Sinclair Ferguson

What is the goal of all of these creating acts of God?

And it's very clear when you read Genesis chapter 1 that the goal is ourselves.

The goal is the creation of man and woman as the image of God.

And even when you read through the passage, there's a rhythm in the passage, isn't there?

And then suddenly that rhythm is changed.

I wonder if you've ever noticed that.

The rhythm is dramatically changed.

And the creation of man and woman is put, as it were, into a different kind of order.

from the creation of all other things.

Because what He has had in view from the beginning, what He had in view in the darkness, what the Spirit had in view as He hovered over the waters, was that we would be created.

And there are many indications that this is where God has been going.

But not only are there indications that this is where God was going from the beginning, but you remember that refrain that runs through Genesis, God said, it was so, and it was good.

God said, it was so, and it was good.

God said, it was so, and it was good.

And then only when he has, as it were, arrived at his original goal do we read, it was very good.

And this is really one of the most amazing things about creation, that God has made all things for his own glory, but he's also made all things for our pleasure.

And one of the reasons why it's helpful to notice that Moses is writing Genesis 1 and what follows from the perspective of the Exodus is that the context of the Exodus is a country and a people and a world, whereas Paul says, having rejected the worship of the Creator, we have started worshiping creatures.

And so isn't it so significant in the Exodus narrative that there is judgment after judgment after judgment after judgment on the objects of worship in Egypt, not least the God of the River Nile.

And Moses as he experiences the redemption of God is looking back on the original creation of God.

and seeing how in the world in which He lives, men and women had, as Paul says in Romans chapter 1, exchanged the glory of God and started worshiping the creature and the creation.