THEMES FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT (a) Describe the events of the first creation story in chronological order (b) State three reasons why man is regarded as the ...

(a) The events of the first creation story in chronological order (Genesis 1:1 - 2:3)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moved over the waters. God then created in an orderly sequence of six days, and rested on the seventh:

1. First day: God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. He separated the light from the darkness, calling the light Day and the darkness Night.
2. Second day: God made the firmament (the sky) to separate the waters above from the waters below, and called the firmament Heaven.
3. Third day: God gathered the waters under the heavens into one place so that dry land appeared. He called the dry land Earth and the gathered waters Seas, and He caused the earth to bring forth vegetation, plants and fruit trees.
4. Fourth day: God made the two great lights, the sun to rule the day and the moon to rule the night, and He also made the stars, setting them to give light and to mark seasons, days and years.
5. Fifth day: God created the creatures of the water and the birds of the air, and blessed them to be fruitful and multiply.
6. Sixth day: God made the land animals, cattle, creeping things and beasts. Then He created man, male and female, in His own image, and gave them dominion over all creatures and the command to be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth.
7. Seventh day: God finished His work, rested, and blessed and sanctified the seventh day.

(b) Three reasons why man is regarded as the crown of creation

• Man was created in the image and likeness of God, possessing reason, conscience and the ability to relate with his Creator.
• Man was given dominion over all creation, to rule and care for the plants, animals and the whole earth.
• Man was created last, as the climax of God's work, and everything else was prepared for his use and wellbeing, showing his special honour and value.