January 1 (Genesis 1 – 4) Thoughts on today’s reading…
The Lord God was going through His acts of creation in the book of Genesis. In Genesis 1:1-2 the Bible says :
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 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.”
And again in Genesis 1:6-8:
” 6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. 8God called the expanse “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning–the second day.”
Whatever existed in the great deep of the darkness that the Spirit was hovering over, God referred to it as “waters.” Some translations call it “seas.”
In just a couple of verses, God talks to us about the creation of the great expanse or division that separated “the waters above the expanse from the waters below.” He called this great separation “SKY.”
Our understanding of the sky is the atmosphere that surrounds and protects the earth from the most outer atmosphere and then what extends beyond into outer space.
The earth’s atmosphere has 5 layers:
- Exosphere
- Thermosphere
- Mesosphere
- Stratosphere
- Troposphere
Our earth needs these layers to protect life here by absorbing the heat of the sun and also protecting the earth from the sun’s dangerous radiation. The Atmospheric gases get thinner as you go higher up, the lowest layer is most dense. The uppermost layer, Exosphere, can reach a height of between 60,000 and 120,000 miles. That is halfway to the moon!
Where Does Outer Space Start?
There are a few official guidelines about where our atmosphere ends and outer space officially starts, most are between 50 and 100+ miles from the surface of the Earth. There is no clear definition between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. Indeed, the great expanse that is mentioned in Genesis is certainly far more than just our sky. Beyond “our sky,” in outer space, is where the stars, moon, sun, other planets, galaxies, and whatever else is out there exist. This expanse, between the waters, includes all these – the entire universe of outer space as we know it! For just a few verses later, in Genesis 1:14-19, we read:
“14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.”
The interesting thing here is that the Bible tells us that the lights God has set in the expanse of the sky were put there to give light on the earth. They are there to govern the day and night, they separate light and darkness. All this vastness is for the benefit of the earth! So, although the earth, along with the other planets in our solar system revolve around the sun, and is nothing but a speck in a speck of this vast, infinite array of seemingly lifeless organic matter, you could say that, in effect, the earth is truly the center of the universe and the apple of God’s eye!
So just how big is this expanse that is our universe? How can it be accurately measured? Who really knows, but we can get an idea of just how incomprehensible it is! Just watch the video below.
To Infinity and Beyond
What about the waters that are above this great expanse? What is beyond our universe? In the Bible Paul referred to the third heaven in 2 Corinthians 12:2 stating:
2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows.
Again in Revelation 4:6 when John was talking about his vision in Heaven and the details of the great throne room he said:
6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
What we are seeing here is the structure of the present heavens and earth. It appears that the first heaven represents our atmosphere, the second heaven is all of outer space, and the third heaven is where God resides. Is this crystal sea what the waters above the expanse is referring to? If so it makes the whole picture a lot clearer.
Lastly, for now, written in Psalm 148:4:
4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.
courtesy of kjvbible.org
What We Can Learn
What can we learn from all this? Just that the magnitude and majesty of the entire universe is nothing short of awe-inducing. Psalm 19:1 reminds us that: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” and also Psalm 66:4 proclaims: “All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.”
Where can I flee from your presence? Psalm 139:7
With all this in mind, do you realize that the space between you and I was also created by God:
“38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” Romans 8:38-39
It always comes back to God’s incomprehensible love:
“17 … And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
The complexity of the universe and the entire creation is fun to learn about but I’m glad that God has everything under control. I am content to run into His arms and find restful peace in His Presence! Psalm 131 says it perfectly:
1 My heart is not proud, Lord,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.
3 Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and forevermore.
