Well, folks. I have just finished resting a bit, myself. Time to get back into the Scriptures.
As we begin to read, once again in Genesis 2, I notice that the tone of the penman or rather his focus changes. In the first chapter and up to this point in chapter 2, the writer has dealt very concisely with the chronological order focusing upon God creating. From now on, he deals with the story of the creation with the focal point being man.
This is the history of the creation of the creation of the heavens and the earth. In the day that Jehovah God made the earth and the heavens, Here we have the transition from the chronological account to the detail account as I call it. As I read the term history, a picture comes into focus of facts being given detail. Like a lawyer before judge and jury presents the facts of the case and then paints for the courtroom a story of what transpired. We notice that day is again used here and have to again ask, is it literal 24 hours or figurative with a definitive phrase? This time, it is figurative with the definitive phrase "that Jehovah God made the earth and the heavens,". This is not, therefore, a separate creation rather it is details of the creation.
the earth had no grass, and no vegetation had yet sprouted, for Jehovah God had not sent rain upon the earth and there was no man to cultivate the soil. The author of Genesis records that in the time of creation, the earth had neither grass nor vegetation for there was neither rain nor a man to till the soil. The fact that man was not around to tend the earth is an interesting reason for there being no grass or vegetation. We know that grass will grow with or without man today. But without man or rain, grass will not grow. The same holds true if we take rain out of the equation. Grass will grow without rain so long as man tends and waters it himself, but take away man while there is no rain . . . and it dies. So there wasn't any rain and there wasn't any man and there wasn't any vegetation.
A vapor arose from the earth and watered the ground.
Now we have water which means that the grass and vegetation will grow. God provides, how bountiful is our God!?!
Christian
Why Does It Matter?
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He remembers what the squall was, but his mom and dad never even had a
clue. Not even when the event took place. There is nothing quite like the
experience...
4 years ago
6 comments:
Ha, I'd never thought about the grass growing as long as there was man to tend and water it. Humph, how funny. Of course the creation was created ? for man to tend? It appears that God had planned it thataway. Right?
Dear Anonymous,
Thank you for your comment. That is exactly what I gather from this reading :).
Christian
Some people see chapter 2 as a second creation. Why do they do this and why is it not?
Dear Deboraw,
Welcome to the discussion.
In answer to your questions; Q. "Why do some people see this as a second creation?"
A. Because the 2nd chapter is not in the same order as the first chapter. And, therefore, since it is in a different order (and doesn't even mention some days), it must be, in their reasoning, a second creation.
Q. "Why is it not?"
A. As I pointed out in the second paragraph my post, up to verse 2 of chapter (one can go so far as verse 3) there was a very concise chronological order, but now the entire tone of the writer changes. He begins to tell the story of man not the story of creation.
A second point to bring out that most might miss (and especially those that are proponenants of the second creation theory)is that verse 2 of chapter 2 says 'ended His work' not simply rested. When you look at the word end, you see what? The stopping point of course. If you are planting and you come to the end of the row you move to the next row. The first row does not continue. When you have planted all that you are able to plant and all that you have to plant, you end planting. You do not continue planting. The Hebrew word here is 'kalah' meaning 'to end' to cease, be finished, accomplish' which conveys the idea of a complete and total stopping. The word for resting is 'shabath' meaning 'to repose' or a pause. When you look at the sentance in the Hebrew, it reads: "ended Elohim (God) day seventh deputyship(ministry, employment) which to do/make (accomplish, did, etc) reposed day seventh whole deputyship (ministry, employment) which to do/make(accomplish, did, etc)." meaning or translated as The seventh day God ended His employment (work) which He accomplished resting the seventh day (from)all employment that He did. This (to one as unlearned as I am (hurray for Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible)) means that God ended creating on the seventh day and rested from all His work.
As lengthy as that was, I hope it helps.
Christian
Christian I think you missed one very important fact in regards to the second creation theory. Those who espouse this theory choose to do so as it supports their greater contention, evolution! By saying that there were two creations it gives time for evolution theory accomplish itself. It also makes allowances for all kinds of wacky false doctrines. The preexistence of evil is among these.
Dear Josiah,
Thank you for pointing that out and you are correct. I missed that point because I was dealing with the question from the difference in Scriptural tone and forgot to deal with it on a difference of personal desire.
Christian
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