Genesis addresses the most fundamental issue of life. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” By this, we know that God is the Creator of everything that exists. This also necessarily means that there is no other God, as affirmed in Isaiah 40:25-26a: “‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these?”
This truth stands against the idolatry and polytheism of the ancient world. The account of each creation day denounces these various gods. The account of the first day of creation denounces the gods of light and darkness; the second day, the gods of the sea and sky; the third day, the gods of earth and vegetation; the fourth day, the gods of the sun, moon and stars; and the fifth and sixth days, the animal gods. Next, God created man. Although we are created in His own image, none of us should be worshipped, as we are only His created beings.
This account of the creation, therefore, lays the foundation for the covenant between God and His people, the Israelites. Why are we are prohibited from worshipping other gods? The reason is, God is the sole Creator. Why are we prohibited from committing murder or adultery? The reason is, these are sins against our fellow human beings, who are created in God’s own image, just as we are.
Let us make it our goal to get to know our one true and living God better, and to make Him known to others as well.
God and God alone
Is fit to take
The universe’s throne.
Let everything that lives
Reserve its truest praise
For God and God alone.