Welcome to the second study in our series, Characters in the Hebrew Scriptures, where we continue exploring Biblical characters and their significance in understanding our relationship with Elohiym (God) and His Son, Yahusha Ha’Mashiach (Jesus Christ). In our first study, we examined Elohiym as the first and most foundational character in the Bible and we explored how Yahusha Ha’Mashiach is The Word of Elohiym.
In this session, we will focus on Creation as a key entity in the Hebrew Scriptures. We will investigate how Creation, which includes everything made in the first six days, fits into our understanding of Biblical characters and their roles. You might wonder how Creation, comprising the heaven and the earth—can be considered a character and what it reveals about our relationship with Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.
The Creation is introduced in the first verse in The Bible.
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 1:1 (YS):
“In the beginning Elohiym created the heaven and the earth.”
This verse introduces Elohiym and Creation (Heaven and Earth) as significant characters. You may ask, “How can the heaven and the earth be viewed as characters, and what do they teach us about our relationship with Yahusha Ha’Mashiach?” This is a central question, and our study will address the importance of Creation in this context.
We will explore why Creation is considered a character and how it connects to our relationship with Yahuah. The Bible, as The Living Word of Yahuah, continuously provides new revelations that apply to our daily lives and serves as the most important guide we have.
Let’s dive into The Word and discover the insights we can gain from the study of Creation!
In the first verse of the Bible, “the heaven and the earth” are mentioned as the result of Elohiym’s creative act. While the text does not explicitly refer to Creation as an entity in the way we might think of characters, it establishes the foundational understanding that the heavens and the earth are integral parts of creation and, by extension, can be considered entities within the Biblical narrative.
The next verse that provides us with a deeper understanding is:
Bereshiyth (Genesis) 2:4 (YS):
“These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that Yahuah Elohiym made the earth and the heavens.”
This verse from Genesis 2:4 introduces the concept of “the generations” of the heavens and the earth, emphasizing their role as significant elements in the creation story. The term “generations” implies a continued existence and significance, reinforcing the idea of these creations as integral and active entities within the Biblical framework.
Two significant references to the Creation being treated as an entity (Old and New Testaments) appears in the following verses:
Tehelliym (Psalm) 19:1 (YS)
“The heavens declare the glory of El ; and the firmament sheweth His handywork.”
In this Tanak (Old Testament) verse, the “heavens” and the “firmament” (solid dome) are depicted as actively declaring the glory of Elohiym (God) and showing His handiwork. This personification of Creation suggests that it plays a role in reflecting and proclaiming the divine nature of its Creator.
Romaiym (Romans) 1:20 (YS)
“For from the creation of the world , the invisible things of Yah are clearly seen , being understood by the things that are made , even his eternal power and divinity ; so that they are without excuse:”
In this Brit Ha’dasha (New Testament) verse, “creation” is described as a means through which Elohiym’s invisible attributes are made evident. The term “creation” here encompasses all that was made, implying that it functions as a witness to Elohiym’s power and divine nature.
These passages further develop the idea of Creation as an active, communicative entity, contributing to the understanding of how Creation serves as a character that testifies to Elohiym’s glory and attributes.
Now that we have identified that “the Creation” is an entity and a character in the Bible, let’s examine what this character can teach us about our relationship with Yahuah and Yahusha. The first instance that the heaven and the earth act as a character is found in the following verse:
Devariym (Deuteronomy) 30:19 (YS)
“I call the heaven and the earth to record this day against you , that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing : therefore choose life , that both thou and thy seed may live:”
This is the first significant instance where heaven and earth function as characters in the sense of being active participants in the Biblical narrative. This use personifies them in a way that shows they play a role beyond merely existing as physical entities; they become involved in the unfolding of God’s covenant with His people. This personification is a key aspect of their role as characters or witnesses in the Biblical story, as they are seen as actively participating in the covenant relationship and the moral decisions of Yahuah’s people.
The last verse that we will use as a reference is found in the last book of the Bible, Revelation.
Chazon (Revelation) 20:11 (YS)
“And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it , from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away ; and there was found no place for them.”
In this verse, we see that not only are the heaven and the earth passive characters in the Bible but they are action characters as well. They passively act as witnesses to events but they are also active characters in that once Yahuah, The Father, appears on the eighth day, they have to flee away from His throne of judgment. This is a very interesting statement…. why do they have to flee? Due to our limited time, I encourage you to follow the links included below and reflect on the Self Study for further insight at your leisure.
Conclusion
In our study today, we have introduced and explored the idea that “Creation (heaven and earth)” are characters that have multifaceted roles and profound implications for understanding our relationship with Yahuah and His Son Yahusha Ha’Mashiach.
The recurring theme of heaven and earth serving as witnesses underscores their integral role in the divine economy. Passages such as Deuteronomy 30:19 and Isaiah 1:2 highlight how they bear witness to the covenantal choices of Elohiym’s people, the nation of Yashar’el (Israel), and reflect the state of their relationship with Him. This imagery emphasizes their role as enduring reminders of Elohiym’s promises and the moral and spiritual consequences of our actions.
We also examined how heaven and earth are depicted as fleeing from the face of Yahuah, as described in Chazon 20:11 and 2 Kepha (Peter) 3:7-12. This fleeing signifies the profound and eternal nature of Yahuah’s divine holiness and underscores the necessity of complete renewal through His Son, Yahusha Ha’Mashiach. The ultimate plan of redemption and righteousness can only be fulfilled through this transformative process of coming into covenant and staying in covenant with Yahuah.
Understanding heaven and earth as characters deepens our comprehension of the relationship we have with Yahuah and Yahusha. They serve as constant reminders of His covenant, judgment, and promises. They witness our commitment to fulfilling or ignoring the covenant made by Yahuah with us. This understanding highlights the importance of living in accordance with His divine will and the reality of ultimate transformation into perfected beings. It also underscores the consequence of not accepting and living by the covenant, which is eternal punishment. As enduring witnesses and symbols, heaven and earth call us to align our lives with Elohiym’s purposes and to anticipate the fulfillment of His promises with hope and faith.
In conclusion, the study of heaven and earth as characters enriches our understanding of their roles in Elohiym’s redemptive plan and invites us to reflect on our own relationship with Yahuah and Yahusha. Recognizing their significance in the Biblical narrative, we gain a deeper appreciation of the divine relationship that encompasses all creation and the promise of the ultimate renewal that awaits if we live by the covenant that Yahuah has made with us.