Paper Boat
Creation••5 min read

Very Good

Genesis 1:31

ESV
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible, copyright © 2001 by Crossway.

Read full chapter online →

Reflection

Chapter 1 of Genesis describes how God created the world. Through His word, creation came into existence one after another until He created humanity and rested on the seventh day.

This verse catches my attention because God says, “it was very good.” Before humanity was created, God repeatedly declared His creation “good.” But after creating mankind, He looked at everything He had made and called it “very good.”

“Very good” refers to all of creation, but humanity held a unique place because we were made in God’s image. Humanity was the crown of God’s creation, designed to know Him, worship Him, and steward His world. God created everything with His great power and great love.

Just think about it: God already knew that humanity would sin and rebel against Him, yet He still chose to create us. God is never surprised. Before we are born, He already knows us. As Jeremiah 1:4-5 says: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” When God created Adam and Eve, He already knew about the Fall.

What amazes me is that despite knowing everything that would happen, He still created us, even knowing that:

  • Humanity would fall into sin.
  • Suffering would enter the world. -Many people would turn their backs on Him.
  • He would send His precious Son to save us.

And still, He looked at His creation and said, “very good.”

Why?

It was a declaration of His creation as it existed at that moment. Everything was functioning according to His perfect design. Adam and Eve had not sinned yet. Creation reflected God’s goodness and order.

A simple illustration is a person building a beautiful sandcastle on the beach. After finishing it, they admire it and delight in what they have made, even knowing that the ocean waves will eventually wash it away. In a similar way, God delighted in His creation and declared it good, even knowing that humanity would later choose to rebel against Him.

God’s foreknowledge of sin did not stop His love for us. Before the world was created, God already had a plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. The Cross was not an afterthought; it was part of His eternal plan.

God created us to share His love, glory, and goodness. Love is part of who God is. He did not create us because He was lonely or because He lacked anything. God is perfect and complete in Himself. He created us because He desired His creation to know Him, enjoy His blessings, and participate in His goodness.

Why give us freedom if He knew we would misuse it?

Because genuine love cannot be forced. If God only wanted creatures that would mechanically obey Him, He could have created them that way. Instead, He created human beings with the capacity to choose—capable of love, trust, obedience, and relationship.

For a practical picture of this, think about two people who choose to build a family together. They know there will be challenges, misunderstandings, sacrifices, and moments of pain, yet they still choose to love because love is worth sharing. In a much greater way, God’s love moved Him to create us, knowing the cost that would come.

Of course, God’s love is infinitely greater than human love, but it gives us a glimpse of how His heart works toward His creation.

Application

  • This passage reminds us of how valuable we are in God’s eyes. He valued humanity so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. We are loved and treasured by God. Because He sees us that way, we should learn to view ourselves through His eyes rather than through our failures, insecurities, or the opinions of others.

  • We are not here by accident. God created each of us with a purpose. He did not bring us this far just to remain where we are. Instead, He is continually working in our lives according to His will. Therefore, we can move forward with faith and trust, knowing that God has a good and perfect plan for us.

  • This passage also reminds us to be grateful. Everything we have comes from God—the big blessings and even the smallest things we often overlook. From the air we breathe to the opportunities we receive each day, all are gifts from Him. Truly, all glory, honor, and praise belong to God alone.

  • Finally, we should never take sin lightly. The cost of our redemption was far too great, requiring the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Sin carries serious consequences and grieves the heart of God. Therefore, we are called to pursue holiness and sanctification, becoming more like Christ each day. May God continue to help and strengthen us as we walk faithfully with Him.