The creation narrative.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. What does “In the beginning” mean? When was the beginning? The biblical account of creation does not specify the exact moment of creation of the heavens and the earth. We could endlessly study, debate, and argue about the beginning from the perspective of the authors of Genesis. However, we would never find a fully satisfying or conclusive answer. The authors of Genesis did not intend to pinpoint the precise moment of creation with strict literalism. Instead, they aimed to highlight the contrast between what was before the Creator said, “Let there be light,” and what came afterward. They emphasized the unmatched power and greatness of the one and only God, the God of the Hebrews. The theological lessons in the Genesis creation account focus on the nature of the Creator, not on the order, sequence, or mechanics of His creative acts. Therefore, the true beginning of creation starts in the second verse.
“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2. The Earth might have been in this state before the first day of creation. In ancient times, the concepts of “formlessness” and “darkness” were associated with evil forces. Therefore, the authors of the biblical creation account wanted to show that the God of the Hebrews is so powerful that he overcame these evil forces. He achieved a much greater feat than the gods in the ancient epic, the Enuma Elish, could have accomplished. The Genesis creation account aimed to demonstrate the supreme majesty and power of the One true Sovereign God, the God of the Hebrews.
“God said, Let there be light, and there was light.” Genesis 1:3. The ancient worldview and creation stories depict darkness as an evil force opposed to the righteous presence of light. The Creator is the central figure in the Genesis creation account. Therefore, the authors of the biblical creation account highlight the supreme power by which he separated the two opposing forces and set an unbreakable boundary between them. Additionally, the ancient creation epic, the Enuma Elish, describes the gods’ effort to establish a world order that would ensure their comfort. In contrast, the biblical creation account portrays God as the creator of the world who gave humankind the best possible home and comfort. In the Genesis creation account, the One and only God creates what is best for humankind because He loves them. In the biblical creation account, the Creator is not focused on what is suitable for Himself but on what is good for His creation.
Additional theological inferences. Read the next blog.