Cosmic Canvas
If the heavens are God’s space, the Earth is our space, what is the sea?
Nobody's space
What Hebrew word can mean wind, breath, or spirit?
Ruakh
According to the Babylonian myth, the world was created when a god speared the water dragon and tore it apart. Who was that god?
Marduk
Yahweh is described as the water tamer in Genesis 1. But, the dangerous, chaos waters are not only defeated by God. What are they doing in Psalm 148?
They are worshipping God.
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Does that statement give us the first step in a sequence or a summary for what is to come?
Summary
In the Bible, heaven is often associated with the kingly rule of God. That helps make sense of a scene in Matthew 28, after Jesus rose from the dead and spoke on a mountain to his disciples. He says “All [what] in heaven and on earth has been given to me…”
Authority
If the story of creation begins with chaos, what word describes how it ends? (Hint: in the Hebrew, this word sounds a lot like the word for “seven.”)
“Complete” (Seven=sheva; complete=sava)
According to this nation, order, called ma’at, came when you made all the gods happy, including Re (sun god) and Nut (sky goddess). Which nation is that?
Egypt
On Day 5, God creates something that he calls good, but it is not tame. In fact, it represents the dangers of the chaos waters and is sometimes unleashed on the earth. What is that?
The Sea Dragon/Serpent/Monster; The Tannin
What are the three obstacles to God’s purposes in Genesis 1:2?
Wilderness, Waters, and Darkness
What is the name of the dome associated with heaven that holds up the chaos waters above?
Raqia
In Jeremiah 4, the destruction of Jerusalem is described with what Hebrew words that we find in Genesis 1:2?
Tohu va Vohu
What are the four jobs the lights above are given in day 4?
Signs, seasons, days, and years.
In Psalm 75:3, God is depicted as providing safety and stability in the midst of chaos. How does the psalmist describe that?
Holding the pillars of the land firm.
If you folded up days 1-6 along a vertical line, you would end up with two columns. The first column (days 1-3) would show God bringing order. What is God doing in the second column (days 4-6)?
Filling creation with inhabitants.
The Bible has what’s called a function-oriented ontology. That means for something to truly exist, it doesn’t just exist materially but three other things usually have to happen. What are they?
Separated, named, and given a function.
What number shows up in lots and lots of ways throughout the Creation Story of Genesis 1? (Hint: It also represents completion.)
Seven
Some angels are sent out from heaven as messengers. Others talk through things with God. What is the name for the group that stays?
The Divine Council
One striking feature of the Creation Story is that God does not confront his opponents with violence. Instead, he bends darkness and the waters for his purposes. At the end of Genesis, Joseph summarizes this idea. What does he say to his brothers?
What you meant for evil, God meant for good.
If you folded up days 1-6 along a horizontal line, you would notice that the top section mostly describes the heavens/skies (days 1 and 4). What domain is described in the bottom section (days 3 and 6)?
The Earth/land
When Jonah is swallowed by the fish, he looks up to the heavenly Temple. But, what are four words to describe where he is?
Pit, death, deep, sea.
God speaks ten times in the Creation Story of Genesis 1. In Exodus, we find two 10-part divine speech acts. What are they?
The plagues and the Ten Commandments
How is Genesis 1 similar to and different from the ancient myths of Egypt or Babylon.
* Similar: Origin from water, Order is primary, Wind is present in creation.
* Different: Only one God. Not violent.
If you wanted to praise God for the way his character permeates all of creation, you might go to Psalm 36:5 for the words, which say what?
Your steadfast love reaches (extends) to the heavens.
Genesis 1:1-3 gives us a hint of the Trinity. Where and how do we see a hint of Jesus?
Jesus is the Word of God in verse 3.