I have been yearning to start a study that would take some time.  I have wanted to read through the whole of scripture, yes Gen - Rev to see how many times God’s Word mentions or refers to assisting those in need.  As I go through I want to highlight verses that mention the world, nations, and Israel’s/Christian’s role to meet those needs with the love of God.  This will take some time, and it may be quite boring for you.  That is why this is my blog :).  So lets get started…  I will be using my NIV Bible in case you wanted to know. 

Gen 1 - Ready, Set, Begin!

The first mention of the whole earth is in the very first sentence of Genesis.  Many are very familiar with this one…”In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Gen 1:1)  I know that we are only in the first line, but there is something to be said about this.  The fact that all reality that we know and interact in, was created by God, is truly a magnificent wonder. 

Creation implies that this act of making things that were never made before, requires fore thought, planning, calculating, and obvious action.  Does is please you or scare you to consider that all things made have been thought through. 

I imagine that if you believe you have had a difficult life, then the idea that everything that has happened to you has been thought out, makes God seem cruel, heartless, and mean.  I seems that it would be easier, and many have gone this route, to decide that God does not exist, and all of this is an accident.  It is much easier to believe that nothing is there than to believe that God is cruel, or at best doesn’t care. 

Others of you may have an easier life, in your life you are able to trust people, believe that God is good, and notice the magnificence of God around you.  To think that God has a sense of purpose about this world, brings you a peace that cannot be surpassed.  Thought the storms of life may come, you are not shattered. 

Verses 2-25 - Describe just how God made the earth and all that is in it.  He makes the sun, moon, land, plants, fish, animals… and then in verse 26 he makes something very special. 

“The God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all of the earth, and over all of the creatures that move along the ground.”  (Gen 1:25)

This verse does two things: 1 it states the purpose of man (man and woman) is to rule over all the earth.  Now here the word rule means much more than wielding authority over it.  Yes the authority is there, but there is also a implication of stewarding the resources that God has given us.  Resources such as the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the plants of the land, and the animals and livestock.  2.  It shows that God’s plan did not include hatred, sin, turmoil and death.  These things that ever person on earth deals with were not part of our original missions statement.  It is also the second mention of the earth as a whole.  Lets go on…

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  (Gen 1:28)

This time God mandates His wishes to the man and the woman (vs. 27).  What is that mandate?  To make babies, increase in number, to fill the earth and subdue it.  This is the third mention of the earth in scripture.  Part of our role as humans is to have children, to fill the earth and bring it under control.  This would be fun study to understand what bringing the earth into submission would look like, minus corruption, sin, greed,… it would look different I am sure than what we might all imagine. 

In verses 29-30, God gives man further instruction and He basically says, everything I have created is yours, take care of the animals, and eat the plants. 

“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.   And there was evening and there was morning - the sixth day.”  (Gen 1:31)

After God created all that we see and enjoy in our world today.  He looked at it like a master painter stepping back from the freshly finished canvas and said, “I like it!” actually He said, “It is very good!”

Now to go back to the persons I mentioned above.  If you are that first person and you do not believe in God because it is easier to accept than believing in a God that would allow you to suffer.  He did not intend for you to suffer.  You were not created for the purpose of suffering.  You were created to rule, make babies, and manage this world.  Every human alive was created for this purpose.  You were created to have dignity.  To have happiness and joy, created to be in relationship with your creator (that is getting ahead in the story though).  If nothing else for now, we must realize that God’s design for humankind was and remains “Good”.  It is vastly different that we know today.  The fact that God looks at you, regardless of your mistakes, your failings, your insecurities; He looks at you and because you are His creation, he has already said, “I like you!”.  “You are Good.”

By way of not getting to distracted… Gen 1 mentions the whole earth 3 times and refers to the whole earth when it says, “God saw all that he had made”.  So 4 times a global focus, no focus on lost or needy.

Feel free to let me know what you think, if you disagree, or if you concur.  -  Chad