There is a close relationship between the gospel and creation! Really? Yes, really! For God has made the Bible rich and dense with His thoughts and, therefore, the Bible contains millions of God’s thoughts in its few pages.

In this post then I will unpack the creation story in the first two chapters of the Bible to reveal the gospel that is hidden in these chapters. Specifically, I will go through Chapters 1 and 2 of the book of Genesis in the Bible in order to uncover the gospel teachings in the creation story.

Who or What is God, What is Creation, and What is the Gospel?

Well, I have mentioned God, creation, and the gospel, so far in this post, and you may be wondering, What do these things mean? Well, as we go through Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 these questions will be answered. So, continue reading.

Bible Notation

First of all, let us get an understanding of Bible notation which I will use in this post. It is a way of referencing the Bible which is a collection of books. As it is, each book in the Bible consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. For example, the Bible notation “Genesis 1:3” refers to the book of Genesis, the first chapter, and the 3^rd verse. Also, “Genesis 2:4-7” means the book of Genesis, the second chapter, and the 4th verse through to the 7^th verse.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. Here the literal meaning is that God is “the Creator” (Isaiah 40:28) of the heaven and the earth.

So, we learn here that God is a Person and that He is not human, because no human being could have created the heaven and the earth. This is a key concept to understand about God.

Now “God” (Genesis 1:1) and “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) are interchangeable names in the Bible for a divine Family.

This Family, the Godhead, is actually made up of three members where each member can truly say of the others, “I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” Proverbs 8:30. Thus, the Godhead as a Family lives in loving, joyful, peaceful harmony.

Now, there are not three Gods! Why? Because the members of the Godhead never contradict each other at any time, that is, we can say that they speak with one voice. There has never been nor ever will be any disagreement or contention among them. Therefore, we can say, “there is one God.” Mark 12:32.

Further, we can know from the Bible about God that He is “God, that cannot lie” (Titus 1:2) and “God is love.” 1 John 4:8. In other words, other-centred love exists within the Godhead and this love is the only definition of true love in the universe.

Moreover, each Person in the Godhead, the divine Family, is “without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” Hebrews 7:3.

Here are the names of the members of the Godhead: “The Father” (Matthew 11:27), “the Son” (Psalm 2:12) also called Christ (Matthew 1:1), and “the Holy Spirit” (Psalm 51:11).

So, with this understanding of who God is, a related question is, Who is Jesus? The name Jesus was given to Christ when He was born as a baby boy on earth over 2,000 years ago.

The Creator

We may ask, Just who among the Godhead created the heaven and the earth? Were they created by all three members?

The answer is “In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] 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.” John 1:1-3.

“For by him [Christ] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him [Christ], and for him [Christ].” Colossians 1:16.

Thus, we see that Christ is the member of the Godhead who is the Creator of heaven and earth.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:2-5

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2.

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:3, 4.

“And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day [of creation].” Genesis 1:5.

Here we see the Holy Spirit at work, but exactly what kind of work “we cannot now speak particularly.” Hebrews 9:5. That is to say, we do not know because God has not revealed it to us.

Also, the fact that the earth was full of darkness in the beginning is symbolic of evil. And we know that evil exists in the world today but, Where did evil come from? Was it God who created evil? These are good questions for which we will now seek answers.

The Origin of Evil

Because of the love within the divine Family, the Godhead, they decided to extend their Family. Thus, God created intelligent beings such as the “angels” (Genesis 19:1) in heaven, other beings who inhabit “the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2) throughout the universe, and the human race.

The purpose of God was that these intelligent beings whom they created would love God and would love their fellow beings. Thus, love, joy, peace, and harmony would reign throughout the universe.

If this was God’s plan, How is it that evil exists on earth? To answer this question we have to go back to the beginning of evil in heaven.

Evil entered the universe when an angel in heaven named “Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:12) rebelled against God. Lucifer, now called “Satan” (1 Chronicles 21:1), caused some of the other angels to join him in his rebellion.

And because the wicked Satan and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) refused to stop doing evil, that is, to stop sinning, God cast them all out of heaven to await God’s Judgment Day.

Satan then roamed the universe in an attempt to cause the beings of the worlds in the universe to join him in rebelling against God. This effort met with no success except on earth where Satan tempted the first human pair whom God created, a man named Adam and a woman named Eve, to sin.

Now, we can say of God in truth, “Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man [humanity] upright [that is to say, God created the human race as holy beings].” Ecclesiastes 7:29. But Adam and Eve yielded to Satan’s temptation and sinned, thus, joining Satan in his rebellion against God.

As a result of Adam and Eve’s sin, all their descendants, that is, the entire human race, have inherited their disposition to sin and, so, have become sinners too.

This then is the origin of evil in the universe. It is not God who has created evil beings, but it is Satan, the originator of sin in the universe, who has led others into sin.

The Creation Story and the Symbolism of Light and Darkness

We return now to the symbolism of Genesis 1:2 which states: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2.

Hear what God says, “The way of the wicked [the way of the whole human race] is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble [into evil].” Proverbs 4:19. Thus, as was said before, the darkness that was upon the earth in the beginning is symbolic of evil.

But we see the Holy Spirit, at the beginning of creation, moving upon the deep waters. What is the symbolism of these waters? “The waters…are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Revelation 17:15. Thus, we can say that the Holy Spirit was moving upon the entire human race. In what way though?

The answer is, “but I [God] say, Have they [the human race] not heard? Yes verily, their sound [God’s words] went into all the earth, and their [God’s] words unto the ends of the world.” Romans 10:18. And every human being can say in truth, “Thy [God’s] word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105.

Here just as light in a literal sense is the opposite of darkness, so light in the symbolic sense is the opposite of evil. In other words, light represents God’s ways of love which ways are all good.

So, we see that God the Holy Spirit, from the first day of creation, is constantly supernaturally “speaking” words that are the light of love to every human being on earth.

“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” Genesis 1:3, 4.

“And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day [of creation].” Genesis 1:5.

Here we see that God, from the first day of creation, has “put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean [which is to say, between good and evil].” Leviticus 10:10.

We can conclude then that the light of God’s words of love has created some good people on earth, and God is in the process of separating the good people from the evil people. For God asks, “What fellowship [companionship] hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion [intimate familiarity] hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14. And the answer is, Absolutely none!

The Creation Story and the Creation of a Good Person

You may be asking, How is it that the light of God’s words of love makes only some people good and others remain evil?

The answer is that God will not force people to be good against their will. If they ultimately resist the Holy Spirit they will choose to remain evil, God will respect their wishes. But if they yield to the Holy Spirit they will choose to become good, God will enable them to do so.

How does God do this? Well, for those people who yield to the Holy Spirit, God, therefore, says to these people who do not resist God’s will, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit [mind] will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my [Holy] spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. ” Ezekiel 36:26, 27.

Such persons who receive a change of heart from selfishness to love from God, “have put on the new man [person], which is renewed in knowledge after the image [according to the character of love] of him [God] that created him [that created the new person].” Colossians 3:10.

“For the wages of sin is [eternal] death [which is to be annihilated by God]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. This is what is known as “the gospel” (Matthew 4:23), which is God’s plan to save humanity from annihilation because of their sins and instead give them eternal life.

So, those persons who refuse to allow God to give them a change of heart will be annihilated by God.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:6-8

“And God said, Let there be a firmament [an expanse, a space] in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” Genesis 1:6.

“And God made the firmament [the sky], and divided the waters which were under the firmament [the sky] from the waters which were above the firmament [the sky]: and it was so.” Genesis 1:7.

“And God called the firmament [the sky] Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day [of creation].” Genesis 1:8.

What does God’s work of creation on the second day mean symbolically? Well, as was said before, “The waters…are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Revelation 17:15. Here God repeats the symbolism of the first day of creation and also uses another symbol.

That is, God is in the process of separating the people on earth who have “wisdom…from above [from God in heaven]” (James 3:15) from those people who have the “wisdom descendeth not from above [from God], but [the wisdom that] is earthly, sensual, devilish.” James 3:15.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:9-13

“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:9, 10.

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” Genesis 1:11.

“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day [of creation].” Genesis 1:12, 13.

Once again, we ask, What does God’s work of creation on the third day mean symbolically?

The Creation Story and the Miracle God Did at the Red Sea

Now the gathering together of the waters and the appearing of dry land on the third day of creation, point to the miracle God did for the people of Israel at the Red Sea after setting them free from slavery in Egypt.

That is, “Moses [the leader of Israel] stretched out his hand over the [Red] sea; and the LORD [God] caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.” Exodus 14:21.

“And the children [people] of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.” Exodus 14:22. Thus, God created a path through the sea for the people.

This act of God is symbolic of God’s deliverance of people, who are willing, from the bondage of sin, by creating in them a new mind that is holy.

The Creation Story and the Fruit of the Spirit

And what does the creation on the third day of trees, grass, and other plants bearing seed symbolise? Well, they represent the group of holy people whom God has created as His “pleasant plant” (Isaiah 5:7), “called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD [God], that he [God] might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3.

Further, when God delivers us from the bondage of sin, He does so by creating in us “the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [which] is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: [and] against such there is no law [for God creates in us minds that are in agreement with God’s law of love].” Galatians 5:22, 23.

Also, just as fruit bears seeds from which new trees grow and themselves bear fruit containing seeds and so on, God says “They that sow [God’s words in other people’s minds] in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing [the] precious seed [of God’s words], shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [bundles of grain] with him.” Psalm 126:5, 6.

Thus, holy people who are known as Christians, that is, the true followers of Christ, are created by God and, they as “labourers together with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9), create other holy people who do the same and so on. By this means, God seeks to fill the earth with holy people, that is to say, with Christians.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:14-19

“And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament [expanse] of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament [expanse] of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.” Genesis 1:14, 15.

“And God made two great lights; the greater light [the Sun] to rule the day, and the lesser light [the moon] to rule the night: he made the stars also.” Genesis 1:16.

“And God set them in the firmament [expanse] of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day [of creation].” Genesis 1:17-19.

Here we ask, What does the creation of the Sun, the moon, and the stars, symbolise?

Well, the sun represents Christ, “the Sun of righteousness.” Malachi 4:2. For when Christ came into the world over 2,000 years ago, He said of Himself, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me [in my ways of love] shall not walk in [the] darkness [of sin], but shall have the light of life [the light of God’s words of love which leads to eternal life].” John 8:12.

And before Christ came into the world, God created the nation of Israel and made them custodians of His Ceremonial Laws “which…[were] a shadow [a foreshadowing] of things [of Christ] to come.” Colossians 2:17. In essence then, the Ceremonial Laws were as the moon which shines by reflecting the light of the sun.

Thus, as God intended, there were, symbolically, “the precious fruits [Christians] brought forth by the sun [Christ], and…the precious things [Christians] put forth by the moon [the Ceremonial Law].” Deuteronomy 33:14.

In other words, figuratively speaking, the “Sun” (Christ) and the “moon” (the Ceremonial Law) created Christians who are “are all the children of light, and the children of the day: [and]…are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thessalonians 5:5. That is to say, the “Sun” (Christ) and the “moon” (the Ceremonial Law) have separated the darkness of sin from the light of love on earth.

And of all true Christians, they only who are the truly wise, God says, “They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament [the sky]; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” Daniel 12:3. Hence, the statement in Genesis Chapter 1 that God created the stars also.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:20-23

“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl [bird] that may fly above the earth in the open firmament [expanse] of heaven.” Genesis 1:20.

“And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:21.

“And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day [of creation].” Genesis 1:22, 23.

So, What do birds and fishes which God created on the fifth day of creation symbolise?

The Creation Story: Birds

The symbolism of birds in the creation story is the ceremony regarding the cleansing of lepers.

Now the disease, leprosy, represents a sin-sick person. Such persons of the nation of Israel when healed of their leprosy had to undergo a ceremony which God had prescribed.

“And the LORD [God] spake unto Moses, saying, This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest.” Leviticus 14:1, 2.

“And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.” Leviticus 14:3, 4.

“And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water: As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.” Leviticus 14:5, 6.

“And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.” Leviticus 14:7.

The cleansing from leprosy represents the creation of a new mind in the person which is in agreement with God’s law of love by God. Thus, the person has been “transformed” (Romans 12:2) from a sinner to someone who is holy.

And in the ceremony, the bird that is killed represents Christ who died “for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2. Christ died on a cross (a t-shaped wooden structure) symbolized by the cedar wood, to which Christ was nailed and on which He bled (the scarlet). Christ’s death was like medicine and a sweet fragrance to God (the hyssop) for the whole world, which caused the sinner to go free from eternal death (the living bird).

So then, the birds which God created to fly in the sky represent the sinners set free by the work of Christ on behalf of all humanity.

The Creation Story: Fishes

The symbolism of fishes in the creation story is that, when Christ called people to be His disciples, He said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men [of people].” Matthew 4:19.

Thus, we have the following parable which is a short story with a moral lesson from the prophet, Ezekiel: “Afterward he [the angel] brought me [Ezekiel] again unto the door of the house [the Temple]; and, behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house [the Temple] eastward: for the forefront of the house [the Temple] stood toward the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the house [the Temple], at the south side of the altar [of burnt offering].” Ezekiel 47:1.

“Then said he [the angel] unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.” Ezekiel 47:8.

“And it shall come to pass, that every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.” Ezekiel 47:9.

“And it shall come to pass, that the fishers [fishermen] shall stand upon it from Engedi even unto Eneglaim; they shall be a place to spread forth nets; their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many.” Ezekiel 47:10.

“But the miry places [swamp] thereof and the marishes [marshes] thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.” Ezekiel 47:11.

The waters from the Temple here represent the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the world (the waters of the sea) which causes the sin-sick souls of many people to be healed.

In other words, the Holy Spirit creates in many sinners a change of heart from selfishness to love so that they become holy.

The fishermen are the true Christians who in cooperation with God create new Christians, represented by the gathering in of fishes (people) into nets. Note that not all the waters are healed and, so, not all sinners on earth become holy.

The Creation Story: Genesis 1:24-31

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” Genesis 1:24, 25.

“And God said, Let us [the Godhead] make man [humanity] in our image [with a character of perfect love like ours], after our likeness [with a form like ours]: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man [humanity] in his own image [with a character of perfect love like God’s], in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:26, 27.

“And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [fill] the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:28.

“And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [for food].” Genesis 1:29.

“And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat [for food]: and it was so.” Genesis 1:30.

“And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day [of creation].” Genesis 1:31.

So, what does God’s work on the sixth day of creation symbolise?

The Creation Story: Many Kinds of Animals

Regarding the animals created by God on the sixth day of creation, “These wait all upon thee [God]; that thou [God] mayest give them their meat [food] in due season. That thou [God] givest them they gather: thou [God] openest thine hand, they are filled with good.” Psalm 104:27, 28.

“The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:15, 16. “O LORD [God], thou preservest man and beast.” Psalm 36:6.

Here we see the animals having perfect trust in God’s provision and gathering the food provided by God.

The symbolism, therefore, as regarding humanity, is that God says, “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion [the heavenly Jerusalem], which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.” Psalm 125:1. “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him [God].” Psalm 2:12.

That is, God calls upon those people who wish to receive eternal life from Him to have perfect trust in God just like the animals. “For let not that man [that person who doubts God’s goodness] think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord [God].” James 1:7.

The Creation Story: Humanity Created in the Image of God

The symbolism of humanity being created in the image of God is that as God says, “For [every human being] whom he [God] did foreknow [that humanity might become sinners], he [God] also did predestinate to be conformed to the image [the character of perfect love] of his Son [Christ].” Romans 8:29.

“Moreover [every human being] whom he [God] did predestinate, them he also called [to be holy]: and whom he called, them he also justified [made holy]: and whom he justified [made holy], them he also glorified [also took from earth to heaven].” Romans 8:30.

So then, in creating human Adam and Eve as holy human beings, God set the pattern for all their descendants, that is to say, for every human being. For God’s plan was that they should live forever in loving relationship with God. It was never God’s intention that humanity should become sinners, and if so, that they should remain sinners and, hence, be annihilated by God.

The Creation Story: Humanity to Multiply and Fill the Earth

What is the symbolism of God’s command to humanity to multiply and fill the earth with people?

Well, consider the words of Christ: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit]: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20.

Here Christ commands his followers, who are known as Christians, to multiply themselves by creating new Christians to fill the earth through their preaching of the word of God. This then is the symbolism of God’s command to humanity.

The Creation Story: Humanity to Have Dominion Over the Earth

As regarding the symbolism of humanity created to have dominion over the earth, God says to true Christians, “Behold, I [God] give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions [upon demons, that is, upon Satan and his evil angels], and over all the power of the enemy [over all the power of demons]: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Luke 10:19.

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits [demons] are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven [in God’s book of eternal life].” Luke 10:20.

Thus, we see that the true Christian has dominion over Satan and his evil angels, in that, they can do nothing to harm the true Christian in any way.

The Creation Story: Humanity Created to Eat a Plant-Based Diet

Again, the symbolism of humanity being created by God to eat a plant-based diet is as God says, “Man [humanity] shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4.

What does this mean? Well, Christ is “the Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) and Christ says, “I am that bread of [eternal] life.” John 6:48.

So, God’s meaning is, “Man [humanity] shall not live by [physical] bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God [that is, symbolically, live by Christ, the bread of eternal life].” Matthew 4:4. For God has “[figuratively,] fed them [humanity]…with the finest of the wheat [which is Christ, that humanity might qualify for eternal life from God].” Psalm 81:16.

The Creation Story: The Animals Created to Eat a Plant-Based Diet

We come now to the symbolism of the animals being created by God to eat a plant-based diet.

That is, God says, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling [well-fed cattle] together; and a little child shall lead them.” Isaiah 11:6.

“And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.” Isaiah 11:7.

“And the sucking [nursing] child shall play on the hole of the asp [serpent], and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ [snake’s] den.” Isaiah 11:8.

“They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD [God], as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9.

Here God points to the fact that the animals on the new earth, which will be prepared by God after Satan and his evil angels and the wicked among humanity are annihilated, will eat a plant-based diet.

So, God in thus creating the animals in the first place to eat a plant-based diet, was setting a pattern for the new earth to come.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:1-3

“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” Genesis 2:1, 2.

“And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.” Genesis 2:3.

What is the symbolism here of God resting on the seventh day of creation week? Consider what God says, “For he [the person] that is entered into his [God’s spiritual] rest, he [this person] also hath ceased from his own works [in an attempt to keep God’s law of love without the moral strength received from God which would enable them to do so], as God did [cease] from his [work].” Hebrews :10.

Now God says, “Who [among humanity] can bring a clean thing [clean heart] out of an unclean [heart]? not one.” Job 14:4.

Thus, as was said before, it is God who is able to create in the human heart a change from selfishness to love, thereby creating spiritual rest in the person.

This spiritual rest comes as the person transformed by the work of God is automatically able to keep God’s law of love. That is, there is no longer a continual striving and continual failure to keep God’s law of love as it was before they were transformed by God. And those who keep God’s law will receive eternal life from God.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:4-6

“These are the generations [history] of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.” Genesis 2:4, 5.

“But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.” Genesis 2:6.

So, what does this record of God’s work of creation symbolise? Well, God says, “The king’s [God’s] wrath [anger] is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.” Proverbs 19:12.

“For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass [encircle] him as with a shield.” Psalm 5:12.

Here the mist that God created to water the earth points to the dew which waters the earth and which symbolises God’s favour. And those who are favoured by God are blessed so that they receive eternal life from God.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:7

“And the LORD God formed man [Adam] of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [a living being].” Genesis 2:7.

Here the manner in which God created Adam points to Christ’s words: “It is the [Holy] spirit that quickeneth [makes the person spiritually alive]; the flesh [the body] profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit [spiritual], and they are [eternal] life.” John 6:63.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:8, 9

“And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man [Adam] whom he had formed.” Genesis 2:8.

“And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9.

What does this record of God’s work of creation symbolise? Here the existence of many good trees and a single forbidden tree points to God’s words: “I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.” Romans 16:19. For God never intended that humanity should ever have a knowledge of evil.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:10-14

“And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.” Genesis 2:10.

“The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.” Genesis 2:11, 12.

“And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.” Genesis 2:13.

“And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates.” Genesis 2:14.

Here the record of God’s work of creation points to the work of the Holy Spirit, symbolised by water, in the world.

For God speaks of the Holy Spirit’s work of creating love in people’s hearts: “I [God] will open rivers [of love in people] in high places, and fountains [of love] in the midst of the valleys [in people who have been brought low by Satan]: I [God] will make the wilderness [those persons lacking the love of God in their hearts] a pool of water [of love], and the dry land [those persons lacking the love of God in their hearts] springs of water [of love].” Isaiah 41:18.

“I [God] will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man [more precious] than the golden wedge of Ophir.” Isaiah 13:12. That is to say, God creates in the person a character of perfect love just like God’s own character.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:15-17

“And the LORD God took the man [Adam], and put him into the garden of Eden to dress [cultivate] it and to keep [attend to] it.” Genesis 2:15.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:16, 17.

Here the symbolism of the record of God’s work of creation points to Christ’s words: “A certain nobleman… called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy [labour to create new Christians] till I [Christ] come [to the earth a second time].” Luke 19:12, 13.

Further, the symbolism is that God says, “ A blessing [of eternal life], if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: And a curse [of annihilation by God], if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day.” Deuteronomy 11:27, 28.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:18-24

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:18.

“And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.” Genesis 2:19.

“And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” Genesis 2:20.

“And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” Genesis 2:21, 22.

“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she [whom Adam named Eve] was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:23, 24.

The Creation Story: A New Name

The record of Adam giving names to all animals and to his wife, Eve, symbolises the new name promised to those people in whom God has created a heart of perfect love.

For Christ says, “He [or she] that hath an ear, let him [or her] hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches [where a church is made up of Christians]; To him [or her] that overcometh [sin] will I [Christ] give to eat of the hidden manna [hidden bread], and will give him [or her] a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man [no one] knoweth saving [except] he [or she] that receiveth it.” Revelation 2:17.

The Creation Story: Members of Christ’s Body

Now the record of God creating his wife, Eve, from Adam’s rib symbolically points to a spirituality reality for true Christians.

Thus, God says of true Christians, “For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord [Jesus Christ] the church: For we are members of his [Christ’s] body, of his [Christ’s] flesh, and of his [Christ’s] bones.” Ephesians 5:29, 30.

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:31, 32.

The Creation Story: Genesis 2:25

“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” Genesis 2:25. For Adam and Eve were created by God clothed only “with light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2) similar to God “who coverest…[Himself] with light as with a garment.” Psalm 104:2.

So, this is why both Adam and Eve, who were naked except for the garment of light which God created, were not ashamed.

The symbolism here is this: “For we [as true Christians] know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle [our earthly body] were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house [a spiritual body] not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 2 Corinthians 5:1.

“For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house [spiritual body] which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked [lacking God’s perfect love in the heart].” 2 Corinthians 5:2, 3.

Conclusion

In this post, we have gone through Genesis Chapters 1 and 2 verse by verse and found spiritual applications regarding the gospel, which is God’s plan to save them from annihilation by God and to instead give them eternal life.

So, we see then that for many people, in reading the creation story, as God says, “The men [the people] that walk over [read] them are not aware of…[their relationship to the gospel].” Luke 11:44.

For God does not waste words in the Bible, in that, the words in the Bible often have one or more symbolic meanings. Thus, in this way, God has compressed millions of His thoughts in the Bible.

Thus, from the very beginning of the Bible, God is telling humanity about the gospel. Hence, the gospel is of highest importance to every human being, therefore, ensure that you yourself receive the blessings of eternal life with God through the gospel.

The Bible Teaches Us How to Obtain Eternal Life from God

“In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word [Christ] was made flesh [was born as a baby boy named Jesus], and dwelt among us [human beings], (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father).” John 1:14. Thus, Christ, whose “name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) is the One who gave the whole Bible to humanity, from the Bible’s beginning to its end. Further, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8), which is to say, Christ is love.

And every one of you as a human being are to “lay apart [put away] all filthiness and superfluity [abundance] of naughtiness [of wickedness], and receive with meekness the engrafted [the implanted] word [from God, which is the Bible and], which is able to save your souls [from annihilation by God as the penalty for sin].” James 1:21. For the word of God, the Bible, being implanted in us means that “the love of God is shed abroad [is poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [the Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5. So then, “love is of God; and every one [every human being] that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7. This is known as “justification” (Romans 4:25) which is accomplished by our repentance, that is, our deep sorrow for our sins and the gift of faith from God, which when exercised to believe God’s promise of forgiveness of sins and cleansing from sin brings us the gift of love from God. Note that everyone receives the gift of faith from God but without repentance people have a superficial faith and not saving (correct) faith that takes proper hold of God’s truth by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately upon our justification, God tests our character to see if we will successfully resist all temptation to sin. Our success depends on our exercising faith in Christ’s keeping power through the Holy Spirit and, hence, we become sanctified (made holy) and thus receive eternal life from God.

And this is life eternal [everlasting life], that they [as human beings] might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [to the earth as a Deliverer from sin].” John 17:3. Thus, when the whole Bible makes our character a character of perfect love, it means that we know God and, hence, we will receive eternal life from God.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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