Concerning Genesis...

(1) --Idea that Earth and humanity were God's "first attempt" at creation.--

God evaluated his creation in Genesis 1 and 2 : it was GOOD. Because God is eternal and all-powerful and omniscient, he had all eternity to devise a universe that was exactly according to His plan and purpose. He created man and woman in His image, an incredible compliment. Unlike man, God never operates using trial-and-error. God does not learn -- He got it exactly right the first time.

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(2) --Why did God create the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the first place? Why create the opportunity for sin if He knew the awful consequences?--

How interesting would your marriage be if your wife had no choice whether to marry you? How fulfilling would any loving relationship be if one party was FORCED to be in the relationship? God wants our love and wants it freely given. Anything else would be a planet of automatons, and we can't be created in God's image without the capacity to choose. Sin and rebellion is OUR fault... if Adam had not sinned , and if we chose not to ratify his decision over and over again, the evil in the world would decrease by leaps and bounds.

But.... God also had a plan to overcome sin and death and provide a way out once the sin was committed. The book of Revelation describes Jesus as "the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world."

Also there is an element of faith involved.... God asks us to trust him despite what we see with our eyes: "Blessed is he who has not seen, and yet believes." (John 20:29) Job is the ultimate (human) example of one who suffered incredibly, and undeservedly, and yet still chose to put all his faith in God, rather than curse God and die, as his wife recommended.

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(3) --Idea that the sheer size of the universe and multitude of stars and planets virtually guarantees that there must be other inhabited planets.--

I don't dispute the silence of the Bible on the existence of extraterrestrial, sentient beings, nor the possibility that they exist. However, the Bible has already given us a glorious purpose behind the field of astronomy:

PSALM 19:1-6

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their measuring line goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.


JEREMIAH 31:38

Thus says the LORD:
"If the heavens above can be measured,
and the foundations of the earth below can be explored,
then I will cast off all the offspring of Israel
for all that they have done,"
declares the LORD.


PSALM 136:3-9

Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.

to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights-
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.


GENESIS 14:18-20

Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator of heaven and earth.
And blessed be God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand."


From what I see in the verses above, IMHO I don't think the outer universe needs to be populated to be worthwhile. The universe is a declaration of the power and majesty of God. And also a metaphor for God's infinite patience and forgiveness towards His people. It's God's calling card: the God who blesses you is the Lord of heaven and earth. Nothing is too difficult for him -- because creating a billion galaxies by the word of his mouth out of nothing, was all in a day's work for him.

If God loves us and desires a relationship with us, why could he not create the entire universe as simply a message to the inhabitants of earth? Perhaps that sounds like the height of arrogance. But Paul says that in the afterlife Christians will "judge angels" (1 Cor. 6:3) and Christ says faithful servants will be put in charge of whole "cities" (Luke 19:11-27 -- although I realize this is a parable).

An appropriate response would be one of total humility, to think God thinks this highly of us, and more: he sent His most precious Son to die in our place.