Parashat Bereshit: Genesis, chapters 1-8
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
This is the first verse of God’s Word, introducing us to the creation of the world by divine power and through the word of God Who created both the heavens and the earth.
Bereshit can be translated: in the beginning; at the head of things, at the beginning of something .
Probably Moses wrote these words through a direct revelation from God to him, when he ascended the mountain where he dwelt in God’s presence for 40 days.
Everything was created, also Moses, except for the Creator Himself Who existed before, as He declares in His Word: Before the creation of the world I am He. He is God and beyond the parameters of place and time, the One Who was, is, and always will be.
This is the first verse of God’s Word, introducing us to the creation of the world by divine power and through the word of God Who created both the heavens and the earth.
Bereshit can be translated: in the beginning; at the head of things, at the beginning of something .
Probably Moses wrote these words through a direct revelation from God to him, when he ascended the mountain where he dwelt in God’s presence for 40 days.
Everything was created, also Moses, except for the Creator Himself Who existed before, as He declares in His Word: Before the creation of the world I am He. He is God and beyond the parameters of place and time, the One Who was, is, and always will be.
God existed before creation
Exodus 3:14 “God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Jeremiah 10:12 “But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.”
Psalm 24:1-2 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Jeremiah 10:12 “But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.”
Psalm 24:1-2 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.”
Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
God is Elohim
The Hebrew name for “God”, Elohim, which is in the plural form, already indicates God’s plurality in unity.
Verse 26 of Genesis 1, does, too: “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,”
New Testament (Covenant)
In Ephesians 2:10 we read: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
The Greek term for “handiwork” is Poema, a creation. We are a creation of God’s artistry and He, the artist, created us not only according to His will, but also in His image.
Verse 26 of Genesis 1, does, too: “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness,”
New Testament (Covenant)
In Ephesians 2:10 we read: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
The Greek term for “handiwork” is Poema, a creation. We are a creation of God’s artistry and He, the artist, created us not only according to His will, but also in His image.
How do I apply this word today?
The fact that we are God’s creation helps us understand that there is someone superior out there. He made us, created us and we should therefore have the fear of God within us, understanding that everything depends on Him and that on our own we cannot do anything. Everything is through Him.
We need to believe in Him and heed His Word.
Furthermore, the fact that we were created in His image and likeness strengthens us inwardly, in order for us to follow him and to overcome evil, for He who is within us is stronger than he who is against us. In his strength we are able do the things He commands us to do.
We need to believe in Him and heed His Word.
Furthermore, the fact that we were created in His image and likeness strengthens us inwardly, in order for us to follow him and to overcome evil, for He who is within us is stronger than he who is against us. In his strength we are able do the things He commands us to do.