The origin of the universe is a mystery. As we explore more deeply into that mystery in the 21st century, science remains baffled by its complexities. Does the Bible contain scientifically applicable answers for these complex problems? Can the Genesis narrative be accepted as a true account? Are there links between science and scripture to make a viable argument to support it?
Considering those questions there are some key points of origin and function to consider in the first chapters of Genesis.
In the first chapter we see the beginning of the universe as an idea initiated from God. It was a perception from God’s consciousness that was brought to the material in which we live. How our existence could have come out of nothing (ex nihilo) is one of man’s oldest questions.
Genesis and science agree that earth would have to be established before life would be possible. For the creation of night and day the earth would need to revolve around the sun and spin on its axis. We measure time by the complete rotation of the earth on its axis. Day and night are based on its position to the sun during a complete rotation on its axis, and the seasons are determined by the position of the earth during one complete cycle around the sun.
This is a good video presentation by geophysicist Dr Anat Shahar that explains how science currently believes the solar and planetary systems were formed. It shows the cyclical patterns in which all heavenly bodies formed and continue to operate. Anta Shahar – YouTube
According to Genesis when the earth settled in its position in the solar system and borders of dry ground and water were defined, then the eco system was ready for the propagation of life. Each species or ‘kind’ had its own unique genetic makeup and function for replicating itself. Science has discovered that there is a genetic program for each species of plant, animal, fish, insect, or any life form as small as bacteria as current research has discovered. The Genesis narrative says that God spoke all things into existence, inferring a programming of the pattern of genetic data for each ‘kind’ had taken place.
In Genesis, all life until that point was programmed to recreate according to its kind, but there is a departure from that pattern of replication with humankind. The creation of Adam that followed according to Genesis is unique from all the other life forms. Looking first at Genesis 2:7 it says that Adam was made by Yahweh Elohim from the dust of the ground. But in 1:26 it says that he as well as all other life was made strictly by a corporate effort as, “Elohim said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;”
Recreating the Creator
Man’s creation makes the identity of God become clearer. First, in Genesis 1:26, man was made in the image and likeness of Elohim אלהים, which is a Hebrew plural noun, describing God as a plural entity. Then In Genesis 2:7 Yahweh Elohim is the maker, not just Elohim. Yahweh יהוה is the recognized name of the creator, the self-existent one, from whom all the material universe was made. The crucial factor here is the relationship of the two entities joined together to make one creator. Yahweh is the sole creator who divides and creates and then recreates again into a corporate entity as Elohim. This shows the selfless nature of Yahweh. Although he alone is the sole creator from whom all things exist, he willingly and humbly shares responsibility for creating all things with others of his creation.
To further identify that, the making of man had a specific goal in mind, as image and likeness have slightly different meanings to consider. The Hebrew word for image is tzelem צֶלֶם meaning specifically image or picture. The Hebrew word for likeness is dimoot דְּמוּת also meaning image but adds the dimension of personality, identity, or character. This describes the unique purpose in the making of man with the implanting of God’s character as an extension of the corporate entity of Elohim.
Replicating Patterns
Adam was made with a specific pattern to follow that separates humankind from all other life to represent the love and unity we see in the relationship of Yahweh and Elohim. This is the primary replicating pattern we are made to follow. This pattern of the one creator dividing and recreating into other creators is a pattern that continues to replicate genetically. The way cells divide and multiply from one cell, and DNA replicates its bases will be related in the post on Seeds and Cells.
But to confirm this dual purpose of replication of God’s physiological image and his conscious characteristics the biblical narrative replicates this foundational principal in scriptures from Old and New Covenants.
For example, Psalm 82 addresses the necessity of man’s right moral concern for one another and verse 6 reads, “I said, ‘You are gods (Elohim), and all of you are children of the Highest.’” This focuses on the likeness or character of God as the foundation for the children of God made in his image.
We see that same pattern in the teaching of Jesus. He called his people to return to those same moral standards, and in his defense quotes Psalm 82:6 in John 10 to support his claim as son of God. It is the biblical claim that humankind has been set apart from all other life on earth to replicate God’s image and likeness as supported by the foundational statement of Genesis 1:26.
Pattern of Dominion
In Genesis Adam was given dominion over all creation on earth. He could freely eat from every tree but one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was warned that the day that he ate of it would be the day he would die. This defined boundaries of life and death for Adam with consequence for disobedience. Disregarding this one requirement was a failure to in obedience to maintain moral responsibility. That lead to disconnection from Elohim and the established pattern of replication of love and unity. The command was a law to keep Adam from evil that he would need to choose to obey.
After the command was given, God saw that Adam was alone and decided to make a helper comparable to him. Eve was created from one of Adam’s ribs. Her creation was unlike his as she was created from him and not the dust of the earth. She was the first copy of the original and now together as one they formed the first corporate unity for humankind to replicate the pattern of Genesis 1:26.
This continues the cycle of creation of Yahweh Elohim in the material realm. Adam was given the responsibility to recreate unity within the established guidelines. The critical nature of the warning for eating from the tree of knowledge reveals the serpent as a pre-existing evil presence in opposition to God. The consequences for willfully choosing not to obey the command would replace God’s likeness of love and unity to replicate an evil, divisive, and defiant one.
Our biological system follows a similar pattern of obedience to command. Broken cellular communication will produce a diseased cell like cancer. The body’s immune system is designed to seek and destroy the diseased cell to defend the body and keep it in health. That biological connection will be addressed in the post on Seed and Cells.
The bible repeats that foundational story of an evil presence through one who appears as a son of Elohim who opposed the establishing of God’s likeness through moral replication in man.
In the book of Job 1:6 Satan is admitted into the presence of the sons of Elohim. As sons they had the right to come into the presence of Yahweh. Satan’s admittance gave him an equal audience as a son. When questioned as to his purpose he was shown Job as a righteous seed replicating God’s character. He then asked for and was given permission to test Job’s resolve to see if he would remain faithful. Like the serpent in the garden, Satan’s interference disrupted communication between God and man to destroy the pattern of healthy replication in humankind. Job survived the severe testing that followed at great expense and recovered. Through his trial he was given greater knowledge of God, understood the greater reason behind the calamity, and went on to help and unite his friends to love and understand God.
Moral and Material Law
Like the command given Adam, societal laws are set in place to keep us from evil. The biblical laws are a system of guidelines for behavior found in its most simple version in Genesis 1-4. Had Adam remained obedient to that one command it would have protected humankind’s replication of God’s likeness from the consequences. As a result, we still struggle to balance good and evil because of Adam’s moral failure. However, we have been made and programmed to replicate the peace and unity of Yahweh Elohim. It’s the pattern we were created to recreate. It’s in the hope of establishing that pattern and abiding to the innate precepts of the moral law that the United Nations was created.
Laws govern how planets and solar systems function. They were created to follow cyclical patterns that produce what we identify as times and seasons. As the law of gravity holds celestial bodies together in their cycles and our physical bodies to the earth, the moral law of love and unity keeps us from self-destructive patterns that lead to death.
Because we are made in the likeness of God we can create as he does. We can perceive and plan structures in our conscious minds and then construct it in material reality. This also makes it possible to perceive an outcome of an action and choose how we respond. It’s how we respond to moral dilemmas that we create cycles of good and cycles of evil. It’s in the understanding of replicating patterns and predictable cycles and outcomes that we come to know God and discover through his word, the ultimate plan he has for our good.