Genesis chapter 1

This is the beginning, this is where it all starts.  These chapters set out how it all began, not in great scientific detail, explaining this, that and the other, whether it was a big bang that set everything off, or evolution that caused us to be where we are today.  The important message is that God did create it.  Before He took a hand in it, there was nothing there, the earth was without form and void:

Genesis 1:1-2  In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  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. (NIV)

We have had one speaker at our church talk about these two verses and the fact that in verse 1, God created the heavens and the earth yet in verse 2, the earth was formless and empty, without form and void.  The earlier verse talks about the earth being there and the later verse says there is nothing there.  If these verses are taken chronologically in time, what happened between verses 1 and 2 to cause the earth to disappear?  He speaker thought it was possible that this was when the devil and his angels were thrown out of heaven, the rupture causing all sorts of problems on earth, effectively destroying the first earth and meaning God had to create (in verse 2) another earth.  The second earth was inhabited by the fallen angels, demons, and satan (as well as man), and this led to Adam and Eve's sin in eating the apple which over the years has caused other problems with earthquakes, tsunamis, etc. as sin exerted its force on mankind and nature. 

This certainly gives pause for thought, doesn't it?

When you actually look at these verses, it could also mean that the earth was kind of like a big blob, not shaped properly, but just being the basic form on which God would build everything, a bit like making a card.  You start off with a blank card, which may or may not be folded ready, you then get your card base to go on it, add papers, ribbon, buttons, tags or whatever, and voila, one  completed birthday (or anniversary, congratulations, thank you or whatever)  card.  You start with the basic card and end up with a (hopefully) beautifully decorated card that anyone would love to receive. 

In the same way, maybe God started off with the blob of the earth, then gradually added light, day and night, land, seas, vegetation, sun, moon and stars, fish and birds, then animals, man and woman.  As each day passed, the earth would have become more and more recognizable until finally, God finished:

Genesis 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning – the sixth day.  (NIV)

After each  part of creation is complete, God sees that it is good.  It is not a case of putting all the land in, and deciding that He didn't like that little bit there. Adding the trees and deciding that those  trees in that corner over there needed to go as they just didn't fit right, didn't look right.  Thinking on reflection that man, Adam, should maybe have had sky blue pink with purple polka dots coloured hair, or that Eve needed a little more curve here, a little less there.  No, God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. 

Everything He made was very good. 

Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,

when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed body;

all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Not only did He make everything there is, but He also made each one of us, designed us from top to toe, the colour of our hair, our eyes, the shape of our bodies, our height (and width!), and even today, He is still sat there and saying it (you, me, everyone) is very good.  We are made in God's own image:

Genesis 1:26-28

 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them

      reflecting our nature

   So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, 

      the birds in the air, the cattle, 

   And, yes, Earth itself, 

      and every animal that moves on the face of Earth." 

   God created human beings; 

      he created them godlike, 

   Reflecting God's nature. 

      He created them male and female. 

   God blessed them: 

      "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge! 

   Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air, 

      for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth." 

So when you think you need certain parts of your body reducing (or expanding), when you bemoan the fact that you are too short, too tall, too wide, your hair is the wrong colour, your eyes are non-descript, you wish you had long legs like so and so, or that you were really sporty and active like such and such a person,  just remember that you are made in God's image and that He created you just the way He wanted you. You are, in God's eyes , absolutely beautiful.

Then interestingly, in these verses, God says "Let us make human beings….".  Now this is either the royal "we", like Queen Victoria allegedly saying "we are not amused", or God is talking to Himself ( a bit like me when I mispost something in a set of accounts and sit there saying "now we didn't mean to do that, now, did we") or the angels (although it doesn't actually mention creating them here), or else He is talking to someone else and that someone can only be Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We know  the Holy Spirit is there because we are told so in verse  2, where  the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.   We also know that Jesus was there too from the opening chapter of John:

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (KJV)

So all three of the Trinity were there from before the beginning of time.