A Study in Genesis
Last week we examined the first declaration ever made in history. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Simple but powerful, God gives Moses the answer to how everything came about. The verses moving forward after this describe how God made the heavens and the earth.
Today we are going to examine the sequence of events from the creation of the heavens to the creation of the earth. Genesis 1:2 “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” When reading this, we need to remember the Context Rule. The Context Rule states: The overall context of a singular verse cannot be fully analyzed without consultation of the complete surrounding texts, events, chapters, and whole books must be taken with equal weight.
The Context Rule must be followed with Genesis 1:2. God is explaining how He created the earth. How do we know it is the earth and not the heavens being described? Verse 1 gives us the sequence of creation, heavens followed by the earth. Thus, we can infer that by verse 2, the heavens have been made. When talking to Job, God gives greater details of the creation of the earth and states that the angels were there shouting for joy. Job 38:7 “When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” This means heaven and the angels have been made.
Now what does it mean that “the earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep”? Some have speculated this is a gap. However, the context rule would indicate that God is making a sequence of events within a very real 24 hours each day.
But what does it mean without form and void? I would point to the Old Testament scholars the Septuigent, which is nothing more than a fancy name for “The 70”. After Alexander the Great had conquered the known world, most people including the Jews spoke Greek. Hebrew was for ceremony. The Jews wanted the Old Testemant in their spoken language. Thus, the most prestigious scholars of the day came together making the 70. This group took the Hebrew and translated it into the most arguably precise language ever made. When the Septuigent made their translations they said, “But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished” This is further supported when we read Job 38 where God details to Job creation.
Job 38:3-12 “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell [Me,] if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 “Or [who] shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth [and] issued from the womb; 9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; 10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; 11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’ 12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days [began,] [And] caused the dawn to know its place,”
When we come to grips with what God is explaining to Job, we understand that verse 2 of Genesis is establishing physics, mathematics, and other laws that will govern the earth. The material that He would use was created and the shaping was coming about. You see this is also a declaration of God; from the start He is revealing that all things happen because of Him. God is building upon verse one. He first declared He made it, now He is describing to the reader how at the very molecular level creation happened. Next week we will see how God is already making statements establishing a foundation for mankind that reveals just how intentional the almighty God of the universe really is.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL