Genesis 1: Find Your Value Beyond What You Do

Table Of Contents

Genesis 1: Find Your Value Beyond What You Do
- Snapshot
Introduction
Day 5: Birds and Fish
Day 6: God Creates Livestock and Humans
Day 7: God Rests
Conclusion
What Now?

Snapshot

Genesis 1 offers a profound narrative challenge to both ancient and modern worldviews. Unlike other creation myths, God creates man in his own image in order to partner with them in the stewardship of the earth. The climax of the creation story is actually the 7^th day in which we find that our value is not based on what we produce but rather based on who God made us to be. Genesis 1 shapes our view of God, humankind, and the world around us.

Introduction

In Genesis 1, we discover this profound narrative of order, purpose, and value. Genesis 1 challenges the prominent ancient worldviews and has great implications for us today. God reveals himself as one who does not create out of necessity or impulsively, but instead he creates intentionally and purposefully, in which everything has a design and purpose. As we look at days five, six, and seven, we will see a revolutionary meaning of value and rest as these ancient truths offer a radical perspective on our worth and identity.

Day 5: Birds and Fish

God creates animals in the sea and flying animals (birds and fish). The language is important here. Notice it says birds of the sky and fish of the sea. This is a mirror image of Day 2, in which God separated the waters above from the waters below. On day 5, you see the separation of animals above from those below. God is a God of order, and we see this parallel order as God takes chaos and brings order.

Day 6: God Creates Livestock and Humans

Mankind, according to Genesis 1 and 2 is created with intentionality and is the climax of the created order, even if not the climax of the 7 days. This is significant in an ancient context in which other creation stories (Codex Alexandrinus and Eunuma Elish) the gods create man as an afterthought to supply the gods with food. Genesis 1 shows us that mankind is special and made in God’s image. We are not some afterthought but instead are partners in the mission of God. It is not pride to say humans hold a special role in God’s plan, as he created us that way. We are made to reflect the God of the universe as we partner with him in the stewardship of creation.

child, girl, to enjoy, lounger, coat, people, sunglasses, relax, relaxation, to rest, rest

Day 7: God Rests

God resting is not because he is tired, but is rather an example to humans. It is also an enjoyment of his creation. This is a model for humans today. This is also the climax of the creation story. It does not appear as the climax because of where people put the chapter divide between chapters one and two. Making day 7 part of chapter 2 makes it seem as if there is a transition or divide before the 7^th day, but this is not actually the case. Humans often have claimed that they are the climax of creation, but that is elevating ourselves too highly as there seems to be two climaxes in the creation story, with the bigger climax being day seven. Day 7 is the true climax. It is the day that all chaos is brought into order. God moved all things to order, which is by his doing and not that of the other Mesopotamian gods. This also runs contrary to Babylonian tradition, in which the seventh day is considered unlucky. Israel’s God blesses the seventh day, and it is marked as holy. This day is special, which then separates Israel’s beliefs from the surrounding nations, and God’s people are called to be holy, which means set apart.

Rest on the 7^th day is also anti-cultural, considering the original audience. According to tradition, Moses wrote Genesis after the people came out of slavery. Think about how a slave would measure their value and importance. They were taught in Egypt to measure their value and worth based on what they could produce as a slave. Here God communicates to the people, “your worth is not based on what you can produce or do; instead, you are made in my image and you can rest in that.” To those who were once in slavery, this message gets to the core of their identity, as their value is not based on what they can produce, but derived from who God made them to be.

Conclusion

Genesis 1 has great meaning to those in the West today. In the United States, a person is valuable based on what they do or provide. Specifically, men are valued based on how well they work at a job, how much they make, or how they provide for their family. Women are often valued based on how well they take care of their husbands, how well they perform at the workplace, care of children, or even based on having certain characteristics that are considered specific to certain genders. Children are often valued based on grades or what they accomplish in sports and music. Sometimes, you even get your value from your degrees or your children. Many find their identity and value based on what they have accomplished or what they can do. Humans are made in God’s image, and we partner in the mission of God, not because we get our value from the mission of God, but rather find our value in being made in him image. We can rest in that.

What Now?

Reflect on being made in God’s image.
- How can you ensure you derive your value from God and not from what you produce?
Rest
- How can you rest this week? What does it look like for you to rest in God?
Performance
- What is an area in life that you are performing in? How can you find peace in who you are and the skills God has given you? How can you trust God this week instead of trusting in your own strength?