GENESIS 5
CREATION
ERA 1
THE CREATION EVENT
Genesis 1:1–31
SYNOPSIS
Genesis chapters 1 and 2 provide the foundation for the entire biblical story, demonstrat-
ing God’s ownership, ordering, protection, and love for the world He Himself had made.
GOD BEFORE CREATION
The Bible introduces readers immediately to the creating God, the main character of the
biblical story. God is eternal, all-powerful, and personal. The opening verses of Genesis
show a primordial world where “the earth was formless and empty” and “darkness was
over the surface of the deep” (Genesis 1:2). God the Spirit hovered over the waters and
by His word commanded all things into existence, ordering their design and purpose. 1
THE ORDERING OF THE WORLD
Over a period of six days, the Lord engaged in a series of creative acts, each introduced by
the phrase, “and God said” and most including the refrain, “it was good.” 2
On the first day, God spoke, “Let there be light,” and light became a reality. God pronounced
the light good, calling the light “day,” and the darkness “night.” 3
On the second day, God ordered the heavens, separating the skies into the waters of heaven
and the waters of the earth. 4
On the third day, God ordered the waters of the earth to gather together into seas and set
boundaries for the dry land. 5 He made the ground fruitful, causing it to sprout seed-bearing
plants, grasses, and trees.
On the fourth day, God created the sun, the moon, and the stars.
On the fifth day, God filled the waters with living creatures, and the skies with birds. He
blessed these living things, giving them the ability to procreate and fill the earth. The earth
teemed with life.
On the sixth day, God created the wild animals and livestock. Then, as the crown of God’s
handiwork, He created the first human from the dust of the earth and called him Adam
Parallel Days
Genesis 1
Day 1: Light Day 4: Sun and moon
Day 2: Water and sky Day 5: Fish and birds
Day 3: Plant life Day 6: Animals and people
Beautiful! God’s power, wisdom, and sense of order are
revealed in the parallels between days 1–3 and 4–6.