Genesis 1:6-13

Genesis 1:6–13.

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

**Pray

This morning we continue looking at Genesis 1. Last week we were introduced to God the Father as creator, God the spirit… as He hovered over the face of the waters, and God the Word or as John’s gospel tells us… Jesus. The triune God head is evident from the very first verses of scripture. That Godhead is sovereign over all things because all things have come into being through Him.

As we continue we will see the majesty of our God on full display within the created order as He separates the waters, establishes the sky, and brings forth the land, vegetation, and seas… by His Word, everything that is has come into being and by that same Word everything has been given a function and a purpose that brings glory to God.

Our text last week has already informed us of the first day.

Vv. 3-5

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Often you will hear people shrug off the 6-day creation account because the bible is not a book of science. “The bible is for theology but not to teach science.” And is that sense there is some truth to that statement. Augustine even stated that the bible is to make Christians and not mathematicians. The world that existed where you could be both academic and Christian has been slowly eroded away by a coordinated effort by the enemies of God. If you want to be taken seriously in the academic world today, it is almost certainly a prerequisite that you deny the literal reading of creation. This thinking has seeped into the minds of those in the church. When we attempt to shoehorn the ideas that take God out of creation with the bible… we ultimately call God a liar… there is one who made that accusation and we will get there in a few weeks but I don’t think Christians truly want to be on his team ever. E.J. Young emphasized the importance of trusting the scriptures… he said; “Inasmuch as the Bible is the Word of God, whenever it speaks on any subject, whatever that subject may be, it is accurate in what is says. The Bible may not have been given to teach science as such, but it does teach about the origin of all things.” We must use caution anytime we hear of anything that goes directly against the soundness of God’s Word… we must not let the world dictate those things that it had no hand in building.

Vv. 6-8

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

The opening phrase of this passage is significant: "And God said." These three words echo throughout the creation narrative, underscoring that all things come into existence by the command of God. The emphasis here is on the power and authority of God's Word.

Day 1 God creates the space in which reality is able to be perceived. On day 2 He begins to work within that reality and make spaces for other things to exist. We read that God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” This verse has found many people trying to understand what the world looked like as it was in its original state. Some believe that there was a dome that covered and protected the earth from harmful solar activity. The better understanding would be that the expanse is just that an expanse. God created a barrier between the waters in the heavens and the waters on earth. He stretched it out. We see this expanse today in the atmosphere, the sky overhead. The place where the clouds exist. This is where the rain described in the flood came from. Whichever camp you find yourself in does not really matter apart from the reality that God designed it perfectly according to His will. He does not create out of necessity or struggle, but with effortless authority. By His Word alone, He speaks into being that which did not exist. By the act of separating these waters we see God's ability to bring structure and purpose out of formlessness, a divine principle that resonates throughout redemptive history.

Vv. 9-10

9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

On the third day, God gathers the waters under the heavens into one place, allowing dry land to appear. Again we find God speaking and it being so. He purposed the water to its place and from that the land appears. The dry land God calls "Earth," and the gathered waters He names "Seas". This point is amazing! In this act, we see not just a physical shaping of the world but also a theological truth: God names and defines His creation. In the act of naming, God asserts His authority, declaring what creation shall be and how it will serve His purposes.

This separation of land and water informs us of God’s deliberate design. The earth is not haphazardly formed; it is prepared as a dwelling place for life, a stage for God’s redemptive work. We see this as evidence of God’s providence. The creation is not an end in itself but part of a larger story—the unfolding of God's covenant with humanity, a covenant that ultimately finds its fulfillment in Christ.

Vv. 11-13

11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

On the same day, God commands the earth to bring forth vegetation: plants yielding seed and trees bearing fruit. This act of creation is not merely functional; it is abundant and purposeful. The vegetation is designed to sustain life, to reflect the generosity of the Creator, and to display His glory in its diversity and beauty.

Given the information we have, it is apparent that the plants and trees came up whole. When God created these things, He created them in a mature state so that they would be able to reproduce off of His design and by His sustaining them. What came first the plant or the seed? The bible tells us that it was the plant with seed. God established a reproductive order within creation… this is why the evolutionary model cannot be shoved into the biblical one. “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed…” God built the very thing that everything would come from… His established everything’s origin story.

The Bible teaches us to see creation as a testimony to God's provision. Every seed-bearing plant and fruit-bearing tree points to God's care for His creation. As the psalmist declares,

Psalm 24:1

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein

What we see in day 3 of creation is not merely a description of plant growth but a revelation of God’s sustaining grace. The earth yields its fruit not by chance but by the decree of God, who ordains all things.

As we consider this text, we are reminded that the creation account is not isolated from the broader narrative of Scripture. The same God who separates the waters and causes the land to bear fruit is the God who redeems His people through Christ. Just as God brought order out of chaos in Genesis, He brings order to the chaos of our sin through the work of Christ.

Colossians 1:16-17

16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Christ is not only the agent of creation but also its sustainer and redeemer. The act of creation we see in Genesis foreshadows the new creation promised in Christ, where the chaos of sin will be fully and finally subdued, and all things will be made new.

What then should our response be to this passage?

First, we are called to worship. The creation account invites us to marvel at the power, wisdom, and goodness of our Creator. When we look at the sky, the seas, the land, and the abundance of the earth, we ought to lift our hearts in praise to the One who holds all things together.

Second, we are called to stewardship. The earth is not ours to exploit but God's creation to tend and care for. As image-bearers of the Creator, we are entrusted with the responsibility to steward His creation in ways that honor Him and reflect His character.

Finally, we are called to trust. The God who spoke the cosmos into being is the same God who upholds the universe by the Word of His power.

Hebrews 1:1-3

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

In moments of uncertainty or chaos, we can rest in the assurance that He is sovereign, that He brings order out of disorder, and that His purposes will prevail.

The Genesis account of creation is not merely a record of ancient events; it is a declaration of God's sovereignty, wisdom, and purpose. It reminds us that every atom of creation is under His rule, every blade of grass is a testament to His provision, and every horizon testifies to His glory. As we leave this place, may we do so with hearts filled with awe for our Creator and Redeemer, resolved to live lives that reflect His goodness and grace. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Soli Deo Gloria!