Creation, Part 5

^{Editor’s Note: This article was reprinted with permission from Warren Vanhetloo’s newsletter “Cogitation.”}

Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.
The word translated “and” can at times be rendered “but” to stress a contrast. Darkness was on the face of the deep, but God said, “Let there be light” (Gen 1:2-3). In Hebrew narrative, it frequently is used to show time sequence, that one action follows another (then). It often serves to indicate a new paragraph. In Genesis 1, it sets off one day from another. On the first day of creation, two things happened (1:1-5). On the second day was a massive division between sky and earth (1:6-9). On the third day was a separation of the seas from dry land and various plants, and trees began to cover the earth (1:10-13). Then on the fourth day the expanse of the sky was finished in that form.

And God said, Let there be light-bearers in the expanse of the heaven to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light on the earth; and it was so (Gen. 1:14-15).

1. Although light had been formed and was present from day one, on day four God assigned heavenly bodies to serve as light producers. The total number of such stars is as yet unknown to us; God knows them all by name.

2. These heavenly bodies are to serve two purposes: that men might ascertain the passing of time and to cast light on earth.

3. The divine command was spoken, and divine action occurred, accomplished according to plan.

And God made two great light-bearers, the greater light to rule the day and he lesser light to rule the night; He made the stars also. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day (Gen. 1:16-19).

1. Of the multitude of heavenly bodies, God stressed that He had designed two for the special benefit of man. Just as darkness and light had alternated during the first three days, that pattern would continue with the sun providing the light of the day and the moon giving light at night.

2. Lest man be left in total darkness, even when the moon would not provide light, the stars would assist for the benefit of man.

3. With heavenly bodies in permanent orbs, God had finished the task of day four.

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that has life, and let fowl fly above the earth in the open expanse of heaven (Gen. 1:20).

1. Vegetation on earth had been formed on the third day. God created two other special forms of living beings on the fifth day, those to dwell in water and those to fly in the air.

2. Living creatures to inhabit the waters were to be “abundant.” The seas and streams were to be filled with creatures that have life, among other things to provide food for men.

3. Man can walk, and man can swim, but man cannot fly. God provided a special form of life to impress on man that he is not “free as a bird” in this world.

And God created great whales and every living creature that moves, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind; and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day (Gen. 1:21-23).

1. Sea creatures large and small were created abundantly and continued to reproduce abundantly, each variety remaining distinct.

2. Birds and other flying creatures likewise were brought into existence throughout the earth and thereafter reproduced, each in his own likeness.

3. Once again, God immediately pronounced what was newly created to be good and this time also blessed them and commanded them to continue multiplying to fill the seas and the sky.

4. Sound and sight were greatly enhanced on the earth on the fifth day. Along with the varieties of plant life were now numerous varieties of fish in the waters and birds in the air.

Warren Vanhetloo has A.B., B.D., Th.M., Th.D., and D.D. degrees. He served three pastorates in Michigan, taught 20 years at Central Baptist Theological Seminary (Plymouth, MN), taught 23 years at Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary (Lansdale, PA), and is listed as adjunct faculty at Calvary. Retired, he lives in Holland, Michigan. Since the death of his wife a year ago, at the urging of fellow faculty and former students, he sends an email newsletter called “Cogitations” to those who request it.