Genevieve Hamer
BIBL 105 – D02
November 3, 2014
Biblical Worldview Related to Genesis 1-11 What is a worldview? Does every person have one? Simply stated, “…a worldwide view is simply the total set of beliefs that a person has about the biggest questions of life.” (Jonathan Morrow, Think Christianly: Looking at the Intersection of Faith and Culture, 2011) Some of these questions may include: “Is there a God?” Who am I? Where did I come from? Is there life after death?” Developing a set of answers to these questions involves developing a worldview. Most of these questions ones that many of us ponder at some time in life. Satisfying answers to these any many of the other questions of life may be found by searching the Holy Scriptures. Genesis is the first book of the Bible. The Hebrew Bible gives the title to this book of the Old Testament the name bere’shith which means “in the beginning”. (Hindson & Yates, pg. 51) In this essay, Genesis chapters 1-11 will be examined and a closer look into these scriptures will reveal what God has to say about the natural world, human identity, human relationships and civilization. Genesis 1 opens with, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1 NIV) By opening with this statement, it is understood that God always existed. (Hindson, E. Creation: Part 2, Liberty University Online, Lynchburg Va.) With this simple statement of fact, the relationship between God and the natural world is established at the very opening statement of the very first chapter of the Bible. As you read on through Genesis, verse 6, 9, 20, 24 each begin with, “And God said”. (Genesis 1 NIV) These three simple words answer many of the worldview questions related to who is God and where did the earth come from. In essence, these words clearly depict the fact that there is indeed a God and that He is almighty. It is through the power of God that all natural things were created and exist as we know them today. This account clearly contradicts the theory of evolution. There was on absolute beginning to creation and not a transformation to a preexistent one. (pg.55) Therefore, if God created the entire natural world than what does Genesis tell us about human identity? “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26 NIV) Although God remains distinct from man, He did create man along with nature. (pg. 55) There are many that would argue against this fact and say that we evolved from some other being. However, no scientific setting has been able to successfully produce life from a non-living item. (Hindson, E. Creation: Part 2, Liberty University Online, Lynchburg Va.) Much of the argument against God comes from those that are angry with God and their anger only proves the existence of God. How can you be angry at someone that does not exist? Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Creating man and woman in His own image says much about the nature of God and his relationship towards humans. In Chapter 1 of Genesis, God clearly displays His loving relationship towards humans when He intends for them to be rulers of all that he has created. (Genesis 1) The entire book of Genesis is a prologue that explains to Israel her purpose by tracing the redemptive program of God. (pg. 54) Genesis also depicts man’s fall into sin in Chapter 3 and the reasons for this redemption. Even as God’s own heart is broken by the sin of man which leads to Him destroying mankind with the great flood, He loves mankind enough to choose Noah and his family to give mankind another chance. These 11 chapters show God’s power, His providence over mankind, His loving nature, His demand for our
