1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,320 Speaker 1: In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth. 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 1: Genesis won one, Dear God, As I meditate on to 3 00:00:08,760 --> 00:00:12,239 Speaker 1: day's Bible story inspired by Genesis one two to four, 4 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: my soul will be revived and excited at the fact 5 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,239 Speaker 1: that the Grand Artist has created me in his image. 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:28,600 Speaker 1: Through chaos and nothingness, Lord, you brought forth light and beauty. Therefore, 7 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,600 Speaker 1: my mind will be at rest knowing that even in 8 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:36,080 Speaker 1: the midst of a chaotic day, you will create moments 9 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: of beauty for me to baskin. As I meditate on 10 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: the book of Genesis, I will be reminded that this 11 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:49,160 Speaker 1: name means the beginning. Then, through this truth, I can 12 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: stand in expectation, knowing that my best and most creative 13 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: days are just about to begin. I declare that you 14 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: are the God, God of ex Nilo, the God who 15 00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: creates something out of nothing. And I declare that whatever 16 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: you make, you've stamped it as good. And because I 17 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,559 Speaker 1: am your creation, your stamp of approval is all over 18 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:22,480 Speaker 1: my life. I am art in motion. I'm a creative being, 19 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 1: and the Master Artist has sculpted me in Jesus' name. Amen, 20 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: Thanks for making prayer a priority in your life. To 21 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: hear the Bible come to life. Stay tuned for the 22 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: Bible in a Year, brought to you by Bible in 23 00:01:41,400 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: a Year dot com the Creation. 24 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:57,040 Speaker 2: In this Bible's story, we discover the beginning of the universe, 25 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 2: God's poetry spoken over the void and chaos turning into order. 26 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:08,120 Speaker 2: God speaks the world into existence, and with his voice 27 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: all life and meaning came. 28 00:02:11,520 --> 00:02:12,799 Speaker 3: All is good. 29 00:02:13,800 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 2: Inspired by the Book of Genesis. 30 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 3: Hello, I'm Jack Graham with today's episode of the Bible 31 00:02:20,600 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 3: in a Year podcast. But before we begin, I want 32 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 3: to let you know about a unique ebook that's yours 33 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 3: to download absolutely free today. It's called Breaking Free from Stress, 34 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 3: and my prayer is that it will help you conquer 35 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 3: the daily task and pressures and burdens that bring stress 36 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 3: in your life. Download your free copy of Breaking Free 37 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 3: from Stress today by visiting Jack Graham dot org slash stress. 38 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 3: That's Jack Graham dot org slash stress. Today, we're going 39 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 3: all the way back to where it started. We're taking 40 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 3: a look at Genesis one in the beginning, so begins 41 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 3: the greatest story ever to. We start out our journey 42 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 3: on the Bible. Here at the beginning, it's total darkness, 43 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: a great void, then something happens. God speaks. This is 44 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,080 Speaker 3: the story of creation, God making something out of nothing, 45 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 3: and not just something everything. It's what theologians call creation 46 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 3: ex nihilo, or creation out of nothing. Hear God's word 47 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 3: of powers fully on display, his voice commanding our whole 48 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 3: universe to spring forth. As you listen, picture the awesomeness 49 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 3: of each event. When God speaks, light and darkness are separated, Stars, planets, 50 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 3: entire galaxies burst onto the scene. Imagine the mountains springing 51 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 3: up from the waters, the animals and trees and fish 52 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 3: covering the earth, and the rivers and the oceans. It's 53 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 3: a spectacle of creativity, and it all happened through the 54 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 3: power of God's word. But God didn't create willy nilly 55 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 3: like a mad scientist. He created with brilliant design, intent 56 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 3: and love. As you listen today, take notice of a 57 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 3: powerful truth God repeats over and over with each act 58 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 3: of creation. The passage reads, and God said that it 59 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 3: was good. God doesn't make junk. He makes everything perfect, 60 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 3: not a single thing out of place or not according 61 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 3: to his plan. God not only speaks things into existence, 62 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 3: he speaks order into the chaos. This story reminds us 63 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 3: that God isn't a god of confusion or disorder. And 64 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:42,279 Speaker 3: through it all God was thinking of you, people like 65 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 3: you and me, and our ultimate place in his created order. 66 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:50,200 Speaker 3: He created us in his own image with a unique purpose, 67 00:04:50,360 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 3: unlike anything else in creation. Humans, as you will see, 68 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 3: stand apart from the rest of creation. And it's not 69 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 3: until God has placed his imprint through many and kind 70 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 3: on this world that he will say it is very good. 71 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,600 Speaker 3: This is where it all begins. So let's get started. 72 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:15,039 Speaker 2: In the very beginning. Out of nothingness, God formed and 73 00:05:15,160 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: created the expanse of space and the details of Earth. 74 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: The earth was empty, chaotic, and without life. God's spirit 75 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: hovered over the empty and chaotic void. Then at an instant, 76 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 2: God spoke, Let there be light. He called out, and 77 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:41,839 Speaker 2: there was light, just as he commanded for. From God's 78 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: lips springs forth reality. The earth was now filled with 79 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: light and with it the potential for life. The light 80 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 2: was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. 81 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: So God named the light day and the darkness this night. 82 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 2: There was evening and morning the first day, and this 83 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: was good. The waters roaring and in disorder were spoken to. 84 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:16,600 Speaker 2: Next with the power of his words, God spoke order 85 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:21,159 Speaker 2: to the elements. The waters were separated from the atmosphere, 86 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: and the skies were apart from the earth. There was 87 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:30,799 Speaker 2: evening and morning the second day, and this was also good. 88 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:35,799 Speaker 2: Then God said, let the waters gather and the dry 89 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 2: land appear before them. And just as he said, there 90 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:48,160 Speaker 2: it was. The waters traveled, gathered, and scattered, The land rumbled, shifted, 91 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: and emerged from among them a beautiful dance to the 92 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:57,440 Speaker 2: words of their creator. He called the gathered waters seas 93 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 2: and the dry land Earth. God looked at all of creation, 94 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: though beautifully incomplete, and saw that it was good. As 95 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: an artist adds color to a blank canvas, God adorned 96 00:07:12,840 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: the earth with beauty. He made trees, flowers, fruit, vegetation, 97 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 2: and grass. This was the third day, and God saw 98 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 2: that this was also good. God was also at work 99 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: in the rest of the universe, creating stars, suns, galaxies, 100 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 2: and all the other mysteries of space. Let them be 101 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:43,440 Speaker 2: seen in the night and used to measure signs, seasons, days, 102 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 2: and years. Already God was thinking of humanity. There was 103 00:07:49,560 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 2: evening and morning the fourth day, and God saw that 104 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 2: this was good. After the revealing of light itself and 105 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 2: the adorning of plant life in all of its beauty. 106 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 2: God created living creatures. First was the dwellers of the 107 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: sea and the explorers of the air. All living creatures 108 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:15,280 Speaker 2: in the sea and birds of the air were created 109 00:08:15,320 --> 00:08:19,200 Speaker 2: to roam the depths and heights of the planet. All 110 00:08:19,280 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 2: these things God spoke with the Word of power. 111 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 1: This was the fifth day. 112 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 2: And God saw that this was good. Then God spoke again, 113 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,800 Speaker 2: Let the earth bring forth living creatures of all kinds. 114 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 2: Once again, out of nothingness and chaos, life sprung forth. 115 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:47,079 Speaker 2: Beasts of all kinds began crawling, roaming, and grazing the earth. 116 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:52,479 Speaker 2: Then God said, let us make man in our own image, 117 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: in our likeness, and they will care over the world. 118 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,360 Speaker 2: So God, with his own breath of life, life and 119 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:05,720 Speaker 2: word of power, created mankind. He then charged them with 120 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 2: caring over the earth and all that is living in it. 121 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 2: His desire was to give them purpose and enjoy the 122 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:18,320 Speaker 2: world he had created in relationship with him, For mankind 123 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 2: was the only created things stamped with the image of 124 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,640 Speaker 2: its creator. And on that sixth day, the once void 125 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 2: earth was filled with life. This God knew was very good. 126 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,680 Speaker 2: God had taken the chaotic void and inserted purpose. The 127 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 2: heavens and the earth were filled, and his peace of 128 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:46,800 Speaker 2: art was complete. So on the seventh day, God paused 129 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:50,880 Speaker 2: to enjoy what he had done, so he blessed the 130 00:09:51,000 --> 00:09:53,480 Speaker 2: seventh Day and made it holy. 131 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:03,239 Speaker 3: Genesis is the beginning our story. But before anything existed, 132 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 3: God was there. God didn't appear at the time of creation. 133 00:10:07,760 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 3: We see that when there was nothing else, God was there. 134 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,280 Speaker 3: Father's Son and Holy Spirit were present at the dawn 135 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:19,280 Speaker 3: of time. He is our eternal, past, present, and future God, 136 00:10:19,840 --> 00:10:22,920 Speaker 3: and he chose to create this world, including you and me, 137 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 3: for his glory. Now that's amazing. No matter how many 138 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,240 Speaker 3: times I read it, the Creation account never gets old. 139 00:10:30,920 --> 00:10:33,040 Speaker 3: I never cease to be struck with the awe and 140 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:37,680 Speaker 3: wonder at just how great our God really is. We 141 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 3: cannot even fathom this kind of power mere words birthing 142 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 3: our planet and the infinite mysteries of space. I just 143 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 3: love how this story speaks to the order that God 144 00:10:47,920 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 3: brings to things. Where there was chaos and confusion. He 145 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:55,560 Speaker 3: brought things into order into a perfect functioning according to 146 00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:01,839 Speaker 3: his purposes. That same power is alive today. God silences 147 00:11:01,880 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 3: the chaos and takes away the darkness. He creates order. 148 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:11,560 Speaker 3: Listen to Genesis one, three and four again. And God said, 149 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:15,160 Speaker 3: let there be light, And there was light. God saw 150 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 3: that the light was good, and he separated the light 151 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:22,520 Speaker 3: from the darkness. I absolutely love those words. God separated 152 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,439 Speaker 3: the light from the darkness. It was like a foreshadowing 153 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 3: of what He would do one day through Jesus, the 154 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:30,840 Speaker 3: very light of the world, and the one Scripture describes 155 00:11:30,920 --> 00:11:34,959 Speaker 3: as the Word made flesh. You may even want to 156 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 3: write down those verses and hold them in your heart 157 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 3: to remind you of what God has done and can 158 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 3: do will do in your life. God speaks light into 159 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:48,960 Speaker 3: your life through the power of his word, his son Jesus, 160 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,800 Speaker 3: and through him, he also restores the purpose for which 161 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,680 Speaker 3: you were made created, the purpose that all mankind was 162 00:11:56,720 --> 00:12:00,559 Speaker 3: created for which we hear in today's reading. We are 163 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 3: to be caretakers of this world he created and to 164 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 3: enjoy all that he has made. Don't miss that you 165 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,320 Speaker 3: and I are made to reflect God's image, to care 166 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:13,160 Speaker 3: for the world that he has made, to enjoy his presence, 167 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:17,000 Speaker 3: and to enjoy what he has created. How well are 168 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:20,640 Speaker 3: you living out that purpose? But the creation story isn't 169 00:12:20,720 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 3: just about what once was. It reminds us of where 170 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,600 Speaker 3: we who follow Christ are headed, a return to a 171 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 3: world where everything is good and we are free to 172 00:12:29,720 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 3: live out our purpose and to enjoy God and his 173 00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 3: creation now and forever. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for 174 00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:41,360 Speaker 3: giving us this wonderful story of your creation and how 175 00:12:41,400 --> 00:12:44,600 Speaker 3: it shows us your incredible power and care for every 176 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 3: detail of this world that you have made. Thank You 177 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 3: for creating us in your image and fulfilling us with 178 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 3: your purpose. Help us to live with that purpose front 179 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,880 Speaker 3: and center in our minds, and to reflect your glory 180 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:03,200 Speaker 3: to those around us today. In Christ's name, Amen, Thank 181 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 3: you for listening to today's Bible into Year podcast. Before 182 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 3: we go, I want to let you know about a 183 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:14,200 Speaker 3: unique ebook that's yours to download absolutely free today. It's 184 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,800 Speaker 3: called Breaking Free from Stress, and my prayer is that 185 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 3: it will help you conquer the daily task and pressures 186 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:24,240 Speaker 3: and burdens that bring stress into your life. Download your 187 00:13:24,280 --> 00:13:28,120 Speaker 3: free copy of Breaking Free from Stress today by visiting 188 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 3: Jack Graham dot org slash stress. That's Jackraham dot org 189 00:13:33,600 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 3: slash stress.