This opening verse of Genesis provides the foundation for understanding the beginning of creation. The phrase “God created the heavens and the earth” reveals that not only was the earth formed, but the heavens, too, came into existence through God’s command. Before this, only God existed—He transcended even the heavens and the angels, having no beginning. The Spirit of God was present even before the earth took shape, hovering over the formless waters. This signifies God’s presence and active role in creation, setting the stage for what would come next.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. – Genesis 1:1-2 (NIV)
God has existed for all eternity and has no origin story. He is the Creator, the Architect of everything. Speculating about God’s origins is futile, as none of the Bible’s authors ever delve into such questions. They simply refer to Him as Yahweh, meaning “He is.” In reverence, many were even afraid to pronounce His name. In modern English Bibles, the term “LORD” (derived from the Greek Kyrios) is used in all caps to address the One who has neither beginning nor end.
Darkness, as mentioned in this passage, simply represents the absence of light. It does not imply evil forces, which are often associated with the word “darkness” in other contexts. In the beginning, before God introduced light, everything was covered in darkness—a natural state of emptiness and void.
The First Day
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. – Genesis 1:3 (NIV)
God simply spoke light into existence, demonstrating His power. He did not have to rub two sticks together for hours on end to create light; as the Creator, He merely speaks, and creation obeys. The light mentioned here is not the sun, as the sun is created later in the Genesis account. This light signifies the removal of darkness—God’s light. From infinite darkness, the world was filled with infinite light, marking the first step in shaping the universe.
In the Bible, light often symbolises heaven, while darkness is associated with hell. This imagery underscores the contrast between God’s creation of order and goodness (light) out of the original chaos and emptiness (darkness). By starting creation in darkness and moving to light, the passage highlights God’s power to bring forth life and structure from a void.
The author consistently measures days by “evening and morning,” rather than “day and night” (Genesis 1:5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31). This makes sense as the world was filled with darkness until light was spoken into it. This reflects the order of creation: there was darkness, and then God introduced light. The Hebrew day begins at sunset, and this tradition is reflected in the modern-day Jewish calendar and festivals, where a new day starts at 6 PM and continues until the following evening. This pattern is rooted in creation, where evening marks the transition from one day to the next.
The Second Day
On the second day of creation, God created the sky, also referred to as the “vault” or “firmament.” In ancient times, the concept of the sky was understood as a firmament or dome, which held back the waters above from the waters below. This imagery reflects the visible separation between the earth’s waters (oceans, seas, etc.) and the atmospheric waters (clouds, precipitation). God created the sky as a boundary, dividing the waters and forming the structure of the atmosphere.
The Third Day
On the third day, God commanded the waters to gather, allowing dry land to appear. He named the dry ground “land” and the gathered waters “seas.” Following this, God caused the land to produce vegetation—seed-bearing plants and trees that would bear fruit, each according to its kind (Genesis 1:11). The earth was now equipped with the essential resources for life: land, water, and food.
Before creating mankind, God ensured that everything we would need—land, food, and water—was already in place. This shows God’s foresight and care in providing for our needs. Similarly, before sending us to accomplish His work, God prepares the way, ensuring we have everything necessary to fulfil our purpose.
The Forth Day
On the fourth day, 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, days, and years” (Genesis 1:14-19). God created two great lights: the greater light (the sun) to govern the day and the lesser light (the moon) to govern the night. He also made the stars and placed them in the sky to give light to the earth and to mark the passage of time, including days, years, and sacred events.
The light created on the first day was a general illumination that removed darkness. However, on the fourth day, God created specific heavenly bodies—the sun, moon, and stars—that not only provided light but also helped humans keep track of time and seasons. These celestial bodies mark the beginning of days and years, allowing time to be measured for the first time.
The Fifth Day
On the fifth day, God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth” (Genesis 1:20-23). God created the great sea creatures, every living thing in the waters, and every bird, each according to their kind. He blessed them, instructing them to be fruitful and fill the seas and the skies. Everything God created was deemed good.
The phrase “great creatures of the sea” may refer to large sea animals, including fish or even sea monsters like the Leviathan, as mentioned in Psalms 104:26. Some interpretations suggest this could also include serpents, as referenced in Exodus 7:9-12. These creatures were not created as enemies but as part of God’s creation, originally good.
God created the birds (creatures of the sky) and sea creatures before creating mankind. While these verses may refer to actual fish and birds created on the fifth day, another interpretation suggests that on this day God may have also created the angels, who were originally good but later rebelled and became fallen beings, symbolised by creatures like Leviathan.
There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number— living things both large and small. There the ships go to and fro, and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. – Psalms 104:25-26 (NIV)
In Isaiah 45:7, God declares, “I bring prosperity and create disaster,” which can confuse some readers. However, Genesis shows that God’s original creation was entirely good, including Adam (mankind). It was through rebellion—both by mankind and angels—that evil entered the world. Just as humans, created for good, turned to evil, some angels rebelled against their Creator and are symbolised by the Leviathan or sea creatures in their rebellion against God, the Architect. In essence, everything God created was good, but rebellion and disobedience led to the emergence of evil.
The Sixth Day
God commanded the earth to produce living creatures of every kind—livestock, ground-dwelling creatures, and wild animals—and they came into being, each in their unique forms. He saw that His creation was good and were united in the Garden. In the beginning, God created a world of harmony, where both humans and animals coexisted peacefully in the Garden. There were no apex predators, and no creature posed a threat to human life. In fact all creatures, including humans, were originally intended to be plant-eaters (Genesis 1:29-30), living in a balanced, non-violent ecosystem. It wasn’t until after the flood, when Noah and his family emerged from the ark, that God permitted humans to consume animals as food.
This tranquility was disrupted only after the fall, when humans turned against each other and the world around them changed. It was then that the first animal was killed—to provide clothing for Adam. This act marked a shift, introducing competition and survival into a world that had once known only unity. As long as things are whole and good, harmony reigns. But when we are forced to fend for ourselves, striving to secure our place, competition emerges. This transformation from unity to rivalry began in the Garden itself, a pattern that continues to shape human life today.
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” – Genesis 1:26 (NIV)
When God said, “Let us make mankind,” the “us” likely refers to the heavenly beings present with Him—the Holy Spirit, God’s own Word, and perhaps the host of heaven. Together, they witness God’s purpose in creating humankind: to govern over the earth as His representatives and to glorify Him. Unlike the angels, humans were uniquely designed to reflect God’s image on earth. This purpose, however, was disrupted by sin, distorting the harmony God intended. Yet God’s plan to restore humanity remains. He is restoring us back to the Garden where we will once again rule with Him over all creation.
When we read this verse that we were made in God’s image rather than understanding the true meaning we often think of God in human terms. We assume God looks like mankind, yet we rarely acknowledge the possibility that God could be a woman. Instead, this verse points to a deeper truth: we were created to reflect God’s character—His love, kindness, and compassion toward all of creation. Being made in God’s image is about mirroring His nature, rather than assuming a specific physical form or gender.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. – Genesis 2:2 (NIV)
God’s “rest” after creation wasn’t due to exhaustion or a need for recovery; it simply signified the completion of His work. God does not tire, nor does He need reminders or nudges to keep things in order. Even now, He continues to work toward His greater purpose: restoring us to His original perfect creation, a place where heaven and earth unite in harmony, as they did in the Garden.
Discussion Questions
- What does “In the Beginning” really mean?
- What is the initial Darkness?
- Is the Light that was created first the same as the sun?
- Are these days actual 24 hours?
- Why and when did God create the angels?
- Who are the great creatures of the sea or sea monsters or snakes (dragons in some translations) and why did God create them?
- What was the purpose behind the creation of mankind?
- Why did God rest on the seventh day?
- If we are created in God’s image then does God look like us?
The Jordan Valley 
Reply