A Spectacular Place
Reading the Genesis account of creation is a fascinating exercise that takes the reader back to the beginning of time, space, and matter. God speaks all creation into existence in a six-day period and rests on the seventh day. A believer gets so involved in reading this spectacular account that he often forgets Moses is the author, and the Israelites are the immediate audience.
Sometime before the crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land (ca. 1405 B.C.), the Israelites heard their history from this first book of the Pentateuch. Remember that the Israelites are going into a land dominated by polytheistic paganism. They are told “not [to] follow other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you” (Deut. 6:14).
This true story of creation contrasts starkly with the polytheistic myths of the world where gods and goddesses fought with one another, and a god’s body would be dismembered to form some part of the visible universe.
The Israelites saw that the God who brought them out of Egypt is the true God who creates from nothing. He is powerful, creative, balanced, and orderly. The Israelites would be encouraged and strengthened for the challenging journey set before them because their God is like no other.
Likewise, believers should be encouraged and strengthened by the Genesis account of creation. The God who said, “Let there be light” also said, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you.... If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3). Jesus has already prepared one spectacular place. I trust Him to do it again. Do you?
- Jim Weikal
