God’s big design is an excellent introduction to Genesis 1-2. At the outset, Roberts points out that Genesis is not setting out to answer the questions of modern science, and the book really avoids commenting on this issue much at all. Rather, there are five chapters, each dealing with important doctrines introduced in the first two chapters of Genesis.
In the first chapter we are introduced to the divine Creator. Genesis teaches that God alone is eternal, and thus philosophical materialism is wrong. In addition, accidentalism, the view that there is no guiding hand but chance alone is also wrong. Finally, Genesis presents God alone as sovereign, thus humanism with its lofty claims about mankind is also wrong. Flowing from these truths are implications for meaning, morality and worship. There is meaning to the universe, and we find that in living for God’s glory. There is fixed morality that derives from God’s eternal character, and the only right response to God the creator is worship.
The second chapter deals with God’s design for humanity. Here Roberts contrasts differing views that people have about humanity. Some see humanity as divine, others as worthless. Genesis shows that neither view is accurate. It teaches that we are created, physical and sexual beings. The implications are that God cares about our bodies as well as our spirits and that the gender God gives us is fundamental to our God-given identity. This matters more than how we view ourselves psychologically. In addition to teaching that human beings are created beings, Genesis teaches that we are made in the image of God. This sets us apart from the animals. What this actually means, is not spelled out in Genesis. But according to Roberts, “This is surely one of the reasons why he [God] has forbidden us from making images of him. God has already created an image of himself: human beings.” He then suggests some of the ways we reflect God. We reflect God in our rationality, our ability to make moral choices and our creativity among other things. We also represent God. In the context of being made in the image of God, Genesis has mankind ruling over God’s creation as his representatives on earth. Finally, we are designed to relate to God in a way that animals are not. The implications of this doctrine are far-reaching. Being made in the image of God, we have great dignity, and thus murder which includes abortion is a terrible sin. He concludes the chapter by reminding us that despite the fall, the image of God remains in us, and through Christ it is being remade.
Chapter 3 brings a fairly balanced approach to God’s design for the earth. Genesis teaches that the earth was created by God. It is not an accident which would give it no intrinsic value, nor is it divine. Rather it is distinct from God, lower than him, but has great value. Furthermore, in stark contrast to many philosophies and religions, Scripture teaches that creation is good. It is ordered, beautiful and is designed to bring glory to God. Genesis also teaches that it is unfinished. Yes it was made perfect, but God gave orders to people to carry on the work he had begun with creation by asking them to work the garden, to fill the earth and have dominion over it. The second major point of the chapter is that earth was entrusted to people. We are designed to rule over the world under God. This is not to be in a destructive way, after all, God has spent Genesis 1 declaring what he made to be good, so why would he give human being permission to destroy it in the same chapter? The two tasks humans are given are to work the earth and take care of it. In other words, to develop the resources God has placed in the world, but to do this in a responsible manner. Roberts helpfully points out the dangers of two common extremes – development without conservation and conservation without development. These both ignore the twin aspects of God’s mandate to humans. He concludes the chapter by reminding the reader that the earth will be redeemed by Christ. Redemption is not only spiritual, but physical, involving the putting right of all of creation.
God’s design for sex and marriage is the subject of the fourth chapter. Roberts begins by talking about some of the impacts of the sexual revolution. One interesting statistic he mentioned was the cost of family breakdown in the United Kingdom which is estimated to be £10 billion or 1% of GDP. Genesis teaches that God is for sex. Contrary to the stereotype that Christianity is against sex, the first two chapters of Genesis teach that God created sex as part of his good creation. In Genesis we see two principles in sex. First is complementarity. God made male and female, both in the image of God, yet different. Men and women complement each other so that, in God’s creation design, when we come together we are a perfect fit. But sex was created as the means of reproduction. God’s first command is basically, “Have sex! Propagate!” In addition, sex is for marriage alone. Marriage is a life-long God-given institution and the only proper context for sex. It is exclusive, and forms a deep unity. Ultimately it is a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church.
In the final chapter, Roberts addresses what Genesis 1-2 teaches on the subject of work. Rather than being a corruption of God’s original design, work is a good part of God’s creation. Unfortunately work has been viewed as unspiritual, which is a hangover from a Greek view of the world. Some Christians took this view and decided there were two tiers of Christians. The first was described as the ‘perfect life’ where a priest, monk or nun dedicated their life to contemplation and spiritual things. The second tier was the ‘permitted life’, which was seen as secular. This was the realm of work, governing, farming, trading and raising a family. But this is not the Christian view. Roberts includes a brilliant quote from Mark Greene’s ‘Thank God it’s Monday’. “Work is not an intermission from the main action, something we do so we can then do other things: it is an integral part of the main action, an intrinsic part of our walk with God.” Genesis teaches us God is a worker and people were created to be his co-workers. God created Eden, but gave man the task of cultivating it. Thus work is itself spiritual. This, I think, is an important truth we of the laity need to grasp. We can serve God in day to day life. As a lawyer, or a factory worker, we do not need to feel ashamed that our job is not sufficiently Christian. We can serve God in whatever work we do! Nevertheless, work is not the goal of life. God rests from his work, and he wants us to enjoy his rest too. There is a little bit of discussion on whether the fourth commandment applies to us, and in the concluding section of the chapter, we are reminded of the tension between creation work and new creation work, and the importance of witness.
In summary, this is a very readable, clear and helpful unpacking of some of the core doctrines that spring from Genesis 1-2.