In the beginning there were no flowers and trees. There were no animals or birds. There wasn't even any people. There was just darkness.
But God didn't want there to be just darkness. He had a plan. He wanted people who would love Him and fill the earth with the knowledge of Him and His glory. So God began His plan with the earth.
The first part of God's plan was to make light. So God said "Let there be light!" And suddenly there was light everywhere and it was beautiful and God was pleased. God didn't want it to be light all the time so He divided the light from the dark and called the light day and the dark night. And that was the very first day.
On the second day God separated the sky from the waters on the earth. He created the sky and the clouds and called it Heaven. Next God made dry land appear in the waters on the earth and formed mountains and hills and the plains and also the oceans and lakes and rivers. He made grass to grow on the land and all kinds of flowers and trees. Earth looked like a beautiful garden! And God saw that it was good and that was the third day.
Then God created the big beautiful sun to warm the earth and make things grow during the day. And the moon and sparkly stars to give us a little light at night. Once again God was pleased and this was the fourth day.
Although the world was a beautiful place now it was still empty. So God created all kinds of fish of all different shapes and sizes and colours to swim in the waters. And then He created birds, big ones and little ones to fly through the air. And that was the fifth day.
But God was not finished yet. He created animals next, cows and sheep, lions and tigers, animals of all sorts! The earth was full of life now. Little rabbits hopped through the grass, birds sang in the trees and fish wiggled and flashed in the rivers. What was still missing? There was no one on the earth to look after the garden and the animals, was there?
So God made a man in His likeness and put him in the garden and brought all the animals to him to name. Everything seemed complete and beautiful. But the man was lonely. He didn't have anyone he could t alk with and have as a special friend. So God put him to sleep and took a rib from his body and from it made a woman and God brought her to the man. Now the man was happy and God was happy too with all He had done. The sixth day was over.
There was still one more day left, but it was to be a very special day , a day of rest. And so God rested and called the day His Sabbath. Creation was complete and everything was good.
Things to Remember
Discussion
When God had finished His creative work, everything He had made was very good -- even man. God made us in His own likeness so that we could reflect His loving and merciful character and fill the earth with His glory. He made man ruler over the fish, birds and animals and caretaker of the earth. Sadly, although God's wonderful creation is still there to see, we are not always good caretakers of the earth or good reflections of God's glory.
What was special about the way the woman was created?
What are some ways that you can look after what God has made?
What was different about the seventh day?
Activity Suggestions
Draw a picture of something God created. Maybe draw a picture of yourself. You are a special creation of God!
Make a creation collage. Try to find pictures for every day and glue them all together. Good sources of pictures are nature or gardening magazines, calendars, seed catalogues or travel brochures.