God
saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.
Genesis 1:31
God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” God said, “Behold,[b] I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food;” and it was so.
Genesis 1 [31.] God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
Genesis 2 [1.] The heavens, the earth, and all their vast array were finished. On the seventh day God finished his work which he had done; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had done. God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work of creation which he had done.
Meaning:
This verse serves as the culmination of the creation narrative, highlighting God's assessment of His handiwork. After each day of creation, God declared His creations to be good. However, upon completing the entire work of creation on the sixth day, God pronounces it "very good." This signifies not only the completeness and perfection of God's creation but also His satisfaction and delight in it.
The significance of Genesis 1:31 lies in its affirmation of the goodness and orderliness of God's creation. It emphasizes that everything God created—both animate and inanimate, seen and unseen—was crafted with precision and purpose. This includes the heavens and the earth, the seas and the land, the plants and animals, and ultimately, humanity made in God's image.
Cross-referencing with other passages in Scripture, we find echoes of the goodness of God's creation. In Psalm 104:24, the psalmist declares, "O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." Similarly, in Psalm 19:1, the psalmist proclaims, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."
Furthermore, the declaration of God's creation as "very good" underscores the inherent value and dignity of all that God has made. It reminds us that every aspect of creation bears the imprint of God's wisdom, beauty, and goodness. As stewards of God's creation, we are called to recognize and cherish the inherent value of all living things and to exercise responsible care and stewardship over the earth.
Additionally, Genesis 1:31 serves as a foundational affirmation of the doctrine of creation. It affirms the belief that the universe did not come into existence by chance or random processes but was deliberately and purposefully brought into being by God's creative word. This stands in contrast to various philosophical and scientific theories that seek to explain the origins of the universe apart from divine intervention.
As we reflect on Genesis 1:31, we are reminded of God's sovereignty as the Creator and Sustainer of all things. We are called to marvel at the beauty and intricacy of God's creation and to join with the psalmist in praising God for His wondrous works. Moreover, we are challenged to live in harmony with God's creation, recognizing our interconnectedness with all living things and our responsibility to care for the earth and its resources.
In conclusion, Genesis 1:31 affirms the goodness and orderliness of God's creation and underscores His satisfaction and delight in it. It invites us to marvel at the beauty and intricacy of God's handiwork and to embrace our role as stewards of His creation. As we contemplate the goodness of God's creation, may we be inspired to worship Him as the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible