Bird's-eye view
On the second day of creation, God continues His work of forming and structuring the cosmos. Having created light and separated it from darkness on day one, He now turns His attention to the primordial waters that cover the earth. By the power of His spoken word, He creates an "expanse" or "firmament" to divide this watery mass. This act of separation is fundamental; it is an architectural move that establishes the basic structure of the world as we experience it. He is separating the waters above from the waters below, creating the space for sky and sea. This is not a scientific description of atmospheric layers in modern terms, but rather a phenomenological and theological account of God building a habitable world. He is the master builder, and these are the foundational steps in constructing a house for man. The naming of this expanse as "heaven" is a further act of sovereign authority, defining the function and purpose of this newly created realm. The day concludes with the same refrain, "And there was evening and there was morning, a second day," reinforcing the deliberate, rhythmic, and orderly progression of God's creative work.
The central theme here is divine ordering. God is taking the raw materials of creation, described as "formless and void," and imposing His wise and perfect structure upon them. This act of separation is a holy act. Throughout Scripture, separation and distinction are at the heart of holiness. God separates light from dark, the waters above from the waters below, the sea from the dry land, and ultimately, His people from the world. The creation of the expanse is an archetypal act of God bringing order out of chaos, establishing boundaries, and making the world a suitable place for the subsequent acts of creation, and ultimately, for the life of mankind.
Outline
- 1. The Second Day: Structuring the Cosmos (Gen 1:6-8)
- a. The Divine Command for Separation (Gen 1:6)
- b. The Divine Action of Separation (Gen 1:7)
- c. The Divine Naming and Affirmation (Gen 1:8)
Context In Genesis
These verses constitute the second day of the creation week, following the creation of light and the separation of light from darkness on day one (Gen 1:3-5). This section is part of the first major movement in Genesis, the creation account (Gen 1:1-2:3), which functions as the grand prologue to the entire Bible. The structure of the creation week is highly literary and theological, with the first three days dedicated to God forming the world (separating realms) and the next three days dedicated to God filling those realms. Day two, with its creation of the sky and sea as distinct realms, corresponds directly to day five, when God fills the sky with birds and the sea with fish. This passage is therefore a crucial architectural step in God's construction of the world. It establishes the foundational "upstairs and downstairs" of the created order, preparing the way for the emergence of dry land on day three and the subsequent filling of all these spaces with life.
Key Issues
- The Meaning of the "Expanse" (Raqia)
- The Nature of the "Waters Above"
- Biblical Cosmology vs. Modern Science
- The Theological Significance of Separation
- God's Sovereignty in Naming
The Architecture of Heaven
When we read about the "expanse," we need to be careful not to impose our modern scientific grid onto an ancient text. The Hebrew word is raqia, which comes from a root meaning to beat out, stamp, or spread out, like a metalworker hammering out a thin sheet of bronze. This has led some to believe the Hebrews thought of the sky as a solid dome, and perhaps they did. But the text is not primarily concerned with giving us a lesson in atmospheric physics. It is describing the world as it appears to us, from our vantage point on earth. The sky looks like a great, overarching vault. God is the one who "stretched out the heavens like a tent" (Ps 104:2).
The point is theological, not scientific. God is establishing a boundary. He is making a distinction. This separation creates the space for weather, for clouds, for the atmosphere that sustains life. The "waters above" likely refers to the source of rain, held back by this expanse. God is setting up the systems of the world. He is building a house, and a good house has a roof that doesn't leak, separating the living space from the elements above. This is an act of divine wisdom and power, creating a stable and ordered environment where life can flourish. It is a picture of God's providential care, structuring the world for the good of the creatures He is about to make.
Verse by Verse Commentary
6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.”
As with the first day, the creative act begins with the divine word. God speaks, and reality rearranges itself to conform to His command. He does not struggle with recalcitrant matter; He simply issues a decree. The command is for an "expanse," a raqia, to come into being. And its purpose is stated plainly: to separate. The world at this point is simply a watery mass. God's command is to drive a wedge into this mass, to create a division within it. This is the fundamental work of ordering. Before you can fill a space, you must first define the space. Before you can furnish a room, you must have walls and a ceiling. God is here building the walls and ceiling of the world. The purpose is to create distinction, to separate "the waters from the waters."
7 So God made the expanse and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so.
What God commands, God performs. The text moves from the divine word ("God said") to the divine work ("God made"). This is not to suggest a two-step process, as though God first decided and then had to labor. Rather, it is to emphasize the efficacy of His word. His speaking is His making. The verse elaborates on the result of His command: a successful separation. The waters below the expanse are distinguished from the waters above it. The first becomes the sea, and the second becomes the source of rain in the sky. The phrase "and it was so" is the declaration of a completed work. The command was given, and the reality now conforms perfectly to that command. There is no gap between God's will and its accomplishment in creation. His purpose is instantly and perfectly realized.
8 And God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, a second day.
Following the pattern of day one, after the act of creation comes the act of naming. "God called the expanse heaven." In the ancient world, to name something was an act of authority and sovereignty. It was to define its nature and its function. Adam would later be tasked with naming the animals, exercising his delegated dominion. Here, God exercises His ultimate dominion. He has created this realm, and He defines what it is. He calls it "heaven" (shamayim). This is the sky, the visible arch above us. The work of the day is now complete, and the formulaic conclusion marks its boundary: "And there was evening and there was morning, a second day." This rhythmic, repeating phrase gives the whole week a liturgical feel. This is not just construction; it is worshipful work. God is building His great temple, and each day is a movement in a grand symphony of creation.
Application
The second day of creation teaches us that God is a God of order, not of chaos. Our God loves distinctions. He loves boundaries. He loves to take what is formless and give it a beautiful and wise structure. We see this not only in creation, but also in redemption. When God saves a man, He brings order to the chaos of his soul. He separates the light of truth from the darkness of sin and unbelief. He establishes a new government in the heart, with Christ on the throne.
This principle applies to every area of our lives. God has established boundaries for the family, for the church, and for the civil magistrate. When we blur these lines, when we try to erase God's created distinctions, we are working against the grain of the universe. The modern world is in a mad rush to dissolve every boundary it can find, between man and woman, between right and wrong, between the sacred and the profane. This is a return to the chaos of the primordial deep. Our task as Christians is to love the order God has made. We are to build our lives, our families, and our churches on the firm foundation of His Word, which separates, defines, and gives structure. Just as God separated the waters to make a habitable world, so we must separate ourselves from the world's chaotic rebellion in order to be a holy habitation for God.