Meaning of Genesis

And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:24-25)

Here we see the continuing process of evolution under the Supreme Being's guidance. This is derived from His initial programming instruction mentioned in Genesis 1:21: "Be fruitful."

Is this instruction a form of programming?

"Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds" indicates instructional programming. Is the land producing living creatures by itself? The word "Let the land" is derived from the Hebrew words אֶרֶץ ('erets) and יָצָא (yatsa'). אֶרֶץ means not just land, but also the solid structures of matter. יָצָא means to 'bring forth' or to continue to be brought out of. So we have the solid structural elements and land intermingling to offer the next level of evolutionary programming for living organisms.

What does "according to its kind" mean? The word "kind" here is translated from the Hebrew word מין (miyn), which means a type, a kind of a species. The verse is discussing the differentiation of living organisms into species.

In evolutionary terms, hieroglyphs have indicated that fish species preceded the mammals. This is precisely what is being indicated in Genesis, as the aquatic species came first, prior to the mammals. As to the birds of the air coming after the fish, this is consistent with the existence of flying fish who increasingly took to the air.

This evolution process is based upon DNA allowing successive change. Even a cursory understanding of computer programming tells us that DNA is a program. Today's computer programming uses the binary code: A series of 1s and 0s, arranged in sequences of bits and bytes. These sequences create instructional codes also referred to as computer machine language.

Instead of a binary system, God's DNA programming code uses a quaternary (4) programming code. His system utilizes a sugar/phosphate backbone, with each sugar/phosphate on the chain attached to one of four amino bases: Either adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G) or thymine (T). This creates what is called a "base pair" combination.

A modern computer binary system contains bits composed of either a 1 or a 0, and a byte with a sequence of eight bits (such as 10011010). A "word" in this system contains a series of bytes. God's DNA programming code contains base pairings of either A, C, G or T (equivalent to bits), with a normal "byte" size of three - called a codon. For example, a codon could be AGC, ATC, TAG, and so on.

This four-bit, three-byte DNA system creates an extensive array of possible bytes, and these are assembled into gigantic "word" sequences. For example, a typical chromosome will contain over 220 million codons!

Just as a complex computer program is programmed by a conscious person with a purpose and objective for the program, the programming evident within DNA also illustrates the purpose and objectives of a conscious person with purpose and objective. Since DNA is an extremely complex and highly organized programming platform with extreme functionality that puts any modern computer program to shame, we know that this coding also had to originate from a place of purpose and objective.

What does "according to its kind" mean?

The root Hebrew word here is מִין (miyn). This means a type, kind or species. In other words, we are talking about the Supreme Being creating the programming code that organizes living organisms into defined species.

Let's think about this. Consider the proposal of Darwinists who speculate that dead chemicals somehow came together accidentally to form life. Such a notion has never been proven to occur, even in laboratories where the process is forced (no accident). The chance of complexly sequenced amino acids coming together to form millions of logical base pairs, even according to DNA researchers like Sir Francis Crick, is nearly impossible. Furthermore, once the base pair language of DNA came together, it somehow would have to randomly create organized and unique species, rather than just a mish-mash of evolved species with no organization.

The fact that the species are segregated, organized and distinct requires a governing factor. It means that the process of evolution could not have occurred randomly or by accident. Besides the fact that the complex programming of DNA required a programmer with a purpose, the organization of the different species also requires a governing factor, again with a purpose.

Purpose can only come from an entity with intention. Intention requires a living being. Therefore, the incredible programming language of DNA, together with the organizational evolution of species, must have come from a living being - the Supreme Being.

Why did God see that it was good?

Finally, this verse says, "And God saw that it was good." This indicates oversight. It indicates that not only did God initiate the programming of evolution, but He has been watching over it. He has kept an eye on things to make sure that His intentions are being carried out.

This also indicates that the Supreme Being doesn't have to do everything Himself. He can design things, and others can carry out the process under His design. If He did everything Himself, He wouldn't need to see "that it was good." Seeing "that it was good" combined with His instructions of "Let the land..." and "Be fruitful" mean that God has designed the programming and has overseen the process that resulted in an organized evolution of species.

Consider another translation for these verses in Chapter One of the New Book of Genesis.

God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground." (Genesis 1:28)

Why did He instruct them to be fruitful?

This describes God's release of some spiritual living beings into the physical world. The spiritual individual is from another plane of existence - the spiritual world. In the spiritual world, God dwells, surrounded by innumerable living beings who relate with him in a variety of ways. These spiritual individuals are God's loving servants, each exchanging a relationship with Him in one mood or another.

Why? In other to have real love, the spiritual individual is given the freedom to love God or not. For those who have chosen not to love God, God designed a place that gives those spiritual individuals who have rejected their relationships with Him a place where we can seemingly be away from Him. This is the physical world.

We might compare this verse to a situation where a person is taking a fish out of the ocean and putting it in an aquarium. A person might set up an aquarium with some plant life, various facades of rocks and coral structures to swim through, and maybe some crabs or other creatures. Then an oxygenation system so that the fish will get enough oxygen. The whole aquarium is set up in such a way that the fish will be able to survive outside of its natural home - the ocean.

Now once the aquarium is set up, the person brings the fish to the aquarium and puts the fish in the aquarium. As he does this, he might, if he talked to fish, say something like what God said to humanity in the verse above. He might say: "This is your aquarium and you can multiply and rule over it. You can manage the crabs and the other species, and take care of things as you want to."

In other words, the aquarium owner is giving the fish some autonomy in terms of its new digs. It is giving the fish the freedom to have its own little kingdom.

Do we have the freedom not to obey?

This is a similar situation for us. God has given each of us the ability to dominate over others, and pretty much rule over the place. Why?

One of the aspects of our rejecting God in the spiritual plane, as we'll see as the analogy of Adam is unfolded, is that we desired to enjoy as God enjoys. We wanted to be the center of attention and have others serve us. We saw God enjoying in this way, and we became envious, in other words.

So as part of the physical world that God set up for us, He allows us to operate these temporary physical bodies designed with the ability to outsmart and dominate others. In this way, we can pretend we're in God's position of being the enjoyer and being served by others.

Consider how this has played out. Each of us so many opportunities to rule over others, whether it be animals, inferiors at work, children or those we lead in some group. These little 'king-ships' each come with consequences, however.

For example, practically every person has the opportunity to have children, or at least some sort of pet or even both. The children and the pet are subservient to the commands of the parent and/or pet owner, and the parent and/or pet-owner enjoys being the master of another living being. However, at the same time, the parent and/or pet owner has to take care of the child or pet. The parent and/or pet owner has to feed and clean the child or pet, and take the child and/or pet out to the park and so on. In this way, the child and/or pet and the parent and/or pet owner develop a relationship, which may become, to some degree, a loving relationship.

Who is serving who in these relationships?

Now, these relationships are no accident. It is no accident that we have these freedoms here to create these types of relationships, and then we undergo a series of lessons regarding caring, making sacrifices and ruling over another. These are all intended to teach us the meaning of loving relationships.

In fact, even though the physical world was designed to give us certain freedoms, it was also designed specifically as a rehabilitation center. The physical world teaches us about relationships. It teaches us, gradually, how to love again.

The intention is to prepare us for our return home to the spiritual dimension. We cannot dwell or stay in the spiritual dimension when we are envious of God and self-centered. We just do not have the right consciousness for the spiritual dimension in that state. So God set up a place that teaches us about loving service and relationships, in an attempt to bring our consciousness back to a state where we can resume our loving relationship with Him.

Every step of our physical lives within these temporary bodies, we are constantly given choices. With each choice is a consequence. Should we decide to help another, or care for another, there will be a good consequence. Should we decide to take advantage of another, or abuse or hurt another, there will be a negative consequence - one that shows us directly how it feels to be treated in that way. This is all due to the incredible programming of this physical world by the Supreme Person, God.

The question is which way we will go? Will we use our God-given freedoms in the physical world to hurt others and try to dominate others, or will we care for others and try to help others? This is our choice. One choice brings us closer to returning home and the other takes us further away.

For those who have, as they have evolved, chosen to care for others and try to help others, they are directly given a chance to return home by having contact with one of God's loving servants - who God periodically sends to the physical world in an effort to bring those who are ready back home.

The books of the Bible, in fact, provide a history of some of these loving servants, including Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, Joshua, Job, Jonah, John the Baptist, Jesus, Jesus' disciples and others - all of whom God sent specifically to bring those who were ready to 'graduate' from the physical world back to our in the spiritual world.

What is the path home?

These representatives of God have all taught that the path back home is to re-establish our loving relationship with God. This is why Moses instructed:

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5)

And why Jesus taught, quoting Moses:

" 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."(Matthew 22:37-38)

And why Moses also instructed:

"...obey the commands I am giving you today--to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul..." (Deut. 11:13)

Consider another translation for this verse in Chapter One of the New Book of Genesis.