Genesis Part 1 - Week 3

Day 1 

READ 

Genesis 1:26 

26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 

God now came to the capstone of all His creative works: creating humans in His image. They were to have dominion over all he had already created. The animals were not created in His image, but the human beings were. Notice the “us” in verse 26. God is one existing in three persons, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

REFLECT 

Consider what a marvelous creation you are in that you are made in God’s image.  

RESPOND 

With a friend, read Psalm 139:13-16 to see what the psalmist said about the birth of a human being. Some debate about what the “image” of God is. Is it parallel to a person’s body, soul and spirit? God does not have a physical body. It would be better to say the image is intellect, emotions and will that both God and human beings have.  

Day 2 

READ 

Genesis 1:27 

27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 

Notice that God created only male and female. Those today who talk about other genders are assuming they know better than God and want to be God themselves. Someday each person will stand before the only true and just God to give account.  

REFLECT 

Do you agree that God created only two genders, or do you think the claims of others about other genders are true? It is a choice between what the true God has done and what others are claiming who wish to make themselves gods in His place. 

RESPOND 

There will be two judgments, or evaluations, for believers in Jesus and unbelievers. See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 for the account believers will give to Jesus. See Revelation 20:11-15 for the judgment of all who deny God’s work of redemption. Both judgments are based on works that have been done, indicating there will be degrees of rewards for believers and degrees of punishment for unbelievers.  

Day 3 

READ 

Genesis 1:28 

28 Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” 

Sin had not yet entered the world. This means the command to be “fruitful and multiply” was given to humans before sin was a factor. The humans were to “fill the earth and govern it.” What God had created was not to govern humans. Humans were to reign over all that had been created. 

REFLECT 

Consider the great responsibility of humans to govern all that had been created. 

RESPOND 

Man’s responsibility was to care for what had been created. This would refer to protecting as well as governing. 

Day 4 

READ 

Genesis 1:29-30 

29 Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.” And that is what happened. 

God provided food for the humans He created, as well as for the animals. He provided for “everything that has life.” This reveals the principle that God can provide whatever is needed to accomplish His plans. 

REFLECT 

Do you occasionally wonder whether God can provide for you? In the light of what He did at the time of creation, providing for you is a small matter.  

RESPOND 

Read Matthew 6:28-34 to see what Jesus said about God providing, and what is the most important thing for believers to do.  

Day 5 

READ 

Genesis 1:31 

31 Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good!  

And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day. 

This is an important wrap-up to the sixth day. It reminds readers that male and female were created on the sixth day. The verses in Genesis 2 will give more details about their creation. Again, “evening and morning” and the number “sixth” are a reminder that this is referring to a 24-hour day. As God looked over all He had created, He “saw that it was very good!” There would be no reason for people to try to improve on it. 

REFLECT 

Take time to think about the creative acts of God and thank Him for them. 

RESPOND 

Think back over these six days to review all that God did. Visit with someone about the various creative acts and how principles can be gleaned from them and how they might apply today.