In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.3 And God said.... Genesis1:1-3
I need to make a very important distinction before I start...
I'm not using Gen 1 as a proof text for the Trinity. (Any attempt to do this comes across as contrived and is usually based on God's name in Hebrew (Elohim) being plural and God saying "Let _us_ make man...")
Rather, I am taking a wide Biblical-Theological view that affirms again and again that Creation was the dream, desire and work of Father, Son and Spirit and then recognising this truth reflected in Gen 1.
In talking about Jesus, John's gospel opens with this affirmation: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." John calls Jesus as the WORD. The Greek word "Logos" implies word, reason, and at a deeper level the underlying logic. John is saying that Jesus represents the purpose and creative ability of God. Colossians tells us that "In Him all things were created and hold together"
The Holy Spirit is described as the life-giving force throughout Scripture - the most poignant being in Ezekiel 37 where the Spirit gives life to the valley of dry bones and in John 3 where the Spirit helps us to be born again.
Scripture presents God the Father as compassionate, determined (He has a plan and a purpose) and majestic and Holy. In Job the Father delights in the antics of the creatures He created and in Isaiah we are reminded that His ways are above ours and that He is majestic and Holy.
So lets take what Scripture teaches about the three persons of the God family and apply it to Gen 1.
God the Father is the one who lovingly initiates creation and has a purpose for it.
Jesus the Son is the Word. When God _speaks_ it is Jesus who is the agent of creation - not just a carpenter in Nazareth, but the Builder and Maker of the world. Graham Kendrick says "Hands that flung stars in place to cruel nails surrendered."
The Holy Spirit is hovering over the waters
- He is present
- He is free
- He is eager to get going with bringing life!
Creation is a glorious work of the even more glorious Triune God!!!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
