Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.(KJV)
Even those who believe in the 'Big Bang Theory' accept there was a beginning. They cannot say what it was, but they speculate on what happened in the split seconds that followed. According to this theory - all known matter (and even some unknown) was present within the space smaller than an atom. As we know it now, nothing is smaller than an atom - yet, by faith it is believed that all matter (all gases, elements & chemical breakdowns that make up our natural existence within time and space) existed in this small area. From that - it exploded into the expanding universe which mankind has only scratched the surface to understand.
Wow, that takes a LOT of faith, but I believe it's possible. I just also believe that perhaps the split second before this 'bang' a Word was spoken by something that existed in a realm that was long before our own. You see - the natural realm(space, time, earth, planets, solar systems & galaxies - even atoms) exists and is governed by natural law, the spiritual realm exists and is governed by spiritual law, for God is supernatural - spiritual - and the place he dwells is supernatural - spiritual. This place, I believe, is the 'heaven' referred to by Moses, as dictated by God, in this verse. Also, because the scripture doesn't say 'heavens' being plural, but 'heaven' being singular. The 'earth' , I believe, isn't necessarily the specific planet, but the natural existence altogether.
Genesis 1:2 - And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.(KJV)
If my theory is right that 'earth' including all natural existence, then this sentence makes more sense, because it couldn't have meant the planet. Planets have shapes and physical properties. However, this refers to something without a shape, without physical properties.
The word 'void' means - containing no matter; empty. Unoccupied. Devoid, lacking, useless. An empty space.
Formless means - lacking definate form or shape.
A cold planet, devoid of life, still has elemental properties and matter and a shape, so it cannot be classified as formless and void. Many of planets in our solar system have elements, but none have life - and they're not categorized as 'void'. So, in this passage, the 'earth' mentioned couldn't have been of a young planet. It spoke of something that existed, but didn't have any physical properties, including gases or atoms... yet.
As for the next two sentences, I'm not sure I've even began to grasp their meaning.
and darkness [was] upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
What sort of 'darkness' is Moses speaking of? The natural or the supernatural? I don't think it's natural darkness, because he addresses that later on the fourth day in verses 14-19. Why would God create the same thing on the fourth day that he did on the first day? Also, what is the 'deep' and what are the 'waters'?
If our existence (at this time) was formless and void (hasn't formed any physical properties), how can there be physical water which is made up of oxygen and hydrogen? Perhaps this is spiritual water? Jesus speaks of living water - perhaps this is one and the same?
Genesis 1:3 - And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.(KJV)
What kind of light is this? Natural light cannot exist without radiation and water. Without the sun we have no radiation. If our universe is devoid of physical properties, how can this light be natural light? Also, if God created 'natural' light here - what did he create on the fourth day?
Light has more than one meaning. Per Webster - not only is it a physical characteristic of electromagnetic radiation that can be perceived by the naked eye and has wavelengths, but it is also a way of looking at or considering something, enlightenment, understanding, not heavy, free from worries, etc. John 8:12 - Jesus says that he is light of the world. Perhaps this is the light referred to here.
However, if you keep reading... in verse five, God names the light "Day" and gives it a capital letter, making it a proper noun. He does the same for darkness, by naming it 'Night' - unlike on the fourth day when the natural light and darkness (caused by the sun and space) is simply called, 'day' and 'night' (no caps).
This gives me pause to consider that perhaps what God is speaking of isn't natural, but supernatural. Keeping that in mind, the next verse takes on a whole new meaning.
Genesis 1:4 - And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness.(KJV)
Perhaps, God saw 'goodness' and separated it from its opposite, 'evil'.
We know that God separated the spiritual realm when Lucifer and a third his angels rebelled against him, and created 'Hell'. We understand later through scripture that Hell wasn't created for the spirits of humans, but for Satan and his fallen angels. We will learn later that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil existed in the garden when it was created, therefore good and evil existed long before the garden.
Genesis 1:5 - And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.(KJV)
Perhaps God's first day of creation wasn't about the natural realm at all. Being eternity-minded instead of earthy-minded, I'm apt to believe that the possibilty exists of that being the case. I'm also very aware that I could be wrong.
I know my finite mind has a hard time comprenhending the infinate things of God. I also find it laughable (because of the arrogance) at how some people fight so hard against what they don't even begin to understand, or how others easily accept what other finite minds tell them without trying to discover or reason for themselves.
My pastor often expressed the following statment and it truly changed my life and how I look at things.
Condemnation of new information, without consideration, is ignorance and arrogance of the highest order.
I don't know a lot of things, but I'm willing to learn. I'm willing to admit I was wrong and have an open enough mind to consider the possibility that what I've always thought I knew, I didn't know at all. But, I'm also confident in what I am convinced of, and stand with a clear conscience that it's what I've reasoned on my own to be. I'm fully convinced of what I believe, therefore I don't waiver, because it's my own conscience that has conceived the idea - not someone else' opinion. But, everything else is up for bebate.
In other words... there are some things I know - because I've learned them for myself and have worked them out in my own understanding or have experianced them personally. Everything else I'm unsure of - I'm still willing to learn.
I can't wait to find out what I discover about the second day.
Till next time,
~T.L. Gray
