“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).
The phrase, “and God said,” echoes throughout the Genesis account of creation. According to Psalm 33: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (v.6).
“And God said, Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3); “And God said, Let there be a firmament” (v.6); “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass” (v.11); “And God said, Let there be lights” (v.14); “And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature” (v.24); “And God said, Let us make man in our image” (v.26).
Long before anyone existed who might listen, God spoke. He simply could have “thought” the world into existence, but instead, He chose to voice the thoughts and intents of His heart. Basing creation on the spoken word underscores God’s desire to make Himself known to man.
That we possess a record of creation emphasizes the importance to God of the Written Word. Without such a definite account man would be adrift with no sure foundation on which to build a system of beliefs. One has only to study the ever-shifting winds of evolutionary doctrine to see the instability of that position.
We must assume that the written record accurately records what actually occurred at the beginning of the world. To do otherwise calls God’s veracity into account. If we cannot trust His revelation regarding creation, how can we depend on what He has revealed about the salvation secured for us by Jesus Christ? For that matter, how could we believe that Jesus is indeed the very Son of God?
In Genesis 1 the Holy Spirit reiterated, “And God said. . . .” Perhaps in parentheses we ought to add, “And I believe. . . .” BJC
