Article #3 on the Sovereignty of God in the First Verse of the Bible (Genesis 1:1)
God’s second act of creation was in the making of Earth as a planet according to Genesis 1:1. Remember, the creation of Heaven and Earth transpired before time began on Day #1 in Genesis 1:3-5. Now, having understood the creation of Heaven, and the events that preceded the creation of the World, it is abundantly clear why the angels were sitting in the galleries of Earth’s sky shouting for joy during the exploits of creation.
“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” - Job 38:4-7 (Neh. 9:6)
God didn’t create mankind for the Earth. Mankind wasn’t an afterthought in the heart of God. Election motivated creation! God created the Earth for mankind. In Genesis, this can be observed in how the LORD subjected the Earth to mankind. Repeated statements of this nature were made in the Adamic Covenant (Gen. 1:26-31). God wanted Adam to “subdue it” and exercise “dominion” over it (Gen. 1:28). Therefore, it was “given” to Adam (Gen. 1:29, 30). Speaking of this, David said, “the Earth hath He given to the children of men” (Ps. 115:16). David also quoted Genesis 1:26-31 in Psalm 8.
“Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” - Psalm 8:6-8
The divine wisdom employed in creation is unimaginable. The height, length, depth, and breadth of this undertaking is breathtaking and overwhelming! Coming to realize that God was doing it all for mankind is a humbling revelation. Literally, God wanted to be with mankind in the paradise of creation. Omnibenevolence motivated God to create a dreamlike situation of heaven on earth. In the beginning, there we see the LORD walking and talking with Adam in the cool of the day in the Garden of Eden! Can you imagine it? Reflecting upon this glorious beginning of God and Man, David wrote Psalm 8:3-6.
“When I consider Thy Heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:” - Psalm 8:3-6
Literally, God was motivated to create the Heavens and the Earth for mankind, while thinking about mankind as the primary object of His delight and the apple of His eye. It sounds unbelievable! “What is Man, that Thou art mindful of him?” Interpreters should allow the personification of Wisdom to speak on this matter. This brings us to Proverbs 8:27-31.
A Divine Preoccupation with Mankind During Creation
Divine genius was employed to create “the Earth” – appointing its “foundations” (Prov. 8:29), the fountains in the “depths”, and the “mountains” in the heights (Prov. 8:22-26). Infinite wisdom was used in the creation of “the Heavens” – in setting a “compass” upon the face of the depth and establishing the height of “the clouds” (Prov. 8:27-28). Meanwhile, the creation of these things was a thoroughly emotional experience, not for any special feeling of love that God had for these inanimate things of nature. Rather, divine Wisdom rejoiced to create these things while rejoicing to build a habitation for mankind. This is definitively stated in Proverbs 8:30-31 as the climactic conclusion of Proverbs 8:27-31.
“Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.” – Prov. 8:30-31
With the infinite clarity of divine foresight, God acted to create the Earth while rejoicing in the habitable parts of the world because He was delighting in the sons of men. However, it should be noted that the exploits of divine Wisdom had already become famous, even before the creation of the world. This is stated in Proverbs 8:22-23.
“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” – Prov. 8:22-23
Apparently, works were accomplished “from the beginning” and before “ever the Earth was” in a timeless place called Heaven – a place being referred to here as, “from everlasting” (Prov. 8:22-23). Sound familiar? We have already explored what happened in eternity, after the beginning, at the creation of Heaven, and before the creation of the Earth. As a result of these works the Angels of Heaven came to understand the glory of divine Wisdom. This brings us back to Job 38:4-7. Illustriously, the LORD “possessed” Wisdom! It was “set up” and put on display! It was publicly known in the creation of Heaven, and in the monumental events that took place in eternity.
A divine preoccupation with mankind in eternity must lead into a divine preoccupation with mankind during creation. This is loudly being communicated in the singing and shouting of Angels as they watched God create the world and everything in it (Job 38:4-7)! They had such uncontainable joy because the Angels were celebrating the “rejoicing” and “delight” of God during Creation (Prov. 8:22-23), and this is the same thing being called “pleasure” in Revelation 4:9-11.
A divine preoccupation with mankind in eternity must lead into a divine preoccupation with mankind during creation. This is loudly being communicated in the singing and shouting of Angels as they watched God create the world and everything in it (Job 38:4-7)! They had such uncontainable joy because the Angels were celebrating the “rejoicing” and “delight” of God during Creation (Prov. 8:22-23), and this is the same thing being called “pleasure” in Revelation 4:9-11.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” – Rev. 4:11
Wretched and unworthy sinners will object, by saying, “What is Man, that Thou art mindful of him?” (Ps. 8:4), but this doesn’t change reality (Lk. 5:8). The unmerited favor originates from the free will of God. Bitter and angry fallen angels, who have been turned into devils, agree with this objection in a slanderous way. You can hear it in their own words when a fallen angel visited Eliphaz to harden him against Job.
“Behold, He put no trust in His servants; and His angels He charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.” - Job 4:18-21 (1 Jn. 4:1)
A sovereign God providentially making plans in eternity to forgive sinners before they were even created is a marvelous testimony of grace. Having heard about this in Heaven, we can understand how this likely influenced the great Cherub, Lucifer, and hundreds of millions of Angels in train, when they presumed upon this grace for themselves on the day that they rebelled against God (Ezek. 28:14-15; Rev. 12:3-4; Rev. 9:16). Satan is still bitter about it.
It would be best to stick with God’s opinion on these high and holy matters. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20)! Let all mortal flesh keep silent. We should allow God to speak for Himself about why He created the world. This is done with eloquence and precision in the Book of Isaiah. Divine reasoning presents to readers strong arguments that are capable of converting the worst of sinners.
It would be best to stick with God’s opinion on these high and holy matters. “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20)! Let all mortal flesh keep silent. We should allow God to speak for Himself about why He created the world. This is done with eloquence and precision in the Book of Isaiah. Divine reasoning presents to readers strong arguments that are capable of converting the worst of sinners.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” – Isa. 1:18
The reasoning and argumentation only intensify in chapters forty through sixty-six. The sheer number of times that God speaks of the creation of the world and everything in it deserves our attention. Let’s try to follow the argument from beginning to end.
“Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?” – Isa. 40:12
“It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:” – Isa. 40:22
“Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.” – Isa. 40:26
“Mine hand also hath laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand hath spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.” – Isa. 48:13
Who else but the Creator can command universal faith, subjection, and obedience? The LORD is contending for the faith of the people, that they would believe that there is nothing too hard for God (Jer. 32:17)! This is relevant for the Jews. They find themselves in impossible circumstances. More specifically, in context, the LORD is contending for their faith in the power of God to perform the Gospel (Isa. 40:9, 12), in executing judgment upon Babylon’s world (Isa. 40:22-24, 48:13-14), and for the liberation, regathering, and restoration of the Jewish people (Isa. 40:26-31). Evidently, the creation of all the inanimate things of nature wasn’t for divine entertainment. These things were created for mankind! So the LORD proceeded to make the same divine statements with this implication.
“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:” – Isa. 42:5
“I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” – Isa. 45:12
“The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.” – Zech. 12:1
Implicitly, God is saying that He created the inanimate things of nature for mankind. Curiously, as a restoration prophet, Zechariah was compelled to say the same thing. The 70-year Babylonian Captivity had been a long and hard chastisement for the Jewish people. Therefore, in making these divine statements (Isa. 42:5, 45:12), once again, the LORD was in the process of promising their liberation, regathering, and restoration from Babylon through Cyrus, and where these prophecies don’t apply to history they will work to perform the liberation, regathering, and restoration of the Jewish people in the 2nd Advent of Christ.
A Divine Preoccupation with the Elect During Creation
Admittedly, the LORD was bringing the captivity to an end because if He continued to chastise the Jews, God said, “the spirit should fail before Me, and the souls which I have made” (Isa. 57:15-16). This helps us understand the heart of God in the creation of the spirits and souls of mankind (Isa. 42:5, 45:12, Zech. 12:1). Seeing that election motivated creation, theoretically, if all the elect were to perish, and the Jews were to be eradicated from the Earth, the original divine reason for creating everything in the physical universe would have come to nothing. Of course, God will not allow this to happen! Isaiah then proceeded to wax explicit and emphatic while making the exact same divine statements.
“For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.” – Isa. 45:18 (Prov. 8:30-31)
Clearly, God doesn’t want sinners to inhabit the earth (Gen. 6:5-7). It is now becoming clearer to readers that the Creator is speaking directly to the elect. The language of election pervades these chapters because God wants the elect to inhabit the earth! Election and creation are interrelated divine powers that are repeatedly presented together by divine reasoning. The timeless place of eternity, as the origin of divine sovereignty, is referred to by the words, “from the beginning”, “from the foundations of the earth”, and “before the day” (Isa. 40:21-23, 41:4-5, 26-27, 43:13). Demonstrating the power of election is how the LORD made a name for Himself as “the First and the Last” (Isa. 41:4, 26-27, 44:6, 48:12, Rev. 1:11, 17, 2:8, 22:13). Literally, God did this by “calling the generations from the beginning” (Isa. 41:4-5), and by calling the elect out of every generation first, before the LORD even created the Earth (Isa. 41:26-27).
“Who hath declared from the beginning, that we may know? and beforetime, that we may say, He is righteous? yea, there is none that sheweth, yea, there is none that declareth, yea, there is none that heareth your words. The First shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem One that bringeth good tidings.” – Isa. 41:26-27
In a powerful demonstration of election, the LORD spoke about what was done “from the beginning” in eternity, when “the First” called and elected believers by predestinating them to be spiritually born in Zion, speaking of heavenly Jerusalem. This makes perfect sense in the light of Holy Scripture (Matt. 25:34, Heb. 12:22-24, Lk. 10:20, Ps. 87:1-7, Gal. 4:26, Jn. 18:36, Heb. 11:16, 13:14). The vacant mansions in the Kingdom of Heaven need inhabitants! Hence, when the Redeemer created these people, it was done with an overwhelming sense of love and affection. Literally, the Potter of Eternity lovingly and affectionately “formed [them] from the womb” to fulfill a specific purpose of divine sovereignty (Isa. 44:24).
“Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;” - Isa 44:24
“And forgettest the LORD thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?” – Isa. 51:13
“And I have put My words in Thy mouth, and I have covered Thee in the shadow of Mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art My people.” – Isa. 51:16 (see Isa. 41:26-27; Col. 1:15-22)
God didn’t plant the Heavens and lay the foundations of the earth so sinners could take over the world (Ps. 104:35). No! It was all created so that Jesus Christ could say to Zion, “Thou art My people” (Isa. 51:16). This is the “One” who was foretold to bring “good tidings” (Isa. 41:27). Evidently, this is God’s “pleasure” in creating all these things (Rev. 4:9-11). The Angels, as witnesses of divine sovereignty in election, knew all about the “pleasure” of God in creating the Earth and everything in it (Rev. 4:9-11, Job 38:4-7). Without exaggeration, God created Heaven and Earth so that He might glorify Christ in the salvation of the elect, which means that He was doing it all for the elect Jews (Isa. 51:16; Eph. 1:10-11, Col. 1:15-20).
“For Jacob My servants sake, and Isarel mine elect…” – Isa. 45:4
“…and Mine elect shall inherit it, and My servants shall dwell there.” – Isa. 65:9
“…and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” – Isa. 65:22
Election motivated the creation of the world! Yes. And Election also motivated the creation of specific people in the womb. Can you hear this coming through in the Book of Isaiah? For instance, when the LORD was speaking to the Jews, it was written, “Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb…” (Isa. 44:24). This is the language of election. This is a language of paternal love. This is especially true for the “elect” Messiah of the Jews, as can be seen in Isaiah 42:1-7.
“Behold My Servant, whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in whom My soul delighteth; I have put My Spirit upon Him: He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” – Isa. 42:1
“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called Thee in righteousness, and will hold Thine hand, and will keep Thee, and give Thee for a Covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” – Isa. 42:5-7
The Messiah was foretold to be the root of Jesse, the son of David, and the only begotten Son of God, who alone was born of a virgin (Isa. 7:14, 9:6-7, 11:1, 10; Jn. 3:16). His birthday was the one and only immaculate conception the world has ever seen (Ps. 22:9-10)! Understandably, God the Father was personally involved in the conception, formation, and birth of this holy child (Lk. 1:35). Speaking of this, the Son of God made the following personal statements.
“Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called Me from the womb; from the bowels of My mother hath He made mention of My name.” – Isa. 49:1
“And now, saith the LORD that formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and My God shall be My strength.” – Isa. 49:5
Connect the dots. In the language of election, the everlasting arms of the Potter are at work in creation. As a genuine human being, the Name of Jesus Christ was called by God and written in the Book of Life (Ezek. 13:9, Ex. 32:32-33, Ps. 69:28, 87:6, Isa. 4:3, Dan. 12:1, Hos. 9:3). Similarly, the Name of Jesus Christ was reckoned up in the genealogies (Matt. 1:1-17, Lk. 3:23-38).
The Book of Life motivates God to create life on earth. Specifically, and individually, this proves to be true with the Messiah, and with all the elect of every generation. And without the election of Jesus Christ, there would be no election of anyone else (2 Cor. 1:20, Eph. 1:10, 1 Pet. 1:2-10). Christ is the Fountainhead. Downstream, the elect things spoken to the Jews also apply to all the elect of every generation (Isa. 44:5, 55:3-5, 56:3-8, 65:1-2, 15-16). elect Gentiles even become spiritual Jews at salvation (Rom. 2:25-29, 11:16-17, Eph. 2:18-19, Gal. 3:26-29)! Hence, the language of election waxes stronger and stronger as God is reasoning with the Jews in the Book of Isaiah.
The Book of Life motivates God to create life on earth. Specifically, and individually, this proves to be true with the Messiah, and with all the elect of every generation. And without the election of Jesus Christ, there would be no election of anyone else (2 Cor. 1:20, Eph. 1:10, 1 Pet. 1:2-10). Christ is the Fountainhead. Downstream, the elect things spoken to the Jews also apply to all the elect of every generation (Isa. 44:5, 55:3-5, 56:3-8, 65:1-2, 15-16). elect Gentiles even become spiritual Jews at salvation (Rom. 2:25-29, 11:16-17, Eph. 2:18-19, Gal. 3:26-29)! Hence, the language of election waxes stronger and stronger as God is reasoning with the Jews in the Book of Isaiah.
“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine.” – Isa. 43:1 | “Yet now hear, O Jacob My servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen: Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, My servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.” – Isa. 44:1-2 |
The godliest people to ever walk the face of the earth have the most astounding assurance of their own election. This was true of Jeremiah the Prophet. He felt “formed” by God in “the womb” of his mother for a very specific purpose in the earth (Jer. 1:5). This was true of the apostle Paul. He too felt that God “separated [him] from [his] mother’s womb” (Gal. 1:15, Rom. 1:1). Harmoniously, Paul was “called”, “elected”, and “chosen” by the LORD in the New Testament (1 Cor. 1:1, 2 Cor. 1:1, Eph. 1:1, Col. 1:1, 1 Tim. 1:1, 2 Tim. 1:1, 9-11, Acts 9:15, 22:14-15). Ah! But the same assurances would be granted to all believers if we could comprehend the language of election (1 Thess. 1:4). Meditatively, like King David, let us trace our election from now to infancy, and into eternity.
“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.” – Ps. 71:5-6
David traces the presence of irresistible grace back to its origin. In “old age”, David looked back at a lifetime sovereign mercy (Ps. 71:9). He said, “Thou art my trust from my youth” (Ps. 71:5). David then looked back even further at his own birthday, and there he saw God as the Physician, Nurse, and Deliverer (Ps. 71:6). Ah! But the “searching” continues (1 Cor. 2:10-12). Inspiration carried David’s thoughts even further back in time. David looked back beyond his birthday and theatrically saw into the womb of his mother! He received a revelation of the love of God in the formation of his substance in the belly of his mother (Ps. 139:13-16). This is a staggering revelation! Can you imagine it? Finally, when it seems that David could proceed no further back in time, the man was somehow conducted into eternity. David looked into eternity and saw the divine thoughts of infinity (Ps. 139:17-18)! These are the sure mercies of David (Isa. 55:1-3).
“For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” – Ps. 139:13-18
This should give all men some pause. This should give all the elect some prostration! David peered into the heart of God and saw an unquantifiable sum of divine thoughts about himself. These were precious thoughts. This motivated the Potter to joyfully take a lump of clay and then proceed to intimately mold and form the elect body and soul of David on the wheel of divine sovereignty. The same is true for all the recipients of “the sure mercies of David” (Isa. 55:3).
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