Day 1...(Genesis 1, 2; Psalm 1) "The Superlatives of Creation"

Genesis 1 and 2 bask in the glory and wonder God! The glory of "And God said" and creation happened out of chaos. The wonder of day, night, stars, seas, creatures, and humankind! In the words of one of the grandest hymns ever "How Great Thou Art" by Stuart Hines we capture only a glimpse of the wonder..."O Lord my God! when I in awesome wonder consider all the worlds thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thy power throughout the universerse displayed." How profound that only five words describe the creation of the stars..."He also made the stars." What an awesome thought that God is more than the keeper of the stars as in Tracy Byrds song ..."Tip my hat to the keeper of the stars," He is the Creator of the stars. According to scientists there are more than 100 thousand million stars in the Milky Way alone. Awesome! How amazing that God knows the intricate detail of hairs on head and sees every sparrow that falls. God is both all powerful and knows us as the Psalmist says...we are "wonderfully and fearfully made." The superlatives of creation are endless.

Is the creation described in Genesis a science story or faith story? Rev. Adam Hamilton teaches that if Genesis had been a science story the detail of creation would have been the emphasis and would have required volumes and volumes. Instead...obviously Genesis is a "faith story" unfolding which reveals our purpose in being created. I remember Dr. Greg Clapper teaching... Genesis means "beginnings." Our readings will focus on God's beginnings with humankind the next days. Speaking of beginnings...what a joy to begin reading the Bible through with you today! May God lead all who are taking this journey to a deep encounter with His Word!