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Biblical Account and Purpose of God’s Creation for JSS 1
Performance Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:
- give a sequential account of the Biblical narration on the creation of the world;
- state the reasons God created human beings;
- sing songs on creation.
Memory Verse
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” – Genesis 1:1 (KJV)
Bible Reading
The principal Bible passages supporting this lesson are:
- Genesis 1:1-31
- Genesis 2:1-25
The Biblical Account of Creation
The Bible, in the book of Genesis, tells the story of how God created the entire world and everything in it. This account shows God as the all-powerful Creator who spoke things into existence. The creation process was orderly and took place over six days, with God resting on the seventh day.
Day One: Light and Darkness
On the first day, the earth was without form and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God separated the light from the darkness, calling the light “day” and the darkness “night.”
Day Two: The Sky
On the second day, God created a space between the waters, separating the water below from the water above. This space was called the “sky” or “firmament.”
Day Three: Dry Land and Plants
On the third day, God gathered the waters under the sky into one place, and dry land appeared. He called the dry land “earth” and the gathered waters “seas.” Then, God commanded the earth to produce vegetation: plants bearing seeds and trees bearing fruit with seeds in them. The earth brought forth all kinds of plants and trees.
Day Four: Sun, Moon, and Stars
On the fourth day, God created lights in the sky to separate the day from the night. He made two great lights: the greater light to govern the day (the sun) and the lesser light to govern the night (the moon). He also made the stars. These lights were placed in the sky to give light to the earth and to mark seasons, days, and years.
Day Five: Fish and Birds
On the fifth day, God commanded the waters to teem with living creatures and the sky to be filled with birds. He created all kinds of sea creatures and every winged bird. God blessed them and told them to be fruitful and multiply.
Day Six: Land Animals and Human Beings
On the sixth day, God created all kinds of living creatures that move on the ground: livestock, crawling things, and wild animals. After creating all these, God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So, God created human beings, male and female, in His own image. He blessed them and told them to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and rule over it. God also gave them every seed-bearing plant and every tree with fruit for food.
The Seventh Day: Rest
After completing all His work, God saw everything He had made, and it was very good. On the seventh day, God rested from all His work. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
The Creation of Man and Woman in Detail
Genesis chapter 2 provides more details about the creation of human beings. It explains that God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. God then planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed the man there to work it and take care of it.
God also created all kinds of trees in the garden that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God commanded the man not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning that he would surely die if he did.
God observed that it was not good for the man to be alone. So, He caused the man to fall into a deep sleep, took one of his ribs, and closed up the place with flesh. From the rib, God made a woman and brought her to the man. The man exclaimed that she was “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” and called her “woman.” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.
Why God Created Human Beings
God created human beings for specific and important reasons. These reasons show God’s love and His desire for a relationship with His creation.
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To Know Him: God created human beings so that they could know Him personally. Knowing God means understanding His character, His love, His power, and His plans. It involves having a relationship with Him, learning about Him through His word, and experiencing His presence in life.
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To Worship Him: Human beings were created to worship God. Worship is expressing honour, praise, and adoration to God for who He is and what He has done. This can be done through prayer, singing, giving thanks, and living a life that pleases Him. All of creation points to God’s greatness, and humans, being made in His image, have the unique ability to consciously worship Him.
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To Serve Him: God created human beings to serve Him. Serving God means obeying His commands, using the talents and gifts He has given us to help others, and taking care of the world He created. It also involves spreading His message and showing His love to others. By serving God, human beings fulfil their purpose and contribute to His kingdom on earth.
Songs About Creation
Many songs have been written to celebrate God’s wonderful creation. These songs help people to remember God’s power and goodness as the Creator of all things. Singing these songs is a way to worship God and appreciate His handiwork.
Examples of such songs in English include:
- “All Things Bright and Beautiful”
- “The Lord God Made Them All”
These songs often describe the beauty of nature, the animals, the sky, and all the elements of creation, giving glory to God. Many Nigerian languages also have traditional or modern songs that praise God for His creation, reflecting the rich cultural ways of expressing faith.
Singing a Creation Song
Singing a song about creation is a joyful way to express gratitude to God. It helps to remember the details of His creation and the reasons for His love.
The procedure for singing a creation song involves the following steps:
- Choose a familiar creation song, such as “All Things Bright and Beautiful.”
- Read through the lyrics to understand the message about God’s creation.
- Practise the tune and rhythm of the song.
- Sing the song clearly, focusing on the words and their meaning.
- Express appreciation for God’s creation through the singing.
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