WEBVTT

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 We just finished our sermon series in the Gospel of John.

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 Steve hopefully wrapped that up last week in my absence.

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 I miss being with you guys.

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 I'm glad to be back to be able to bring God's word to you.

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 We'll be going through the book of Genesis.

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 We'll finish the book in the fall sometime,

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 and just in time for the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.

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 We'll probably have a different series lined up for that.

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 And Genesis has 50 chapters.

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 It's divided into three major sections.

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 Chapters 1 to 11 are about the primeval history.

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 12 to 36 is about the patriarchs, the time of the patriarchs, starting with Abraham.

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 And then 37 to 50 is about the times of Joseph.

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 And this book is written not just to recount the beginning of the universe,

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 but the beginning of God's redemptive history.

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 That's really its focus.

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 of how God began this process of, through Israel, bringing about the Messiah,

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 bringing about his redemptive plan to save and to bless all nations.

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 But before we dive into it, we need to first address the elephant in the room.

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 Because in the aftermath of the fundamentalist, kind of modernist controversy in the 20th century,

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 where the fundamentalists were saying that, you know,

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 where the modernists were arguing that some of these antiquated doctrines in scripture

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 need to be modified or dismissed altogether.

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 And the fundamentalist dug their heels in and then fired back and said

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 that those liberal elites in academia are conspiring to engage in a smear campaign of the Bible and Bible-believing Christians.

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 So because of this kind of conflict, now we're at a time where evolution kind of functions as a litmus test

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 for Christian or scientific orthodoxy.

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 So if you believe it, then you're with them, the irreverent atheists.

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 And if you deny it, then you're with them, right?

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 The fundamentalistic ignoramuses, right?

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 So the unfortunate result of this is that every reader of Genesis 1 comes to the book with Darwin's Origin of Species in mind

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 when the book that was written 3,500 years ago clearly did not have that at the forefront of its mind.

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 So let me point out first that science and religion do not have to be.

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 They're not necessarily mutually exclusive.

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 Let me begin with that.

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 A scientific explanation for something doesn't mean that there can't be religious or supernatural explanation for it.

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 I've used the example before of the analogy used by geologist Frank Rhodes

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 when you asked the question, why is the kettle boiling?

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 There's two proper answers to that question.

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 The first answer is PV equals NRT, the laws of thermodynamics.

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 You apply energy to the matter and it heats up and then it comes to a boiling point.

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 And another appropriate and legitimate answer is that someone just wanted to boil some tea, right?

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 Those are both correct answers.

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 And this is why the Bible describes in Psalm 139 that he formed the inward parts and knits us together in the mother's womb, right?

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 God does that.

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 But we also know scientifically of the process of fertilization, of embryogenesis.

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 So those things should teach us that first of all principle.

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 On principle, those two things are not mutually exclusive necessarily.

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 And then secondly, I want to point out to you that evolution does not purport to explain the origin of life.

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 Book of Genesis does, or origin of species doesn't.

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 It's called the origin of species for a reason.

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 It's not called the origin of life.

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 And Darwin readily admitted this, his profound ignorance of the subject in the book, by using the word created.

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 And because he used such terms, he was criticized by his peers, his academic peers, because they called it this.

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 He said Darwin resorted to Pentateuchal terms.

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 Pentateuch is the first five books of the Bible.

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 As the primordial form into which life was first breathed.

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 And Darwin responded to his critics in this way in one of his papers.

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 Let us face the problem boldly.

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 He who believes that organic beings have been produced during each geological period from dead matter must believe that the first being thus arose.

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 There must have been a time when inorganic elements alone existed on our planet.

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 Let any assumptions be made such as that the reeking atmosphere was charged with carbonic acid, nitrogenized compounds, phosphorus, and company.

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 Now is there a fact or a shadow of a fact supporting the belief that these elements, without the presence of any organic compounds,

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 and acted on only by known forces, could produce a living creature?

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 At present, it is to us a result absolutely inconceivable.

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 Your reviewer sneers with justice at my use of the Pentateuchal terms of one primordial form into which life was first breathed.

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 In a purely scientific work, I ought perhaps not to have used such terms,

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 but they well serve to confess that our ignorance is as profound on the origin of life as on the origin of force or matter.

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 With that said, I'm not saying that there's no point of tension between science and religion,

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 and between creation and evolution, and we will see some of those as we go through this chapter.

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 However, it is important to note that they're not on principle necessarily mutually exclusive.

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 With that said, what should be the proper posture of Christians towards scientific findings that seem to contradict Scripture?

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 On the one hand, if I think we have both of these, and I could go one side or another as well.

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 On the one hand, if your response to such findings, if your response is immediately embarrassment, apology,

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 and a frantic exegetical acrobatics to explain away everything that's in the Bible,

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 or to disbelieve the Bible altogether, then you need to grow in your faith,

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 and you need to grow a backbone, right, and in your trust in God's Word as the inspired Word of God.

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 So 2 Timothy 3, 16, 17,

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 It's sufficient for us, and it is all wholly inspired.

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 So if you have a flimsy, just nominal commitment to the authority of Scripture,

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 then you're merely following the latest fads in pop science.

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 Then the functional authority of your life is not God, but man.

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 And you're going to be tossed to and fro by the ways of changing doctrine in the world.

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 Scientific discoveries don't happen in a vacuum.

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 They are always influenced and sometimes motivated by the ever-changing spirit of the times.

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 And it takes decades, sometimes even centuries, to test and establish hypotheses.

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 It took 1,500 years to overturn the Aristotelian geocentric model of the universe.

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 On the other hand, if your response is to apparent contradictions between science and Scripture is fear,

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 rigid opposition, and a frantic Google search to find every obscurantist fact to undermine the scientific findings,

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 then you need to grow in your humility and develop some nimbleness.

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 Because God's Word is truth, and His Spirit is a spirit of truth,

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 so we do not need to be apprehensive of honest investigations of the truth in all spheres of life.

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 And we need to remember that the divine inspiration of Scripture does not preclude human interpretation of Scripture.

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 The Scripture itself is infallible, but that doesn't mean our interpretation of it is infallible.

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 So then we should be ready and willing to prayerfully search and research the Scriptures,

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 to reexamine our interpretive traditions.

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 If not, we may become like the Pharisees whom Jesus indicted of making void the Word of God by their tradition that they have handed down.

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 And I bring to mind also, recall how the Roman Catholic Church once condemned heliocentrism as a heresy that contradicts Scripture.

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 It condemned Galileo Galilei, forced him to recant his views.

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 And then in 1992, Pope John Paul II apologized and formally expressed regret for that finding.

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 So then a proper posture as we encounter such contradictions is both unyielding theological convictions about the authority of Scripture

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 and both also a humility about our own interpretation of it

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 and a commitment to search and research the Scriptures with a judicious listening ear to the findings of science.

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 Now with that said, I don't mean to say that they're equal authorities.

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 Scripture is the prior and more fundamental authority.

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 And so it's not a circle where you keep going back and forth between two competing authorities.

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 Rather, what grounds us is Scripture and you dialogue back and forth with the goal that you spiral down to the true meaning of the text,

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 what God's Word teaches in the end.

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 And far from being preoccupied with the age of the earth

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 and the geological, chemical, and biological processes implied by God's creation,

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 Moses is preoccupied with asserting a more foundational truth.

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 He's frying for a bigger fish with the book of Genesis.

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 And that's this, that God is the sole creator and ruler of the heavens and the earth

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 who appoints man to represent and resemble him on earth.

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 That's the main point of Genesis 1.

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 And we'll find out first about God's creation and rule,

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 and then secondly about man's call to represent and resemble him.

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 So God's creation and rule.

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 So Moses' first order of business is to establish the truth of God's creation and rule.

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 So he begins in verse 1, perhaps the most famous passage in all of literature.

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 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

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 In the beginning was not some primordial soup or inorganic ooze.

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 In the beginning was God.

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 God is before all things.

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 And the word and the context suggests absolute beginning,

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 before anything existed, before time itself, from before eternity passed.

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 This is the beginning that God established.

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 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

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 And it says God created.

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 In the Bible, the word here translated as created is never used of anyone else.

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 No one else in the Bible creates.

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 Only God is said to create in the Bible.

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 And in this context, it implies not just any kind of creation.

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 It implies unique, absolute creation.

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 Creation out of nothing.

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 Right?

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 So, of course, we also create things.

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 We make things.

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 We can rearrange matter.

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 We can make things react with each other.

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 We can even clone matter.

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 But we can't create out of nothing.

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 That's a uniquely divine prerogative.

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 And here, God creates.

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 And whether you believe that God created the world in six days or six ages

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 or through the process of evolution,

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 you have to reckon with the fact that it is God who created.

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 He is the author of creation.

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 He is the designer.

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 And as such, there is purpose, meaning.

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 The world is not an accidental collocation of atoms.

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 It was created by God, designed by him for a purpose.

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 And what did God create?

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 It says the heavens and the earth.

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 The heaven denotes God's figurative abode,

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 and earth denotes man's abode.

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 And this is a literary device called merism,

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 where you refer to two ends of an extreme,

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 two extremes,

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 to refer to everything that's in between.

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 So, for example, when we say young and old,

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 we don't just mean young and old people,

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 but we mean everyone, people of all ages.

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 So when he says heavens and the earth,

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 he means God created everything.

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 There's nothing that exists that was not created by God himself.

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 In verse 2 and the following,

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 he describes the details of his creation.

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 He says,

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 The earth was without form and void,

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 and darkness was over the face of the deep,

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 and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

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 Now, this doesn't mean that earth and water existed before God's creative work.

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 Rather, this is the first stage of that creative work

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 that verse 1 told us about.

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 Without form and void,

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 it sounds like what it means in Hebrew.

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 It literally sounds like tohu bohu.

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 It's like topsy-turvy.

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 That's the kind of way we might translate it.

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 It means that it was wasted and uninhabited.

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 Or we could call it uninhabitable and uninhabited.

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 It's a chaotic wasteland at first,

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 and then God subsequently imposes his will,

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 his order on this earth.

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 And like a ray of sunlight pierces darkness,

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 out of the darkness,

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 God speaks in verses 3 to 5,

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 Let there be light.

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 And there was light.

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 And God saw that the light was good,

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 and God separated the light from the darkness.

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 God called the light day,

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 and the darkness he called night.

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 There was evening,

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 and there was morning the first day.

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 Now, we know,

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 having gone through John,

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 that scripture writers often use the metaphor of light and darkness

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 to refer to spiritual light and darkness.

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 And so here,

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 there's a distinct preference for light expressed,

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 because God doesn't say that the darkness was good.

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 He says the light was good.

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 He separates the light from the darkness.

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 Now, here in verse 3,

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 verses 3 to 5,

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 really,

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 we find the standard kind of creation formula

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 that you see over and over again,

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 that repeat throughout the book,

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 throughout the chapter 1.

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 So first,

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 there's the announcement of God's speech,

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 and it was really helpful to have Sarah and Will read that together,

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 because you could really see those patterns.

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 And the first is the announcement of God's speech.

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 God said.

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 That's the first formula.

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 And that occurs a total of 10 times,

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 but if you count only his creative speech,

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 it occurs 7 times.

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 And that's intentional.

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 Secondly,

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 there's the command itself,

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 Let there be so and so.

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 That occurs 8 times.

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 But once again,

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 if you count only his creative speech,

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 and not the time when he says,

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 talks,

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 and says,

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 Let us make God in his image,

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 that's 7 times also.

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 Now, third,

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 there's the fulfillment,

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 and there was so and so.

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 So God said,

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 Let there be so,

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 and now there was so and so,

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 or and it was so.

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 That occurs 7 times.

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 And then there is,

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 fourth,

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 there's the observation or description of God's creative act,

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 and God made something,

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 something.

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 That occurs 7 times.

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 Fifth,

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 there is God's delight,

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 in his creation.

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 God saw that it was good.

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 That also occurs 7 times.

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 And sixth,

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 there is a subsequent naming or blessing.

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 God called it so and so,

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 or God blessed them.

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 That also occurs 7 times,

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 as you can guess.

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 And seventh part of the formula,

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 there is an observation of the number of day.

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 The first day,

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 the second day,

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 and so on.

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 And that also occurs 7 times.

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 And usually,

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 it's preceded by,

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 and there was evening,

00:15:52.679 --> 00:15:53.439
 and there was morning.

00:15:53.739 --> 00:15:55.919
 There is an intentional symmetry at work here.

00:15:56.819 --> 00:15:56.959
 Right?

00:15:57.039 --> 00:15:59.500
 The purposeful groupings of 7.

00:16:00.159 --> 00:16:00.479
 Well,

00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.059
 you might say,

00:16:01.139 --> 00:16:01.339
 well,

00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:02.079
 of course,

00:16:02.179 --> 00:16:03.439
 there's going to be groups of 7,

00:16:03.519 --> 00:16:05.739
 because the creation happens in 7 days.

00:16:06.179 --> 00:16:06.419
 Well,

00:16:06.459 --> 00:16:08.259
 that's actually not exactly what's going on,

00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:10.159
 because there's only 6 days of creation.

00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:13.360
 There's some parts of the formula that's missing in other parts,

00:16:13.439 --> 00:16:15.439
 but it's supplemented in other parts to make,

00:16:15.600 --> 00:16:16.059
 still make,

00:16:16.439 --> 00:16:17.679
 fulfill the number 7.

00:16:18.019 --> 00:16:18.200
 So,

00:16:18.340 --> 00:16:20.000
 seventh paradigm is intentional.

00:16:20.460 --> 00:16:21.899
 And why does Moses,

00:16:22.360 --> 00:16:25.000
 whom we believe is the author of the book,

00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:27.960
 write it this way?

00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:30.819
 Because,

00:16:31.659 --> 00:16:32.899
 we know from Exodus 20,

00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:33.480
 8 to 11,

00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:35.980
 remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

00:16:35.980 --> 00:16:37.659
 6 days you shall labor,

00:16:37.879 --> 00:16:38.840
 and do all your work,

00:16:38.879 --> 00:16:41.039
 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God,

00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:43.340
 on it you shall not do any work.

00:16:43.720 --> 00:16:44.920
 And the reason given for it,

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:47.300
 for in 6 days the Lord made heavens and earth,

00:16:47.360 --> 00:16:48.440
 the sea and all that is in them,

00:16:48.560 --> 00:16:50.560
 and he rested on the seventh day.

00:16:51.539 --> 00:16:54.320
 You have to remember that the original intended audience of the book of Genesis,

00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:54.940
 of course,

00:16:55.019 --> 00:16:57.080
 is intended for us in the future as well,

00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.899
 were the Israelites in the wilderness.

00:16:59.980 --> 00:17:00.220
 And so,

00:17:00.340 --> 00:17:03.360
 this paradigm of 7 days of creation,

00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:04.339
 or 6 days of creation,

00:17:04.420 --> 00:17:05.380
 and 7th day of rest,

00:17:05.380 --> 00:17:06.500
 is the paradigm,

00:17:06.600 --> 00:17:09.040
 the pattern that the Israelites are invited to follow.

00:17:09.580 --> 00:17:09.700
 So,

00:17:09.780 --> 00:17:12.160
 these days represent God's working days,

00:17:12.280 --> 00:17:14.600
 and the 7th day represents God's rest,

00:17:14.860 --> 00:17:15.540
 day of rest.

00:17:16.280 --> 00:17:17.800
 He chooses this intentionally.

00:17:18.380 --> 00:17:19.580
 And if you think about it,

00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:20.720
 the 7,

00:17:21.180 --> 00:17:22.800
 the week that we observe,

00:17:22.940 --> 00:17:24.080
 the 7 days in the week,

00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:25.020
 is very unusual,

00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:26.600
 and it's very unnatural,

00:17:27.140 --> 00:17:27.460
 actually,

00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:27.760
 right?

00:17:27.860 --> 00:17:28.160
 It's,

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:31.420
 there's only cultures in the world that have a word,

00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:32.540
 for the word week,

00:17:32.539 --> 00:17:36.180
 are cultures that have had some contact with Christianity,

00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.339
 with the book of Genesis.

00:17:38.659 --> 00:17:38.859
 Like,

00:17:38.940 --> 00:17:39.980
 a year makes sense,

00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.240
 right?

00:17:40.519 --> 00:17:40.960
 Astronomically,

00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:45.480
 because that's how long it takes for the earth to make one orbit around the sun.

00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:47.859
 A month makes sense,

00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:48.680
 because it makes,

00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:49.539
 it's,

00:17:49.819 --> 00:17:51.200
 it refers to lunar cycle,

00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.200
 the moon cycle.

00:17:52.579 --> 00:17:53.639
 A day makes sense,

00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:56.380
 because it's how long the earth takes to rotate on its axis.

00:17:56.540 --> 00:17:57.740
 All of these make sense,

00:17:57.800 --> 00:17:58.300
 astronomically,

00:17:58.560 --> 00:17:59.460
 except for a week.

00:18:00.020 --> 00:18:01.220
 Why would we have a week?

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:02.860
 It doesn't make sense,

00:18:02.920 --> 00:18:03.400
 astronomically,

00:18:03.460 --> 00:18:04.940
 but because God intended,

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:07.000
 as a pattern for us,

00:18:07.220 --> 00:18:07.840
 who work,

00:18:08.020 --> 00:18:09.120
 to rest on the 7th day,

00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:10.840
 that's why we have a week.

00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:12.880
 And that rest,

00:18:12.960 --> 00:18:14.660
 also points to God's eternal rest,

00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:16.860
 which he talks about in Hebrews 4.

00:18:17.800 --> 00:18:19.140
 That God blessed the 7th day,

00:18:19.140 --> 00:18:19.540
 and made it holy,

00:18:19.600 --> 00:18:19.980
 because on it,

00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:23.100
 God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

00:18:23.099 --> 00:18:23.939
 In fact,

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.699
 the Sabbath day,

00:18:24.759 --> 00:18:25.319
 the 7th day,

00:18:25.379 --> 00:18:27.839
 is the first thing in the Bible that is called holy.

00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:29.119
 It's made holy.

00:18:29.639 --> 00:18:30.379
 It's hallowed.

00:18:31.439 --> 00:18:34.379
 So there's a God-ordained rhythm of work and rest,

00:18:34.419 --> 00:18:38.299
 and there's a blessing and consecration promised to us in observing that.

00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:43.379
 Especially in our urban and career-driven context in Boston and Cambridge,

00:18:43.559 --> 00:18:46.679
 and especially in the fast-paced culture of New England,

00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.079
 the temptation to gloss over this and neglect it is formidable.

00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:52.899
 But we neglect it to our detriment.

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:54.299
 And in flaunting it,

00:18:54.699 --> 00:18:55.779
 his vision for order,

00:18:55.879 --> 00:18:58.219
 his vision for rhythm and rest in our lives,

00:18:58.299 --> 00:19:01.639
 we invite disorder and dysfunction to our lives.

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:04.719
 So in light of these realities,

00:19:04.939 --> 00:19:06.439
 if we're only asking ourselves,

00:19:06.759 --> 00:19:09.079
 is it 7 literal 24-hour days,

00:19:09.159 --> 00:19:10.099
 or 7 ages,

00:19:10.199 --> 00:19:10.699
 or eons,

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:13.639
 how long did the creative process take place?

00:19:13.699 --> 00:19:16.119
 And we're missing the main literary point,

00:19:16.119 --> 00:19:19.119
 the theological point of Genesis 1.

00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:26.759
 I don't think that's the concern here.

00:19:26.979 --> 00:19:28.819
 And I think it's shown in several ways.

00:19:29.699 --> 00:19:32.439
 Because if you take the days to be literal 24-hour days,

00:19:32.519 --> 00:19:37.239
 first we have to make sense of why the sun is not created until the fourth day.

00:19:38.459 --> 00:19:40.419
 How do you account for days,

00:19:40.699 --> 00:19:41.699
 the evening and morning,

00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:43.179
 without the sun on the fourth day?

00:19:43.180 --> 00:19:49.620
 I don't think that means that God didn't necessarily create it

00:19:49.620 --> 00:19:50.740
 during that period of time,

00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:54.100
 but I just don't think that's the concern of the book of Genesis.

00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:59.259
 Or look ahead to chapter 2,

00:19:59.320 --> 00:20:00.240
 verses 5 to 7,

00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:03.200
 which says that there was no plant in the field

00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:04.740
 because it had not rained,

00:20:04.799 --> 00:20:06.740
 and there was no man to work the field.

00:20:06.740 --> 00:20:10.779
 Well, the plants were created on day 3,

00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:12.079
 man was created on day 6,

00:20:12.120 --> 00:20:13.079
 so how does this work out?

00:20:13.120 --> 00:20:15.819
 If man had to be created for the plants to come about.

00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:21.980
 Or if there were no plants when man was created.

00:20:26.680 --> 00:20:28.779
 So, what's the point then,

00:20:29.120 --> 00:20:31.099
 that the author of Genesis is trying to make,

00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:32.940
 if it's not about the age of the earth?

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:37.080
 If you examine the six days of creation more carefully,

00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:37.980
 you notice a pattern.

00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:40.559
 The days 1, 2, 3 of creation

00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:45.059
 correspond to days 4, 5, and 6 of creation, respectively.

00:20:46.240 --> 00:20:47.340
 On the first day,

00:20:47.420 --> 00:20:48.420
 God creates light

00:20:48.420 --> 00:20:50.600
 and separates light from the darkness.

00:20:51.019 --> 00:20:52.240
 And then on the fourth day,

00:20:52.320 --> 00:20:53.680
 God creates the luminaries,

00:20:54.100 --> 00:20:55.519
 the sun, moon, and the stars,

00:20:55.680 --> 00:20:58.019
 to populate the day and night that he created.

00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.640
 On day 2,

00:20:59.640 --> 00:21:01.240
 he creates the heavens

00:21:01.240 --> 00:21:03.460
 by separating the waters from above,

00:21:03.579 --> 00:21:05.140
 the waters above,

00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:05.740
 the clouds,

00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:07.099
 from the waters below,

00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:07.779
 the seas.

00:21:08.620 --> 00:21:09.900
 And then on the fifth day,

00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:10.720
 the corresponding day,

00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.039
 God creates the birds

00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:13.519
 to populate the heavens above

00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:15.359
 and fish to populate the oceans,

00:21:15.539 --> 00:21:16.140
 the waters below.

00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:18.180
 And on the third day,

00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:20.220
 God creates dry land and vegetation.

00:21:20.819 --> 00:21:22.740
 And then on the corresponding sixth day,

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:24.339
 God creates land animals,

00:21:24.720 --> 00:21:26.200
 classified into three categories,

00:21:26.359 --> 00:21:27.579
 livestock and creeping things

00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:28.480
 and beasts of the earth,

00:21:28.480 --> 00:21:30.400
 which refers to domestic animals

00:21:30.400 --> 00:21:31.740
 and small creeping animals

00:21:31.740 --> 00:21:33.360
 and wild animals.

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.740
 And then as the culminating act

00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:36.299
 of his creation,

00:21:36.539 --> 00:21:37.400
 on the sixth day,

00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.160
 he creates man

00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:40.019
 to populate the dry land

00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.319
 and consume the vegetation

00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:43.400
 he created on the third day for food.

00:21:44.140 --> 00:21:45.400
 So then the pattern is this.

00:21:45.500 --> 00:21:46.920
 On days 1, 2, 3,

00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:48.940
 God forms habitats.

00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:51.700
 And then days 4, 5, 6,

00:21:51.819 --> 00:21:53.299
 God forms the inhabitants

00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:55.960
 to occupy those habitats.

00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:58.019
 This pattern then witnesses

00:21:58.019 --> 00:21:59.240
 to God's remedy

00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:01.440
 of the formless void

00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:03.279
 that was on earth

00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:05.519
 in its initial state in verse 2.

00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:08.079
 The earth was uninhabitable

00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:10.220
 and uninhabited.

00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:13.339
 And in the first three days,

00:22:13.419 --> 00:22:14.599
 he makes it inhabitable

00:22:14.599 --> 00:22:15.859
 and the next three days,

00:22:15.919 --> 00:22:17.139
 he makes it inhabited.

00:22:17.579 --> 00:22:18.639
 He first fills,

00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:19.980
 I mean forms the earth

00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.220
 and then he fills the earth.

00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.919
 That's the pattern.

00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:23.159
 That's the theological point.

00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.180
 That he's trying to make.

00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.480
 And God does this

00:22:25.480 --> 00:22:27.160
 in spectacular,

00:22:28.320 --> 00:22:28.940
 ordered,

00:22:29.180 --> 00:22:30.160
 and beautiful way.

00:22:32.560 --> 00:22:34.920
 And what the book of Genesis

00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:36.019
 has in mind are,

00:22:36.820 --> 00:22:38.519
 are not what we have in mind

00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.259
 when we come to the book.

00:22:39.960 --> 00:22:41.080
 He's thinking about

00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:42.100
 the other ancient

00:22:42.100 --> 00:22:43.160
 Near Eastern cosmogonies,

00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:45.220
 their origins of the universe,

00:22:46.440 --> 00:22:48.140
 and what they taught

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.519
 about how the world came to be.

00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:52.400
 So in Rival Cosmogonies,

00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.920
 they wrote about sea monsters,

00:22:54.080 --> 00:22:54.460
 dragons,

00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.300
 and gods

00:22:55.300 --> 00:22:56.759
 that the Canaanite gods

00:22:56.759 --> 00:22:57.680
 have to conquer

00:22:57.680 --> 00:22:59.280
 before they can create the world.

00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:01.720
 So the Babylonian epic,

00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.600
 Enuma Elish,

00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:04.700
 writes about the god of chaos

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.320
 and sea,

00:23:05.600 --> 00:23:06.060
 Tiamat,

00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.320
 wreaking havoc

00:23:07.320 --> 00:23:08.519
 and reducing other gods

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.960
 to cowardice and submission.

00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.200
 And then Marduk,

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:11.980
 the chief god

00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:13.100
 of the Babylonians,

00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:14.040
 comes and takes charge

00:23:14.040 --> 00:23:14.519
 of the gods,

00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.480
 defeats Tiamat,

00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.840
 and out of his carcass

00:23:16.840 --> 00:23:17.680
 creates the heavens

00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:18.320
 and the earth.

00:23:18.319 --> 00:23:20.179
 In Genesis,

00:23:20.379 --> 00:23:22.099
 there is no such conflict.

00:23:23.579 --> 00:23:23.899
 Instead,

00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:25.539
 we see God alone

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.899
 in sovereign control.

00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:28.339
 There's no contest

00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.179
 to his authority.

00:23:31.240 --> 00:23:32.480
 And God doesn't have to

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:33.819
 reuse the carcass

00:23:33.819 --> 00:23:35.419
 of a god

00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:37.019
 to create.

00:23:37.379 --> 00:23:39.039
 He creates out of nothing.

00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:43.079
 And even the sea creatures

00:23:43.079 --> 00:23:44.299
 that these engineers

00:23:44.299 --> 00:23:45.399
 and cultures feared

00:23:45.399 --> 00:23:48.099
 is just another one

00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.059
 of God's creatures,

00:23:49.159 --> 00:23:50.619
 it says in Genesis 1.26.

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:54.059
 The other engineers

00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:54.799
 and cosmogonies

00:23:54.799 --> 00:23:55.539
 also describe

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:57.839
 a struggle among the gods

00:23:57.839 --> 00:23:59.180
 to separate the lower waters

00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.559
 from the higher waters.

00:24:00.899 --> 00:24:02.299
 You see no such struggle here.

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.480
 It happens by simple,

00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:04.879
 divine fight.

00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:05.420
 He says,

00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:07.359
 let the waters be separated

00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:08.019
 and it's done.

00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:12.839
 And other religions

00:24:12.839 --> 00:24:13.539
 at the time

00:24:13.539 --> 00:24:14.839
 worshiped the sun

00:24:14.839 --> 00:24:16.039
 and moon.

00:24:17.159 --> 00:24:18.000
 And intentionally,

00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:18.920
 the author of Genesis

00:24:18.920 --> 00:24:20.700
 does not even deign

00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:21.579
 to name them

00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:23.019
 as sun and moon.

00:24:23.079 --> 00:24:23.599
 He just says,

00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:24.980
 greater light,

00:24:25.180 --> 00:24:25.720
 the big light,

00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:27.559
 and lesser light,

00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.119
 small light.

00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.420
 That's what he calls them.

00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:31.819
 These things you worship,

00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:33.680
 God created them.

00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:34.940
 They're just creatures.

00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:38.519
 It's a pointed critique

00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:39.440
 of the surrounding

00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.320
 nations' idolatry.

00:24:41.940 --> 00:24:43.080
 In Mesopotamia,

00:24:43.160 --> 00:24:44.600
 also the seventh interval

00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:46.279
 of the month

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.820
 was considered unlucky.

00:24:49.820 --> 00:24:50.700
 But here,

00:24:50.820 --> 00:24:51.360
 Genesis teaches,

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:51.600
 no,

00:24:51.660 --> 00:24:52.420
 it's not unlucky.

00:24:52.500 --> 00:24:54.059
 It's consecrated for God.

00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:57.740
 And finally,

00:24:58.140 --> 00:24:59.340
 in the Babylonian tradition,

00:24:59.500 --> 00:25:00.480
 the creation of man

00:25:00.480 --> 00:25:02.039
 is an afterthought.

00:25:04.120 --> 00:25:05.019
 Marduk creates the world

00:25:05.019 --> 00:25:06.200
 from the carcass of Tiamat

00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.599
 and then the other gods

00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.099
 complain.

00:25:08.680 --> 00:25:08.900
 Like,

00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:09.779
 what are you doing?

00:25:10.440 --> 00:25:11.460
 You know how much work

00:25:11.460 --> 00:25:12.059
 it's going to be

00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.920
 to keep this up?

00:25:13.920 --> 00:25:14.500
 Can you imagine

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.620
 that God's creating something

00:25:15.620 --> 00:25:16.319
 and then being worried

00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:16.900
 about being able

00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:17.380
 to keep it up?

00:25:17.940 --> 00:25:18.059
 Right?

00:25:19.160 --> 00:25:20.039
 And then Marduk,

00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:20.819
 this is his solution.

00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.159
 I will bring together

00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:23.359
 blood from Tiamat

00:25:23.359 --> 00:25:24.439
 to form bone.

00:25:24.679 --> 00:25:25.679
 I will bring into being

00:25:25.679 --> 00:25:27.220
 a lowly primitive creature

00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:28.599
 whose name shall be man,

00:25:28.720 --> 00:25:30.639
 on whom the toil of the gods

00:25:30.639 --> 00:25:31.200
 will be laid

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:33.159
 that they may rest.

00:25:34.079 --> 00:25:35.119
 The creation of man

00:25:35.119 --> 00:25:36.259
 is an afterthought.

00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:38.039
 They're created to do,

00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:40.679
 to bring food to the gods.

00:25:41.179 --> 00:25:42.099
 That's their purpose.

00:25:42.619 --> 00:25:44.019
 How radically different

00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.339
 from the Bible's portrait

00:25:45.339 --> 00:25:47.019
 of the creation of man.

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:48.319
 In Genesis,

00:25:48.519 --> 00:25:49.839
 man is not an afterthought.

00:25:49.839 --> 00:25:51.139
 Man is the pinnacle

00:25:51.139 --> 00:25:52.279
 of all creation.

00:25:53.699 --> 00:25:54.299
 And that brings us

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:54.839
 to our second point.

00:25:54.919 --> 00:25:56.220
 Man's call to represent

00:25:56.220 --> 00:25:57.359
 and resemble him.

00:25:57.459 --> 00:25:58.819
 Verses 26 to 27

00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.459
 of chapter 1.

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:00.019
 Read it with me.

00:26:00.939 --> 00:26:01.579
 Then God said,

00:26:01.740 --> 00:26:02.500
 Let us make man

00:26:02.500 --> 00:26:03.259
 in our image

00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.599
 after our likeness

00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:06.119
 and let them have dominion

00:26:06.119 --> 00:26:07.359
 over the fish of the sea

00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:08.579
 and over the birds

00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:09.019
 of the heavens

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.879
 and over the livestock

00:26:09.879 --> 00:26:10.899
 and over all the earth

00:26:10.899 --> 00:26:12.439
 and over every creeping thing

00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:13.579
 that creeps on the earth.

00:26:14.459 --> 00:26:15.939
 So God created man

00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:17.220
 in his own image.

00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:18.579
 In the image of God,

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:19.599
 he created him.

00:26:19.839 --> 00:26:21.179
 Male and female,

00:26:21.539 --> 00:26:22.859
 he created them.

00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:25.059
 So verse 27

00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.740
 is a piece of Hebrew poetry

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:28.720
 in this prose section.

00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:30.019
 It has three lines

00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.879
 with identical meter

00:26:30.879 --> 00:26:31.759
 and each line

00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.319
 has the word create in it.

00:26:33.859 --> 00:26:34.879
 And as I mentioned before,

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:36.339
 creating is something

00:26:36.339 --> 00:26:37.439
 that only God does

00:26:37.439 --> 00:26:38.119
 in the Bible.

00:26:38.579 --> 00:26:39.539
 And it's used

00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:40.659
 at strategic junctures

00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:42.139
 throughout the first chapter

00:26:42.139 --> 00:26:42.619
 of Genesis

00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:44.119
 to refer to God's creation.

00:26:44.119 --> 00:26:44.619
 creation.

00:26:44.619 --> 00:26:44.939
 First,

00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.919
 in verse 1,

00:26:45.959 --> 00:26:46.739
 it indicates God

00:26:46.739 --> 00:26:47.799
 creating something

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:49.199
 out of nothing, right?

00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:50.599
 So there's nothing in existence,

00:26:50.759 --> 00:26:51.959
 but now there is existence.

00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:53.479
 And in verse 21,

00:26:53.699 --> 00:26:55.459
 God creates conscious beings,

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:56.139
 animals,

00:26:56.619 --> 00:26:57.539
 which is separated,

00:26:57.699 --> 00:26:58.039
 distinguished,

00:26:58.179 --> 00:26:59.439
 from unconscious creation.

00:26:59.859 --> 00:27:00.519
 And then finally,

00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:01.539
 in verse 27,

00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:03.139
 to distinguish humanity

00:27:03.139 --> 00:27:04.739
 from the rest of creation,

00:27:05.139 --> 00:27:05.919
 the word create

00:27:05.919 --> 00:27:07.319
 is used three times,

00:27:07.399 --> 00:27:08.419
 once in each line,

00:27:08.420 --> 00:27:09.779
 to emphasize

00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.460
 and highlight

00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:12.560
 the special attention

00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:13.340
 that God gives

00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:14.500
 to a creation.

00:27:15.700 --> 00:27:15.900
 And now,

00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:17.039
 this highlights both,

00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.400
 this emphasis on the fact

00:27:18.400 --> 00:27:20.180
 that man was created by God

00:27:20.180 --> 00:27:21.000
 highlights both

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.460
 the creatureliness of man

00:27:22.460 --> 00:27:23.759
 and the personhood of man,

00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:24.300
 right?

00:27:24.800 --> 00:27:25.140
 First,

00:27:25.240 --> 00:27:25.900
 the creatureliness

00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:27.080
 refers to our lowliness

00:27:27.080 --> 00:27:27.720
 before God.

00:27:27.820 --> 00:27:28.620
 We're just creatures.

00:27:29.400 --> 00:27:30.480
 We're not the creator.

00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.820
 We're not the masters

00:27:31.820 --> 00:27:32.680
 of our own fate.

00:27:36.019 --> 00:27:37.200
 This is a sobering

00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:37.960
 and humbling reality

00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.759
 that we need to keep

00:27:38.759 --> 00:27:39.420
 in our heads.

00:27:39.559 --> 00:27:40.039
 Psalm 8,

00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.640
 3 to 4,

00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.759
 talks about this beautifully.

00:27:42.220 --> 00:27:43.380
 When I look at your heavens,

00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.500
 the work of your fingers,

00:27:44.860 --> 00:27:45.860
 the moon and the stars

00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:46.960
 which you have set in place,

00:27:47.340 --> 00:27:48.460
 what is man

00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:50.039
 that you are mindful of him

00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:51.700
 and the son of man

00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.740
 that you care for him?

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:55.100
 We are creatures,

00:27:55.900 --> 00:27:57.480
 not autonomous,

00:27:57.920 --> 00:27:59.620
 unaccountable masters

00:27:59.620 --> 00:28:00.700
 of our own fate.

00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.360
 God is the creator

00:28:02.360 --> 00:28:03.400
 of the heavens and the earth

00:28:03.400 --> 00:28:05.059
 and we are one of his creatures.

00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.740
 And how small are we

00:28:07.740 --> 00:28:08.599
 in light of the universe?

00:28:13.140 --> 00:28:14.420
 Do we realize,

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.660
 live with the recognition

00:28:16.660 --> 00:28:19.000
 of our relative insignificance

00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.880
 before God?

00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:21.759
 The creatures are meant

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.839
 to do the creator's work.

00:28:24.839 --> 00:28:24.960
 Right?

00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:25.339
 Humans,

00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.380
 when we make things,

00:28:27.079 --> 00:28:27.759
 produce things,

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:29.200
 we don't worship them,

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.519
 do we?

00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:31.099
 We don't serve the things

00:28:31.099 --> 00:28:31.620
 that we make,

00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:32.000
 do we?

00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:33.220
 That's why it's considered

00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:34.640
 the height of ignorance

00:28:34.640 --> 00:28:35.319
 that in the Bible,

00:28:35.640 --> 00:28:37.279
 people craft gods

00:28:37.279 --> 00:28:38.079
 in their own image,

00:28:38.160 --> 00:28:38.779
 make things,

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.960
 and then bow down to them

00:28:39.960 --> 00:28:40.900
 to worship them.

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.259
 As creatures,

00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.860
 we ought to trust in God

00:28:44.860 --> 00:28:45.480
 as our gracious

00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:46.640
 and good creator.

00:28:47.079 --> 00:28:48.579
 His plan for us is good.

00:28:49.160 --> 00:28:49.339
 Right?

00:28:49.620 --> 00:28:50.660
 And remember that pattern

00:28:50.660 --> 00:28:51.559
 throughout the book,

00:28:51.740 --> 00:28:52.500
 the first chapter,

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:54.900
 God saw that it was good

00:28:54.900 --> 00:28:56.740
 after each act of creation.

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.359
 And at the conclusion

00:28:58.359 --> 00:28:58.819
 of it all,

00:28:58.880 --> 00:28:59.339
 in verse 31,

00:28:59.440 --> 00:28:59.779
 God says,

00:28:59.900 --> 00:29:00.440
 Behold,

00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:01.799
 he wants to showcase

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.319
 his work.

00:29:02.640 --> 00:29:03.099
 Behold,

00:29:03.319 --> 00:29:05.339
 it was very good.

00:29:05.339 --> 00:29:05.740
 Right?

00:29:05.740 --> 00:29:09.779
 The goodness of creation

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:11.559
 suggests its quality

00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:12.099
 and fitness

00:29:12.099 --> 00:29:12.819
 for the purpose

00:29:12.819 --> 00:29:14.120
 for which God created it,

00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:15.420
 but also it reflects

00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:16.299
 the goodness of God

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.720
 because the Bible describes

00:29:17.720 --> 00:29:18.359
 that God,

00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:19.980
 that goodness is a unique

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.980
 attribute of God.

00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.000
 That's why Jesus says

00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:22.960
 in Mark 10, 18,

00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:23.980
 No one is good

00:29:23.980 --> 00:29:25.740
 except God alone.

00:29:25.859 --> 00:29:26.620
 So then the goodness

00:29:26.620 --> 00:29:27.759
 of creation reflects

00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:29.579
 the goodness of God,

00:29:29.799 --> 00:29:30.559
 its creator.

00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.859
 And that's connected

00:29:32.859 --> 00:29:33.620
 to the fact that God

00:29:33.620 --> 00:29:34.640
 also blesses

00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:35.579
 all of his creation

00:29:35.579 --> 00:29:36.439
 after he creates them.

00:29:36.740 --> 00:29:37.500
 The word bless

00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:37.939
 and create

00:29:37.939 --> 00:29:38.759
 are very similar.

00:29:38.899 --> 00:29:40.119
 They both have three letters

00:29:40.119 --> 00:29:41.079
 and the first two letters

00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:41.599
 are identical.

00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.500
 And when they're written

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.259
 right next to each other

00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:44.699
 like this,

00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.220
 it's very,

00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:46.639
 it pops out at you

00:29:46.639 --> 00:29:47.679
 and it suggests

00:29:47.679 --> 00:29:48.819
 that when God creates

00:29:48.819 --> 00:29:49.039
 something,

00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:50.000
 he blesses it.

00:29:50.599 --> 00:29:51.720
 He gives,

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.740
 endows it with blessing.

00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:54.059
 He does what is intense

00:29:54.059 --> 00:29:54.899
 for its good.

00:29:55.759 --> 00:29:56.579
 And his goodness

00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.480
 is reflected

00:29:57.480 --> 00:29:58.659
 in the orderliness

00:29:58.659 --> 00:29:59.339
 of creation.

00:30:01.259 --> 00:30:01.659
 Look at all

00:30:01.659 --> 00:30:02.859
 the separations,

00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:03.179
 right?

00:30:03.259 --> 00:30:04.359
 God separates life

00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:04.899
 from darkness,

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.559
 the water,

00:30:05.579 --> 00:30:06.960
 in the dry land.

00:30:07.299 --> 00:30:08.279
 God separates things

00:30:08.279 --> 00:30:08.980
 and orders things

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:10.019
 and this prepares the way

00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:11.240
 for the rest of the Pentateuch

00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:12.679
 where after sin

00:30:12.679 --> 00:30:14.759
 we become disordered,

00:30:14.919 --> 00:30:15.599
 the world becomes

00:30:15.599 --> 00:30:16.799
 dysfunctional,

00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.000
 right?

00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:18.199
 And God gives

00:30:18.199 --> 00:30:19.439
 painstakingly detailed

00:30:19.439 --> 00:30:20.319
 instructions throughout

00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.220
 the rest of the Pentateuch

00:30:21.220 --> 00:30:22.179
 to separate

00:30:22.179 --> 00:30:23.259
 what is unclean

00:30:23.259 --> 00:30:24.059
 from what is clean,

00:30:24.359 --> 00:30:25.099
 what is profane

00:30:25.099 --> 00:30:26.099
 from what is sacred

00:30:26.099 --> 00:30:27.500
 in order to preserve

00:30:27.500 --> 00:30:28.639
 the sense of orderliness

00:30:28.639 --> 00:30:29.500
 of God's creation,

00:30:29.839 --> 00:30:31.039
 that there is beauty

00:30:31.039 --> 00:30:31.720
 and intention

00:30:31.720 --> 00:30:33.119
 in God's plan for us.

00:30:33.119 --> 00:30:35.419
 we live with the recognition

00:30:35.419 --> 00:30:36.159
 that his design

00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:37.099
 and purposes for us

00:30:37.099 --> 00:30:37.779
 is good,

00:30:37.939 --> 00:30:38.739
 for this world

00:30:38.739 --> 00:30:39.819
 is very good.

00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.179
 I don't know about you,

00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.399
 but occasionally

00:30:45.399 --> 00:30:47.399
 I have a stroke

00:30:47.399 --> 00:30:47.919
 of genius

00:30:47.919 --> 00:30:49.819
 and I try

00:30:49.819 --> 00:30:51.779
 to jury-rig

00:30:51.779 --> 00:30:52.239
 something

00:30:52.239 --> 00:30:54.639
 for a purpose

00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:55.479
 for which it was not

00:30:55.479 --> 00:30:56.579
 originally designed.

00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:59.240
 And for me at least,

00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.139
 the experiment

00:31:00.139 --> 00:31:01.559
 invariably goes awry

00:31:01.559 --> 00:31:03.819
 and I either break it

00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.980
 or I can't use it

00:31:04.980 --> 00:31:05.519
 for anything

00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.179
 afterward.

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:09.179
 The original maker,

00:31:09.419 --> 00:31:09.539
 right,

00:31:09.599 --> 00:31:10.919
 the product designer

00:31:10.919 --> 00:31:11.779
 knows best

00:31:11.779 --> 00:31:12.419
 how the product

00:31:12.419 --> 00:31:13.159
 ought to be used.

00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:15.859
 Perhaps you're more

00:31:15.859 --> 00:31:16.839
 mechanically inclined

00:31:16.839 --> 00:31:17.419
 than I am,

00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:19.460
 but I can guarantee you

00:31:19.460 --> 00:31:20.699
 that no one knows

00:31:20.699 --> 00:31:22.000
 better than God

00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.119
 the creator himself

00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:24.659
 of what the design

00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.180
 and purpose

00:31:25.180 --> 00:31:25.920
 of this universe

00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:26.500
 and of your life

00:31:26.500 --> 00:31:27.440
 was supposed to be.

00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:30.320
 Do you aspire

00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:32.140
 to fit into that plan

00:31:32.140 --> 00:31:33.420
 for your life?

00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:34.620
 Or are you

00:31:34.620 --> 00:31:36.820
 ever flailing your arms

00:31:36.820 --> 00:31:38.320
 in resistance,

00:31:39.279 --> 00:31:40.000
 railing against

00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:41.200
 God's plan for you,

00:31:41.700 --> 00:31:43.060
 his design for your life?

00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:46.940
 When you find teaching

00:31:46.940 --> 00:31:47.440
 in scripture

00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:48.320
 that you find

00:31:48.320 --> 00:31:49.100
 disagreeable

00:31:49.100 --> 00:31:49.980
 with your spirit,

00:31:49.980 --> 00:31:54.440
 are you striving

00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.299
 to discover

00:31:55.299 --> 00:31:56.460
 the goodness of it,

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.799
 the goodness

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.720
 of God's creation,

00:32:00.200 --> 00:32:00.980
 or are you prone

00:32:00.980 --> 00:32:01.480
 to assuming

00:32:01.480 --> 00:32:02.440
 that you know better?

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.640
 We are creatures

00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:08.980
 that belong to you

00:32:08.980 --> 00:32:09.980
 and are accountable

00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.079
 to our creator.

00:32:11.799 --> 00:32:12.640
 And until we submit

00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:14.019
 ourselves to his plan,

00:32:14.120 --> 00:32:15.460
 we will never find rest

00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.579
 and true fulfillment.

00:32:16.579 --> 00:32:20.960
 So this threefold repetition

00:32:20.960 --> 00:32:21.699
 of the word create

00:32:21.699 --> 00:32:23.179
 emphasizes our creatureliness,

00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.220
 our relative lowliness

00:32:24.220 --> 00:32:25.679
 as human beings,

00:32:25.939 --> 00:32:27.000
 but it also emphasizes

00:32:27.000 --> 00:32:28.259
 our personhood,

00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:30.559
 that we are special creatures.

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.259
 Verse 26,

00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:32.720
 God says,

00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:34.079
 let us make men

00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:35.619
 in our image,

00:32:35.939 --> 00:32:37.699
 after our likeness.

00:32:39.799 --> 00:32:39.919
 Right?

00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:40.859
 Verse 11 said

00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.579
 that the vegetation,

00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.059
 plants,

00:32:42.099 --> 00:32:42.480
 and trees

00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.480
 were created each

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:45.299
 according to its kind.

00:32:45.299 --> 00:32:47.019
 Verse 21 said

00:32:47.019 --> 00:32:47.779
 that all the fish

00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:48.259
 and the birds

00:32:48.259 --> 00:32:48.680
 were created

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:50.879
 according to its kind.

00:32:51.319 --> 00:32:52.379
 Verse 24 says

00:32:52.379 --> 00:32:52.940
 the livestock,

00:32:53.180 --> 00:32:53.779
 all the animals

00:32:53.779 --> 00:32:54.180
 were created

00:32:54.180 --> 00:32:55.619
 according to their kinds,

00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:57.740
 but not so with humanity.

00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.960
 We're not created

00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.720
 according to our own kinds.

00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.099
 We're created

00:33:02.099 --> 00:33:03.720
 in the image of God

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:05.700
 after his likeness.

00:33:07.119 --> 00:33:08.500
 It is no wonder

00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:11.139
 that man is the only creature

00:33:11.139 --> 00:33:12.279
 with whom God

00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:13.500
 deigns to speak

00:33:13.500 --> 00:33:15.200
 in this passage.

00:33:15.299 --> 00:33:16.119
 and to initiate

00:33:16.119 --> 00:33:17.759
 a relationship with.

00:33:18.379 --> 00:33:19.599
 Verses 28 to 39,

00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:19.819
 it says,

00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:22.259
 God said to them,

00:33:23.399 --> 00:33:25.200
 he speaks to us

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.519
 personally,

00:33:26.659 --> 00:33:27.299
 and he provides

00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.139
 food for us

00:33:28.139 --> 00:33:29.039
 personally.

00:33:29.559 --> 00:33:30.519
 We're creatures,

00:33:30.639 --> 00:33:31.019
 but we're not

00:33:31.019 --> 00:33:32.099
 merely creatures.

00:33:32.940 --> 00:33:34.159
 We're persons

00:33:34.159 --> 00:33:36.019
 created for relationship

00:33:36.019 --> 00:33:36.700
 with God.

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.940
 And the words,

00:33:38.139 --> 00:33:38.440
 image,

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.240
 and likeness

00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.839
 are related.

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.740
 When used together,

00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:42.839
 they build on each other

00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:43.819
 and convey the unique

00:33:43.819 --> 00:33:44.759
 call of humanity

00:33:44.759 --> 00:33:45.359
 on earth.

00:33:45.939 --> 00:33:46.740
 The word image

00:33:46.740 --> 00:33:48.759
 refers to representation.

00:33:50.279 --> 00:33:51.639
 Something that stands

00:33:51.639 --> 00:33:52.339
 for something.

00:33:54.159 --> 00:33:55.099
 In particular,

00:33:55.259 --> 00:33:56.379
 Egyptian and Assyrian

00:33:56.379 --> 00:33:57.339
 texts written

00:33:57.339 --> 00:33:58.139
 around the same time

00:33:58.139 --> 00:33:58.539
 as Genesis

00:33:58.539 --> 00:34:00.179
 describe kings

00:34:00.179 --> 00:34:02.199
 as the image

00:34:02.199 --> 00:34:02.759
 of God.

00:34:02.759 --> 00:34:02.799
 God.

00:34:04.480 --> 00:34:05.220
 And they believe

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:06.059
 that the idols

00:34:06.059 --> 00:34:07.200
 or images,

00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:09.099
 statues of their gods

00:34:09.099 --> 00:34:09.920
 placed in temples

00:34:09.920 --> 00:34:10.639
 were indwelled

00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:11.380
 by the gods

00:34:11.380 --> 00:34:11.960
 themselves.

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.920
 And this idea

00:34:13.920 --> 00:34:14.920
 is behind the creation

00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:16.619
 man in God's image.

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.800
 Humanity is endowed

00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.960
 with rationality,

00:34:19.260 --> 00:34:19.699
 morality,

00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:20.360
 will,

00:34:20.780 --> 00:34:21.380
 and aesthetic

00:34:21.380 --> 00:34:22.119
 sensitivity,

00:34:22.300 --> 00:34:22.980
 the ability to

00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.840
 communicate

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.980
 and form fellowship,

00:34:25.639 --> 00:34:26.579
 and all of this

00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.099
 so that we can

00:34:27.099 --> 00:34:28.519
 rule over creation

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:30.480
 as God's representative.

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:31.300
 We're supposed

00:34:31.300 --> 00:34:32.500
 to represent him.

00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:34.500
 And we too

00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:35.119
 were intended

00:34:35.119 --> 00:34:36.099
 to be eventually

00:34:36.099 --> 00:34:36.860
 indwelled by the

00:34:36.860 --> 00:34:37.539
 spirit of God.

00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.860
 But even here,

00:34:38.940 --> 00:34:39.579
 there's a polemic

00:34:39.579 --> 00:34:40.420
 against other

00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:41.119
 ancient Near Eastern

00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.980
 philosophies

00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:42.559
 and perspectives

00:34:42.559 --> 00:34:43.639
 because Egyptians

00:34:43.639 --> 00:34:44.320
 and Assyrians

00:34:44.320 --> 00:34:45.719
 believed that only kings

00:34:45.719 --> 00:34:46.240
 were made

00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:47.000
 in God's image.

00:34:48.039 --> 00:34:48.800
 Only the rulers.

00:34:51.059 --> 00:34:51.579
 But this,

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:52.039
 here,

00:34:52.219 --> 00:34:53.360
 that philosophy

00:34:53.360 --> 00:34:54.240
 pays away for

00:34:54.240 --> 00:34:55.219
 human domination

00:34:55.219 --> 00:34:55.880
 of others,

00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:56.659
 one another.

00:34:57.539 --> 00:34:58.099
 Exploitation

00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.900
 of one another.

00:34:59.219 --> 00:35:00.000
 But according to

00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:00.860
 God's word,

00:35:01.139 --> 00:35:02.159
 every human being

00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:03.019
 is created

00:35:03.019 --> 00:35:03.599
 in the image

00:35:03.599 --> 00:35:04.059
 of God

00:35:04.059 --> 00:35:06.619
 and endowed

00:35:06.619 --> 00:35:07.380
 with the capacity

00:35:07.380 --> 00:35:08.400
 to represent

00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:09.719
 God himself.

00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:11.300
 And the word

00:35:11.300 --> 00:35:11.980
 man here

00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.820
 is the same word

00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:13.260
 as the word

00:35:13.260 --> 00:35:13.679
 Adam,

00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:14.619
 but because it's

00:35:14.619 --> 00:35:15.139
 used with the

00:35:15.139 --> 00:35:15.840
 definite article,

00:35:16.099 --> 00:35:16.800
 we know that it's

00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:17.599
 referring to humanity

00:35:17.599 --> 00:35:18.280
 in general.

00:35:18.760 --> 00:35:19.139
 And we know

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:19.860
 from the context

00:35:19.860 --> 00:35:20.579
 because it says

00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:20.880
 later,

00:35:21.199 --> 00:35:21.980
 so God created

00:35:21.980 --> 00:35:22.940
 man in his own

00:35:22.940 --> 00:35:23.219
 image.

00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:23.860
 In the image

00:35:23.860 --> 00:35:24.300
 of God,

00:35:24.360 --> 00:35:25.139
 he created him.

00:35:25.420 --> 00:35:26.739
 Male and female,

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.000
 he created them.

00:35:28.340 --> 00:35:29.139
 Both genders

00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:29.759
 are created

00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:30.599
 in the image

00:35:30.599 --> 00:35:31.099
 of God.

00:35:32.000 --> 00:35:32.799
 And when he says

00:35:32.799 --> 00:35:33.159
 man,

00:35:33.219 --> 00:35:33.759
 it means he's

00:35:33.759 --> 00:35:34.219
 referring to

00:35:34.219 --> 00:35:34.639
 humanity

00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:35.440
 in general.

00:35:37.039 --> 00:35:37.799
 And the staggering

00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:38.359
 implications

00:35:38.359 --> 00:35:39.139
 of this truth,

00:35:39.879 --> 00:35:40.659
 this idea

00:35:40.659 --> 00:35:41.379
 was without

00:35:41.379 --> 00:35:41.960
 precedent

00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:42.480
 when it was

00:35:42.480 --> 00:35:43.099
 first written.

00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:44.659
 And to this

00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:45.039
 day,

00:35:45.119 --> 00:35:45.579
 it's without

00:35:45.579 --> 00:35:46.159
 paralleling

00:35:46.159 --> 00:35:46.699
 its ability

00:35:46.699 --> 00:35:47.500
 to promote

00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:48.460
 human flourishing.

00:35:49.659 --> 00:35:50.900
 From the least

00:35:50.900 --> 00:35:52.000
 to the greatest,

00:35:52.539 --> 00:35:53.679
 from the weakest

00:35:53.679 --> 00:35:55.139
 to the strongest,

00:35:55.139 --> 00:35:57.379
 from the least

00:35:57.379 --> 00:35:57.940
 educated

00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.659
 to the most

00:35:58.659 --> 00:35:59.259
 educated,

00:36:00.039 --> 00:36:01.139
 from the youngest

00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:02.079
 to the oldest,

00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.599
 from white

00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:04.839
 to black,

00:36:06.139 --> 00:36:06.819
 everyone

00:36:06.819 --> 00:36:08.460
 is created

00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:09.579
 in the image

00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.420
 of God.

00:36:15.420 --> 00:36:16.639
 So we don't care

00:36:16.639 --> 00:36:18.659
 if someone is

00:36:18.659 --> 00:36:19.579
 the most powerful

00:36:19.579 --> 00:36:20.659
 human being

00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:21.059
 on earth

00:36:21.059 --> 00:36:21.539
 or the most

00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.659
 beautiful human being

00:36:22.659 --> 00:36:23.179
 on earth

00:36:23.179 --> 00:36:24.199
 or the wealthiest

00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:25.000
 human being

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:26.079
 on earth,

00:36:27.579 --> 00:36:27.940
 he or she

00:36:27.940 --> 00:36:28.739
 still has no

00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:29.339
 claim for

00:36:29.339 --> 00:36:29.759
 superiority

00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:30.460
 over any

00:36:30.460 --> 00:36:30.960
 other man

00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.460
 or woman.

00:36:39.460 --> 00:36:40.339
 And if you

00:36:40.339 --> 00:36:41.000
 don't believe

00:36:41.000 --> 00:36:41.559
 that we were

00:36:41.559 --> 00:36:42.319
 created in God's

00:36:42.319 --> 00:36:42.719
 image,

00:36:43.379 --> 00:36:44.379
 then what is

00:36:44.379 --> 00:36:45.139
 the foundation

00:36:45.139 --> 00:36:46.759
 for your

00:36:46.759 --> 00:36:47.920
 concept of

00:36:47.920 --> 00:36:48.819
 social justice,

00:36:49.579 --> 00:36:50.779
 for equality?

00:36:52.659 --> 00:36:53.579
 If the world

00:36:53.579 --> 00:36:54.359
 really is just

00:36:54.359 --> 00:36:55.000
 an accidental

00:36:55.000 --> 00:36:55.679
 collocation

00:36:55.679 --> 00:36:56.099
 of atoms,

00:36:56.179 --> 00:36:56.500
 if there's

00:36:56.500 --> 00:36:57.199
 no purpose,

00:36:57.500 --> 00:36:57.839
 if there's

00:36:57.839 --> 00:36:58.679
 no design

00:36:58.679 --> 00:37:00.079
 in what God

00:37:00.079 --> 00:37:00.599
 has done,

00:37:02.839 --> 00:37:04.559
 then why

00:37:04.559 --> 00:37:06.119
 not exploit,

00:37:07.299 --> 00:37:07.819
 abuse,

00:37:08.759 --> 00:37:09.619
 use other

00:37:09.619 --> 00:37:10.159
 human beings

00:37:10.159 --> 00:37:10.659
 for our

00:37:10.659 --> 00:37:11.239
 advancement?

00:37:11.599 --> 00:37:12.179
 Why not?

00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:15.019
 What gives

00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:15.699
 us the right

00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:16.879
 to consume,

00:37:17.480 --> 00:37:18.299
 harvest other

00:37:18.299 --> 00:37:18.879
 animals for

00:37:18.879 --> 00:37:19.359
 our consumption?

00:37:19.980 --> 00:37:20.799
 What gives

00:37:20.799 --> 00:37:21.299
 us the right

00:37:21.299 --> 00:37:22.059
 to use animals

00:37:22.059 --> 00:37:22.980
 to test for

00:37:22.980 --> 00:37:23.679
 advancement of

00:37:23.679 --> 00:37:24.199
 human medicine

00:37:24.199 --> 00:37:24.779
 to care for

00:37:24.779 --> 00:37:25.219
 humanity?

00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:26.219
 What gives

00:37:26.219 --> 00:37:26.799
 us that right?

00:37:27.099 --> 00:37:27.840
 Nothing does

00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:28.940
 unless God

00:37:28.940 --> 00:37:29.759
 created us in

00:37:29.759 --> 00:37:30.820
 his image and

00:37:30.820 --> 00:37:31.340
 gave us the

00:37:31.340 --> 00:37:31.820
 commission to

00:37:31.820 --> 00:37:32.440
 rule over the

00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:32.779
 world.

00:37:38.719 --> 00:37:39.679
 If it's a

00:37:39.679 --> 00:37:40.259
 dog-eat-dog

00:37:40.259 --> 00:37:40.860
 world, if

00:37:40.860 --> 00:37:41.920
 might makes

00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:42.920
 right, then

00:37:42.920 --> 00:37:44.000
 you can't have

00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:44.820
 social justice.

00:37:45.119 --> 00:37:45.619
 You have no

00:37:45.619 --> 00:37:46.320
 basis for the

00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:47.239
 equality and the

00:37:47.239 --> 00:37:47.900
 community you

00:37:47.900 --> 00:37:48.900
 seek unless

00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:49.860
 God created us

00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:50.759
 in his image.

00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:55.179
 And in

00:37:55.179 --> 00:37:55.579
 order to

00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:56.420
 represent God

00:37:56.420 --> 00:37:57.739
 well, we

00:37:57.739 --> 00:37:58.840
 must resemble

00:37:58.840 --> 00:37:59.219
 him.

00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:01.059
 So to this

00:38:01.059 --> 00:38:01.579
 end, it says

00:38:01.579 --> 00:38:02.259
 God created us

00:38:02.259 --> 00:38:03.279
 in his likeness.

00:38:04.340 --> 00:38:04.940
 Now, there's

00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:05.739
 something amazing

00:38:05.739 --> 00:38:06.320
 going on in

00:38:06.320 --> 00:38:06.500
 here.

00:38:06.900 --> 00:38:07.679
 Look carefully

00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:08.360
 at verse 26.

00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:08.880
 God says,

00:38:09.539 --> 00:38:11.039
 let us make

00:38:11.039 --> 00:38:12.259
 man in our

00:38:12.259 --> 00:38:13.860
 image after our

00:38:13.860 --> 00:38:14.559
 likeness.

00:38:15.259 --> 00:38:15.860
 But isn't

00:38:15.860 --> 00:38:16.559
 there only one

00:38:16.559 --> 00:38:17.000
 God?

00:38:19.739 --> 00:38:20.420
 Isn't this

00:38:20.420 --> 00:38:21.019
 before the

00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:21.599
 creation of the

00:38:21.599 --> 00:38:21.880
 world?

00:38:23.079 --> 00:38:24.039
 So who is

00:38:24.039 --> 00:38:24.900
 God addressing

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.259
 here?

00:38:28.199 --> 00:38:28.980
 Some people

00:38:28.980 --> 00:38:29.860
 think that God

00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.480
 is talking to

00:38:30.480 --> 00:38:30.819
 the heavenly

00:38:30.819 --> 00:38:32.239
 court, that

00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:33.179
 God created

00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:33.920
 angels before

00:38:33.920 --> 00:38:34.539
 this time, that

00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:34.880
 he's now

00:38:34.880 --> 00:38:35.400
 addressing the

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:35.819
 angels.

00:38:36.019 --> 00:38:36.639
 Let us go

00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:37.819
 create in

00:38:37.819 --> 00:38:38.159
 our own

00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:38.519
 image.

00:38:39.559 --> 00:38:40.279
 But this

00:38:40.279 --> 00:38:40.880
 runs into

00:38:40.880 --> 00:38:41.900
 two insurmountable

00:38:41.900 --> 00:38:42.360
 problems.

00:38:42.699 --> 00:38:43.179
 First is

00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:43.900
 Isaiah 40,

00:38:44.039 --> 00:38:44.699
 14, which

00:38:44.699 --> 00:38:45.940
 teaches clearly

00:38:45.940 --> 00:38:46.799
 that God did

00:38:46.799 --> 00:38:47.639
 not consult

00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:48.279
 with anyone

00:38:48.279 --> 00:38:48.920
 else in his

00:38:48.920 --> 00:38:49.440
 creation.

00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:50.539
 It says,

00:38:50.539 --> 00:38:51.320
 whom did he

00:38:51.320 --> 00:38:51.960
 consult and

00:38:51.960 --> 00:38:52.460
 who made

00:38:52.460 --> 00:38:53.059
 him understand?

00:38:53.579 --> 00:38:54.019
 No one.

00:38:55.179 --> 00:38:55.659
 And secondly,

00:38:55.779 --> 00:38:56.159
 the verb

00:38:56.159 --> 00:38:57.179
 create throughout

00:38:57.179 --> 00:38:58.199
 this passage is

00:38:58.199 --> 00:38:58.779
 used in the

00:38:58.779 --> 00:39:00.039
 singular, not

00:39:00.039 --> 00:39:00.739
 in the plural.

00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:01.199
 So there's

00:39:01.199 --> 00:39:01.980
 only one

00:39:01.980 --> 00:39:02.980
 creative agent.

00:39:04.019 --> 00:39:04.500
 What then

00:39:04.500 --> 00:39:05.159
 can this

00:39:05.159 --> 00:39:05.420
 mean?

00:39:06.900 --> 00:39:07.559
 Notice how

00:39:07.559 --> 00:39:08.739
 God speaks

00:39:08.739 --> 00:39:09.679
 everything into

00:39:09.679 --> 00:39:10.219
 being in this

00:39:10.219 --> 00:39:10.599
 passage.

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.500
 God said,

00:39:13.039 --> 00:39:13.659
 and it was

00:39:13.659 --> 00:39:14.079
 so.

00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:15.219
 God's word,

00:39:15.619 --> 00:39:16.119
 unlike our

00:39:16.119 --> 00:39:17.199
 words, is

00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:17.860
 efficacious.

00:39:17.860 --> 00:39:18.539
 And for

00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:18.980
 us, you

00:39:18.980 --> 00:39:19.460
 could say,

00:39:19.820 --> 00:39:20.019
 let there

00:39:20.019 --> 00:39:20.440
 be light,

00:39:20.559 --> 00:39:20.900
 but nothing

00:39:20.900 --> 00:39:21.460
 will happen

00:39:21.460 --> 00:39:22.420
 unless you

00:39:22.420 --> 00:39:22.900
 walk over

00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:23.180
 and do

00:39:23.180 --> 00:39:23.720
 something about

00:39:23.720 --> 00:39:23.960
 it.

00:39:26.240 --> 00:39:27.160
 For us, we

00:39:27.160 --> 00:39:27.700
 have phrases

00:39:27.700 --> 00:39:28.380
 like, walk

00:39:28.380 --> 00:39:28.920
 the talk,

00:39:29.300 --> 00:39:29.800
 because it's

00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:30.500
 possible for

00:39:30.500 --> 00:39:31.079
 us to walk

00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:31.800
 one way and

00:39:31.800 --> 00:39:32.420
 talk another.

00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:33.780
 But for God,

00:39:33.860 --> 00:39:34.640
 this is impossible

00:39:34.640 --> 00:39:35.440
 because every

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:35.920
 word that

00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:36.500
 proceeds from

00:39:36.500 --> 00:39:37.579
 his mouth is

00:39:37.579 --> 00:39:38.400
 efficacious,

00:39:38.640 --> 00:39:39.460
 it's effective,

00:39:39.599 --> 00:39:40.280
 it's powerful.

00:39:40.660 --> 00:39:41.440
 What he speaks

00:39:41.440 --> 00:39:42.000
 comes into

00:39:42.000 --> 00:39:42.380
 being.

00:39:43.740 --> 00:39:44.099
 So he

00:39:44.099 --> 00:39:44.660
 says, let

00:39:44.660 --> 00:39:45.019
 there be

00:39:45.019 --> 00:39:45.640
 light, and

00:39:45.640 --> 00:39:45.940
 there is

00:39:45.940 --> 00:39:46.220
 light.

00:39:46.219 --> 00:39:46.639
 And you

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:47.159
 know why

00:39:47.159 --> 00:39:47.559
 that's the

00:39:47.559 --> 00:39:47.839
 case?

00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:48.679
 It's because

00:39:48.679 --> 00:39:49.439
 God's word

00:39:49.439 --> 00:39:50.259
 is a person.

00:39:51.639 --> 00:39:52.039
 It's the

00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:52.939
 word of

00:39:52.939 --> 00:39:54.739
 God, Jesus

00:39:54.739 --> 00:39:55.899
 Christ, that

00:39:55.899 --> 00:39:56.779
 John 1 talks

00:39:56.779 --> 00:39:56.959
 about.

00:39:57.039 --> 00:39:57.259
 He says, the

00:39:57.259 --> 00:39:58.359
 word was

00:39:58.359 --> 00:39:59.759
 with God, and

00:39:59.759 --> 00:40:01.019
 the word was

00:40:01.019 --> 00:40:01.859
 God.

00:40:02.399 --> 00:40:03.619
 And he

00:40:03.619 --> 00:40:04.219
 was in the

00:40:04.219 --> 00:40:04.959
 beginning with

00:40:04.959 --> 00:40:05.239
 God.

00:40:05.339 --> 00:40:05.859
 All things

00:40:05.859 --> 00:40:06.399
 were made

00:40:06.399 --> 00:40:07.000
 through him,

00:40:07.119 --> 00:40:07.719
 and without

00:40:07.719 --> 00:40:08.819
 him was not

00:40:08.819 --> 00:40:09.879
 anything that

00:40:09.879 --> 00:40:10.480
 was made.

00:40:11.000 --> 00:40:11.459
 And that's

00:40:11.459 --> 00:40:11.719
 true.

00:40:11.779 --> 00:40:12.079
 If you look

00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:12.399
 at Genesis

00:40:12.399 --> 00:40:12.859
 1, there's

00:40:12.859 --> 00:40:13.759
 nothing that

00:40:13.759 --> 00:40:14.119
 is made

00:40:14.119 --> 00:40:14.859
 without God's

00:40:14.859 --> 00:40:15.639
 word, his

00:40:15.639 --> 00:40:16.139
 speaking.

00:40:16.219 --> 00:40:19.219
 So that's

00:40:19.219 --> 00:40:19.639
 the second

00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:20.119
 person of

00:40:20.119 --> 00:40:20.459
 the Trinity,

00:40:20.619 --> 00:40:20.899
 the Son

00:40:20.899 --> 00:40:21.259
 of God.

00:40:21.839 --> 00:40:22.019
 And also

00:40:22.019 --> 00:40:22.599
 recall how

00:40:22.599 --> 00:40:23.299
 in verse 2,

00:40:23.579 --> 00:40:24.179
 the Spirit

00:40:24.179 --> 00:40:24.919
 of God is

00:40:24.919 --> 00:40:26.139
 hovering over

00:40:26.139 --> 00:40:26.919
 the face of

00:40:26.919 --> 00:40:27.399
 the waters.

00:40:28.119 --> 00:40:28.639
 The Spirit

00:40:28.639 --> 00:40:29.259
 also means

00:40:29.259 --> 00:40:30.019
 breath, the

00:40:30.019 --> 00:40:30.500
 breath of

00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.279
 God, the

00:40:31.279 --> 00:40:31.839
 breath that

00:40:31.839 --> 00:40:32.559
 carries the

00:40:32.559 --> 00:40:32.899
 word of

00:40:32.899 --> 00:40:33.159
 God.

00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:35.639
 And the

00:40:35.639 --> 00:40:36.439
 word hover

00:40:36.439 --> 00:40:37.319
 is avian

00:40:37.319 --> 00:40:37.799
 language.

00:40:38.099 --> 00:40:38.359
 It's a

00:40:38.359 --> 00:40:38.779
 language that

00:40:38.779 --> 00:40:39.579
 is used to

00:40:39.579 --> 00:40:40.159
 describe a

00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:41.139
 bird hovering

00:40:41.139 --> 00:40:42.119
 in protection

00:40:42.119 --> 00:40:44.139
 over the

00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:44.919
 eggs that

00:40:44.919 --> 00:40:45.199
 are about

00:40:45.199 --> 00:40:45.779
 to hatch.

00:40:46.219 --> 00:40:47.339
 That kind

00:40:47.339 --> 00:40:47.839
 of hovering

00:40:47.839 --> 00:40:48.459
 presence,

00:40:48.639 --> 00:40:49.179
 getting ready

00:40:49.179 --> 00:40:50.079
 for birth,

00:40:50.339 --> 00:40:51.019
 new birth.

00:40:52.519 --> 00:40:53.179
 And this

00:40:53.179 --> 00:40:53.719
 word is

00:40:53.719 --> 00:40:54.459
 used only

00:40:54.459 --> 00:40:54.959
 one other

00:40:54.959 --> 00:40:55.299
 time in

00:40:55.299 --> 00:40:55.619
 the whole

00:40:55.619 --> 00:40:56.739
 Bible, and

00:40:56.739 --> 00:40:57.219
 it's used

00:40:57.219 --> 00:40:57.599
 at the

00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:58.179
 end of the

00:40:58.179 --> 00:40:58.559
 Pentateuch.

00:40:58.639 --> 00:40:58.839
 So it's

00:40:58.839 --> 00:40:59.539
 used here at

00:40:59.539 --> 00:40:59.859
 the beginning

00:40:59.859 --> 00:41:00.119
 of the

00:41:00.119 --> 00:41:00.919
 Pentateuch, and

00:41:00.919 --> 00:41:01.359
 at the end

00:41:01.359 --> 00:41:01.559
 of the

00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:02.059
 Pentateuch, in

00:41:02.059 --> 00:41:02.500
 Deuteronomy

00:41:02.500 --> 00:41:03.299
 32, 10

00:41:03.299 --> 00:41:03.839
 to 11,

00:41:04.759 --> 00:41:05.359
 where after

00:41:05.359 --> 00:41:06.419
 delivering Israel

00:41:06.419 --> 00:41:07.059
 from Egypt,

00:41:07.139 --> 00:41:07.619
 it says of

00:41:07.619 --> 00:41:08.099
 God here,

00:41:08.480 --> 00:41:08.799
 that he

00:41:08.799 --> 00:41:09.659
 found him

00:41:09.659 --> 00:41:10.299
 in a desert

00:41:10.299 --> 00:41:11.000
 land, and

00:41:11.000 --> 00:41:11.359
 in the

00:41:11.359 --> 00:41:12.159
 howling waste

00:41:12.159 --> 00:41:12.539
 of the

00:41:12.539 --> 00:41:12.919
 wilderness.

00:41:13.339 --> 00:41:13.899
 Again, the

00:41:13.899 --> 00:41:14.239
 waste,

00:41:14.379 --> 00:41:14.980
 wilderness, that

00:41:14.980 --> 00:41:15.579
 sounds similar

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:16.099
 to the

00:41:16.099 --> 00:41:16.539
 creation

00:41:16.539 --> 00:41:18.039
 account.

00:41:18.440 --> 00:41:18.820
 And then he

00:41:18.820 --> 00:41:19.780
 encircled him,

00:41:19.840 --> 00:41:20.500
 he cared for

00:41:20.500 --> 00:41:21.159
 him, he

00:41:21.159 --> 00:41:21.880
 kept him as

00:41:21.880 --> 00:41:22.400
 the apple of

00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:23.199
 his eye, like

00:41:23.199 --> 00:41:24.159
 an eagle that

00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:24.940
 stirs up its

00:41:24.940 --> 00:41:25.659
 nest, that

00:41:25.659 --> 00:41:26.960
 flutters or

00:41:26.960 --> 00:41:27.920
 hovers over

00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:28.539
 its young,

00:41:29.099 --> 00:41:29.840
 spreading out

00:41:29.840 --> 00:41:30.360
 its wings,

00:41:30.519 --> 00:41:31.059
 catching them,

00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:31.920
 bearing them on

00:41:31.920 --> 00:41:32.579
 its pinions.

00:41:32.900 --> 00:41:33.240
 So the

00:41:33.240 --> 00:41:34.159
 Spirit of God

00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:34.539
 is the

00:41:34.539 --> 00:41:35.960
 manifestation of

00:41:35.960 --> 00:41:36.719
 the presence of

00:41:36.719 --> 00:41:37.079
 God that

00:41:37.079 --> 00:41:37.860
 accompanies his

00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:38.219
 people.

00:41:38.760 --> 00:41:40.079
 He was there in

00:41:40.079 --> 00:41:40.980
 creation, and

00:41:40.980 --> 00:41:41.699
 he's there again

00:41:41.699 --> 00:41:42.380
 in redemption.

00:41:42.380 --> 00:41:43.480
 The triune

00:41:43.480 --> 00:41:44.099
 God works

00:41:44.099 --> 00:41:44.660
 together in

00:41:44.660 --> 00:41:45.480
 all ways to

00:41:45.480 --> 00:41:46.000
 bring about

00:41:46.000 --> 00:41:46.980
 this world, and

00:41:46.980 --> 00:41:47.480
 to bring about

00:41:47.480 --> 00:41:48.800
 a new creation

00:41:48.800 --> 00:41:49.720
 as well.

00:41:49.820 --> 00:41:50.119
 So the

00:41:50.119 --> 00:41:50.920
 plurality that

00:41:50.920 --> 00:41:51.559
 we find in

00:41:51.559 --> 00:41:52.300
 let us make

00:41:52.300 --> 00:41:52.660
 man our

00:41:52.660 --> 00:41:53.460
 image, I

00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:53.880
 think is

00:41:53.880 --> 00:41:55.280
 best seen as

00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:55.820
 a reference to

00:41:55.820 --> 00:41:56.160
 the Trinity,

00:41:56.340 --> 00:41:57.140
 which is kind

00:41:57.140 --> 00:41:57.619
 of a veiled

00:41:57.619 --> 00:41:58.140
 reference at

00:41:58.140 --> 00:41:59.019
 this time, but

00:41:59.019 --> 00:41:59.960
 becomes with

00:41:59.960 --> 00:42:00.500
 the fuller

00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:01.460
 sense that we

00:42:01.460 --> 00:42:01.840
 are able to

00:42:01.840 --> 00:42:02.559
 understand it when

00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:03.380
 Jesus comes to

00:42:03.380 --> 00:42:05.039
 reveal the

00:42:05.039 --> 00:42:05.559
 Trinity to

00:42:05.559 --> 00:42:05.780
 us.

00:42:05.980 --> 00:42:06.460
 Three God,

00:42:06.980 --> 00:42:08.220
 three persons in

00:42:08.220 --> 00:42:08.760
 one God,

00:42:08.860 --> 00:42:09.579
 three persons in

00:42:09.579 --> 00:42:10.019
 one God,

00:42:10.360 --> 00:42:10.680
 Trinity.

00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:10.759
 Trinity.

00:42:11.980 --> 00:42:12.619
 And there

00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:13.480
 is in us and

00:42:13.480 --> 00:42:13.899
 in all the

00:42:13.899 --> 00:42:14.539
 world a

00:42:14.539 --> 00:42:15.079
 profound,

00:42:15.279 --> 00:42:15.779
 unshakable

00:42:15.779 --> 00:42:16.899
 yearning to

00:42:16.899 --> 00:42:17.739
 be, to

00:42:17.739 --> 00:42:18.639
 fit into this

00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:19.699
 creation, to

00:42:19.699 --> 00:42:20.559
 represent him

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:20.919
 well, to

00:42:20.919 --> 00:42:21.699
 resemble him, to

00:42:21.699 --> 00:42:22.379
 be like him.

00:42:23.159 --> 00:42:23.940
 And renowned

00:42:23.940 --> 00:42:25.259
 French philosopher

00:42:25.259 --> 00:42:26.159
 and Jewish

00:42:26.159 --> 00:42:27.379
 Christian Simone

00:42:27.379 --> 00:42:28.119
 Vey writes

00:42:28.119 --> 00:42:28.719
 about this

00:42:28.719 --> 00:42:29.699
 unfulfilled

00:42:29.699 --> 00:42:30.799
 longing with

00:42:30.799 --> 00:42:31.259
 regard to

00:42:31.259 --> 00:42:31.500
 creation.

00:42:31.619 --> 00:42:31.960
 She says,

00:42:32.440 --> 00:42:33.019
 at the present

00:42:33.019 --> 00:42:33.579
 time, the

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.159
 beauty of the

00:42:34.159 --> 00:42:34.879
 world is almost

00:42:34.879 --> 00:42:35.719
 the only way by

00:42:35.719 --> 00:42:36.259
 which we can

00:42:36.259 --> 00:42:36.980
 allow God to

00:42:36.980 --> 00:42:37.679
 penetrate us.

00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:39.440
 A sense of

00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:40.319
 beauty, although

00:42:40.320 --> 00:42:41.559
 mutilated, is

00:42:41.559 --> 00:42:42.539
 present in all

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.559
 the preoccupations

00:42:43.559 --> 00:42:44.080
 of secular

00:42:44.080 --> 00:42:44.519
 life.

00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:45.840
 The soul's

00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:46.980
 natural inclination

00:42:46.980 --> 00:42:47.880
 to love beauty

00:42:47.880 --> 00:42:48.860
 is a trap God

00:42:48.860 --> 00:42:49.920
 most frequently

00:42:49.920 --> 00:42:50.760
 uses in order

00:42:50.760 --> 00:42:51.340
 to win it.

00:42:52.039 --> 00:42:52.600
 And the beauty

00:42:52.600 --> 00:42:53.380
 of the world is

00:42:53.380 --> 00:42:54.000
 the cooperation

00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:54.780
 of divine

00:42:54.780 --> 00:42:55.620
 wisdom in

00:42:55.620 --> 00:42:56.059
 creation.

00:42:56.960 --> 00:42:57.460
 The beauty

00:42:57.460 --> 00:42:57.980
 of the world

00:42:57.980 --> 00:42:58.720
 is Christ's

00:42:58.720 --> 00:42:59.460
 tender smile

00:42:59.460 --> 00:42:59.960
 for us,

00:43:00.300 --> 00:43:00.880
 coming through

00:43:00.880 --> 00:43:01.360
 the matter.

00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:02.580
 He is really

00:43:02.580 --> 00:43:03.400
 present in the

00:43:03.400 --> 00:43:04.180
 universal beauty.

00:43:05.300 --> 00:43:06.019
 The love we

00:43:06.019 --> 00:43:07.000
 feel for the

00:43:07.000 --> 00:43:07.880
 splendor of the

00:43:07.880 --> 00:43:08.820
 heavens, the

00:43:08.820 --> 00:43:09.980
 plains, the

00:43:09.980 --> 00:43:10.760
 sea, and the

00:43:10.760 --> 00:43:11.920
 mountains, for

00:43:11.920 --> 00:43:12.860
 the silence of

00:43:12.860 --> 00:43:13.599
 nature which is

00:43:13.599 --> 00:43:14.699
 born in upon us

00:43:14.699 --> 00:43:16.039
 its thousands of

00:43:16.039 --> 00:43:17.519
 tiny sounds, for

00:43:17.519 --> 00:43:18.420
 the breath of the

00:43:18.420 --> 00:43:19.039
 wind or the

00:43:19.039 --> 00:43:19.820
 warmth of the

00:43:19.820 --> 00:43:21.119
 sun, this love

00:43:21.119 --> 00:43:22.000
 of which every

00:43:22.000 --> 00:43:23.139
 human being has

00:43:23.139 --> 00:43:23.860
 at least an

00:43:23.860 --> 00:43:25.480
 inkling, is an

00:43:25.480 --> 00:43:27.420
 incomplete, painful

00:43:27.420 --> 00:43:29.059
 love, because the

00:43:29.059 --> 00:43:29.699
 beauty of the

00:43:29.699 --> 00:43:30.480
 world makes us

00:43:30.480 --> 00:43:31.679
 yearn for some

00:43:31.679 --> 00:43:32.719
 universal beauty

00:43:32.719 --> 00:43:34.260
 that does not

00:43:34.260 --> 00:43:35.659
 seem to respond

00:43:35.659 --> 00:43:36.320
 to us.

00:43:36.320 --> 00:43:42.860
 we see the

00:43:42.860 --> 00:43:43.620
 beauty and

00:43:43.620 --> 00:43:44.900
 order in the

00:43:44.900 --> 00:43:45.700
 world and long

00:43:45.700 --> 00:43:46.360
 to be a part

00:43:46.360 --> 00:43:48.380
 of it, to

00:43:48.380 --> 00:43:48.960
 become one

00:43:48.960 --> 00:43:49.340
 with it.

00:43:49.420 --> 00:43:49.940
 This is the

00:43:49.940 --> 00:43:50.600
 basis for all

00:43:50.600 --> 00:43:51.160
 the misguided

00:43:51.160 --> 00:43:52.000
 practices of the

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:52.680
 new age movement,

00:43:53.260 --> 00:43:54.340
 but we are

00:43:54.340 --> 00:43:55.760
 incapable of it,

00:43:55.760 --> 00:43:57.360
 because something

00:43:57.360 --> 00:43:58.160
 about us and our

00:43:58.160 --> 00:43:58.920
 relationship with

00:43:58.920 --> 00:43:59.660
 creation and the

00:43:59.660 --> 00:43:59.960
 rest of the

00:43:59.960 --> 00:44:00.640
 world is

00:44:00.640 --> 00:44:01.240
 fundamentally

00:44:01.240 --> 00:44:02.080
 misplaced,

00:44:02.660 --> 00:44:04.200
 because our

00:44:04.200 --> 00:44:04.820
 relationship with

00:44:04.820 --> 00:44:05.820
 God has become

00:44:05.820 --> 00:44:06.500
 disoriented.

00:44:09.500 --> 00:44:10.420
 Yet there's hope

00:44:10.420 --> 00:44:10.960
 for us.

00:44:12.120 --> 00:44:13.700
 C.S. Lewis hints

00:44:13.700 --> 00:44:14.420
 at this hope in his

00:44:14.420 --> 00:44:15.039
 essay, Weight of

00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:15.300
 Glory.

00:44:15.640 --> 00:44:16.559
 At present, we are

00:44:16.559 --> 00:44:17.559
 on the outside of

00:44:17.559 --> 00:44:18.440
 the world, the

00:44:18.440 --> 00:44:19.420
 wrong side of the

00:44:19.420 --> 00:44:19.700
 door.

00:44:19.960 --> 00:44:20.780
 We discern the

00:44:20.780 --> 00:44:21.800
 freshness and purity

00:44:21.800 --> 00:44:22.880
 of the morning, but

00:44:22.880 --> 00:44:23.880
 they do not make us

00:44:23.880 --> 00:44:24.760
 fresh and pure.

00:44:25.100 --> 00:44:26.260
 We cannot mingle with

00:44:26.260 --> 00:44:27.400
 the splendors we see,

00:44:27.660 --> 00:44:28.900
 but all the leaves of

00:44:28.900 --> 00:44:29.700
 the New Testament are

00:44:29.700 --> 00:44:30.519
 rustling with the

00:44:30.519 --> 00:44:31.660
 rumor that it will

00:44:31.660 --> 00:44:33.180
 not always be so.

00:44:33.179 --> 00:44:35.319
 Someday, God

00:44:35.319 --> 00:44:36.559
 willing, we shall

00:44:36.559 --> 00:44:37.519
 get in.

00:44:39.480 --> 00:44:40.179
 There's another

00:44:40.179 --> 00:44:41.039
 place in the Bible

00:44:41.039 --> 00:44:41.960
 that begins with the

00:44:41.960 --> 00:44:43.219
 famous word, in the

00:44:43.219 --> 00:44:43.619
 beginning.

00:44:44.799 --> 00:44:45.619
 It's John 1.

00:44:46.379 --> 00:44:47.419
 In the beginning was

00:44:47.419 --> 00:44:48.099
 the Word, and the

00:44:48.099 --> 00:44:49.079
 Word was with God, and

00:44:49.079 --> 00:44:49.779
 the Word was God.

00:44:49.859 --> 00:44:50.259
 He was in the

00:44:50.259 --> 00:44:51.019
 beginning with God.

00:44:51.099 --> 00:44:51.899
 All things were made

00:44:51.899 --> 00:44:52.859
 through him, and

00:44:52.859 --> 00:44:53.559
 without him was not

00:44:53.559 --> 00:44:54.460
 anything made that was

00:44:54.460 --> 00:44:54.759
 made.

00:44:55.099 --> 00:44:56.519
 In him was life, and

00:44:56.519 --> 00:44:57.379
 the life was the

00:44:57.379 --> 00:44:58.079
 light of man.

00:44:58.399 --> 00:44:59.559
 The light shines in

00:44:59.559 --> 00:45:00.379
 the darkness, and the

00:45:00.379 --> 00:45:01.379
 darkness has not

00:45:01.379 --> 00:45:02.639
 overcome it.

00:45:03.179 --> 00:45:05.039
 What is God's plan

00:45:05.039 --> 00:45:06.399
 to bring us back into

00:45:06.399 --> 00:45:08.199
 that relationship with

00:45:08.199 --> 00:45:08.379
 him?

00:45:08.440 --> 00:45:09.399
 It's through Jesus,

00:45:09.759 --> 00:45:10.480
 his Word.

00:45:13.239 --> 00:45:14.559
 Genesis 2, at the

00:45:14.559 --> 00:45:15.059
 end of it, it says,

00:45:15.219 --> 00:45:15.819
 the heavens and the

00:45:15.819 --> 00:45:16.819
 earth were finished,

00:45:18.099 --> 00:45:19.339
 and all the rest of

00:45:19.339 --> 00:45:19.980
 them, and on the

00:45:19.980 --> 00:45:20.699
 seventh day, God

00:45:20.699 --> 00:45:22.419
 finished his work that

00:45:22.419 --> 00:45:23.639
 he had done, and he

00:45:23.639 --> 00:45:24.000
 rested.

00:45:24.659 --> 00:45:25.079
 You know another

00:45:25.079 --> 00:45:25.899
 place in the Bible

00:45:25.899 --> 00:45:26.940
 where God says it is

00:45:26.940 --> 00:45:27.339
 finished?

00:45:27.340 --> 00:45:27.460
 finished.

00:45:29.300 --> 00:45:30.380
 The end of the

00:45:30.380 --> 00:45:32.880
 Gospel of John, chapter

00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:34.000
 19, verse 30, where

00:45:34.000 --> 00:45:35.340
 Jesus is dying on the

00:45:35.340 --> 00:45:36.620
 cross as the atoning

00:45:36.620 --> 00:45:38.059
 sacrifice for our sins

00:45:38.059 --> 00:45:39.980
 to satisfy the Father's

00:45:39.980 --> 00:45:41.280
 wrath, and to make a way

00:45:41.280 --> 00:45:43.260
 for us to once again fit

00:45:43.260 --> 00:45:44.480
 into God's plan, to be

00:45:44.480 --> 00:45:45.700
 redeemed again, and to be

00:45:45.700 --> 00:45:46.440
 a part of that new

00:45:46.440 --> 00:45:46.880
 creation.

00:45:47.260 --> 00:45:49.440
 And Jesus says it is

00:45:49.440 --> 00:45:50.320
 finished.

00:45:51.039 --> 00:45:52.019
 It's finished.

00:45:52.019 --> 00:45:54.320
 And it's only through

00:45:54.320 --> 00:45:56.659
 him, by believing that

00:45:56.659 --> 00:45:57.960
 Jesus died and rose

00:45:57.960 --> 00:45:59.679
 again for our salvation,

00:46:00.440 --> 00:46:02.340
 to lead us to victory

00:46:02.340 --> 00:46:05.679
 from sin and death, that

00:46:05.679 --> 00:46:06.900
 we can be reconciled to

00:46:06.900 --> 00:46:08.219
 our creator once again.

00:46:09.159 --> 00:46:10.400
 We can fit into his

00:46:10.400 --> 00:46:11.960
 creation plan once again.

00:46:12.360 --> 00:46:13.539
 We can partake in the

00:46:13.539 --> 00:46:15.139
 beauty, the harmony, and

00:46:15.139 --> 00:46:15.840
 the order of the

00:46:15.840 --> 00:46:18.199
 creation once again.

00:46:19.860 --> 00:46:21.519
 I pray God draws you all

00:46:21.519 --> 00:46:22.880
 to that beautiful,

00:46:23.659 --> 00:46:25.480
 beautiful harmony.

00:46:26.679 --> 00:46:27.639
 Let's pray together.

00:46:35.639 --> 00:46:37.079
 God, that is our prayer

00:46:37.079 --> 00:46:37.659
 this morning.

00:46:37.800 --> 00:46:38.719
 Lord, we don't want to be

00:46:38.719 --> 00:46:39.400
 just convinced

00:46:39.400 --> 00:46:40.599
 rationally, logically,

00:46:41.079 --> 00:46:44.119
 of your reality, and

00:46:44.119 --> 00:46:44.759
 that you are the

00:46:44.759 --> 00:46:45.159
 creator.

00:46:47.699 --> 00:46:49.239
 That is a woefully

00:46:49.239 --> 00:46:50.900
 inadequate way for us to

00:46:50.900 --> 00:46:51.320
 know you.

00:46:51.519 --> 00:46:52.400
 And to love you.

00:46:53.400 --> 00:46:55.619
 But we ask, not just

00:46:55.619 --> 00:46:57.300
 cognitively, but that you

00:46:57.300 --> 00:46:57.960
 would capture our

00:46:57.960 --> 00:46:58.679
 imaginations.

00:46:59.659 --> 00:47:00.460
 That you capture our

00:47:00.460 --> 00:47:00.980
 loves.

00:47:02.679 --> 00:47:04.400
 That you would draw us

00:47:04.400 --> 00:47:05.739
 irresistibly with your

00:47:05.739 --> 00:47:07.639
 beauty, with your love,

00:47:08.199 --> 00:47:10.780
 so that we can be

00:47:10.780 --> 00:47:12.880
 reconciled and be agents,

00:47:13.259 --> 00:47:14.400
 your ambassadors, your

00:47:14.400 --> 00:47:15.420
 representatives here on

00:47:15.420 --> 00:47:17.519
 earth, to bring our

00:47:18.059 --> 00:47:20.900
 neighbors, the rest of the

00:47:20.900 --> 00:47:22.220
 world, back into the

00:47:22.220 --> 00:47:23.240
 world, back into that

00:47:23.240 --> 00:47:24.200
 relationship that you

00:47:24.200 --> 00:47:25.559
 intended us for.

00:47:26.900 --> 00:47:27.579
 Help us now.

00:47:27.639 --> 00:47:28.500
 In Jesus' name we pray.

00:47:28.840 --> 00:47:29.039
 Amen.

00:47:29.039 --> 00:47:29.139
 Amen.