E. Chapter 1:7 - And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which [were] under the firmament from the waters which [were] above the firmament: and it was so.
1) Made = עשה `asah – occurs 7 times in Chapter 1, means to do, fashion, accomplish, make
· Indicates that it was more than just moving water, it was something he MADE.
· What was it that he made? The life-preserving atmosphere 21% Oxygen, 78% Nitrogen, .9% Argon, .03% Carbon Dioxide
2) The atmosphere consists of five layers (5 is the number of grace), held around the planet by the force of gravity. As you move upwards through the layers, atmospheric pressure decreases rapidly with height and the air temperature also changes. It is these, more complicated, changes in temperature which are used to divide the atmosphere into the layers described below.
· Exosphere - Above a height of about 500km is the exosphere, a layer where the atmosphere merges into space. Satellites are stationed in this area, 500km to 1000km from Earth. Sometimes considered part of outer space since there is no clear boundary
· Thermosphere - The thermosphere is the fourth layer in the atmosphere, between 80km and 110km above the Earth. Space shuttles fly in this area and it is also where the aurora lights are found (also known as the “Northern Lights”. Auroras
· Ionosphere - Technically, the ionosphere is not another atmospheric layer. The ionosphere represents less than 0.1% of the total mass of the Earth's atmosphere. The upper atmosphere is ionized by solar radiation. The aurora lights (also known as the “Northern Lights”) are wispy curtains of light above the Poles and occur here as a result of the sun’s energy causing ionization in molecules.
· Mesosphere - Beyond the stratosphere the air is very thin and cold. This area is known as the mesosphere, and is found between 50km and 80km above the Earth’s surface.
· Stratosphere - The stratosphere is the second layer of air above the Earth’s surface and extends to a height of 50km. It is here that we find the ozone layer. The ozone layer absorbs much of the sun’s harmful radiation that would otherwise be dangerous to plant and animal life.
· Troposphere - The troposphere is the layer closest to the Earth, approximately 11km high. Weather occurs only in the troposphere because it is this layer that contains most of the water vapor. Weather is the way water changes in the air, and so without water there would be no clouds, rain, snow or other weather features.
3) under = the deep which covered the face of the earth (at least until day 3)
4) above = upon, so what is strange is that we know nearly all water vapor exist in the lowest layer or the Troposphere, yet God says the waters upon the firmament
· Does this mean we have a different set-up today?
5) If the world were represented by a baseball, all 5 layers of the atmosphere would represent the white covering. Therefore, its a very small, yet extremely important part of the earth.
F. Chapter 1:8 - And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.
1) Day 2
2) Called = קרא qara' to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim
3) We know God already created heaven in 1:1, multiple meanings for the same word?
· heaven, heavens, sky (here)
1) visible heavens, sky
2) as abode of the stars
· as the visible universe, the sky, atmosphere, etc
1) Heaven (as the abode of God) (verse 1)
4) Evening and morning passed on day 2 without God’s stamp of approval proclaiming that it was good, thus signifying the work had not yet been completed
G. Chapter 1:9 - And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry [land] appear: and it was so.
1) Prior to this verse it appears the entire earth was covered in water corresponding to II Peter 3:6
2) God commands the waters to move allowing the dry land to appear.
· If the entire earth is covered in water it seems difficult to picture water moving to “one place”
· Since the day before God separated the waters, it is likely that a good portion was removed from “under the firmament” allowing the seas to pool.
3) Not chaotic as some scientists might suggest, but orderly as they “involve organization rather than disruption” (Leupold)
4) According to Leupold , the translators mistakenly copied מקום maqowm – meaning PLACE instead of the correct מקוה miqveh - meaning COLLECTION; therefore the text should read “the collection of waters” (minimal change to the meaning)
5) Where else in scripture do we see God commanding the “waters”?
· Job 38:11 – And said, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.”
· Exodus 14:21 – And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.
· Joshua 4:23 - For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
· II Kings 2:14 - And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where [is] the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
· Job 37:10 - By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
· Matthew 8:26 - And He said unto them, “Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
· Mark 4:39 – And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still.” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
H. Chapter 1:10 - And God called the dry [land] Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that [it was] good.
1) Note: God’s approval was not given at the end of the second day, but it is rendered here before the 3rd day is complete.
2) The separation of waters was not finished in day 2 and remained in process and is finished in the middle of day 3
I. Chapter 1:11 - And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
1) Leupold identifies three orders that “may not coincide with botanical distinctions as science now makes them. But, assuredly, they are seen to be a general and a very appropriate type of division as far as man’s use of them is concerned, and in some ways the distinctions made are seen to be very apt. The lines of demarcation drawn at creation are just as sharp now as they were then.” Creation in Threes:
· Grass - Fresh, green
· Herbs - Yielding seed (more prominent feature)
· Trees - Bearing fruit
2) Plants came first, and then came seed and fruit.
J. Chapter 1:12 - And the earth brought forth grass, [and] herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed [was] in itself, after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.
1) God approves His work a second time in day 3 to indicate completion
2) After his kind – Occurs 10 times in chapter 1
3) This is where evolutionists have no answer
· How do Christians who believe evolution reconcile this? They can’t these are mutually exclusive concepts
· Very simple refutation of man’s prideful delusion
· Recommended book…“Darwin
· Deut. 32:4 “He is the Rock, His work is perfect…”:
· If His work is perfect when created would there be a need for it to evolve into something better? Of course not!
4) Apparently, whatever “light” was present at that time was sufficient for plants to photosynthesize
Creation vs. Evolution – High Level
- Everything in Genesis Chapter 1 is ascribed to אלהים 'Elohiym (and therefore perfect according to Deut. 32:4) through His:
· Creating
· Making
· Acting
· Moving
· Speaking
- Man’s work is but rags, worthless or nothing and thus imperfect; therefore, in order to perfect man’s work there is a natural process of evolution as evidenced by advances in technology over time.
· Eccl. 2:11 - Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun.
- Evolution is the most prominent of several man made theories to explain all things created by God
- Secular scientists will all admit (when cornered) that none of these theories explains everything, but evolution explains more than the others
- God’s Word claims to explain everything
- What then is the purpose of Evolutionary theory?
· Contradiction of God’s Word
· Denial of Scripture
· Base conclusions on human assumptions vs. God’s declaration
· Stay tuned, more to come in v. 21…
K. Chapter 1:13 - And the evening and the morning were the third day.
1) Day 3
2) Here we have the first life of the new creation brought forth on the 3rd day, after the destruction of the 1st earth age. Amazing the parallel between this and the future death and resurrection of our Lord Christ Jesus on the 3rd day.
3) We also see the parallels of this new creation being brought forth from the waters and the gift of baptism. When we are baptized we are washed of our original sin and are a new creation that is declared by God as being good.
· II Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things become new.
L. Chapter 1:14 - And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:
· Wasn’t night and day already divided in 1:4?
· Is this the same thing or something different?
· More of an indication of a spiritual/physical dimensional distinction?
M. Chapter 1:15 - And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
· Is there a difference between this “light” and the “light” spoken of in verse 3?
· Wouldn’t that light have given light upon the earth?
· Not if it was in a different dimension, if we are speaking of the difference between physical light and spiritual light
· Is God establishing a precedent where His Word is made manifest in the spiritual dimension before manifestation in the physical?
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