The Book of Genesis
Part 5
The fifth and sixth days occupied by God in the reconstruction of the earth provide much material for thought. It is interesting that on these days the Holy Spirit of God uses the word He employed to describe the bringing in of the original heaven and earth (v.1), the word created. As this word appears three times in this chapter we notice that it suggests; (a) the beginning of all creation—v.1; (b) the beginning of animal existence—v. 21; and (c) the beginning of human life—v. 27. The word apparently suggests that God brought into existence something entirely new which had no causal relationship to things which already existed. The act which this word describes reveals the infinite wisdom, power, and determination of God. “The invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead” (Rom. 1:30). It was this witness of creation to her Creator that the Apostle Paul emphasised in his appeal to the men of Athens, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24).
There is another important expression occuring in this chapter; it appears three times in this passage, the expression, “After his kind.” It is used of both the vegetable and animal kingdoms, and, of course, intimates that each species possesses the power to reproduce itself. Moreover, it appears that this phrase could be translated, “In all their varieties,” for it also refers to variations within certain general groups. There are flowers in great variety, fish of every kind, animals of many types. God takes pleasure in divergence. Before the Fall of man, among both plants and animals, there was variety without variance, diversity without discord.
What a wonderful picture of the Church was given by the Lord to Peter. “He fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things and fowls of the air… What God hath cleansed that call not thou common or unclean” (Acts 10:10-14). What variety! Notwithstanding, there is no variance. What diversity! Yet, there is no discord.
This lesson is difficult for men to learn. Agreement among us is generally only the product of a conformity of thought. With many, uniformity of practice is the demanded price for accord in fellowship.
During these two days, God brought into being fish, fowl, animals, and man. Out of these four distinctions of life, through out the succeeding generations, and throughout all the Scriptures, God has chosen certain species to typify Himself as He is manifest in Christ.
The Fish
Fish has well been called God’s special gift to man. He may catch it in the sea and appropriate it for his own use without much labour. It increases abundantly. Of the mighty river of a future and brighter day we read, “A very great multitude of fish… their fish shall be according to their kinds, as the fish of the great sea, exceeding many” (Ezek. 47:9-10).
The fish typifies the death, burial, and the resurrection of Christ, but very especially His glorious resurrection. “This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites so shall also the Son of Man be to this generation” (Luke 11:29-30).
The Fowl
What thoughts fill the mind! In the Old Testament God is typified by the eagle (Ex. 19:4; Deut. 32:11) ; in the New, Christ is typified by the hen (Matt. 23:37). The Holy Spirit, of course, is typified by the dove (Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:22). In the two former we have feminine pictures of the Lord. They reveal His love and care of His own, and, of course, with these His strength and meekness, His solicitude and gentleness.
The Animals
While it is true that God accepted from His people, under certain circumstances, two turtle doves as a sacrifice, generally the sacrifices which typify the person and death of Christ were taken from among the animals, from the flock and from the herd (Lev. 1-5). God in His holiness declared, “The soul that sinneth it shall die” (Ezek. 18:4); yet, in the death of sacrificial animals God taught man His grace and love, for He willingly accepted a substitutionary death on behalf of the sinner.
The Man
That Adam is a type of Christ there is no doubt. The Spirit of God throughout the writings of the Apostle Paul contrasts, as well as compares, Christ with Adam, “And as it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit… The first man is of the earth earthy; the second is the Lord from heaven” (1 Cor. 15:45 and 47). “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). “And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ… For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Rom. 5:16-19).
Adam in his headship is a type of Christ; in his constitution he is an illustration of Christ, but in his sin he is a contrast to Christ.
The creation of man was the climax of the Divine work. It was God’s intention that the man whom He had made in His image and likeness have dominion over the earth, but alas, it was otherwise with Adam; nevertheless, God’s purpose will be fulfilled, “Thou madest Him a little lower than the angels; Thou crownedst Him with glory and honour, and didst set Him over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we see not yet all things put under Him. But we see Jesus, Who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour” (Heb. 2:7-9).