Genesis 1 and Serpent Cunningness: Creation and Deception

Genesis 1

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved on the face of the waters.

3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the middle of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

7 And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

11 And 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, on the earth: and it was so.

12 And 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.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And 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, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light on the earth: and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light on the earth,

18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And 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.

25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creeps on the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, 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 creeps on the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said to 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 moves on the earth.

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is on 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.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creeps on the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Genesis chapter one provides a profound account of the creation of the heavens and the earth, detailing the divine work over six literal days and the establishment of the Sabbath. This foundational chapter explains the origin of all things, culminating in the creation of humanity and God's pronouncement that His work was "very good."

Let's explore the key aspects of Genesis chapter one:

The Six Days of Creation 🌍⏳

The Bible clearly describes the creation events as unfolding over six literal days, each consisting of an evening and a morning. This challenges theories of long, indefinite periods, emphasizing God's infinite power and wisdom.TEd 77.3+6

• Day One: Light and Darkness ☀️🌙

  God began by creating light and separating it from darkness, calling the light "Day" and the darkness "Night." Genesis 1:3, 5. This light is presented as an outward representation of God Himself.CAS 29.1+1

• Day Two: The Firmament 🌌

  On the second day, God created a firmament to separate the waters above from the waters below, calling it "Heaven." Genesis 1:6-8. This work is connected to God's spoken word, highlighting His direct power.GOSC 70.1+1

• Day Three: Dry Land and Vegetation 🌳🌊

  The waters were gathered to one place, revealing dry land which God called "Earth," and the gathered waters "Seas." Genesis 1:9-10. God then commanded the earth to bring forth grass, herbs, and fruit trees, each yielding seed after its kind. Genesis 1:11-13. It is significant that vegetation was created before the sun appeared on the fourth day, demonstrating God's unique power.SBBS 461.3+1

• Day Four: Sun, Moon, and Stars ✨

  God created lights in the firmament of heaven to divide the day from the night, serving as signs for seasons, days, and years. Genesis 1:14-15. He made two great lights—the greater to rule the day (the sun) and the lesser to rule the night (the moon)—and the stars also. Genesis 1:16-19. These celestial bodies were made to rule over days of twenty-four hours, not long periods of time.SITI March 17, 1887, page 168.13+2

• Day Five: Marine and Avian Life 🐠🦅

  The waters were commanded to bring forth abundantly moving creatures with life, and fowl to fly above the earth. Genesis 1:20-23. God was pleased with this work, and for the fifth time, it is noted that the day consisted of evening and morning, indicating a twenty-four-hour period.SOSL 8.3

• Day Six: Land Animals and Humanity 🦁🧑‍🤝‍👩

  On the sixth day, God brought forth living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and beasts of the earth after their kind. Genesis 1:24-25. The pinnacle of creation was the making of man and woman in God's own image and likeness, giving them dominion over all other living things. Genesis 1:26-28. God blessed them and gave them every herb and fruit for food. Genesis 1:29-30. At the close of this day, God saw everything He had made, and declared it to be "very good," signifying the completion and perfection of His work. Genesis 1:31.GCB/GCDB 1893, page 451.1+4

The Sabbath: God's Rest and Blessing 🗓️🙏

Following the six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day, blessed it, and sanctified it. Genesis 2:1-3. This act established the Sabbath as a memorial of His creative work, intended to endure forever.SITI August 11, 1887, page 486.5+7

• A Literal Day of Rest: The seventh day, like the preceding six, was a literal day, completing the first week of time.SOSL 177.2+2

• Adam's First Days: Adam was created on the sixth day, making that his first day of life. The seventh day, God's rest day, was Adam's second day of existence, not his first, as some incorrectly suggest.RTSB 10.3+5

• Perpetual Memorial: The Sabbath is a perpetual covenant and a sign between God and His people, demonstrating that His works are eternal. Isaiah 66:22+1.PTUK June 13, 1895, page 371.1+1

• Unbroken Reckoning: The reckoning of the days of the week, including the Sabbath, has not been lost. The universal agreement on the sequence of days confirms its continuous observance since creation.PTUK June 13, 1895, page 372.3+1

Genesis chapter one lays the foundation for understanding God as the powerful Creator and the institution of the Sabbath as a divine command, reflecting His finished and perfect work. Exodus 20:8-11+1.

Serpent cunningness, particularly in the context of trusting clever people, signifies a deceptive and shrewd intelligence that can lead to spiritual and moral compromise if we are not vigilant and firmly rooted in divine truth.GCDB October 31, 1889, page 120.4

The Nature of Serpent Cunningness 🐍

• Deceptive Brilliance: The "serpent's charm" refers to an imagination that paints forbidden pleasures in dazzling colors, presenting sin in a way that appears less hateful with familiarity. This cunning is the "father of lies" who disguises his inventions as truth.ARSH June 12, 1856, page 51.8+1

• Subtle Insinuation: Serpent cunning is described as subtle and not easily detected, preparing the way for false theories and human imaginings to replace genuine truth. This includes introducing vain doctrines and subtle sentiments with plausible presentations to deceive.RH September 6, 1898, par. 3+2

• Intellectual Power for Evil: Satan, the "old serpent" Revelation 20:2, possessed immense intellectual power as an angel, which he now uses to devise methods to keep humanity in deception. His skill and shrewdness, honed over thousands of years, enable him to closely watch events and even reveal unfulfilled prophecies to those with an opposing spirit to truth, further securing a place in their hearts.1TT 217.1+1

The Dangers of Trusting Human Cunning ⚠️

• Spiritual Blindness: When people trust in human ingenuity and supposed smartness, they take themselves out of God's hands and can become spiritually blind. This leads to accepting falsehoods and "the oft-repeated lies of the serpent" as genuine truth.RH March 16, 1897, par. 3+2

• Compromise of Faith: Relying on human wisdom can cause individuals to abandon genuine faith for doctrines that, however pleasing, seduce the soul. This is akin to Eve being convinced by the serpent's discourse that God's prohibition was unjust, leading her to desire what was forbidden.Con 14.1+1

• Rejection of Divine Guidance: When human cunning and craftiness are employed, especially in religious matters, it diverts focus from God's work. It is by human cunning that modern revivals are sometimes produced, falsely attributed to the Spirit of God.HST June 1, 1840, page 40.1

• Loss of Protection: God's people are warned not to trust in man and make "flesh their arm," as this leads to a low standard of character and an inability to reach God's high standards. When such self-sufficiency enters, Satan gains an advantage.PCL 284.2+2

The Antidote to Serpent Cunningness 🙏

• Divine Wisdom and Truth: The true antidote is divine wisdom, integrity, and moral power derived from God's Word. The Spirit of God is the appointed instructor, guide, and strength.6BC 1085.4+1

• Steadfast Faith in Christ: The key to overcoming serpent cunning is unwavering faith in Christ as a personal Savior. Just as the Israelites looked to the brazen serpent to live, we must look to Christ and trust in His power to save, not our own merits. Numbers 21:83SM 149.3+2.

• Obedience and Humility: Obedience to God's Word and a humble, repentant heart are essential. God humbles His people to work His will in them and tests their repentance and faith.KC 149.6+2

• Discernment and Vigilance: Christians must be on guard against Satan's tricks and devices, discerning between genuine truth and false theories. This requires "the shield of faith" to quench the "fiery darts of the wicked" Ephesians 6:16.4SP 336.1+2

In summary, serpent cunningness is a powerful, deceptive force that exploits human intellect and self-sufficiency. To protect ourselves, we must abandon reliance on human cleverness and instead anchor our trust, faith, and obedience firmly in the divine wisdom and truth of God's Word.6LtMs, Ms 53, 1890, par. 41+2