Genesis1: 6-8

Genesis 1:6-8

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.

The first day we have the Father, Light and Holy Spirit and could it be the creation of the "dark side"  It was dark before and he brought light. But in creating the need for the light there must be dark.  Did you know people could actually get sick from not having enough light or darkness in their life.  There is a need for all the elements God created at the beginning to keep us going. Like a person designing an aquarium or in this case a biosphere, God put in everything we would need to not only survive but to make choices.

I like looking for little things in scripture like what nouns are plural and what it might mean. What verb is used and what was it's origin in Hebrew or Greek depending on the Testament.  In verse six we find "waters"  and the separate of waters from waters.  What does that mean?  In verse seven he makes an expanse. Something that separates waters from waters. Space?... Some definitions to think about.

<b>wa·ter</b>   [waw-ter, wot-er]noun
1.
a transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid, a compound of hydrogen and oxygen, H 2 O, freezing at 32°F or 0°C and boiling at 212°F or 100°C, that in a more or less impure state constitutes rain, oceans, lakes, rivers, etc.: it contains 11.188 percent hydrogen and 88.812 percent oxygen, by weight.
2.
a special form or variety of this liquid, as rain.
3.
Often, waters. this liquid in an impure state as obtained from a mineral spring: Last year we went to Marienbad for the waters.
4.
the liquid content of a river, inlet, etc., with reference to its relative height, especially as dependent on tide: a difference of 20 feet between high and low water.
5.
the surface of a stream, river, lake, ocean, etc.: above, below, or on the water.

and

ex·panse    [ik-spans]noun
1.
an uninterrupted space or area; a wide extent of anything: an expanse of water.
2.
something that is spread out, especially over a relatively large area: that great expanse, the sky.
3.
expansion;  extension: the wide expanse of scientific knowledge.

 The expanse? is that our atmosphere? and those waters are they what was poured out to flood the earth? or are those waters still there. (Psalm 148:4)Praise Him, highest heavens, And the waters that are above the heavens!

Jeremiah 10:12
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
12 It is He who made the earth by His power,
Who established the world by His wisdom;
And by His understanding He has stretched out the heavens.

2 Peter 3:5
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

I confess reading this makes me chuckle. I always think of the Original Star Trek and the "crystalline entity" calling humans ugly bags of mostly water. Because we are mostly water.  There is so much on this earth that need and are made up of water.

Job was such an amazing man. I can only hope to have such faith. Our first chapter of the Bible shows us not only the Beginning but the true power of God and the book of Job reminds us of it.


Job 37

37 “At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
2 “Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 “Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His lightning to the ends of the earth.
4 “After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard.
5 “God thunders with His voice wondrously,
Doing great things which we cannot comprehend.
6 “For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7 “He seals the hand of every man,
That all men may know His work.
8 “Then the beast goes into its lair
And remains in its den.
9 “Out of the south comes the storm,
And out of the north the cold.
10 “From the breath of God ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 “Also with moisture He loads the thick cloud;
He disperses the cloud of His lightning.
12 “It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That it may do whatever He commands it
On the face of the inhabited earth.
13 “Whether for correction, or for His world,
Or for lovingkindness, He causes it to happen.
14 “Listen to this, O Job,
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 “Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the lightning of His cloud to shine?
16 “Do you know about the layers of the thick clouds,
The wonders of one perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot,
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 “Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,
Strong as a molten mirror?
19 “Teach us what we shall say to Him;
We cannot arrange our case because of darkness.
20 “Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now men do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 “Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 “The Almighty— we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power
And He will not do violence to justice and abundant righteousness.
24 “Therefore men fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”

I'm thinking this is a bit chopping but I confess I almost forgot to write it and it's late. so forgive  the choppiness.

I find the creation story so amazing. And I love reading other cultures creation stories and then trying to piece them back into the bible. They fit remarkably well.  You can see how people adjust them to fit what they wished to believe. It's like following a game of Telephone. The retelling of the creation story with the sin of disbelief thrown in.

To recap.

Day one we have the light of the world
Day two we have an expanse made between the heavens.