These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Genesis2:4
Are there two separate creation accounts in the Bible? Some would tell us the answer is yes. In Genesis 1 we are told that God created the universe and everything in it in six days. Then He rested. Yet we see in today’s verse what seems to be saying that God may have created the heavens and the earth in one day. So what gives? Did God change His mind and start over? Hardly. The Bible often gives up more than one account of the same event.
We have four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry with each telling us the same story but giving different details. Moses writes about the Ten Commandments in both Exodus and Deuteronomy. We have the book of Kings and Chronicles which both tell us essentially the same story giving us the linage of the kings of Judah and Israel. Did God forget He had already told Israel once? Not hardly. We, humans, are a stubborn lot and Israel was particularly stubborn.
In ancient literature when some was important it was repeated. The Ten Commandments are important as God’s law rests on them so Moses repeats them. God had told Israel that the Messiah would come from the House of David so the genealogy of Israel was very important. The Jews needed to know the genealogy of David so they could recognize the Messiah when He came. So God gave us the genealogy of Jewish kings not one but twice. Unfortunately they still missed Him. And of course the most important story in the Bible, Jesus and His death and resurrection we are told four times and then again in Paul’s writings as well as the entire New Testament writings.
What I see as different about Genesis 2 is that in this account of creation we see an emphasis on God’s creating humans. It is not until the end of creation that God creates man so much of Genesis 1 is about the rest of the creation process. Now in Genesis 2 we see a more detailed account not only of the creation of man but how God prepared creation for mankind. Over the next few days we will look at Genesis 2 and how it shows our special place in creation.
Have a blessed day,
David
Thank you David, I’m enjoying your messages, even if I don’t always have a chance to comment but I hope to catch up on a few more.
What many forget is that there were no Chapters and verses in Scripture, punctuation or grammar, these were added later and the New Testament and also parts of the Old were all written in Uupper case. There is no real division it’s a continuing account of Creation in Chapter 2 which is why I very much appreciated your explanation David, it highlights that God confirms Scripture with Scripture as He also did in the Gospels. Eye witnesses see different things but the Holy Spirit always confirms God’s Truth in other Scripture, as you shared in realation to the genealogy of Jesus. Mary was also from the line of David, Jesus was born of a woman so He had man’s flesh but not his seed as He was conceived by The Holy Spirit and had God’s seed being part of The Godhead. Joseph as confirmed clearly was from the Line of David, which gave Jesus His legal and inherited position, which was Ordained by God as prophesied.
Yes your so right David we can indeed be very stubborn just like the people of Israel but we remember they did not have the indwelling of The Holy Spirit as we do when we are perfected in God’s Love and conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, we walk as He walked and we also keep the Commandments because they are fulfilled in Love, God is Love. Jesus set us free from the slavery of sin and so having put the flesh to death by The Spirit we have His mind and we can walk as He did.
John 8:34-36 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
1 John 3:9 No one who is Born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been Born of God.
1 John 3: 6-8 whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous.
Christian Love from us both -Anne
Anne,
once again thanks for your comments and encouragement.While I try to reply to all comments it sometime takes me a while. Between work, home and of course writing these daily devotionals. I can get behind. I had actually thought of mentioning in this post the fact you brought up that chapters and verses is more recent than the Scripture. Thanks for adding i9t to the comments. Finally you mentioned about working with a Creation ministry in Australia, any chance that was Ken Ham”s Answers In Genesis? My wife got to hear him speak and I have a number of his books.
Once again thank and have a blessed day,
David