It’s hard to imagine, isn’t it, the world of Genesis 1 and 2? That world is a world where swarms of living creatures filled the earth and sky and water, where vegetation was fruitful, and where man and woman coexisted free of shame and grief and strife. That world doesn’t seem much like our world at all. After all, in our world, animals face the threat of extinction, droughts destroy our vegetation, and man and woman are caught up in a never-ending battle for power and dominance.
And while with its images of idyllic paradise, Genesis 1 and 2 can be hard to relate to—not to mention downright discouraging when we find ourselves living in what can be described as anything but paradise. If we’re going to understand the covenants, the relational contracts God makes with his people, we must begin by understanding something about the God who initiates them. And for that, there’s no better place to start than at the beginning.
If Genesis 1 teaches us anything, it’s that all that God does is good. He brought light into darkness, and it was good (vv. 3–4). He separated the waters from the land, and it was good (vv. 9–10). He made plants and trees to bear fruit, and it was good (vv. 11–12).God spoke an entire universe into existence, and it was very good indeed (v. 31).
Rather than focusing on a day-by-day retelling of how the world came to be, Genesis 2 draws us into the intimacy of God’s creation of humanity. Here, God forms the man out of the dust of the ground. He breathes life into him. He creates a woman out of the man’s rib and brings her to the man to be his indispensable companion. But what is most significant about this retelling of creation, what should stop us dead in our tracks, is that we see a God who took the time, took the trouble, took the energy to make humanity, not out of some feeling of loneliness or wanting for anything, but out of the overflowing abundance of his love.
We see in Genesis 2 that God acts to bring us into relationship with himself. From the light to the land to the animals to the vegetation, he formed all of creation in order to make a place where we could dwell in relationship with him. He created a world for us, a good world where we could be with him.
While our world may no longer resemble the unspoiled creation of Genesis 1 and 2, we can take comfort in knowing that these two truths—that all that God does is good and that all that God does is to bring us into relationship with himself—are not only true of every covenant God makes with his people but are also true of God himself. And that, we can always count on.
It reminds me He is in control and knows what’s best for me and my family. While things might be tough, it’s for the greater good. It’s easier for me to see the big picture in certain scenarios, but when it comes to the one on one relationship with him, it’s difficult not to have human reaction to feeling mad or resentment towards Him when things don’t go the way I think they should.
I recently spent 3 days in a locked ward, mental institution. I have had a HARD year, with so much loss, death, and CHANGE. I started focusing on me, and how much I am hurting. I asked why me?
Thinking of ALL that God has made as GOOD, and for HIS GLORY, and to bring me into relationship with HIM, changes my focus.
I am walking out of this season, and learning more of Who God IS, with each passing day.
He made me, and hHE calls me GOOD.
Amen, Dawn! Praying for you!
God’s goodness and mercy have never changed, always constant and true. God is the perfection the world. I look at my life and see a relationship that has been hot and cold. A relationship that knows his goodness but still tries to grasp some control. Yet when I need him, connect with him, his goodness and mercy never fail and always forgive. I want him to use me to show his goodness to others.
It makes me want to trust the hardest moments and lean into them knowing he will guide me to where I need to be.
Gives me confidence to know that God has a plan for me that is GOOD. 🙂 I like the idea/promise that when one door closes, another opens, and when we have difficulty in our lives, it’s God trying to teach us something, so we get something "Good" out of difficulty.
It makes me think about how gracious God is when we ask “why, God?” Or “why me?” (during a trial or a single negative event) as God has all the right to defend Himself and His goodness but He doesn’t. His kindness leads us to repentance.
It comforts me to know that everything God does is to bring us into a deeper relationship with Him. It makes me want to be patient and put my hope in Jesus and what is unseen/eternal, give thanks in all circumstances, and trust that his ways are higher than my ways.
Not only did I have this devotional this morning, but on the way to the bus this morning with my kids I heard Romans 8:28 ‘and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’
I love Him. I am called according to His purpose. He will work out all this mess and chaos in my life for good. Why? Because everything He does is good and everything He works out will be to draw me closer to a relationship with Him. And that is by far the best, the ‘most good’, thing out there. 😉
It gives me hope and security knowing that God uses everything, good and bad to pursue me into a closer relationship with him. I don’t always understand it, but I have peace in knowing that God is so good and loves me beyond measure.
IT doesn’t necessarily change the way I think about GOD but it does change the way I think about me…It reminds me to be not of the world just in it. It reminds me to be and remain different. It reminds me I have a lot of fixing and cleaning up in my life…
I have flown all over the world in airliners. As It takes off from the airport, very quickly you can see people, cars, and buildings get smaller and smaller until you can’t see them anymore. It make me feel insignificant. It makes me feel like I’m an ant in Gods eyes. But as I read my Bible, and see how much God wants to have a relationship with me, just boggles my mind. I see that I’m not an ant in his eyes, but a child of God. It shows that my life is important and I want to do what God wants me to do.