Sunday
January 18
1. IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED
a. What does the Bible say about the creation week? Genesis 1:1, 5; Exodus 20:11; 31:17.
“Just how God accomplished the work of Creation in six literal days He has never revealed to mortals. His creative works are just as incomprehensible as His existence.”—Lift Him Up, p. 52.
“Each of these periods [of creation week] Inspiration declares to have been a day consisting of evening and morning, like every other day since that time.”—Education, p. 129.
b. How does God reveal the fact that He is the creator of the heavens and the earth? When did the weekly cycle of seven days originate? Hebrews 11:3; Romans 1:20.
“The first week, in which God performed the work of creation in six days and rested on the seventh day, was just like every other week. The great God, in His days of creation and day of rest, measured off the first cycle as a sample for successive weeks till the close of time.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 85.
Monday
January 19
2. SEVEN LITERAL DAYS
a. In the Bible reckoning, how long did it take for God to create the earth and everything that is in it? Exodus 20:11.
“Human philosophy declares that an indefinite period of time was taken in the creation of the world. Does God state the matter thus? No; He says, ‘It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days [not six indefinite periods of time; for then there would be no possible way for man to observe the day specified in the fourth commandment] the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.’ Please read carefully the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy.”—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 135.
“The sophistry in regard to the world being created in an indefinite period of time is one of Satan’s falsehoods. God speaks to the human family in language they can comprehend. He does not leave the matter so indefinite that human beings can handle it according to their theories.”—Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, p. 307.
b. What is the record about the end of the first week at creation? Genesis 2:1–4.
“Of each successive day of creation, the sacred record declares that it consisted of the evening and the morning, like all other days that have followed. At the close of each day is given the result of the Creator’s work. The statement is made at the close of the first week’s record, ‘These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created’ (Genesis 2:4). But this does not convey the idea that the days of creation were other than literal days. Each day was called a generation, because that in it God generated, or produced, some new portion of His work.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 112.
“The first six days of each week are given to man for labor, because God employed the same period of the first week in the work of creation. On the seventh day man is to refrain from labor, in commemoration of the Creator’s rest.”—Christian Education, p. 190.
“Like the Sabbath, the week originated at creation, and it has been preserved and brought down to us through Bible history. God Himself measured off the first week as a sample for successive weeks to the close of time. Like every other, it consisted of seven literal days. Six days were employed in the work of creation; upon the seventh, God rested, and He then blessed this day, and set it apart as a day of rest for man.”—Ibid.
Tuesday
January 20
3. HIS POWER IN CREATION
a. How was the earth and all things in it created? Psalm 33:6, 9; Isaiah 40:26. How is the earth and all things in it maintained?
“No amount of reasoning or explanation can tell the whys and wherefores of the creation of the world. It is to be understood by faith in the great creative power. By faith we must believe in the mighty creative power of God through Jesus Christ.”—The Southern Watchman, April 24, 1902.
“When men leave the Word of God in regard to the history of Creation, and seek to account for God’s creative works upon natural principles, they are upon a boundless ocean of uncertainty.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 88.
“The mighty power that works through all nature and sustains all things is not, as some men of science represent, merely an all-pervading principle, an actuating energy. God is a Spirit; yet He is a personal Being.”—The Ministry of Healing, p. 413.
b. Besides creating the earth, what else does the Lord do in connection with this and other planets? Psalms 33:13, 14; 47:2; 65:9–13; 95:3–5.
“God has finished His creative work, but His energy is still exerted in upholding the objects of His creation. It is not because the mechanism that has once been set in motion continues its work by its own inherent energy that the pulse beats and breath follows breath; but every breath, every pulsation of the heart, is an evidence of the all-pervading care of Him in whom we live and have our being. It is not because of inherent power that year by year the earth produces her bounties and continues her motion around the sun. The hand of God guides the planets, and keeps them in position in their orderly march through the heavens. It is through His power that vegetation flourishes, that the leaves appear and the flowers bloom. His word controls the elements, and by Him the valleys are made fruitful.”—The Signs of the Times, March 20, 1884.
“As we sow the seed and cultivate the plant, we are to remember that God created the seed, and He gives it to the earth. By His divine power He cares for that seed.”—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 186.
Wednesday
January 21
4. THE CROWNING ACT OF CREATION
a. What is the Bible record about the creation of man and woman? Genesis 1:26, 27; 2:7.
“God created man a superior being; he alone is formed in the image of God and is capable of partaking of the divine nature, of cooperating with his Creator and executing His plans.”—Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 311.
“As Adam came forth from the hand of his Creator he was of noble height and of beautiful symmetry. He was more than twice as tall as men now living upon the earth, and was well proportioned. His features were perfect and beautiful. His complexion was neither white nor sallow, but ruddy, glowing with the rich tint of health. Eve was not quite as tall as Adam. Her head reached a little above his shoulders. She, too, was noble, perfect in symmetry, and very beautiful.”—The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, p. 25.
b. For what purpose was the earth and all things in it created? Isaiah 45:18; Psalm 37:29; Revelation 4:11. When will God’s purpose be truly fulfilled, and how can we enjoy a foretaste of the Eden life even now? Revelation 21:1–5.
“God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family. It was God’s purpose to re-populate heaven with the human family, if they would show themselves obedient to His every word. Adam was to be tested, to see whether he would be obedient, as the loyal angels, or disobedient. . . . His mind and thoughts would have been as the mind and thoughts of God.”—The SDA Bible Commentary [E. G. White Comments], vol. 1, p. 1082.
“Not all the conditions of that first school of Eden will be found in the school of the future life. No tree of knowledge of good and evil will afford opportunity for temptation. No tempter is there, no possibility of wrong. Every character has withstood the testing of evil, and none are longer susceptible to its power.
“‘To him that overcometh,’ Christ says, ‘will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God’ (Revelation 2:7). The giving of the tree of life in Eden was conditional, and it was finally withdrawn. But the gifts of the future life are absolute and eternal.”—Education, p. 302.
Thursday
January 22
5. EXCEEDINGLY BEAUTIFUL
a. When the creation of the earth and everything on it was completed, what was it like? Genesis 1:31; Ecclesiastes 3:11.
“As it came from the Creator’s hand, not only the Garden of Eden but the whole earth was exceedingly beautiful.”—Education, p. 22.
“The entire landscape outvied in beauty the decorated grounds of the proudest palace. The angelic host viewed the scene with delight, and rejoiced at the wonderful works of God.”—Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 44.
b. What points are significant about the environment where Adam and Eve were placed? Genesis 2:8, 15.
“Had happiness consisted in doing nothing, man, in his state of holy innocence, would have been left unemployed. But He who formed man knew what would be for his best happiness, and He no sooner made him than He gave him his appointed work. In order to be happy, he must labor.”—Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 77.
“God prepared for Adam and Eve a beautiful garden. He provided for them everything that their wants required. He planted for them fruit-bearing trees of every variety. With a liberal hand He surrounded them with His bounties. The trees for usefulness and beauty, and the lovely flowers, which sprung up spontaneously, and flourished in rich profusion around them, were to know nothing of decay. Adam and Eve were rich indeed. They possessed Eden. Adam was lord in his beautiful domain.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 38.
Friday
January 23
PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS
a. How do we know that the earth was created in six literal days?
b. Why is each day of creation referred to as a “generation” in Scripture?
c. How is nature able to maintain its continual course of activity?
d. What is God’s ultimate purpose for the human race?
e. What should we learn from God’s choice of environment for Adam?