READ: Ps. 33:1-22
The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. … Then God said, ‘Let there be light’ … – Gen. 1:2-5
By God’s first act of creation, the earth is not yet habitable; it is formless and empty. This is not a state of chaos or hostility, but rather the initial stage of God’s ongoing creation (Is. 45:18). The land and water are not yet separated. However, the Spirit of God hovers above, nurturing and preparing the earth. There is only darkness. But God changes that, working toward His purpose: preparing the earth for humanity.
First, He creates light. He speaks, and behold, it is there! God creates light instantly with a few words, without needing millions of light-years. Yes, even without a light-bearing body like the sun! God sees that the light is good, suitable and destined for His glory.
Where there is light, darkness disappears. God thus separates light from darkness. He calls the light day and the darkness He calls night. The reason God does not create the sun first as the light source may be to prevent people from seeking the origin of light within the sun itself. Later on, the sun was indeed worshipped by humanity. But God shows that, as the only and all-powerful Creator, He is not bound by natural laws. He Himself is the source of light (2 Cor. 4:6).
God also brings unity to time: the evening with darkness and the morning with light together form the first day. The days are then counted from morning to morning. Ex. 20:11 states that God made the heavens and the earth in six days. This means that the beginning of time coincides with the start of the first day of Creation. There is no reason to think of a different unit of time for that first day than a regular day, just like the other days of Creation. This deprives the basis for all speculation that undermines the majesty of God and the clarity and infallibility of His Word.
Are there indications that Gen. 1 is symbolic?
Singing Ps. 19:1