day from the night. 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:20.039 You really, you can't miss this idea, can you? 00:18:20.840 --> 00:18:25.200 This God is one who makes division 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:27.340 and distinction. 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:31.799 He draws boundary lines and he makes separation. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.539 Light doesn't go with darkness. 00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:37.299 The sky above doesn't belong with the earth. 00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:39.079 The waters don't go with the land. 00:18:39.959 --> 00:18:42.399 There's even divisions on what can bear fruit. 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:44.839 An apple tree, it doesn't bear fruit with a palm tree. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:47.799 A bird doesn't reproduce with a fish. 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:51.599 God is structuring and setting apart 00:18:51.599 --> 00:18:53.959 and dividing and separating. 00:18:53.960 --> 00:18:58.460 And again, that's exactly what he's doing with his people, isn't it? 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:04.559 He is separating them from the spiritual darkness all around them. 00:19:05.360 --> 00:19:09.039 They are to be distinct from the nations all around them. 00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:12.840 And the number one way that they are to be distinct, what is it? 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:17.259 It's by worshiping and serving God and God alone. 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:21.900 It's by separating themselves from the gods of the nations. 00:19:21.900 --> 00:19:23.600 And so look here with me. 00:19:23.660 --> 00:19:24.400 This is so interesting. 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:29.480 This creation story is almost like a roast 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:31.759 of all the false gods of the nations. 00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:34.600 And when you start reading it like this, 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:35.820 it takes on a whole new level. 00:19:36.220 --> 00:19:41.740 God is showing supremacy over the false gods of the nations. 00:19:42.940 --> 00:19:47.060 If you spend some time studying the ancient Near East 00:19:47.060 --> 00:19:49.280 and their religion and their stories, 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:51.259 you'll see these ancient cultures, 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:53.899 they viewed the waters as eternal. 00:19:55.079 --> 00:19:57.139 In fact, there's some ancient creation myths 00:19:57.139 --> 00:19:59.059 that even talk about their gods 00:19:59.059 --> 00:20:02.139 using this pre-existent eternal waters 00:20:02.139 --> 00:20:04.000 to create all things. 00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.859 But what does he say here? 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:12.200 God makes and separates and names the waters. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.579 They're his handiwork. 00:20:14.579 --> 00:20:18.119 The God of the Bible has supremacy over the waters. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:22.679 The Canaanites, you know, they worshipped Baal 00:20:22.679 --> 00:20:25.079 and they thought that Baal was the God of fertility. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:28.460 There's even a creation story of Baal 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:30.460 and his time of his death corresponds 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:31.859 with the death of the crops. 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.899 And then he's resurrected 00:20:32.899 --> 00:20:35.619 and that corresponds with the growing season of the crops. 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:38.759 But again, here we're told the God of the Bible 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:44.759 Baal has supremacy over life and fertility and produce. 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:47.799 They come forth at his divine will. 00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:49.839 He commands the earth and it bears fruit. 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:53.980 The Canaanites worshipped a God named Prince Yam. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:57.259 He's supposed to be the God of the ocean. 00:20:57.519 --> 00:21:00.059 But again, here God calls the waters forth. 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:02.480 God puts the boundaries of the waters in place. 00:21:02.599 --> 00:21:04.160 He separates the waters. 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:06.440 He tosses it around like it's putty in his hand. 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:11.059 And again, of course, all the pagans worshipped the sun. 00:21:12.100 --> 00:21:15.200 All the pagans looked up and thought that the sun was a God. 00:21:15.320 --> 00:21:17.380 They worshipped the moon and the sun and the stars. 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:20.279 But did you notice how Genesis 1 talks about them? 00:21:21.400 --> 00:21:24.380 It doesn't even call them by name, does it? 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:27.940 It's not that he doesn't know the name of the sun. 00:21:28.140 --> 00:21:30.279 It's not the sun and the moon here. 00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:32.220 It's greater light and lesser light. 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:36.660 He's not even giving them the respect of calling them by their name. 00:21:36.779 --> 00:21:39.039 This was a God to the nations. 00:21:39.160 --> 00:21:41.480 But here he says, yeah, the big one over there, God made that. 00:21:42.660 --> 00:21:46.000 And the little one at nighttime, yeah, God made that one too. 00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:49.000 And he put them right in their place. 00:21:49.160 --> 00:21:51.539 And he tells them exactly what to do. 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:53.920 And he has a purpose for them. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:58.960 And they listen and do exactly what our God says with no backtalk. 00:22:00.360 --> 00:22:03.100 You really worship the sun and the moon and the stars? 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:03.700 Are you kidding me? 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:08.200 You want to seek guidance from the stars? 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:09.519 Are you serious? 00:22:10.820 --> 00:22:15.779 Our God spoke and made all of this. 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:20.160 Our God is the one who creates our things. 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.819 Our God is the authority. 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:24.039 He's the one who names all things. 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.420 He has authority over all things. 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:30.379 He orders all things and designs all things. 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:32.299 He commands all things. 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:35.079 He's the source of blessing for all things. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:38.480 He's the one who determines what's right and what's good 00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:40.819 and what's orderly and what's true. 00:22:40.819 --> 00:22:49.899 And if this is true, why in the world should his people turn to serve any other God? 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:57.399 I hope you realize that we need to hear this truth as well, church. 00:22:59.779 --> 00:23:09.119 Our God is the creator and ruler of all the universe, which means, church, 00:23:09.119 --> 00:23:17.719 church, our God alone is worthy of our devotion, worthy of our worship. 00:23:17.899 --> 00:23:22.219 You know, we may not bow down and worship the sun and the moon and the stars or water 00:23:22.219 --> 00:23:25.219 or fertility or life or anything like that, 00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:30.239 but don't you think for a second that our nation around us doesn't have her own gods 00:23:30.239 --> 00:23:35.179 and that we're not tempted in our own ways to bow down 00:23:35.179 --> 00:23:38.579 and to serve the gods of the nations around us. 00:23:39.119 --> 00:23:43.919 We may never encounter the gods of the Canaanites, but we encounter the gods of America. 00:23:44.839 --> 00:23:51.199 And we, as the people of the one true God, are called to be distinct. 00:23:52.919 --> 00:23:57.099 We don't worship and bow down and serve the gods of this nation. 00:23:57.199 --> 00:24:00.359 We don't worship and bow down to earthly politics 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:04.519 or to any political leader or political party. 00:24:04.659 --> 00:24:07.699 And many make these things absolute and ultimate, 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:10.500 but we know we're called to be distinct. 00:24:11.919 --> 00:24:16.500 We don't worship affluence or success, 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:19.719 climbing the ladder as much as that's the norm in our culture around us. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:23.439 We don't worship others and live for the approval of others, 00:24:23.559 --> 00:24:25.319 live to build a following from others, 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:27.619 even though that's much the norm in our culture. 00:24:28.639 --> 00:24:33.579 We don't worship money or stuff or status. 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:38.939 We don't worship so-called sexual freedom, self-determination. 00:24:39.539 --> 00:24:42.679 We are called to be distinct. 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:46.539 We worship the creator of the universe, 00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:49.740 and we will have no other gods before him. 00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:50.519 Ask yourself, 00:24:50.860 --> 00:24:55.500 in what ways are you tempted to bow down and to serve the gods of the nations? 00:24:55.500 --> 00:25:02.480 Our God has made all things and put all things in their place. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:06.200 He's created all things for our good and for his glory. 00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:10.099 Our God brings order and beauty out of chaos. 00:25:10.359 --> 00:25:12.339 But look here in our third point. 00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.680 Look here how he does it. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:14.579 Third. 00:25:15.859 --> 00:25:20.740 We see our God brings order out of chaos 00:25:20.740 --> 00:25:24.980 through his powerful word. 00:25:25.500 --> 00:25:29.880 It's by his powerful word. 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.779 Look there back at the passage with me. 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:37.359 And notice here how is it that God brings order and harmony and beauty out of the chaos? 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:42.200 How is it that he brings forth the sun and the moon and the stars 00:25:42.200 --> 00:25:46.079 and the day and the night and the water and the land and the creatures? 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:49.640 It's by the power of his word. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:53.680 He doesn't do what I do when I want to make something. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:57.140 If I want to make a snowman, what do I have to do? 00:25:57.180 --> 00:26:00.160 I've got to wait about six years until it snows. 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:05.259 And then I can roll up a ball if I'm able and I can stack it up together. 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:10.000 And when I want to make dinner, I need to go and get some ingredients. 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.960 Then I mix them up and I make something to eat. 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.779 Sometimes it's edible. 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:14.640 Sometimes it's not. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:17.600 God doesn't do it like that, does he? 00:26:18.759 --> 00:26:23.880 He doesn't take from what's already there and turn it into something else. 00:26:24.019 --> 00:26:31.680 He simply creates everything out of nothing by the power of his word. 00:26:32.779 --> 00:26:34.740 Ten times we see it here in this story. 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:39.940 Ten times in the six days of creation, we see the phrase, God said. 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:41.759 God said. 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.359 God said. 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.759 God said. 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:47.000 Seven times we see it was good. 00:26:47.740 --> 00:26:48.700 It is good. 00:26:49.079 --> 00:26:50.180 It is good. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:51.440 It is good. 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:56.539 If any Israelite might wonder whether or not the God of the Bible is trustworthy, 00:26:57.980 --> 00:27:02.500 whether or not his word can bring forth what he plans to do, 00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:07.400 if they can believe the promise that he's going to accomplish what he says he's going to accomplish, 00:27:07.599 --> 00:27:12.720 all they have to do is look up, look down, look to the left, look to the right, 00:27:12.779 --> 00:27:16.720 at all that he's made by the power of his word. 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:26.279 It's the word of God that brings all things into being and brings beauty out of chaos. 00:27:26.279 --> 00:27:30.440 His word never fails to accomplish all his purposes. 00:27:30.440 --> 00:27:31.460 Isaiah 55. 00:27:32.160 --> 00:27:33.279 It's one of my favorite verses. 00:27:34.539 --> 00:27:40.820 Like the rain and the snow that come down from heaven and do not return there, 00:27:41.160 --> 00:27:45.940 but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, 00:27:46.100 --> 00:27:48.559 giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:53.279 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth. 00:27:53.279 --> 00:27:59.940 It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose 00:27:59.940 --> 00:28:04.259 and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 00:28:05.200 --> 00:28:14.539 The word of the Lord is 100% effective in accomplishing all his purpose. 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:19.839 When he speaks, it happens just as he says. 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:23.279 In fact, it's the act of speaking that brings it about. 00:28:23.420 --> 00:28:26.059 Immediately it happens just as he desires. 00:28:26.180 --> 00:28:28.759 I wish I had just a fraction of that power. 00:28:29.220 --> 00:28:30.859 Parents, you know what I'm talking about. 00:28:32.059 --> 00:28:32.940 But I don't. 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:42.460 Nobody but God has that sort of authoritative, life-giving, productive power 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:44.940 simply by speaking the word. 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:52.019 But as we look ahead, out of the pages of Genesis, 00:28:52.380 --> 00:28:54.840 and flip forward to the New Testament, 00:28:55.259 --> 00:28:58.259 and move forward in history just a few thousand years, 00:28:58.259 --> 00:29:01.640 we see something extraordinary begins to take place. 00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:06.039 And we see somebody else comes onto the scene, 00:29:06.279 --> 00:29:08.359 and someone starts to speak, 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:11.720 and we see that he seems to have this sort of power. 00:29:13.500 --> 00:29:16.579 Jesus of Nazareth appears on the scene, 00:29:16.700 --> 00:29:22.480 and he begins to speak simply by his word. 00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:24.839 He heals the sick. 00:29:24.839 --> 00:29:29.639 He casts out demons by his word. 00:29:29.779 --> 00:29:34.599 He steps right into the brokenness and the chaos of the world that we live in, 00:29:34.679 --> 00:29:37.579 and he speaks and causes the lame to walk, 00:29:38.299 --> 00:29:41.099 and the blind to see simply by the power of his word. 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:45.639 He calls a dead man out of the grave simply by speaking and saying, 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:47.059 Lazarus, come out. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:51.819 He speaks to the waters and speaks to the wind and the waves, 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:54.579 and immediately they calm down, and there's peace. 00:29:55.799 --> 00:29:59.339 And over and over and over again, 00:29:59.559 --> 00:30:02.619 when people hear and see the power of his word, 00:30:02.679 --> 00:30:05.679 they ask, who is this man? 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:10.359 Who is this who teaches and speaks with authority? 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:14.879 Who is this that even the wind and the waves obey him? 00:30:14.980 --> 00:30:19.319 Who is this who can bring order and even beauty out of such chaos? 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:22.559 Simply by the power of his word. 00:30:22.700 --> 00:30:23.819 We know the answer, don't we? 00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:28.399 Jesus Christ is God in the flesh. 00:30:30.159 --> 00:30:33.639 In fact, as John tells us in John chapter 1, 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:38.539 Jesus is the very word of God. 00:30:38.539 --> 00:30:41.899 In the beginning was the word, 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:44.639 and the word was with God, 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:47.539 and the word was God. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:50.500 He was in the beginning with God. 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:53.839 All things were made through him, 00:30:54.240 --> 00:30:59.079 and without him was not anything made that was made. 00:30:59.079 --> 00:31:05.000 Jesus Christ is the life-giving word of God. 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:12.099 And it is through Jesus that God brings beauty and order 00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:16.759 out of chaos and darkness and brokenness and emptiness. 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:19.799 The church, the story of creation, 00:31:19.900 --> 00:31:21.440 all the way back here in the beginning, 00:31:21.579 --> 00:31:23.099 is preaching the gospel. 00:31:24.539 --> 00:31:26.500 And ultimately, this is pointing us forward 00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:29.220 to an even greater creative act of God 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:31.339 through the power of the word. 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:32.980 If you are a Christian this morning, 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:34.819 let me tell you what Paul says, 00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:37.819 God has done for you in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.619 We read it this morning. 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:43.519 God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.940 has shown in our hearts 00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:52.019 to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God 00:31:52.019 --> 00:31:54.579 in the face of Jesus Christ. 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:58.420 To be a Christian 00:31:58.420 --> 00:32:04.160 is to experience the life-giving power of the word of God. 00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:07.819 It is to be brought out of darkness 00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:10.420 and into his marvelous light. 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:13.099 It is to be rescued 00:32:13.099 --> 00:32:17.419 out of the chaos of this present evil age, 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:19.000 this fallen world that we live in. 00:32:19.059 --> 00:32:20.740 It is to be given a new identity, 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.859 a new form, 00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:24.319 a new shape and structure to your life, 00:32:24.379 --> 00:32:26.099 all of it governed by his word. 00:32:26.179 --> 00:32:28.419 It is to be filled with his spirit. 00:32:29.480 --> 00:32:31.619 To be filled with life and hope and peace 00:32:31.619 --> 00:32:33.500 in believing the gospel of Christ. 00:32:35.159 --> 00:32:37.579 To be a Christian is to be a new creation, 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:42.539 marching forwards towards the true promised land, 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:43.339 a new world. 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:43.359 A new world. 00:32:44.019 --> 00:32:46.099 Where God will once again, for good, 00:32:46.299 --> 00:32:49.099 take the chaos of this present evil age 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:51.799 and remake it into something beautiful. 00:32:51.980 --> 00:32:55.139 A place where there is no need of sun or moon to shine on it 00:32:55.139 --> 00:32:57.299 for the glory of God gives it light 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:59.339 and its lamp is the Lamb. 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:01.420 Church, this is where we're headed. 00:33:01.420 --> 00:33:09.240 And this morning, if you are still in darkness, 00:33:10.440 --> 00:33:12.720 the call to you from this text 00:33:12.720 --> 00:33:16.160 is to trust in the word of God. 00:33:17.800 --> 00:33:19.759 Trust in Jesus Christ, 00:33:19.880 --> 00:33:22.720 the living word who entered into the chaos 00:33:22.720 --> 00:33:25.380 of our lives and our mess and our sin, 00:33:25.460 --> 00:33:28.200 who lived and died and rose from the grave 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:31.500 so that even you can be recreated as a child of God. 00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:35.759 This morning, if you're wrestling with doubts 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:39.799 or questions or uncertainty this morning, 00:33:39.900 --> 00:33:40.559 questions like, 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:43.019 is it possible to come out of such chaos 00:33:43.019 --> 00:33:43.980 into such peace? 00:33:45.779 --> 00:33:48.440 What about the gods of the nation around me? 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:51.980 Is this God worthy of my trust? 00:33:52.340 --> 00:33:56.539 Friend, cling to the power of His word. 00:33:57.820 --> 00:34:00.080 Cling tightly to Christ. 00:34:01.660 --> 00:34:03.360 And if you're tempted to bow down, 00:34:03.480 --> 00:34:06.180 to serve any God but the one true God, 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:08.619 come and cling tightly to His word. 00:34:08.700 --> 00:34:10.880 If you're in a season of chaos this morning, 00:34:12.280 --> 00:34:13.360 a season of darkness, 00:34:13.360 --> 00:34:18.700 would you cling to the power of His word? 00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:20.120 Where else can we go, Lord? 00:34:21.680 --> 00:34:22.940 Where else can we go? 00:34:24.380 --> 00:34:28.000 You have the words of eternal life. 00:34:28.099 --> 00:34:30.760 It is by His word that our God brings order 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:33.220 and beauty out of chaos. 00:34:34.000 --> 00:34:34.660 Let's pray. 00:34:34.660 --> 00:34:38.380 Lord, we thank You, Father, 00:34:38.460 --> 00:34:40.720 for Your wisdom in creating all things. 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:42.159 We thank You, Father, 00:34:42.259 --> 00:34:43.859 for the life that You've given us. 00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:45.779 We thank You for the world that we live in 00:34:45.779 --> 00:34:47.079 that proclaims Your glory. 00:34:48.119 --> 00:34:49.859 And Lord, we thank You especially 00:34:49.859 --> 00:34:52.599 for the gift of the new creation 00:34:52.599 --> 00:34:54.539 by faith in Christ 00:34:54.539 --> 00:34:57.359 who's come and stepped into our brokenness, 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:59.219 Lord, to redeem what's been broken 00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:01.259 and to bring a people 00:35:01.259 --> 00:35:03.559 out for Your own possession. 00:35:04.539 --> 00:35:05.439 We love You, Lord. 00:35:05.500 --> 00:35:06.679 We pray all this in Jesus' name. 00:35:07.779 --> 00:35:08.019 Amen.