GENESIS: Reboot Study
God Speaks
Part 2
By Dr. Robert Fieldhouse, Disciples Path Ministry – St. Augustine, Fla.
Genesis 1:1 sets the stage for unfolding a Divine plan—a universe born not of chance but of intentional design, shaped by the hands of an eternal God, whose presence was, is, and will always be. The essential first step in pleasing God is acknowledging His existence (Heb. 11:6)! We have already covered acknowledging God's existence in a previous lesson, so now we can move forward. First, we will recap what we covered in the last study session. Yes, there is a good reason why. No, we won't be doing this every time before the next part. Ready? Let's go! In the beginning, there was nothing but a vast, infinite void. There was no light, sound, or form - just pure emptiness, stretching across all that would eventually become the universe. Then, from this profound stillness, something stirred—a force, a will, a word. God spoke Creation into existence. God did not just modify some pre-existing matter but called matter out of nothing!
Our Creator, existing beyond all comprehension, stood at the threshold of time and space, and with unimaginable power, He spoke: "Let there be..." And with that Divine utterance, the universe was born.
The darkness began to shift at once, and light exploded into existence from the void. It is not the kind of light that comes from stars or fires but a more fundamental light. It must have been pure, radiant energy, flooding the formless nothingness with its brilliance. It separated from the deep, formless darkness, and there was the first division at that moment: day and night.
Genesis 1:1 marks the beginning of everything we know, capturing that moment when time itself began: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This is the opening statement of the most significant narrative ever told—the genesis of existence.Before this moment, there was no concept of space, matter, galaxies, land, sea, or life. God, with a singular thought and Word, Created the framework of the universe - the heavens and the earth.
The earth, at first, was without form, an untamed, chaotic, swirling abyss. But it was not abandoned. The Spirit of God hovered over the waters, watching, ready to bring order, beauty, and life into being. Creation, by design, had begun, and from this moment forward, every atom, every law of nature, and every particle of existence flowed from the mind and will of the Creator.
I believe it is essential to understand that Creation demands a Creator. Nothing can create something out of nothing! The Big Bang theory is just that – a theory. The pond scum theory and all the other nonsensical theories are, again, theories based on imagination by individuals with humility, ego, and pride issues, in my humble opinion. Self-aggrandizement is nothing new to humans. Creation demands a Creator.
Genesis 1:2 marks the moment of waiting before Creation's full expression—the calm before the masterpiece of life would begin. Genesis 1:2 is a reminder that even in emptiness and darkness, the presence of God brings the promise of purpose and new beginnings. We will learn in future lessons that throughout our Bible, God's presence always brings the promise of purpose and new beginnings.
Genesis 1:2 describes a fascinating development scene: "The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters" (Gen.1:2, NKJV).
The earth, though Created, was without form, a barren void where nothing yet thrived. It was empty, a blank canvas, waiting for the hand of the Creator to shape it. The deep waters, a symbol of unrestrained chaos, stretched endlessly beneath a covering of solid darkness. No mountains, valleys, or seas were divided from the sky - only a vast, chaotic swirling abyss. The earth, though Created, was without form, a barren void where nothing yet thrived. We should be reminded that the earth was not what most people picture in their minds. We are not told, nor should we presuppose, that the Earth was the round ball we now see from the images sent to us from space.
But there was hope in this dark, formless expanse, for the Spirit of God was present and hovered over the waters. His presence was a promise, a sign that this chaos would not remain unshaped for long. The word "hovering" suggests not only watchfulness but a Divine energy stirring the waters, ready to bring life and order out of the void.
The stage was set for Divine acts of Creation. Though still empty, the earth held the potential for all things - every mountain, ocean, star, and creature that would come into being. God's plan was unfolding, even though nothing had yet taken shape.
In this silent, gloomy darkness, a transformation was about to begin. The Spirit of God would soon speak light into the void and bring order out of chaos. And from this primary state of formlessness, a world of breathtaking beauty and complexity would emerge. Every part would be meticulously designed. Every element would be brought forth by the same Spirit hovering over the deep.
Genesis 1:3 The earth, still shapeless and empty, lay in the vast expanse of darkness, waiting for the next act of Creation. Then, breaking the stillness, came the voice of the Creator - powerful and commanding. God spoke: "Let there be light." With these four simple words, the universe shifted. In an instant, the darkness was pierced by a brilliance. Light burst forth, flooding the formless earth and illuminating the vast, chaotic, swirling depths. It was not the light of the sun, for the sun had not yet been Created; this was the first light – a force that would separate the day from night, illuminating the world for the very first time. It was a moment of pure power and Divine authority. The first moment when God began to transform the earth, lighting the way for all that would follow. It is a moment of profound meaning, the dawn of Creation, when the voice of God spoke, and light—both literal and Spiritual—flooded the world. The light did not simply appear—it responded to God's Word as if Creation itself bowed to the Will of the Creator. With God's command, darkness was pushed back, and the first separation in Creation was made: the division between light and darkness, day and night.
In this act, God was not merely bringing physical light into existence. Light, in many ways, can symbolize knowledge, understanding, and life. The light He spoke into being represented the order, clarity, and purpose that would begin to unfold in the days of Creation that followed. It was the first glimpse of the intricate, balanced world He was crafting, which would soon be filled with life and reflect His glory.
This was the first act of God's Creative power—an act that spoke to His ability to bring something out of nothing, to Create beauty and order from chaos. It was the beginning of time itself, the first step in a journey leading to the Creation of all things. And at the center of it all was God's Word - His voice, His Will, the force that held the power to design and shape the entire universe.
Now separating the earth from its former darkness, the light symbolized the Creator's presence, a reminder that no darkness could stand before Him. As we continue our study of the Bible, we find, again and again, that no darkness can stand before Him. Now, where there had once been only empty darkness, God's Creation was brilliant, the beginning of a world that would soon be filled with life, diversity, and beauty.
Genesis 1:4 sums up God's Creative power and his natural goodness. It lays the foundation for the unfolding narrative of Creation, setting the stage for the emergence of life, diversity, and purpose in the world that He meticulously designed and pronounced to be good. We read, "And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness" (Gen. 1:4, NKJV). His command brought forth light from the darkness, illuminating the expanse of creation. God, in His Divine wisdom, observed the light with satisfaction. It was not merely a physical illumination but a symbol of His presence and goodness, as we will come to discover throughout the Bible. The separation of light from darkness marked the beginning of time, order, and the establishment of boundaries—day and night, light and shadow—each fulfilling its ordained role in the grand tapestry of Creation.
Genesis 1:5 tells us, "God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day" (Gen. 1:5, NKJV). In this timeless expanse of the newly Created universe, where light now was separated from darkness, God spoke once more. He gave names to the elements He had separated - Day and Night. As the first day drew to a close, from daybreak to nightfall, God looked at His work with satisfaction. The evening and the morning completed the first cycle of Creation. This Creation was evidence of His design of order and purpose in shaping the world.
Genesis 1:6 tells us, "Then God said, 'Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.'" (Gen.1:6, NKJV) In the massive expanse, where waters stretched beyond our comprehension, God spoke once more with Creative power. His command called forth a firmament. Different texts exchange the word firmament with sky, vault, and expanse. In any case, we should understand that it was a massive area separating the waters below from the waters above. The "firmament" began a boundary between earthly and celestial waters. It became known as the sky, a cover above the earth that stretched infinitely, but it had a defined purpose - to create distinct realms within what we have named the universe. The firmament, the sky, became a symbol of division and order. God, in His infinite wisdom, had set in motion each element crafted with intention, each command fulfilling a Divine purpose. And as the firmament stood as a testament to His power and design, the unfolding narrative of Genesis continued.
Genesis 1:7 tells us, "Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so ." (Gen. 1:7, NKJV) God had spoken the heavens or sky and what would become our "Earth" as we know it into existence. He turned His attention to the expanse above the earth.
As God spoke, the firmament took shape, a visible division. Below, the waters that covered the earth's surface were gathered into seas and oceans. Above the firmament, the waters remained as an otherworldly reservoir, unseen yet present. The Creation of the firmament marked a significant milestone in God's unfolding plan. It established boundaries and distinctions, setting the stage for the balance and harmony of the natural world. I want to offer an alternative explanation of the word firmament used in Genesis because it can be a stumbling block in our understanding. Ok, maybe it was just a stumbling block to me. The term "firmament" (from Latin firmamentum, meaning "a support" or "firmament") in this context refers to a solid or vaulted structure, often interpreted traditionally as a solid dome-like structure that separates the "waters above" (possibly the atmospheric waters or heavenly waters) from the "waters below" (the waters on the earth's surface). This interpretation aligns with the ancient cosmology, or study of the physical dynamics of the universe, where the sky was seen as a solid dome or canopy holding back the waters above. Or said another way, in Genesis, the firmament is the structure or expanse Created by God to divide and separate the waters, establishing the realms of the heavens above and the earth below.
We will pause this study here, as I believe much information is presented here for reflection. Most of this part of our study was presented in a narrative form because, in my opinion, the Book of Genesis is a narrative. Remember, a narrative can still contain accurate, reliable, factual information as you read and write. I strongly suggest you always study and verify for yourself, not simply believe what I or anyone else writes. For this study assignment:
Briefly explain why you believe in Creation, not the Big Bang Theory. List at least three reasons to support your answer.
We read where God spoke. Does God have a voice as we know it? What do you believe it means that God spoke then?
What do you believe I meant when I said, "God spoke, and light -both literal and Spiritual - flooded the world?
Be ready to discuss your answers. Write down any questions, comments, or suggestions you might have up to this point.Disciples Path Ministry – St. Augustine, Florida