Why did God create existence in the order he did?
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Great topic sister!
You are correct about how He created light first. But it is also interesting how He created grass and trees before He made the Sunshine. I think He did that to show us that the first six days were literal 24 hour days. The flowers definitely did not wait 1000 years for the sunrise.
Genesis
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.
1:13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
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:
1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.
1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that [it was] good.
1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
You are correct about how He created light first. But it is also interesting how He created grass and trees before He made the Sunshine. I think He did that to show us that the first six days were literal 24 hour days. The flowers definitely did not wait 1000 years for the sunrise.
Genesis
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.
1:13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.
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:
1:15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.
1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also.
1:17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,
1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that [it was] good.
1:19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
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The light is Christ, so in a sense this is a correct observation. However, you may be looking at Genesis as a surface text. Many people read Genesis, and the rest of the Bible as well, and do not know that the Bible is written in parable form, meaning the words have an interpreted spiritual meaning. We read about the fact that the words of God's mouth, the law (which is the Bible) are written in parable form in Psalm 78: "Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable" The Bible will not be understood unless you realize this. We read again, in Mark 4 that "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." The chapter goes on to explain that unto those who are saved it is given to understand the parable meaning of the Bible but to those who are unsaved (without) all things are done in parables but they do not understand. They encounter the Bible but it is a parable and they can't understand the interpreted meaning. The book of Genesis, for example, talks about how God planted a garden. But the Bible says that a garden is God's spouse, in other words a garden is the true believers: "A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse". The Bible also talks about the tree of life in the midst of the garden. We find that God refers to people as trees in parable language in the the Bible and that he 'plants' true believers. We also find that it is Jesus who is in the midst of his people in the Bible. Hence, we can understand, one hopes, that the tree of life in the midst of the Garden is parable language for Jesus in the midst of his people.
We find living creatures mentioned in Genesis that the the waters (the word of God) brought forth abundantly and God saw that this was good. Even so, the living creations of God that the word of God brings forth, that is the true believers, are good in the eyes of God thanks to Jesus. The creation of true believers belonging to God would not have been possible without Christ (the light) going to the cross and then being resurrected, so yes, the light comes first to make the true believers possible. Adam, a picture of Christ, went into a judgment death involving his side (a deep sleep in parable language) in order to creature Eve, a picture of the living true believers.
We find living creatures mentioned in Genesis that the the waters (the word of God) brought forth abundantly and God saw that this was good. Even so, the living creations of God that the word of God brings forth, that is the true believers, are good in the eyes of God thanks to Jesus. The creation of true believers belonging to God would not have been possible without Christ (the light) going to the cross and then being resurrected, so yes, the light comes first to make the true believers possible. Adam, a picture of Christ, went into a judgment death involving his side (a deep sleep in parable language) in order to creature Eve, a picture of the living true believers.
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There is a huge difference between the Hebrew word for light in the first day and the light God created on the fourth day.
I found this explanation of the light of the first day on the net that explains it so well.
"The original Hebrew word אוֹר, pronounced Or with a Hebrew Resh, shows us a figurative word picture of what Light does: Alef א = Ox Head, Strong, Power, Master, Teacher, Leader,"
It is everything that is happy and good.
The original Hebrew word for the light created on the fourth day is MAOROT. On that day God created the sun, moon, and stars.
I found this explanation of the light of the first day on the net that explains it so well.
"The original Hebrew word אוֹר, pronounced Or with a Hebrew Resh, shows us a figurative word picture of what Light does: Alef א = Ox Head, Strong, Power, Master, Teacher, Leader,"
It is everything that is happy and good.
The original Hebrew word for the light created on the fourth day is MAOROT. On that day God created the sun, moon, and stars.
Before God made anything ---He had a plan -----God is a God of order -----He created this world in an orderly sequence ----He created the sun --moon and stars to regulate time and seasons ------
Genesis 1:14-18 NIV
14 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, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 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. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Psalm 104:19 NIV
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
I say ---so we see here that God made everything work in His order -----We humans have no control over time or seasons ------
All was in placed in this world in an orderly way so all would be here for his human Creation when on the last day He created them -----for a person to live they need air --food and water ---and all were created in the right order ------
Genesis 1:14-18 NIV
14 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, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 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. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good.
Psalm 104:19 NIV
19 He made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.
I say ---so we see here that God made everything work in His order -----We humans have no control over time or seasons ------
All was in placed in this world in an orderly way so all would be here for his human Creation when on the last day He created them -----for a person to live they need air --food and water ---and all were created in the right order ------
When I found out that Adam and Eve were made in the image of the covenants.Things just started clicking on how perfect God had made us.So when I think about verses like the "get behind me satan" I'm thinking,wait!,what?! whoa!
This is why we need fellowship.There's way to much in the scripture to learn on our own.
This is why we need fellowship.There's way to much in the scripture to learn on our own.
You are right. Light would begin and continue photosynthesis in plants, and the whole plant and vegetable kingdom would become food for all creatures (including mankind). There were no carnivores at creation. So everything was created progressively within six literal 24-hour days. Then man was given a special garden/orchard for his habitation.
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Why do we read "evening and morning" six times in Genesis 1? Firstly darkness existed before God created cosmic light (prior to the sun and moon). But God created the Hebrew day which goes from sunset to sunset. So "evening" would be for 12 hours (including the night) and and "morning" would be for 12 hours (until sunset). We also read of evenings and mornings in Daniel 8:14 (where the KJV has "days" but other translations have "evenings and mornings"): And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י עַ֚ד עֶ֣רֶב בֹּ֔קֶר אַלְפַּ֖יִם וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵאֹ֑ות וְנִצְדַּ֖ק קֹֽדֶשׁ׃
עֶ֣רֶב (‘e-reḇ) = evenings
בֹּ֔קֶר (bō-qer ) = mornings
Some have tried to change 2,300 days into 2,300 years (to fit their eschatology) but that is total misleading. 2,300 days is somewhat short of seven years ( 6 years and almost 5 months). This period would be within the 70th week of Daniel (which is another topic).
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י עַ֚ד עֶ֣רֶב בֹּ֔קֶר אַלְפַּ֖יִם וּשְׁלֹ֣שׁ מֵאֹ֑ות וְנִצְדַּ֖ק קֹֽדֶשׁ׃
עֶ֣רֶב (‘e-reḇ) = evenings
בֹּ֔קֶר (bō-qer ) = mornings
Some have tried to change 2,300 days into 2,300 years (to fit their eschatology) but that is total misleading. 2,300 days is somewhat short of seven years ( 6 years and almost 5 months). This period would be within the 70th week of Daniel (which is another topic).
I notice he created mankind last and for a unique place and purpose in creation.
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”
Genesis 1:26
Heres a thought for you...Have you ever noticed the sequence of events in (Genesis 1), do not match the sequence of events in (Genesis 2)?
I believe the creation story in (Genesis 1) is about God creating the world, and (Genesis 2), Gods creation of a Garden, the Garden....in Eden.
Which explains where Cains wife came from.
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod to the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
Genesis 4:16-17
I believe the creation story in (Genesis 1) is about God creating the world, and (Genesis 2), Gods creation of a Garden, the Garden....in Eden.
Which explains where Cains wife came from.
And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod to the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch.
Genesis 4:16-17
it overlaps in sequence one is an overall view the other gives details
“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.
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.”
Genesis 1:11-12 KJV
we are then taken back to see certain details of chapter ones overview
“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.”
Genesis 2:4-5
genesis one should end here
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
Genesis 2:1-3 KJV
then it would make more sense that he’s taking us back to see details of creation. A lot of chapters men broke up should end in different places .
It overlaps like a transparency upon the other to see a more complete picture of the “how” part of creation
“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.
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.”
Genesis 1:11-12 KJV
we are then taken back to see certain details of chapter ones overview
“These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.”
Genesis 2:4-5
genesis one should end here
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.”
Genesis 2:1-3 KJV
then it would make more sense that he’s taking us back to see details of creation. A lot of chapters men broke up should end in different places .
It overlaps like a transparency upon the other to see a more complete picture of the “how” part of creation
I think it has to do with appreciation.
‘What is the point of the tree of knowledge? It’s “awareness”. This was God’s test for Adam and Eve whom he gave free will.
Adam and Eve were in a child-like state. They had no idea what anything meant including death and the consequences of their actions.
They got this “awareness” by disobeying God’s command.
‘Personally I wish God didn’t give me free will but I understand why he did it.
Appreciation.
You appreciate God more when you’re aware and suffered as supposed to a child-like state.
‘What is the point of the tree of knowledge? It’s “awareness”. This was God’s test for Adam and Eve whom he gave free will.
Adam and Eve were in a child-like state. They had no idea what anything meant including death and the consequences of their actions.
They got this “awareness” by disobeying God’s command.
‘Personally I wish God didn’t give me free will but I understand why he did it.
Appreciation.
You appreciate God more when you’re aware and suffered as supposed to a child-like state.
Well the order is a bit different in genesis 1 vs 2. It’s because they are based off of separate traditions to the creation mythology. But the reason why genesis 1 is made the way it is is to support the poetic techniques in play. Days 1/2/3 corresponds to days 4/5/6. Genesis 1 seems to be heavily influenced by the Canaanite creation mythology. This is further highlighted by the slightly different creation account told in psalm 74. Genesis one is the ordering of chaos. Thats why it mentions the waters already there without saying when or how they were created, just when they were separated. It mentions the tannins ( Levithan) translated as sea creature/monster which is what Yahweh battles in psalms 74.
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There is no Canaanite pagan mythology involved. All false religions worship the creation of "mother earth", only in Christianity is there a Creator. Water was already there because it was a part of the earth created in 1:1. Later in Noah's Flood it was mentioned that water came from "fountains of the deep". Till this day the main source of fresh drinking water is still underground water.
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