Creation, A Reflection on Holy Saturday
Genesis 1:1-2:4
“In the beginning, God” was. God has no beginning. God is and will forever be. Earth has a beginning. All living things have a beginning. Humans have a beginning. The Creator, Yahweh, the one and only true God created all matter and all life.
God, creative and full of love, looks out over the vast expanse of darkness with only a formless mass in the emptiness. The space was without light or life. “The Spirit of God hovered over the surface” of the mass within the darkness as God planned a future for all He desired to create. His acts were intentional.
The Light of God Invades the Darkness
God is light, Jesus to be the Light of the World. Act one was to introduce light into the darkness, so God entered and the darkness separated, for there is no darkness in the presence of God. Light and darkness cannot coexist. Wherever the Spirit of God is, light shines brightness. With light in the darkness, time was created into a day and a night. Did Satan tremble at the appearance of light? Did he look from afar and wonder what God was doing? In Satan, there is no light, only darkness.
God Created a Roof Over the Waters
Now after time was created, God created a form out of the void bringing atmosphere into being. He created space between the waters of the depth below and the heavens above. The sky separated from the waters, deep blue upon deep blue as the light penetrated the darkness.
God Created Form
God removed the void and created the planet we call Earth beneath the firmament in the midst of the spatial darkness and water. Now there was form as well as light and an atmosphere for air and colors. This spatial planet sat on an axis, spinning slowly at just the right speed, ready to begin its rotation around the galaxy, but not just yet.
God created provision with soil, seeds, fruit, grass and trees, all of which would reproduce so well in this perfect environment. Carefully He planted grass and seed bearing herbs to reproduce themselves as well as fruit bearing trees. Painting the primary colors across the new landscape, God was well pleased. Now there would be provision for the next part of his creation.
God Created the Galaxies
Dimension and enduring light is provided in the unfolding of this special creation. Into the spaces still dark, God threw a sun for heat and light by day and a much smaller moon above the form to offer light in the darkness of night when half the earth would be turned away from the light. He added bright stars and other planets to reveal his vastness that goes beyond what the eye can behold. At the center of this universe sits the sun, the giver of earth’s light. When the earth faces the sun, there is light, but when rotated away there is darkness, yet not totally as the stars and moon reflect the light from the sun. Consider, God is light and when our faces and bodies are turned toward him, we live in truth and hope. Yet, when our backs are to Him, our faces peer into the unknown with fear and doubt. The earth needs the sun to survive just as we need God to live in freedom and thrive.
God Created Sea and Air Creatures
Every act of God had a purpose within his plan; the design was not random but intentional. With sun and water and air, God placed sea creatures into the deep blue and birds in the blue above. The sun added amazing colors as it chased the night away and said goodbye to the days. Even still, the sunrises and sunsets engage our sense of wonder and awe. The Lord observed how the grass, fruit and seeds were growing. Perfect for the next part of his plan.
God Created Life upon the Land
God observed that the land provided provision for living things to dwell upon it, so he created all land creatures. Every animal was created in a pair for companionship and reproduction. The Lord God planned a future of plenty and all living in one accord.
Now for the pinnacle of his creative plan. Calling together the Holy Spirit and the Son, he said the time had come to create a human in their own image. These persons would share in ruling over all that had been created on the land and in the sea. They would be partners, build a relationship by walking with each other and Lord God would teach them all things about the universe he had created with them in mind.
He created male and female, just as with all other living beings, for companionship, intimacy and reproduction. Yet, these humans would reflect the image of God, his light, his creativity, his wisdom, and his compassion and fulfill his ultimate plan for relationship built on trust and weaved by love. This work of his creation was significant, for the Holy Spirit planted a soul within each one as a place where the heart of God could dwell. To the humans created in his likeness, God spoke the first blessing recorded that they would be fruitful and multiply; He had created everything they needed to thrive.
God Loved His Creation
God’s creation was magnificent in every way. He spent the next day getting acquainted with the humans created like Him. He walked with them and talked with them. Joy and love filled the space in their soul as they became acquainted with the Creator. Life was exhilarating, hopeful and abundant.
What a great day to rest and enjoy the beaches and the smell of the fruits and flowers. What once was darkness was now transformed into life, color and creative design. Light had swept over the dark void and am unimaginable creation was birthed.
God’s Design for Life and Beauty was Complete
The creation of the universe is complete and “God rested from all his work” of creating design, beauty, and life on earth and her galaxy. How he must have delighted in all that had been created from his breath and by his hands. I believe he abided in the joy and profound love he felt for all living things and all plants ,the sea and the sky, the unrelenting array of color and design. I see him walking with Adam and Eve to show them the world, which he had created for them to dwell and prosper.
God neither sleeps nor slumbers; He is never weary. Thus he does not need rest in the sense we need rest when our muscles, minds and hearts are weary. In his work of creating, he “rested” and I believe took pleasure in all that had formed out of the darkness and chaos. The “day” was fruitful as He initiated a relationship with humans, male and female. This was a day of love and peace, companionship and joy and a deep abiding in beauty. God simply stopped the act of the “work” of creating, and enjoyed what was right in front of Him at that moment, the simple wonder of it all.
God Blessed the Sabbath
All had eyes wide open and ears clear to see and hear the God above all gods, the one and only true God who gave his second blessing by sanctifying the seventh day or setting it apart. God honored his creation and in the same way we honor Him in the taking of a Sabbath from acts of work each week, which divert our attention and presence away from God and his creation onto matters of this world.
A day intended for the enjoyment of the beautiful creation around us as we lay down the labor of our hands, a day to reconnect with God our Creator and rediscover the peace and hope as unfolded in the creation. The Sabbath is a day to recount the blessings of God who created us in his image with a soul for his Spirit.
We honor him as He himself honored the work of his hands. The Sabbath is a day to build relationships, connect with our family, friends and most importantly with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. On this day, we choose to rejoice and revel in the fact we are created in the image of God to love and to live. God paused in his work to abide with his created ones, to relate and to love. He blessed this one day of the week to be set apart for all humans to do the same, abide, love and relate.
