Bible Studies

IN THE BEGINNING A LOOK AT GENESIS 1 AND 2

by Jeff Van Hatten
07/12/24
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Isaiah 46:9-10 – “For I am Yahweh, and there is no other; I am Yahweh, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all my good pleasure’.”
Psalm 90:4 – “To you, Elohim, a thousand years is like the passing of a single day.”

The Scroll of Genesis is not just a historical account of what Elohim has done, but is filled with prophecy. The seven days represent seven prophetic periods of history, describing the seven thousand years of history before the eternal reign of Yeshua. We see that Genesis is not only about timelines and the age of the earth, it is about building a house, bringing in the family, and enjoying what has been built, culminating in a day of rest.

Part I The Overall Plan
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ)
In Hebrew, Genesis 1:1 reads “b’reshiyth bara elohim et ha’shamayim v’et ha’erets.” The English translation of the Hebrew scripture of Genesis 1 and other verses have been traditionally interpreted to give the reader accurate information about the age of the planet earth. This corresponds to the Pashat, or plain simple, literal, surface meaning. However, when one looks at the Darash (deeper comparative) or Sod (secret, unrevealed) level, entirely different interpretations can be seen. At this level, Genesis 1:1 lays out the entire plan of history and what Elohim – The Father, Yahweh-Yeshua, and the Ruach Ha’Kodesh set forth to accomplish throughout the history of mankind.

The Hebrew language began as a pictographic language, and even today, each and every letter of every word has an entire story behind it. The first word, reshiyth means the first, or foremost, another name for Messiah. The very first letter, the Bet, is enlarged and means house. The first two letters, Bet and Resh, spell the Hebrew word, son! The first three letters spell the word Bara, which means created. So, just the first three letters of the word B’reshiyth tell us that in order to build a house, the son created . . . (Colossians 1:16-17, 1 John 1:1-5)! The letters Resh, Shin, and Hey create the word Resh, which means foremost, head, or first. Also included in the first Hebrew word are the words: son, appointed, tree, thorns, first-fruit, gift, and covenant, just to name a few.

And what did Elohim create? The heavens and the earth! In other words, “For the sake of the Foremost, Elohim created a house – the heavens and the earth.” Which brings us to the words et ha’shamayim v’et ha’erets. The et, or aleph-tav are the very first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The aleph-tav is Yeshua. Yeshua puts it this way in Revelation 22:13 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”

The et, or Yeshua, is the direct cause of the creation of the heavens and the earth. This is confirmed by John 1:1-3 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . . All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” The sixth word, v’et, starts with the letter vav, whose pictorial image is the hook. The vav joins the heavens and the earth together, suggesting the connection between the spiritual and earthly matters. Who does scripture say Yeshua is? 1 Timothy 2:5 tells us that the mediator between Yahweh and humankind, between heaven and earth, is “the man Yeshua Ha’Maschiach”!

The first seven words of the Torah found in Genesis 1:1 are not only about timelines or how long it took for Elohim to create and put in place the heavens and the earth! No, indeed. The first seven words are all about the plan that Elohim – The Father, Yahweh-Yeshua, and the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, had formed to take a wife, build a house, bring together a family, and make it possible for that family to live together despite their failings and sins through the sacrifice of Yeshua on the cross.

From The Beginning
Matthew 19:4 – “He who created them from the beginning made them male and female . . .”
Matthew 19:8 – “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way.”
Mark 10:6 – ““But from the beginning of creation, Yahweh made them male and female . . .”
Once again, we see the phrase which in the English reads, the beginning. An English idiom, from the get-go, captures the essence of this word entirely. The Greek word, archē [ἀρχή -G746] means: that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause. In every instance, whether in Hebrew or Greek, the word beginning is used to indicate the active cause of an event, not a timeline.

From the very first instant that Elohim – The Father, Yahweh-Yeshua, and the Ruach Ha’Kodesh (Holy Spirit), gave thought to consider the cost of taking a wife and building a family, they knew that Yeshua would have to be sacrificed in order to accomplish this task (Revelation 13:8, 1 Peter 1:19-20). The heavens and the earth had to be created. The land had to be separated from the waters. The planet earth had to be furnished with all the necessary lands, foods, and helpers that Adam would need. The sun, moon, and stars had to be put in place to indicate the appointed times (moedim) when Yahweh would meet with his bride. Man had to be formed in the image and likeness of Elohim.

Part II The Daily Building Plan
Isaiah 46:9-10 – “For I am Yahweh, and there is no other; I am Yahweh, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all my good pleasure’.”
Genesis 1:1 gave us the overall plan of Elohim – The Father, Yahweh-Yeshua, and the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, a purpose to be accomplished (Isaiah 46:10). That purpose is to take a wife, build a house, bring together a family, and make it possible for that family to live together despite their failings and sins through the sacrifice of Yeshua on the cross, and ultimately to live with that family throughout eternity. Now we look at the daily activities:

Luke 14:28 – “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?”
The plan is to build a house. Everyone who is going to build a house makes a plan which reads somewhat as follows:
• Day 1: gather the supplies, prepare the land
• Day 2: set the foundation
• Day 3: put up the walls, bring in the landscaping
• Day 4: put on the roof
• Day 5: install the electric, plumbing, heating
• Day 6: paint the house, bring in the furniture, hang the pictures, move in
• Day 7: rest and enjoy the new home

The plan is formed, now the building starts. With enough people gathered, a house can literally be raised in seven days, just as the plan demands, but if one has been around construction sites long enough one has seen that a home rarely gets finished that quickly. Genesis 1:3 thru Genesis 2:2 is Elohim’s construction plan for the universe:

Day One Genesis 1:2-5 – “The earth was void and unformed. Then Elohim said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light . . . day one.” Day 1: Gather The Supplies, Prepare The Land. The earth at this point is void and unformed. Exactly as the plot of land upon which one wants to build one’s house. The ground must be surveyed, the location of where the building will sit determined, and the ground graded.

Day Two Genesis 1:6-8 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ . . . day two.” Day 2: Set The Foundation. The first thing to be built on a house is the foundation. The forms have to be set and the concrete poured. Here we see Elohim setting the foundation upon which all else will be built.

Day Three Genesis 1:9-13 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear. Let the plants, trees, and vegetation grow’ and it was so. . . . day three.” Day 3: Put Up The Walls, Bring In The Landscaping. Hmmm . . . Is Elohim following our plan, or are we just mimicking his plan? Is this not the day when we put up the walls and bring in the trees, grass, flowers, etc?

Day Four Genesis 1:14-19 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years’ . . . day four.” Day 4: Put On The Roof. This is the day that the roof is “put on” over the earth. The sun, moon, and stars are all put in place to give us a canopy wondrous to look at.

Day Five Genesis 1:20-23 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the sky’ . . . day five.” Day 5: Install The Electric, Plumbing, Heating. Today Elohim stocks the earth with all the “helpers” Adam will need, or simply enjoy. Try enjoying a house with no electricity, plumbing, or heating!

Day Six Genesis 1:24-31 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind’ and let us make man in our image, and let them eat ’. . . . day six.” Day 6: Paint The House, Bring In The Furniture, Hang The Pictures, Move In. The house is basically finished at this point, and it’s time to decorate the walls, bring in the cat and dog, the children, and prepare the first meal. Isn’t this exactly what we see Elohim accomplishing?

Day Seven Genesis 2:1-3 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let’s rest. Today is a day of blessing, set apart for us to enjoy together’. . . . day seven.” Day 7: Rest And Enjoy The New Home. On the seventh day, Elohim rested from his labors and began to enjoy what he had built. The seventh day he set apart to spend with his creation, just as we do after we have moved in – take a day off from our labors to sit back, watch the TV, play with the spouse and children, pet the dog, and wonder if kitty will come, sit in our lap, and purr in contentment.

Part III The Prophetic Plan
2 Peter 3:8 – “Beloved, do not forget that for Elohim one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years is the same as one day.”
Now we look at the prophecies embedded within each day wherein each day is the same as one thousand days in human history. The house is built, and all necessary items have been installed. But this is only the start of Elohim’s plan for the universe. Let’s examine the prophetic possibilities:

Day One Genesis 1:2-5 – “The earth was void and unformed. Then Elohim said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light . . . day one.” Adam and Eve are in the garden and enjoying its comforts. But Adam and Eve have a choice to make – will they choose to walk in the light, or will they choose to walk in the darkness? Adam is told that should he choose to walk in darkness, in other words – choose to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he will die in one day (Genesis 2:16-17)! Guess which choice they make. Day one passes, and Adam dies at only 930 years of age – just short of one day in Elohim’s eyes.

Day Two Genesis 1:6-8 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.’ . . . day two.” The waters are separated from the waters on day two. In other words, the earth’s atmosphere is separated from outer space. But during the next one thousand years of human history, the heavens are opened up and the water floods the earth during the life of Noah! And this is not the only prophecy of water being divided. Not too many years later the waters of the Sea of Suph (Red Sea) are separated to allow the Hebrew slaves to escape from Egypt (Exodus 14:21). And the barrier, or veil, still separates earth from Elohim’s heavenly home, but will one day be torn open when Yeshua returns (Revelation 19:11).

Day Three Genesis 1:9-13 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear. Let the plants, trees, and vegetation grow’ and it was so. . . . day three.” The vegetation is planted and begins to bloom. And one of the plants is the fig tree – the Biblical symbol for the nation of Israel. Day three prophesies that the Hebrews will be gathered into one place, into one land (Nehemiah 9:7)! First, they gather in Canaan, move to Egypt, and then gather again back in Canaan.

Day Four Genesis 1:14-19 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years’ . . . day four.” Israel had the feasts of Yahweh – the moedim – the appointed times of meeting between Yahweh and human beings. The fourth day prophesies the reign of David and his descendants upon the throne of Israel. And David’s most famous descendant is Yeshua. But what about his ancestors? Ruth is the gentile woman redeemed by Boaz the Jew. Ruth represents those who are redeemed by the Kinsman Redeemer, Yeshua, and then become his bride! All signs to the unbelieving . . . that the prophecies regarding the Messiah and his taking of a bride will be fulfilled.

Day Five Genesis 1:20-23 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the sky’ . . . day five.” Fill the sea with fish. Day five prophesies that Yeshua will be born, begin his ministry, take disciples and command his disciples to become fishers of men and fill his church with people alive in the spirit (Matthew 4:19, Mark 1:17). Today, still, the symbol of the fish represents those who call Yeshua their Lord and Savior. Truly, the sea, a symbol of gentiles, has been filled with fish that are alive in Yeshua.

Day Six Genesis 1:24-31 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind’ and let us make man in our image, and let them eat ’. . . . day six.” The sixth thousand years has seen the bringing forth of every kind of invention and convenience for mankind to enjoy. It has also seen the emergence of wars and rumor of wars, and the ability of mankind to bring about his own extinction. Only Yahweh shortening the day will prevent this from happening and bring in the seventh day, the day of rest (Mark 13:20).

Day Seven Genesis 2:1-3 – “Then Elohim said, ‘Let’s rest. Today is a day of blessing, set apart for us to enjoy together’. . . . day seven.” The day of rest, in other words, the millennial reign of Yeshua. During the millennial reign the earth and its people will see the earth once again become a garden, sickness and hunger will depart, and war will be no more (Revelation chapters 21 & 22). Today we approach year 6,000 of human history. No one knows exactly on which day this will occur due to the many changes to our current calendars. But when it does, the seventh day, the day of rest will begin.

Conclusions
Part I
Genesis 1:1 – “For the sake of Yeshua, Elohim through Yeshua created the heavens and the earth . . .”
“In the beginning” has nothing to do with the age of the earth. The English translation of the Hebrew scriptures has mislead thousands into believing that Yahweh’s creation is all about timelines, rather than about his plan to take a wife, build a house, bring together a family, and make it possible for that family to live together despite their failings and sins through the sacrifice of Yeshua on the cross, and ultimately to live with that family throughout eternity.

Genesis 1:1 is not about the timeline, it is the story of the plan, the beginning of the plan and the final conclusion. John 1:1-3 confirms that it was Yeshua who is the one who accomplishes this. Timothy 2:5 confirms that Yeshua is the mediator between Yahweh and humankind. Revelation 13:8, 1 Peter 1:19-20 both confirm that this plan was put into motion before the foundations were laid. Isaiah 46:9-10 confirms that his plan will be accomplished.

Part II
Psalm 121:4 – “Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
Are Elohim – The Father, Yahweh-Yeshua, and the Ruach Ha’Kodesh capable of building a house (or the universe) in a literal seven days? Elohim builds merely by speaking, and never sleeps. How easily could you build a house if you didn’t have to sleep and could just keep talking for six days straight – for 144 hours straight? With enough people gathered, a house can literally be raised in seven days, just as the plan demands, but rarely is. The plan is about building a house, bringing in the family, and enjoying what has been built. Can Genesis 1:3 thru Genesis 2:2 really be as simple as a daily building plan, not a record of time spent? I think it can, I believe it is.

Part III
Psalm 90:4 – “To you, Elohim, a thousand years is like the passing of a single day.”
The seven days of Genesis 1:3 thru Genesis 2:2 represent seven prophetic periods of history, totaling seven thousand years. Once again, we see that the plan is not only about timelines and the age of the earth. The plan is about building a house, bringing in the family, and enjoying what has been built, culminating in a day of rest.

Final Thought for 2024
Time is short – Yeshua Ha’Mashiach is coming soon. So, what are we to do while we wait for our Lord and Savior, Yeshua, to appear?
Watch And Be Ready: Matthew 24:42, 25:13; Mark 13:33; Luke 12:40, 21:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Pray And Be Ready: Luke 12:40, 21:36; Matthew 24:42, 25:13; Mark 13:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:6
Purify Oneself: 1 John 3:2-3
Abide In Yeshua: 1 John 2:27-28, 3:2, 4:13-16; Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 8:11; Mark 8:38
Look For His Coming: Hebrews 9:28: Acts 1:11; Titus 2:11-13; Isaiah 25:9