Week #2: The Creation Story
Blog Series Intention Recap
The heavens and skies speak about God’s greatness without words. They are a silent testimony to His power and creativity. The vastness of the universe, with its countless stars and galaxies, points to a Creator who is infinitely powerful and wise. Every sunrise and sunset, with their breathtaking colors, remind us of His beauty and artistic touch. What can we learn about God when “The Heavens Declare.”
This post is part of the series “The Heavens Declare.” Click here to see the rest of the posts.
Let’s jump into Week #2:
Genesis 1 tells the story of how God created the world, showing His power and order, particularly in the first six days, and introduces the rhythm of evening and morning, leading to the Sabbath rest.
Why it matters:
On days one through three of creation, God forms light, sky, land, and plants.
On days four through six, God fills the sky, sea, and land with lights, creatures, and humans.
Each day corresponds to another day. What God creates on day one, he fills on day four. What God creates on day two, he fills on day five. What God creates on day three, God fills on day six.
God sets a rhythm of evening and morning. Each day starts in the evening, setting a pattern for time. Families should be together and rest in the evening in preparation for work the next day.
Day seven is incongruent with the first six days. The day does not correlate to any other day. This incongruence shows the importance God places on rest.
Go Deeper
The Bible begins with the book of Genesis, which means "beginning." Genesis 1 is a creation poem that tells how God created everything. This poem shows God's power and wisdom. Let’s look at what God made on the first six days and see how this sets a pattern for time and rest.
Creation Days 1-3: Forming the World
Day 1: Light and Darkness
Genesis 1:1-5: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light 'day,' and the darkness he called 'night.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day."
On the first day, God created light. Before this, there was only darkness. God spoke, and light appeared. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the start of time. The pattern of evening and morning begins here, marking each day.
Day 2: Sky and Waters
Genesis 1:6-8: "And God said, 'Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.' So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day."
On the second day, God created the sky. He separated the waters below from the waters above. This made a space we call the sky. The cycle of evening and morning continued, ending the second day.
Day 3: Land, Seas, and Vegetation
Genesis 1:9-13: "And God said, 'Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.' And it was so. God called the dry ground 'land,' and the gathered waters he called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good. Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day."
On the third day, God gathered the waters to create dry land, which He called "earth," and the waters "seas." Then, God made plants and trees grow on the land. These plants would provide food. This day ended with the evening and morning pattern.
Creation Days 4-6: Filling the World
Day 4: Sun, Moon, and Stars
Genesis 1:14-19: "And God said, 'Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.' And it was so. God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day."
On the fourth day, God filled the sky with lights. He made the sun to shine during the day and the moon to shine at night. He also made the stars. These lights help us tell time and seasons. Again, the day ended with evening and morning.
Day 5: Fish and Birds
Genesis 1:20-23: "And God said, 'Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.' So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. God blessed them and said, 'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day."
On the fifth day, God filled the waters with fish and other sea creatures. He also filled the sky with birds. He blessed them so they would multiply and fill the earth. The day concluded with evening and morning.
Day 6: Animals and Humans
Genesis 1:24-31: "And God said, 'Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.' And it was so. God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.'
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'
Then God said, 'I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.' And it was so. God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day."
On the sixth day, God made animals to live on the land. He created livestock, wild animals, and creatures that move along the ground. Finally, God made humans in His own image. He made them male and female and blessed them. He told them to be fruitful, fill the earth, and rule over it. God saw that everything He made was very good. The sixth day also ended with evening and morning.
Evening and Morning Rhythm
Throughout the creation story, each day is marked by a rhythm: "And there was evening, and there was morning." This phrase shows the pattern of time in the Bible. The day begins in the evening and ends at the beginning of the next evening. This pattern is still followed today in Jewish tradition, where the Sabbath begins on Friday evening and ends when Saturday evening starts.
The Sabbath Rest
After creating everything in six days, God rested on the seventh day. This day of rest is called the Sabbath.
Genesis 2:1-3: "Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done."
God did not rest because He was tired. He rested to set an example for us. The Sabbath is a holy day, a day to rest and remember God's creation. By resting, we honor God and recognize His work in creating the world. Day seven is incongruent with the first six days. The day does not correlate to any other day. This incongruence shows the importance God places on rest.
How does this help me better understand how “The Heavens Declare?”
Genesis 1 tells us how God created the world with power and order. This creation poem reveals a structured and intentional process. In the first three days, God formed the world, establishing the fundamental elements of the universe. On Day 1, He created light, separating it from darkness, and established the cycle of day and night. On Day 2, He created the sky by separating the waters above from the waters below. On Day 3, He gathered the waters to reveal dry land and made plants and trees to grow on it. This forming phase set the stage for a world ready to be filled with life.
In the next three days, God filled the world He had formed. On Day 4, He placed lights in the sky—the sun to govern the day, the moon to govern the night, and the stars. These celestial bodies not only provide light but also mark seasons, days, and years. On Day 5, He filled the waters with fish and other sea creatures and the sky with birds. On Day 6, He created land animals and finally, humans, who were made in His own image. God gave humans the responsibility to rule over the earth and all the living creatures in it. Each step of creation was purposeful and demonstrated God’s intricate design and care for the world.
Each day of creation followed a distinct pattern of "evening and morning," teaching us about the rhythm of time. This phrase emphasizes the structured nature of God’s work and highlights the daily cycle that we still observe. The rhythm of evening and morning set a natural order, providing a framework for life and work.
The creation story culminates with God resting on the seventh day. This rest was not because God was weary but to set an example for us. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy, establishing the Sabbath as a day of rest and reflection. The Sabbath rest is a reminder of God’s completed work and His provision. It is a time to cease from our labors, reflect on God’s goodness, and recharge spiritually and physically.
As we read this creation poem, we see the greatness of God and His meticulous care for His creation. Every aspect of the world, from the vast galaxies to the smallest plant, reflects His power and order. Let us remember to honor Him by observing the rhythms of work and rest that He established. By working diligently and resting regularly, we acknowledge His sovereignty and provision in our lives. Just as God worked and then rested, we too are called to balance our labor with periods of rest, recognizing that rest is a divine principle meant for our well-being and spiritual growth.
