What Really Happened in Genesis? The 7 Days of Creation and God’s Sabbath Rest
Creation of the Earth and God’s Rest
Let’s Talk About Creation: A Conversational Study of Genesis 1–2
Have you ever sat down and really read the first two chapters of the Bible? They’re not just a list of what got created when. These opening pages are foundational—to our view of God, ourselves, the world, and even how we understand rest, work, relationships, and purpose.
So let’s dive into it—Genesis 1 and 2—and walk through the Creation account together, like we’re sitting across a table with open Bibles, coffee mugs in hand.
"In the beginning..." – Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
That’s the line that starts it all. No origin story from myths or chaos. Just God—eternal, already there—and He creates everything out of nothing.
This opening is profound. It tells us that:
Time has a beginning (before that, only God exists),
Matter is not eternal (it came into being through God),
And most importantly, creation has a Creator.
It’s not random. It’s intentional.
COMMENTS:
Jesus Christ our Creator God. He created us and then rested from all of His work and saw that it was Exceedingly Good. He made humankind in His own image.
Day 1: Let There Be Light – Genesis 1:2–5
“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light... and God saw that the light was good.” (Genesis 1:3–4)
Notice something? God speaks. Over and over, it’s “And God said…” He creates with words—a concept that carries over into John 1:1, where Jesus is called the Word.
And even though the sun and moon don’t appear until Day 4, light exists. How? Because God Himself is light (1 John 1:5). This isn't just about photons—it's about order breaking into chaos, goodness overcoming darkness.
Day 2: The Sky – Genesis 1:6–8
“Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters… and God called the firmament Heaven.”
On Day 2, God separates the waters - creating the sky, or the "heavens." He’s structuring things now, preparing for life. Think of it like God laying out rooms in a house before the furniture arrives.
Day 3: Land and Vegetation – Genesis 1:9–13
“Let the dry land appear… Let the earth bring forth grass… trees yielding fruit.”
Now we’ve got land, seas, and the first living things: plants. God’s designing an ecosystem. Notice something important: plants bear fruit “according to their kind”—a phrase that shows up a lot in Genesis 1. It’s a statement of order and design.
God’s not throwing seeds and seeing what grows. He’s being deliberate. Purposeful.
Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars – Genesis 1:14–19
“Let there be lights in the firmament… to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons…”
Here come the sun, moon, and stars—but catch this: Genesis never names them. It just says “greater light” and “lesser light.” Why?
Because in the ancient world, people worshiped the sun and moon as gods. Genesis is making a bold statement: these aren’t gods. They’re lamps, hung in the sky by the true Creator.
Day 5: Sea Creatures and Birds – Genesis 1:20–23
“Let the waters bring forth abundantly… and fowl that may fly.”
The sea, once considered chaotic and untamable in ancient thinking, is now bursting with life, by God's command. And birds fill the skies. Again, God blesses them: “Be fruitful and multiply.”
Notice the rhythm of abundance? God is not stingy. His creation teems with life.
Day 6: Animals and... Us – Genesis 1:24–31
“Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind…”
“Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…”
So now, animals come into being. But then something changes. The tone shifts. God doesn’t just speak humanity into being—He deliberates:
“Let us make man in our image...”
Wait—“us”? Most scholars say this hints at the Trinity. God is plural in unity—Father, Son, and Spirit in communion—and He creates humanity to reflect that relational nature.
And how are we made? Not as animals. Not as gods. But as image-bearers—unique, dignified, entrusted with stewardship over creation.
God tells humans to:
Multiply and fill the earth,
Subdue it (care for it),
And rule over the animals—not in domination, but in representation of God’s goodness.
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31)
Not just good anymore—very good. The creation is now complete, and it includes us.
COMMENTS:
Notice - how God created us Humankind to have dominion over the plants and animals on the earth to work together with God to oversee them, not to abuse, dominate or control.
Day 7: Rest – Genesis 2:1–3
“And on the seventh day God ended his work… and he rested… and sanctified it.”
God rests. Not because He’s tired, but because He’s done. It’s like an artist stepping back from a finished painting.
This introduces the concept of Sabbath—a rhythm of work and rest, woven into creation itself. Even before there was sin, rest was holy.
COMMENTS:
Jesus Christ our Creator God. He created us and then rested from all of His work and saw that it was Exceedingly Good. That is why resting on the Seventh-Day Sabbath has so much meaning because it is what our Creator God did after His work was finished, and He asks us to also do it!
Genesis 2: A Closer Look at Humanity
Now Genesis 2 rewinds and zooms in on Day 6, showing more detail—especially the relational side of creation.
The Formation of Man – Genesis 2:7
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust… and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”
This is so intimate. God doesn’t just speak man into being—He forms him like a potter and breathes life into him. It’s face-to-face. Personal.
Humans are made from dust—humble beginnings—but filled with the breath of God. What a contrast!
The Garden and Purpose – Genesis 2:8–15
“And the Lord God planted a garden… and put the man in it to dress it and keep it.”
Work is introduced before sin. It’s not a curse—it’s part of our design. Adam’s role is that of a caretaker, a steward. Work is sacred.
The First Command – Genesis 2:16–17
“Of every tree… you may freely eat. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat...”
This is the first moral boundary. God gives freedom, but also a test of obedience. Love must involve choice.
COMMENTS:
It is Important to Note that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and fruit in and of themselves was not evil. It was the command given by God to not eat of, and then the disobedience that then made it evil and sin.
The Creation of Woman – Genesis 2:18–25
“It is not good that the man should be alone… I will make a helper fit for him.”
This is the first time something is called “not good.” Not sin, but incompleteness.
So God forms Eve—not from dust this time, but from Adam’s side—showing she’s not above or beneath him, but beside him.
“This is now bone of my bones… therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife... and they shall be one flesh.”
That’s the origin of marriage—not as a cultural invention, but as a divine design.
Final Thoughts: Why This Matters
Genesis 1–2 isn’t just ancient poetry or moral allegory—it’s a declaration that:
The world is created with order and purpose.
Human life has infinite value and dignity.
Work, rest, beauty, and relationships are all part of God’s design.
God is both powerful and personal—He speaks galaxies into existence, but forms us by hand.
These chapters lay the theological foundation for the rest of Scripture. Fall, redemption, new creation—all of it starts here.
Want to Reflect?
Here are a few questions to think about:
What does it mean to live as someone made in God’s image?
How can I live in the rhythm of work and rest God designed?
Am I treating creation—and other people—as sacred?
How does Genesis 1–2 shape my life?
COMMENTS:
Always Remember the importance of spending time with God in Thoughtful Prayer and in the Study of His Holy Word the Bible