Acts of Creation

This week in our Mini Bible College lesson we are learning about Creation.  It is interesting that the word for "Creation" is 'bara' in Hebrew, which means to "make something from nothing".  Three times in the first chapter of Genesis we see God exercising "bara" to create something from nothing.  In between these acts there is change and development as the creation forms.  In verse 1 God creates the heavens and earth.  In verse 21 God creates animals.  In verse 27 God creates man.  In between these verses we see the creation changing and developing.  Our teacher, Dick Woodward, points out that there is nothing that conflicts with science here.  God designed evolution and change into the plan but only God could make something from nothing.  There are three areas where science has been unable to provide the answers:  How did the earth first get here, How did animals develop from plant life and How did man form from animals.  These missing links are explained by the three acts of "bara".  A fourth act of bara is necessary in our hearts.  We cannot become the people God ultimately wants us to be simply by growth and change within ourselves.  We need an act of "bara" to make something from nothing in our hearts.  As David said in Psalm 51:10 

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

A fourth act of "bara" is needed to make us a new creation.

blessings (come to our class at 9:30 in room 120 to learn with us on Sunday at the Williamsburg Community Chapel),

Rob Smith