4
These are the generations
of the heavens and the earth when they were created,
in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
5 When no bush of the field was yet in the land and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up—for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground,
6 and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground—
7 then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
v.4
Here starts a summary of the first chapter.
(in the day...) The difference between chapter one and chapter two is also the timings. As the first chapter talks about each day for a separate section, and here this qualifies the day as a general time period of creation. This could be used to argue against the literal 6-day creation theory, and say that day refers to a point in time where things happened, not just one 24 hour cycle. Especially as the first 'day' was the creation of light and dark, but the 24 hour day could not referred to until after that point, by man.
v.5
It did not rain before Noah (Genesis 7), which could explain why we enjoy the sun so much. The make up of the grammar in the verses to follow, makes it appear that there was not vegetation until man had been formed. The dry and barren land, with no bush, or small plant, required a tilling of the ground. In other translations the growing of the plants happens in this verse. That by God's great power these plants grow, and by God's great power the rain comes. This is also the first verse we come into contact with the word LORD, Jehovah, Yahweh.
v.6
God, being supernatural in nature, waters the ground through other means, than the obvious way we are used to. An interpretation of this verse could be that God decided to water the ground through the weakest means possible. A simple mist. As Matthew Henry puts it "Divine grace descends like a mist, or silent dew, and waters the church without noise," (referring to Deut. 32:2)
v.7
Man is formed from two parts. The ground of the earth, or dust, and the breath of life. These two things make man a living creature. Other animals are made from the ground, and to the ground the will return, but man, in his divine anointing by God, has His very breath breathed into man. Man is made of heaven and earth, so, as man belongs with the heavenly father, so we have a soul, but as we are rulers, under God, of the earth, we have a body. Jesus shows that God is not separate from His people by coming into the world in the form of man. Our soul, not made of the earth, but originating from heaven, should not be subjected to earthly things. Our life comes from our soul, so we must be sure that the account we have of them is not one that is against the father of souls, our heavenly father, Yahweh.
Bigger Picture: - There is less detail on the main creation process, animals, plants, sea and land etc. and more on the creation of man. This is an important contrast as to note that there is a certain equal precedence to the overall creation, but man is in the image of God and is more important than the rest of creation, as he is charged with ruling the earth (2v19). It's important to know the contrast between things seen and things unseen, and as we come closer to the return of Jesus Christ, we must be ready for what we will see. Creation will return to it's original glory, but we must live in that future glory today. Our souls belong with Him, and, if a believer in the sacrifice of Jesus, we will return home, where we shall enjoy eternity.
Monday, 23 April 2007
Eden
Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?" Adam said he didn't have anyone to talk to. God said he was going to give him a companion and she would be called "woman."
God said, "This person will cook for you and wash your clothes, she will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give love and compassion whenever needed."
Adam asked God, "What will this woman cost?"
God said, "An arm and a leg."
Adam said, "What can I get for just a rib?"
God said, "This person will cook for you and wash your clothes, she will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've had a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give love and compassion whenever needed."
Adam asked God, "What will this woman cost?"
God said, "An arm and a leg."
Adam said, "What can I get for just a rib?"
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
Genesis 2:1-3 (Day Seven)
1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
v.1
Finished. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The earth is no longer without form, but full of life, fruit-bearing trees, multiplying creatures, and humans. If God can take something that is void, darkness upon the face of the deep, move His Spirit over the face of the 'waters' and change everything. Change it from something lifeless, full of nothing, into something full of life. We need to have the faith Hebrews 11 talks about, having faith that God created the universe.
v.2-3
(God finished His work that He had done...) On the day of rest, for God, He didn't just stop. Sitting around like somebody on their day off tries to do. He finished off His work. 'It is finished' He may have said. The earth was almost finished day six, now totally finished on day seven. And He rested because it's good to both be busy and still. Like water there is a right time for sparkling and still, so God is showing how He can bring life to the full, excitement in everything as He is sought through the day, but He can also bring stillness. In stillness, holiness is found. He can calm a storm, be silent, and on this day, when so many thing continue to happen, the world never stops, God reminds us that even He must be still, as we must be still, and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)
Bigger Picture - On the day of nothing, as He had blessed the animals to be fruitful, and had blessed man, and blessed man to be fruitful and fill the earth, so God blesses the seventh day. Only when we lose all the other distractions, and draw near to God is our true nature brought forth. Only when we know our shortfalls can we see the holiness of God, and know how to better deal with our own sin and become more Holy, more like Christ. When we stop, as well, we should commemorate the creation. The day when God had finished, and looked back on His creation, remembering everything He had done. He is the creator who is worthy of all blessing and honour and praise from all religious assemblies.
2 And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
v.1
Finished. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. The earth is no longer without form, but full of life, fruit-bearing trees, multiplying creatures, and humans. If God can take something that is void, darkness upon the face of the deep, move His Spirit over the face of the 'waters' and change everything. Change it from something lifeless, full of nothing, into something full of life. We need to have the faith Hebrews 11 talks about, having faith that God created the universe.
v.2-3
(God finished His work that He had done...) On the day of rest, for God, He didn't just stop. Sitting around like somebody on their day off tries to do. He finished off His work. 'It is finished' He may have said. The earth was almost finished day six, now totally finished on day seven. And He rested because it's good to both be busy and still. Like water there is a right time for sparkling and still, so God is showing how He can bring life to the full, excitement in everything as He is sought through the day, but He can also bring stillness. In stillness, holiness is found. He can calm a storm, be silent, and on this day, when so many thing continue to happen, the world never stops, God reminds us that even He must be still, as we must be still, and know that He is God. (Psalm 46:10)
Bigger Picture - On the day of nothing, as He had blessed the animals to be fruitful, and had blessed man, and blessed man to be fruitful and fill the earth, so God blesses the seventh day. Only when we lose all the other distractions, and draw near to God is our true nature brought forth. Only when we know our shortfalls can we see the holiness of God, and know how to better deal with our own sin and become more Holy, more like Christ. When we stop, as well, we should commemorate the creation. The day when God had finished, and looked back on His creation, remembering everything He had done. He is the creator who is worthy of all blessing and honour and praise from all religious assemblies.
Sunday, 1 April 2007
Genesis 1:26-31 (Creation of Man - Day Six pt. 2)
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
v.26-7
As if animals isn't enough, God creates man (or Adam, the Hebrew, generic term for mankind) to rule the earth. This is the final order He places over creation. Paralleling all the days with themes, He finishes the process by having the final pinnacle represented by mankind.
(.."Let us make man in our image and our likeness"..) This shows God in fellowship. Before the earth was born God was. And He was in fellowship, with Himself, and, probably, the whole heavenly host as well. To say 'let us' shows the inkling of and already complicated doctrine of the trinity. God as three persons is there, father (God), son (Word), and spirit all one in the beginning. It shows His Independence from creation, He does not need us to be, because before we were, He IS.
(...image...and...likeness...) Two similarities does man take with God. Physical appearance (image) and character (likeness). We appear similar to God, and we have similar character attributes to God.
(Let them have dominion over the fish...birds...livestock and...all the earth and over every creeping thing...) Why would God want man to rule if He is King of Kings? Quite simply He is showing us a relationship that He wants with us through our relationship with the earth. We, in a tenuous yet real way, are similar in image and likeness to all living things on the earth. We have basic physical similarities in our need for the atmosphere we live in, and in certain mammals, further likenesses in facial expressions and the like. We also have similar character attributes, in our instinct to reproduce (a blessing poured on by God to all animals and peoples), find food, shelter, live in community, etc. Just as man is higher than any beast in appearance and character, so God is so much more highly thought as fully beautiful in His appearance, and even more incomprehensible in character, and yet we are still like Him.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
29 And God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.
30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food." And it was so.
31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
v.26-7
As if animals isn't enough, God creates man (or Adam, the Hebrew, generic term for mankind) to rule the earth. This is the final order He places over creation. Paralleling all the days with themes, He finishes the process by having the final pinnacle represented by mankind.
(.."Let us make man in our image and our likeness"..) This shows God in fellowship. Before the earth was born God was. And He was in fellowship, with Himself, and, probably, the whole heavenly host as well. To say 'let us' shows the inkling of and already complicated doctrine of the trinity. God as three persons is there, father (God), son (Word), and spirit all one in the beginning. It shows His Independence from creation, He does not need us to be, because before we were, He IS.
(...image...and...likeness...) Two similarities does man take with God. Physical appearance (image) and character (likeness). We appear similar to God, and we have similar character attributes to God.
v.28
God's first blessing on man is just that. Separate to that is a command to 'fill the earth' and subdue or rule the earth. The dominion offered over the animals is not that of hunting, but of naming and keeping them. God puts things in our charge so as to give us opportunities to be faithful with what we have, as God is faithful with us.
v.29
God shows that the plants of the earth are for food. Sustenance comes from the ground, where also man comes from. He gives anything which contains a seed, which is an interesting clarifying thing. Nowadays the idea of fruit is that of no pips, or seedless (grapes etc.) so to note that God wants us to eat those things with seeds is something to consider.
v.30
And every beast eats the same as that which man eats. Anything with the breath of life has the green plant for food. This shows a peace between the differing species. None of the animals were yet meat eaters, and they were no threat to man. It shows how God designed this earth as an planet of peace. All of heaven and earth in harmony. The lion and the lamb laying side by side.
v.31
(...very good...) God is pleased with His creation. From start to finish it has been 'good' but now, with the final touches, all the world set in motion, and the peaceful attitudes of man and beast alike the earth is very good and the full fellowship of heaven can be represented here on earth.
Bigger Picture - God has a peaceful, health planet in mind from day one. as it progresses the earth becomes more fruitful, but this image of creation is not something unattainable. Revelation is a book which talks about how the earth is groaning to return to how it once was. Before the fall God was in the earth, walking with Adam in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8), the animals were all in union and the whole earth was a community that matched that of heaven. The earth will once again return to how it was and this is something to look forward to. Looking forward to the return of Jesus, and the return of peace and tranquility and unity and all these other things is an excellent motivation to push forward, and endure this life. God created man for the ruling of the earth, and, one day, we will correctly rule it under God, with all things in harmony. All this is an expression of God's outstanding love for the universes well being.
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Genesis 1:24-25 (Day Six)
24 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds--livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so.
25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
v.24
God is almost finished. Parallels with day 3, the earth is filled with creeping things, and beasts, and livestock. He gives word for the earth to come alive. After the sea has been replenished with life, and the skies filled with winged creatures, then the earth may bring forth all manner of creatures. And they are diverse in nature. From tame livestock, to wild beast God gives word to create such a diversity on the planet.
v.25
God acts. He also did the work He set out to do. Giving word and acting on it. The earth is, indeed, filled with all manner of beast, and creeping thing all according to their kind, as is right with nature. Some to live on the grass and herbs of the ground, others on flesh, some harmless and some ravenous this is the diversity being brought out of the world as designed by God. Such is portrayed here thatthe entire design of the planet shows it cannot have happened by chance. That all this diversity comes about from a single cell is utterly absurd unless a God is involved in the whole process. If the earth did evolve from a primeval soup such a wide ranging catalogue of beasts would not be, but simply one. God has everything to do with this process, whether a six day creation, or a process lasting longer, God is not only involved but responsible for all these things coming together.
Bigger Picture - God created diversity. Looking out on the world we can see plenty of different colours. And looking in on the church, the body of Christ, we can see plenty of colour. God blesses such a thing, but if God created it you must acknowledge and love it. The amount of different people in a church, not just black/white, yound/old, but poor, and wealthy, educated, and simple, all have a part to play in God's creation and God blesses all those who belong to Him. The church is a symbol of the relationship God has with the earth, so it needs to model a oneness that is shown through the creation account.
v.24
God is almost finished. Parallels with day 3, the earth is filled with creeping things, and beasts, and livestock. He gives word for the earth to come alive. After the sea has been replenished with life, and the skies filled with winged creatures, then the earth may bring forth all manner of creatures. And they are diverse in nature. From tame livestock, to wild beast God gives word to create such a diversity on the planet.
v.25
God acts. He also did the work He set out to do. Giving word and acting on it. The earth is, indeed, filled with all manner of beast, and creeping thing all according to their kind, as is right with nature. Some to live on the grass and herbs of the ground, others on flesh, some harmless and some ravenous this is the diversity being brought out of the world as designed by God. Such is portrayed here thatthe entire design of the planet shows it cannot have happened by chance. That all this diversity comes about from a single cell is utterly absurd unless a God is involved in the whole process. If the earth did evolve from a primeval soup such a wide ranging catalogue of beasts would not be, but simply one. God has everything to do with this process, whether a six day creation, or a process lasting longer, God is not only involved but responsible for all these things coming together.
Bigger Picture - God created diversity. Looking out on the world we can see plenty of different colours. And looking in on the church, the body of Christ, we can see plenty of colour. God blesses such a thing, but if God created it you must acknowledge and love it. The amount of different people in a church, not just black/white, yound/old, but poor, and wealthy, educated, and simple, all have a part to play in God's creation and God blesses all those who belong to Him. The church is a symbol of the relationship God has with the earth, so it needs to model a oneness that is shown through the creation account.
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
Genesis 1:20-23 (Day Five)
20 And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.
21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.
23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
v.20
Paralleling with day two the waters and skies that were created and separated, God now commands the earth to be filled with living creatures.
(Let the waters...) This is begging a question. What is the purpose of doing it in this order? Swarms of living creatures in the water, and flying birds in the sky. These are two extremes, and, in light of Genesis 9 and 10, without the land in place the birds would not survive. Why would God command the creation of two opposing creatures. The birds are high, and the sea creatures are low, and the earth is able to support both.
v.21
God first commands, then creates. It is crucial to know that God generally acts after telling people what He is going to do. This is the first mention of any living creature. Not hearing of creatures before this point shows how the creation of the earth is gradual and the progression is from that which is less excellent to that which is more excellent.
(...according to their kind...) God is careful in His creation of the creatures to know that their purpose is inline with their kind. As in Romans 2, we are judged according to our works, not by our faith. This is not meant that we are not justified by faith, we are, but that from the faith, we do not want to enter into a relationship with God where our works do not correspond with our purpose.
v.22-23
God instructs His new creation to make themselves part of what is now their home.
(And God blessed them...) This is the first time God blesses anything. The first creatures must be worth something to God as the blessing is for His own works. He will not forsake them.
(..be fruitful and multiply...) And what a blessing! Something to be pleased with is something that as multiplication and fruitfulness takes place they are reminded of their blessing.
Bigger Picture - Look at how the earth is taking form: Each day, gradually, it rises and advances from good to better to best, and God continually sees it as good. This is an inspiration to press towards perfection and endeavour that your last works may be your best works. And, as you strive towards that perfection, know that it is according to your works that you are judged. Sanctification is the next step in the Christian faith and it should not be something side-tracked by a life full of grace. Repentance should see a transformation not a temporal regret. That way, the new creation you become on being born again, will see how, first light, then water, then land and vegetation, then lights, then creatures blessed with being fruitful and multiplying. What stage are you at? And what do the different stages relate to your life? Sanctification is a slow process, and, through all of it, can only be progressed by the grace of God, and His Holy Spirit. He wants to bless you, and seeking Him for the help to undergo the sanctification process is the only way a striving for perfection will be attainable at all. Seek His guidance, He begun each day with commands that were carried out, and this can be true for your life too.
21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.
23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
v.20
Paralleling with day two the waters and skies that were created and separated, God now commands the earth to be filled with living creatures.
(Let the waters...) This is begging a question. What is the purpose of doing it in this order? Swarms of living creatures in the water, and flying birds in the sky. These are two extremes, and, in light of Genesis 9 and 10, without the land in place the birds would not survive. Why would God command the creation of two opposing creatures. The birds are high, and the sea creatures are low, and the earth is able to support both.
v.21
God first commands, then creates. It is crucial to know that God generally acts after telling people what He is going to do. This is the first mention of any living creature. Not hearing of creatures before this point shows how the creation of the earth is gradual and the progression is from that which is less excellent to that which is more excellent.
(...according to their kind...) God is careful in His creation of the creatures to know that their purpose is inline with their kind. As in Romans 2, we are judged according to our works, not by our faith. This is not meant that we are not justified by faith, we are, but that from the faith, we do not want to enter into a relationship with God where our works do not correspond with our purpose.
v.22-23
God instructs His new creation to make themselves part of what is now their home.
(And God blessed them...) This is the first time God blesses anything. The first creatures must be worth something to God as the blessing is for His own works. He will not forsake them.
(..be fruitful and multiply...) And what a blessing! Something to be pleased with is something that as multiplication and fruitfulness takes place they are reminded of their blessing.
Bigger Picture - Look at how the earth is taking form: Each day, gradually, it rises and advances from good to better to best, and God continually sees it as good. This is an inspiration to press towards perfection and endeavour that your last works may be your best works. And, as you strive towards that perfection, know that it is according to your works that you are judged. Sanctification is the next step in the Christian faith and it should not be something side-tracked by a life full of grace. Repentance should see a transformation not a temporal regret. That way, the new creation you become on being born again, will see how, first light, then water, then land and vegetation, then lights, then creatures blessed with being fruitful and multiplying. What stage are you at? And what do the different stages relate to your life? Sanctification is a slow process, and, through all of it, can only be progressed by the grace of God, and His Holy Spirit. He wants to bless you, and seeking Him for the help to undergo the sanctification process is the only way a striving for perfection will be attainable at all. Seek His guidance, He begun each day with commands that were carried out, and this can be true for your life too.
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Genesis 1:14-19 (Day Four)
14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years,
15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so.
16 And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars.
17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
v.14-15
(Let there be lights...) Genesis 15v5
5 And He brought him outside and said, "Look towards heaven, and number the stars if you are able to number them." The He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
This talks about the call of Abram and the promise of his many children. The many lights in the sky included the stars, Sun and Moon. Separating day from night. God's plan was, in part, to show how everyone in the family of Abram, or Abraham, is represented by a light in the sky. This is the first inkling of a calling from before the beginning. The stars before Abram had looked to the number of children, and the called of Christ who are adopted into His family; branches grafted onto the tree. He knew who would be with Him before time itself, and the lights are there as a representation of His future glory.
(...signs and...seasons, and for days and years...) God already had planned the timings for all events to pass. From the rise of David, to the death & resurrection of Jesus, and they are signified by the passing of days and years. Without these signs Joshua or Daniel's interpretations of dreams would not be the same, or maybe even as accurate.
v.16-19
Even though the sun and moon weren't specifically named, they take a special part in creation. Separating and signifying day and night, as to show the progression of time. The fall had not yet taken place, but time still progresses. The earth had not been subjected to sickness and death but it still was subject to the passage of time. In heaven, when the new heaven and new earth are brought about, after Jesus' second coming, time will still pass. People will get older. Time did pass during creation and this is the point that the earth is heading back to. Looking forward to heaven should not be one of, no more time to worry about, we will still sleep, work, and rest but in a way that is totally as God and we should want it.
Bigger Picture - This parallels with Day One only with more detail. There are arguments for both whether this account is literal or descriptive and poetic in it's form, but that is not important. It is there for a reason: to know that God created the whole universe with a purpose for it all. With the expanse that is around you, you may feel insignificant or worthless, but you mean everything to God. Every time you look at the stars think that one of them represents you. As each day passes, know that God planned that day for you, and the one to come is under His control. All the way through this account it shows that God knows what He is doing, and, even though we can never know that full picture, we can see how the beginning fits with the end fits with all that happens in between. This is so true in your life. Trusting God is the best way to know that where you're going is the best direction to go.
15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth." And it was so.
16 And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars.
17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,
18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
v.14-15
(Let there be lights...) Genesis 15v5
5 And He brought him outside and said, "Look towards heaven, and number the stars if you are able to number them." The He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
This talks about the call of Abram and the promise of his many children. The many lights in the sky included the stars, Sun and Moon. Separating day from night. God's plan was, in part, to show how everyone in the family of Abram, or Abraham, is represented by a light in the sky. This is the first inkling of a calling from before the beginning. The stars before Abram had looked to the number of children, and the called of Christ who are adopted into His family; branches grafted onto the tree. He knew who would be with Him before time itself, and the lights are there as a representation of His future glory.
(...signs and...seasons, and for days and years...) God already had planned the timings for all events to pass. From the rise of David, to the death & resurrection of Jesus, and they are signified by the passing of days and years. Without these signs Joshua or Daniel's interpretations of dreams would not be the same, or maybe even as accurate.
v.16-19
Even though the sun and moon weren't specifically named, they take a special part in creation. Separating and signifying day and night, as to show the progression of time. The fall had not yet taken place, but time still progresses. The earth had not been subjected to sickness and death but it still was subject to the passage of time. In heaven, when the new heaven and new earth are brought about, after Jesus' second coming, time will still pass. People will get older. Time did pass during creation and this is the point that the earth is heading back to. Looking forward to heaven should not be one of, no more time to worry about, we will still sleep, work, and rest but in a way that is totally as God and we should want it.
Bigger Picture - This parallels with Day One only with more detail. There are arguments for both whether this account is literal or descriptive and poetic in it's form, but that is not important. It is there for a reason: to know that God created the whole universe with a purpose for it all. With the expanse that is around you, you may feel insignificant or worthless, but you mean everything to God. Every time you look at the stars think that one of them represents you. As each day passes, know that God planned that day for you, and the one to come is under His control. All the way through this account it shows that God knows what He is doing, and, even though we can never know that full picture, we can see how the beginning fits with the end fits with all that happens in between. This is so true in your life. Trusting God is the best way to know that where you're going is the best direction to go.
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