The First Day

My husband has been so gracious to do these posts for me.  As a beginner in studying the bible - he's decided to begin at the beginning and work his way through.  I pray this is helpful to someone out there!  Sometimes it's wonderful to just take a step back and start in the beginning.  Blessings.....

Genesis 1:1-5 – The First Day

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.  Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.  God saw that the light was good; and God 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, one day.” 

In this passage we see the creation of time and matter.  How did this world begin?  God created it.  The statement ‘the heavens and the earth’ are a way of stating the universe or everything.  At this point, I don’t believe we are given complete knowledge from this passage whether this is speaking of the material/natural universe or whether it includes both the material/natural universe and the spiritual/invisible world as well. 

What is clear from other passages of Scripture is that even if this passage is only speaking about the material/natural universe, God is still Lord and creator of the spiritual world.  Nehemiah 9:6 states, "You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, The heaven of heavens with all their host, The earth and all that is on it, The seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them And the heavenly host bows down before You. “ (emphasis added)  Additionally in Colossians 1:16-17, Paul tells us “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (emphasis added)

While the Genesis account does not specifically state when angels were created, I believe they were created prior to the Genesis account.  This reasoning comes from a passage in Job when God communicates with Job and states "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it?  "On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?”  Angels were with the Lord at the creation of our physical world and they were joyful.  Additionally, Satan, a fallen angel, appears later in the Genesis account to tempt Eve. 

Isaiah gives us a glimpse into how Satan fell in Isaiah 14:12-14.  "How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations!  "But you said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north.  'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'  These passages lead me to believe that the Genesis account is referring to the physical/material world being created.