“What God Has Made”
1) One of the interesting words in our language is “made.”
2) If this term is used by itself, we probably do not know what it means.
a) A “maid” spelled m a i d can mean two different things:
b) It may refer to a woman housekeeper or servant.
c) A “m a i d” might also refer to an unmarried woman.
d) “Made” may also be spelled m a d e.
3) This second spelling usually denotes something that has been constructed; invented or prepared.
4) This morning we want to look at the “made” using the second spelling: made.
5) I want to take some of the 19 places in the Bible where we find the expression “God made.”
6) Looking at places where these two words are combined provides quite a bit of information.
7) In the first chapter of Genesis we see the writer saying “God made” three times.
a) The actual verses are Gen. 1:7, 16, 25.
b) In verse 7 we read about the “firmament.”
c) Apparently in the beginning there was a different kind of arrangement than what we have now.
d) There was water on the earth, but there was also a lot of water being held in our atmosphere.
e) Some have likened it to a type of water or vapor canopy.
f) Whatever this exact arrangement was, God did it – Gen. 1:7 – READ.
g) Though this was a long time ago, this information is still relevant to our lives.
8) At the present time there is a lot of discussion in school systems about creation and evolution.
9) In at least some school systems teachers are trying to introduce something called “intelligent design.”
10) There is no formal mention of God, but there is an emphasis on some type of created order.
11) Simple logic allows us to reason in this manner:
a) If there is design in the world, then we infer there was a designer.
b) Planning means there was a planner. Order means there was a responsible party.
c) Gen. 1:7 categorically says there was a creation process and God did it.
12) God’s hand in this process is seen in several different ways.
13) Let’s also look at Gen. 1:16 – READ.
a) All will admit that we have a sun and moon.
b) We need both the sun and moon.
c) Where did these two objects come from?
d) God made them. They did not evolve, come along by chance, or something else.
e) There is a divine power called God and He created our “great and lesser” lights.
f) Not only did the sun and moon come from God’s power, along came the stars from Him.
14) Verses 7 and 16 primarily relate to things above the earth.
15) What about what is upon the earth—where did all that we see and know come from?
16) Once again we must look for the expression “God made.”
17) Verse 25 in the first chapter of the Bible also uses this expression – READ.
a) A summary statement about God’s making things is found in Gen. 2:4: God made what exists.
b) If we believe the Bible, we must believe that God was the one who created what exists.
c) There is not an alternative view that can be harmonized with the Scriptures.
IN THE WORLD THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT IDEAS AND PHILOSOPHIES ABOUT GOD. ONE OF THESE IDEAS SAYS, “YES, GOD DID DO ALL THE DESIGNING AND MAKING, AND THEN HE TURNED AWAY FROM THE WORLD TO LET THINGS GO THEIR OWN NATURAL COURSE.
a) This view is incorrect. Man was given free-will but God did not walk away from His creation.
b) In the third chapter of Genesis we see how men and women fell into sin.
c) It is the third chapter of the first book we again find the expression, “God made.”
d) What did God make? Gen. 3:21 – READ.
2) God made clothing for Adam and Eve.
3) If we had no other information, we might not know why this clothing was provided.
a) We might guess that clothing was needed because the environment was going to change.
b) Perhaps it was necessary to symbolize a change in the relationship with God.
c) Making clothing from animals would have paved the way for animal sacrifices.
d) Maybe all these reasons are possibilities, but we cannot overlook yet another explanation.
e) Let’s go back to Gen. 2:25 – READ.
f) Adam and Eve didn’t wear anything clothing when they were first created.
g) I would parallel their thought process to a newborn infant.
h) When a baby is a day old, it can be completely nude and the conscience is not affected.
i) As knowledge increases, a change occurs – Gen. 3:7 – READ.
j) Gen. 3 tells us that right thinking people know that nudity is not God’s plan.
k) Let’s go back to Gen. 3:21 once more – READ.
4) God “clothed” Adam and Eve.
5) It was not God’s will for this couple to run around in public in fig leaf outfits.
6) He wanted them to be clothed. God’s clothing was surely longer lasting than some fig leaves.
7) We also see in this account an emphasis on sufficient clothing to cover the body.
8) Today there are a lot of choices when it comes to clothing.
9) People may choose to wear almost nothing or leave almost no body part exposed.
10) During this time of year, we find that a lot of people choose the “almost nothing” option.
11) From the creation we find that God’s will is for people to be clothed and this means being covered.
12) God made attire that properly attired the bodies of the first two people.
13) Hence, we have a model—a Bible model that is a lasting example.
14) If we are in a public place and dressed in such a way where someone would say, “Look at that…” —
15) We have adopted a dress code that is different from the example we have in the book of Genesis.
16) In addition to what we have looked at thus far in this regard I would also include Gen. 5:1.
a) If you have turned to Gen. 3, take a quick glance across the page.
b) Gen. 5:1 – READ.
c) If it be asked why we instruct people to dress modestly and decently, we may reply with Gen. 3.
d) We may also respond by using Gen. 5:1.
e) Human beings are made in the image of God.
f) God is not lewd. Neither is He sleazy.
g) Dressing in this kind of manner does not reflect His image, and reflecting His image is right.
17) Sin continued to build in the world and there came the great flood.
18) On board the ark was a handful of people and quite a few animals.
19) At the end of the flood “God made a wind” to help dry up the waters (Gen. 8:1).
a) Before the text says “God made,” it says “God remembered.”
b) In this passage we find a valuable point for Christians.
c) God knows the difficulties people face and He makes a way for His people to be helped.
d) The philosophy that says God made the world and then stepped away from it is wrong.
e) God will help those who are His people.
20) We will not look at all the places where the expression “God made” is used.
21) Gen. 9:6 is one of the text we will skip; our next verse comes from Deut. 5:2.
a) Moses was speaking to the children of Israel.
b) He said “God made a covenant.”
c) This covenant was the “Old Testament.”
d) Moses told the Israelites it was “made with us at Horeb.”
e) Many are confused about the Old Testament—they think it is to be followed today.
f) Moses said the Old Testament was for the people of Israel.
g) Others say at least part of the Old Testament goes all the way back to Adam and Eve.
h) Moses says it was given at Sinai; it was not from the beginning of time.
22) A text which may not be so familiar to us is found in 2 Chron. 26:5.
a) There was a king by the name of Uzziah; he reigned in southern Israel.
b) He became king at the age of 16 and reigned for 52 years.
c) This man did what was “right in the sight of God” (verse 4).
d) 2 Chron. 26:5 tells us how God responded to his obedience – READ.
23) We have a world full of people who want God to bless them.
a) I have listened to people tell me that they pray to God for His blessing.
b) Quite often people think of a “blessing” as more money, a new car, or something else.
c) Many want God to prosper them in some way.
d) God has prospered people in the past and He can still do it today.
e) They key to receiving divine help is found in this verse: seek God.
f) As long as this king sought the Lord, God made him to prosper.
24) Neh. 13:26 says something similar. Solomon was king because “God made” him king.
25) Solomon was a good man (at least early in life) and God looked upon him with great favor.
26) A person might think, “I will never be anything like a king.”
27) “I have a rather ordinary life; what can God do for me?” We have an answer in the Bible.
a) A rather interesting story is found in the first chapter of Daniel.
b) Daniel was a young man and he was carried off to Babylon.
c) What could God do for a young man who had been taken to a foreign country?
d) Dan. 1:9 says “God made” Daniel to be respected by the person who had charge of him.
e) God had a hand in seeing that Daniel was treated well and promoted.
28) At the present time God still has a hand in the operation of His world and in the lives of His people.
29) God still makes things happen in the lives of His people and in the world.
30) We often refer to this as His providence, or His providential hand.
31) As I think about where we find the “God made” verses, Acts 15:7 comes to mind.
a) In the first century people were not always very tolerant of one another.
b) Jews and Gentiles usually tried to stay separate one from another.
c) Peter said God has “made” a choice about the different races in the world.
d) All are entitled to become Christians and have equal standing in the church.
e) God has made room for all people to come, and He wishes for all to come.
32) We know this is a reliable promise because God keeps His word.
33) When God makes a promise, He cannot go back on it
34) Our final text comes from Heb. 6:13.
a) “God made” a promise to Abraham.
b) That promise was kept.
c) Through the Bible we have promises from God.
d) Some promises were fulfilled immediately. Others took a while. Some took a long time.
e) In every single case God has proven to be reliable when He has made a promise.
35) God made many things in the beginning.
36) He has made people prosper and He has made people be punished.
37) He has made a way of salvation for people.
38) God has made all that we need to learn of Him and follow Him to the place Jesus has gone.
39) Our job is to take advantage of the preparations that have been made.
40) Have we been obedient to the plan God has made?