Genesis
The Book of Beginnings
Chapter 1:6-25
Verses 6-8
God divides the waters. Essentially, God creates a space between
the waters. We call the space sky. God leaves the earth covered
in water at this point, and He creates the atmosphere surrounding
the earth. In its most common form, we refer to this as the
creation of dew, clouds, and fog, but moisture in the air we breathe
is essential to man’s existence.
This completes the Second Day
There are three “heavens” mentioned in scripture. They are:
- The atmosphere, or sky, we can see with the naked eye.
- The stars, solar system, and universe, and
- God’s dwelling place
Verses 9-13
In these verses, we are told that God divides the waters that are
upon the earth. In doing so, He reveals the dry land, or earth, and
creates new boundaries for the seas. Next, God creates vegetation
from the dry land.
What God does next is repeated when He creates animal life. God
gave each plant the ability to reproduce from its own seed – after
each its kind.
This completes the Third Day
Biblical scholars suggest that the best way to interpret the word
kind from its Hebrew origins is to translate the word into our
word, phylum. Science has proven biblical teaching correct about
creation through DNA research. We have proven that each
organism has its own unique genetic code. Though there is great
variation within each phylum, or kind, each kind is unique. There
has never been discovered proof that an organism from one
phylum, or kind, has ever “evolved” into an organism with a
different genetic code. Can you think of examples of variations of
phylum in the plant or animal world?
For just a quick refresher of the way organisms are classified,
please refer to the following listing…starting at the top:
- Kingdom (plant or animal)
- Phylum (kind)
- Order
- Family
- Class
- Genus
- Species
As you can see, the division into kind falls just below the division
of plants and animals. Very early in the classification process,
God made sure each kind was unique and reproduces only after its
kind.
Verses 14-19
In these verses, God puts the sun, moon, and stars into position.
However, God does not create them here. Remember, God
created the heaven and the earth in verse 1. At this point, God
merely brings them all into exact position for one purpose, to
sustain the life of what He has created, and what He will create.
This completes the Fourth Day
It is important to note here that the biblical view of the universe is
not at odds with a scientific view of the universe. Both view the
universe as an infinite creation. Please refer to Job 11:7-8, and
Job 22:12.
Verses 20-25
God creates fish, fowl, and animal life after their own kind as well.
God also blesses and commands them to be fruitful and multiply.
This command to animal life is further evidence of God’s control
over his creation. It is also further justification that all His
creation should, and ultimately will, worship Him.
This completes the Fifth Day