Genesis 1:20-25 – Living Creatures, part 2
Now in verse 24 God says: “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to it’s kind.” This expression goes against what the world teaches us. It doesn’t imply any creative forces in the earth itself, or any power in the soil to generate life. And it certainly isn’t suggesting that these life forms “evolved” from inanimate matter. But it reminds us that the creatures God made are composed of the very same elements as earth.
Genesis 2:19 affirms this, saying that God formed the living creatures “out of the ground.” When they die, their bodies decompose and they go back to the earth.
As we will see in Chapter 8, this is true of human beings as well. Adam was formed from the dust of the earth. And when we die, our bodies return to dust (Gen. 3:19).
And then Gen. 1:22 says, “And God blessed them, saying, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.’”
The mention of procreation in this context eradicated the notion that the Biblical language is merely a symbolic account of how things evolved. Scripture plainly teaches that God completed His creation of all the sea creatures and the birds BEFORE he gave the order to reproduce. If evolution were true, it would mean that animal reproduction must have already been going on for billions of years before so many species of sea creatures and birds could emerge. It underscores the very truth evolution denies: that when living creatures reproduce, they can ONLY reproduce creatures similar to themselves. Apes NO NOT give birth to humans.
Thus, God populated the skies, the sea, and land. “And God saw that it was good.”
Even in our fallen state, we can see His goodness when we observe how carefully and flawlessly He designed what He made. All the wonderful sea creatures, from sea-cucumbers to great whales – and all the birds that fill our skies, from the common sparrow to the magnificent peacock, the weird platypus and the majestic lion – demonstrates His infinite goodness in their unique ways. He made all the marvelous creatures for His own good pleasure, and He continually oversees every detail of His creation by a loving, sovereign providence.
Jesus said not even one sparrow falls to the ground apart from His Father’s will (Matt. 10:29). Then notice in verse 22 God blessed the creatures. The very first blessing in the Bible was not for
humankind, but for the other creatures who have their own relation to God.
God rejoices in the works of His creation because they reveal His incomparable power. Look at the stars, what more need be said. God rejoices in the works of creation because they point us beyond themselves to God Himself. God meant for us to be awed and stunned by His work of creation. He means for us to always look at His creation and say: “If the work of His hands is so full of wisdom and power and grandeur and majesty and beauty, what must this God be like Himself?!”
What will it be like to see the Creator Himself! Not His works. Not even a billion galaxies will satisfy our souls. God and God alone is the soul’s end.
In the end it will not be the seas or the mountains or the galaxies or the birds and sea creatures that fill our hearts to breaking with wonder and fill our mouths with eternal praise. It will be God Himself!
Editor's Note: Every Sunday, DrydenWire.com publishes a submitted article in a weekly series from Pastor Brian Cole. If you would have a question for Brian or would like to learn more about him, visit his website or his official Facebook page.
Last Update: Sep 10, 2018 8:27 am CDT
