The Trinity In Creation

Genesis 1:1 - 2:3

Today the Church celebrates Trinity Sunday, and the first reading from today’s Lectionary is the Creation account from Genesis.  Let’s see what we can learn about our great and wonderful God through this account in His Word.  Only God can create something out of nothing.  There is no distinction made between “God” and the “Spirit of God”, which we read in verse 2.  That is because the two are one.  The Holy Spirit is as much a part of the Trinity as is God the Father, and His Son, Jesus, both of whom are also active throughout creation.

In verses 3 and 4 we read that God created light.  This light was distinct from the sun, moon, and stars created on the fourth day.  One might wonder how there could be light before the sun or stars were created?  Jesus is the Light of the world, as we see in John 1:9 and in John 8:12.  Jesus was from eternity past, and will be for all time.  He will be the Light in heaven, where there is no sun (Revelation 21:23-25, and Revelation 22:5).

Throughout the first chapter of Genesis we read, “And God said”.  God spoke and creation came into being.  He didn’t have to sit down at a drafting table and sweat out designs, with piles of crumpled, discarded papers around Him.  He spoke, and it was.  His Word is all-powerful!

Who was God speaking to when He said, “us” in verse 26?  He wasn’t speaking to the angels, nor any of the animals He had just created.  He was speaking to Jesus.  Throughout this chapter the word used for “God” is the Hebrew word “Elohim”, which is the plural form of our word “God”.  In His Word, God is indicating that He is a Triune God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   Jesus was a very active part in creation.  We see that both in John 1:1-14, and most specifically in Colossians 1:16-17.  If you have a chance, be sure to read them.

Of all creatures that God created, only human beings are made in His image.  Not any of the animals, birds, or even angels, only mankind.  We are made in the image of God, and thus we have worth.  Our worth isn’t based in any wealth we might have, or in our talents or abilities, or in how popular we may be.  It is in our being created by God and in His image.  People judge an artist by the works they create.  In the same way God can be judged by what He made.  The world He made is a beautiful creation.  What about the pinnacle of His creation?  Since we are the image-bearers of God, we are to be people of integrity.  We should never bring shame to Him.

In verse 27 we see that God made both man and woman.  Later in chapter 2 a more detailed account of the creation of man and woman is given, like examining it through a magnifying glass, rather than a casual overview.  Here in verse 27 a general account is given.  They were the grand finale of His creation.  Neither one is better or worse than the other.

God made the world good and beautiful (vs. 31).  We need to be careful in how we take care of it.  Everything God made was good, very good.  All creation functions smoothly.  The seasons, Earth’s rotation, its exact position from the sun, down to the smaller parts of creation like bees which collect pollen to pollinate the plants for them to continue on.  This shows there is an Intelligent Mind in our Creator-God.

God is distinct from His creation.  We are not to worship anything created - animals, plants, the stars, moon or planets.  God created them all.  We need to worship only Him.  Since He created everything, we can be reassured that He is in control of everything.  We don’t need to seek the stars or planets to see what will happen to us.   God created them, and they can’t tell us anything.  We don’t need to worry about anything.  God didn’t just create everything and then just walk away.  He loves us and all of His creation, and He will watch over us.