Background of Genesis: written by Moses and the original audience is the Israel as part of the Law book.
However, this is the not just the beginning of their country. It is the beginning of the everything. Yes, the key term is EVERYTHING.
Structure:
(NET) the clause in v. 1 is a main clause, v. 2 has three clauses that are descriptive and supply background information, and v. 3 begins the narrative sequence proper.
Key terms v.1-13:
(1) Everything: It is the Hebrew way to say everything when it includes both ends of the thing, e.g. the heavens and the earth in v.1. In other words God created everything. He created the day and night, i.e. He is the Lord over all the time v.5. Or He created the sky and the land/sea. He rules over everywhere.
Reflection: What will be the reaction of the Israelite when they knew that their God is the one who created, ruled, owned everything in the whole earth? Their God was not limited. He is the highest and the supreme. We are nothing compared to God. No one can boast or be proud in front of God.
(2) Good: The word, "created," describes the divine activity of fashioning something new, fresh, and perfect (NET) v.1. "Without shape" in v.2 describes the status of formlessness of the earth. God fashioned it the way He desire. How did He do? Out of darkness (v.2) He commanded the light (4-5), out of the water over the surface (v2) He separated the water and made the air (v.6-7). Who needs the day and night? Who needs the air and the land/sea? Mankind. God saw the light/land was good. The word "good" in this context signifies whatever enhances, promotes, produces, or is conducive for life. (NET). In other words, they are good because they are good for mankind.
Reflection: Our Creator has a compassion to us. He formed and filled the earth with us in His mind. How can we not loving Him? He is like a father who preparing everything for His child before the baby is born.
(3) God said/God named: v.1 is the summary. v.2 is the explanation of the status of the earth. v.3 is the beginning of the story. The first verb in the story is "said." "Let there be...and there was," whatever He called into existence and the complete fulfillment of the divine word (NET). Then the water followed His commanded and the sky was formed, then the dry land. Then the land followed His commanded and the land produced plants, etc. Everything listened to Him.
After He created the light, He did not just named the light "day," but He also named the darkness "night." "In the Bible the act of naming, like creating, can be an indication of sovereignty (see 2 Kgs 23:34). In this verse God is sovereign even over the darkness (NET).
Reflection: His words is powerful not only during the creation, but all the time. All His commands in the Bible carry the same power and we should be careful to handle them: understand, read, memorize, and apply them in our lives.
(4) Separated: Characteristic of creation: God separated the light from the darkness, separated the water above the sky from the water below. This is the same concept in holiness. Holiness means separation and belongs to God.
Plants was created "according to their kinds," indicates again that God was concerned with defining and dividing time, space, and species. The point is that creation was with order, as opposed to chaos. And what God created and distinguished with boundaries was not to be confused (NET).
Reflection: Does our lives reflect His character? Are we holy and separate ourselves from worldliness? Do we live with order as opposed to chaos?
(Sorry, it is a bit long today).
Audrey
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