GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS OR TORAH GENESIS 1 LESSON ONE Say - Genesis 1:1. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (God introduced Himself as the ONLY creator; it makes Him number 1! We should ask ourselves, who is God in this verse.) NOTE: The word "God" is translated from the Hebrew word "el o hēm" and is plural meaning more than one Strong's H430. Now if we go to a companion verse it will tell us more about WHO God is in this verse and who is with Him. Let's look at John1 below in the New Testament. John 1-1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. NOTE: The word "God" in the N. T. is translated from the Greek word "Theos" and is plural so means more than one also. Now we know that Eloheim and Theos mean the same thing or "God" but are in two different languages. Another very important point is that the word "Word" (notice how it is capitalized in the verse) is "lo'-gos" in Greek and means "Jesus Christ who spoke the words of God" Strong's G3056. Say - In the above verse in John 1:1, the "Word" who was "with God" is Jesus. How can we prove this statement? Take a look at the verses below in John 1 and the verses which follow. 90% of the people, or maybe a higher percentage, who claim to be Christian do not know this very important truth and it is vital for understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation! 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him (the Word or Logos); and without him was not any thing made that was made (Jesus Christ was part of the Creation; He was with God the Father). 4In him (the Word or Logos, Jesus) was life; and the life was the light of men 6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (John the Baptist). 7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light (Jesus is Light, Truth), that all men through him might believe. 8He was not that Light (John the Baptist was not that "Light"), but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9That was the true Light (all others are not), which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. 14And the Word (Logos or Spokesman as we learned above, Jesus Christ) was made flesh (Jesus was born a human baby in Bethlehem), and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me (Jesus was long before John the Baptist because He was before creation began as we have learned). Also read the following verses below: "And now, O Father, glorify thou me (Jesus Christ) with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was" John 17:5. "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world" John 17:24. "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began 2 Timothy 1:9 (Now when we come to the phrase, "Before the world was" we will know it is talking about BEFORE creation of all things. "13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Colossians 1:13-16. Say - The fact that Jesus Christ was "with God" is so important for our understanding as our study progresses. It is important because "Word" or "Logos" or Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the God who who was in the "burning bush" when He talked with Moses; it was Jesus Christ who "wrestled with Jacob", who "was in the cloud" as He led the Israelites in the wilderness and many other instances. Jesus Christ dwelt with the people in the Old Testament AS WELL AS the New Testament by the authority of God the Father. Many denominations do not know this important fact. Knowing Jesus was from the beginning, not 2000 years ago will be helpful information in our continued study of the Torah. Now when we see the word "God" in the O. T., always think of Elohem, or plural and
when we see God in the N. T. think Theos or plural UNLESS the context of the subject dictates it is of one or the other specifically. NOTE: We can also say both are God's; God, the Father, and God the Son, Jesus Christ, but the difference is that God the Father is the Most High God and is the supreme authority and Jesus Christ, the Son of God, carries out His will. Here is just one of many verses proving God, the Father, is the Most High God. "8That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth" Psalms 83:18. For further references, print into Biblegateway.com the words "Most High" and the reader will be amazed how many verses there are with the words "Most High" which refer to God the Father. Say - Back to Genesis 1:2. 2And the earth was without form, and void (means waste land, empty); and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Please note the following items concerning this verse: 1. The word "Spirit" or "ruwach", Strong's H7307, should not be capitalized as it is not a person for it is the same word as what Christ "breathed into man" which gave man life. The reader will see it is not capitalized in the following verse. Job said, "The spirit (ruwach, H7307) of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life" Job 33:4 2. Also realize in this verse that the word, "was" is a mistranslation and should read "became". How can we prove this? Take a look at the following verses, "8For 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 (empty, or a waste land), he formed it to beinhabited (to dwell in): I am the LORD (the Most High God); and there is none else " Isaiah 45:18). Also we read, "16The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he given to the children of men" Psalm 115:16. "5Thus 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" Isaiah 42:5. We can conclude God would not make something imperfect for man to dwell in. It just wouldn't make sense. Say - Now back to Genesis 1:3. "3And God (Elohem) said, Let there be light: and there was light" (this shows the power of His spirit)
. Say - The two, God the Father, and God the Son, are involved in all things together. All things are orchestrated by God the Father and God the Son carries out His instructions. Here is how the Bible says it. "Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" John 5:19. "28Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things" John 8:28. "49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak" John 12:49. "10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works" John 14:10. Say - Now back to Genesis 1:4. 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness (spiritually speaking, God, Elohem, is the only one who can bring us out of spiritual darkness of sin and death into the "light or truth" of God. When He calls us and brings us out of the darkness or spiritual blindness to the Truth of God, it is because He loves us. Christ spoke about this darkness which Satan wants us to remain in. The Bible says, "4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not (Satan has deceived many), lest the light (God's truth of the way to salvation and eternal life) of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 6For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (the knowledge of God's Truth of salvation) 2 Corinthians 4:4, 5. It is sin or lawlessness which blind us and separates us from the love of God and the "Light or Truth" of His ways. Satan is the author of sin and deception. In another place the Bible tells us, "9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (we are a "light" to all when we are in obedience to God's Torah or His Instructions) I Peter 2:9.
Say - Back to Genesis 1:5. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening (H6153, "evening" means night as this could not mean sunset as the sun had not been created until the 4th day) and the morning were the first day (this is the first 24 hour day and God's day begins at night and ends at night, not sunset to sunset). The Bible tells us, "16The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepare (established) the light and the sun" Psalm 74:16. Say - 6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters (between the waters, terrestrial and celestial), and let it divide the waters from the waters (spiritually speaking, divide the "earthly or terrestrial waters" from the "living or celestial waters". Both waters are provided by God but the "Living water" gives eternal life and the "earthly water" gives physical life; we want and need both). (The word "firmament" in the above verse is "raqiya", Strong's H7549, and means expanse, the canopy of clouds. The firmament begins 1 inch above the ground and includes the moisture, the fog in the heavens, the air, the sky and the atmosphere or everything we can see.) The Bible says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork" Psalm 19:1. (Please understand the term, "heaven of heavens" is totally different from the "firmament" as you will see in the following verses for the "heaven of heaven" is the invisible heaven or the abode of God: "Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD's thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is" Deuteronomy 10:14. "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee" I Kings 8:27; " To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice" Psalms 68:33). Say - Back to Genesis 1:7. 7And God (Elohem) made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening (night) and the morning were the second day. Say - 9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. The Bible says, 6By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 7He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 8Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 9For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast Psalm 33:6-9.
"13Mine 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" Isaiah 48:13. As we can see there is much to give praise to the Most High God. 1Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD" Psalm 150. This is what God wants to hear from His people when they gather to worship Him on the Sabbath and Holy Days; this is all a part of His Divine Service. Everyday we work, play, and live among His creation and see the evidence of His great power. Also read Proverbs 8:22-34. Say - Back to Genesis 1:11. "11And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 12And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 13And the evening and the morning were the third day. The Bible says, 14He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart" Psalm 104:14, 15. Say - Back to Genesis 1:14. 14And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs (proof), and for seasons (appointed time, set feast, Strong's H4150), and for days, and years: God instituted the calendar in the above verse. Please also understand this is where God set up His annual Sabbaths or Holy days or annual Feast days. God's annual Holy Days were associated with the spring and fall harvests. This will be valuable information in our future study because many denominations teach that God's Holy Days are Jewish or ended with the sacrificial system but we see they were introduced at creation before there were any people on the earth! It's just one amazing thing after another and all found in the first book and chapter of the Bible and that is why we are to "meditate on it day and night". Say - Back to Genesis 1:15. 15And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. 16And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day (the sun), and the lesser light to rule the
night (moon): he made the stars also. 17And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, 18And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. 19And the evening (night) and the morning were the fourth day. The Bible tells us "3When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 9O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Psalm 8:3, 9. God made all things perfect from the beginning, "1The heavens declare the glory of God (the abundance, splendor and glory of God); and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2Day unto day uttereth speech (gush forth), and night unto night sheweth knowledge (wisdom of the Creator). 3There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard (no matter the culture or language of man, all see His heavens and see His handywork). 4Their line (their strength, splendor and law) is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world (no one is without excuse). In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun (God has established a dwelling place for the sun), 5...there is nothing hid from the heat thereof (nothing can be concealed)" Psalm 19:1-5. NOTE: We can see God created the sun, moon and stars for a purpose for His creation and He rules over them and sustains them perfectly. Unfortunately many have turned the sun, moon and stars into gods and worship them instead of the Creator. God warned us against this kind of worship, "15Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves;... 16Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, 19And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven" Deuteronomy 4:15, 16, 19, also Romans 1:25. Say - Back to Genesis 1:20. 20And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven The Bible tells us, "24O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. 25So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts. 26There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 27These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season 28... thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good" Psalm 104:24-28. Say - Back to Genesis 1:21. 21And God created great whales (a great serpent or sea monster), and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind:
and God saw that it was good. 22And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23And the evening (night) and the morning were the fifth day. 24And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. 25And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good" (notice how God said, "according to its kind" for they were all in their own specie of family). NOTE: The next verse, Genesis 1:26, reveals the very purpose of man's creation. First He created us like Him in the flesh (physically) and second He recreates us like Him in the spirit to be fully accomplished when we are Born again spiritually at His coming. Born again means we will be given a spirit body. Here is how the Bible says it, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is" I John 3:2. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized by baptism into death (at baptism, we go through the process which is symbolic of burying the old way of life of sin, Ephesians 4:22): that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection Romans. 6:3-5. Please read Genesis 1:26; it would be well for us to memorize it. Say - 26And God said, Let us make man in our image (this is God's purpose for His creation, to become like Him, it takes a lifetime), after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth (do you see how God made the earth so man could sustain himself and then He created mankind; God has order and a plan for everything. Also, "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (now you know who "us" and "our" is in this verse by what we understand from Gen. 1:1 and John 1. "Us" and "our" is God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son): and let them (mankind) have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (God wants us to take care of His creation in the waters and those which walk the earth. He wants us to keep it free from pollutants. Say - 27So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 28And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
God wants His people to grow in number and grow spiritually. How can we be fruitful and multiply? We are to live in a way which is acceptable to God, love His laws and obey them and "18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" Romans 12:18, taking care of one another, serving one another. Christ said, "2Fulfil ye my joy (make My joy abound), that ye be likeminded (have the same goal to become like Christ), having the same love (brotherly affection, same love of God's law and Holy Days), being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory (don't try to be better than someone else, or try to be first or lower another's self esteem, build them up); but in lowliness of mind (work to have a humble self opinion with one mindset to please God in all we do and say) let each esteem other better than themselves. 4Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (this is how we will meet our goal of becoming like Him) Philippians 2:2-4. Also In Deuteronomy 28 God tells us the blessing for being obedient to God and the curses when we are not. Say - Back to Genesis 1:29. 29And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat (The word "meat" means food here, God intended fruit and vegetables, there was no meat for food at this point until Genesis 9:2-3, "3Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you (every clean animal); even as the green herb have I given you all things" (remember just as we cannot eat poisonous plants, there are certain animals God created we are not to eat and those are listed in Leviticus 11). The Bible tells us, "Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever" Psalm 136:25). Say - Back to Genesis 1:30. 30And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat (God repeats this statement, ALL our food comes from God. He made the fruits and vegetables to bear seeds so they would provide more fruits and vegetables for His creation but we were to tend them and care for all He has made that is how we show our love back to Him.): and it was so. 31And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Important note: Do you see how God says, "and the evening and the morning were the first day, the second day, etc? God's days are from dark to dark NOT midnight to midnight as the world perceives. Say - In closing, let the whole creation praise Him. 1Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 2Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. 3Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. 4Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 5Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 6He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 7Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 8Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 9Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 10Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 11Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 12Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 13Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 14He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD Psalm 148. MEMORY VERSE In the beginning God (Elohim) created the heaven and the earth. Genesis 1:1 Let them praise the name of the LORD for His name alone is excellent.. Psalm 148:13 The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handywork. Psalm 19:1 PLEASE COLOR ACCOMPANYING PICTURE AND AND FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS AND PLACE THE PICTURE IN THEIR SABBATH SCHOOL NOTEBOOK BELOW IS THE SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON FOR TOTS
IN THE BEGINNING THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WERE CREATED LONG AGO; BY GOD THE FATHER, AND JESUS HIS SON, IN GENESIS 1:1 WE ARE TOLD. OVER ALL IS GOD THE FATHER FOR THE MOST HIGH GOD IS HE; THERE IS NO OTHER LIKE HIM IN ALL THE WORLD YOU SEE! THE EARTH HE MADE TO LIVE UPON, THE SUN HE MADE TO SHINE; THE MOON AND STARS HE PUT UP HIGH FOR HIS SEASONS, HE IS THE GREAT DIVINE. THE WATERS IN THE OCEANS, THE GRASS UPON THE EARTH; THE WHALES BIG, THE BIRDS AND CATTLE, BY GOD'S COMMAND, ALL WERE BIRTHED. Jn. 1:14 IN HIS IMAGE HE MADE YOU AND ME, I WANT TO BE LIKE HIM; BY FOLLOWING HIM, LIFE FOREVER I AM BOUND TO WIN. IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN AND EARTH. GENESIS 1:1