Day 2: Sky to Separate the Waters (Gen. 1:6-8)
God's Work on Day 2:
- The description of God creating the expanse on Day 2 (God speaks, God makes, God names)
- The significance of God creating the expanse on Day 2
Summary: God's initial creation was characterized by barrenness and darkness. The darkness problem was solved when the Light shined on Day 1. But what about the barrenness problem, that is, the lingering fact that the earth was still "without form and void"? God's work on Day 2 was a massive preliminary step in solving the problem, for it was on Day 2 that God created the Sky by holding back the waters. The description of God's work on Day 2 is powerful and the significance of this work is breathtaking.
Main Point: God wants us to know that he made the sky by holding back the waters by his Word.
Discussion Questions:
- What is the most basic common denominator in God's work each day of the creation week? (see Gen. 1:3,6,9,11,14,20,24-26). How should the apostle John's description of the Word in John 1:1-5 shape who we think about God speaking throughout Genesis 1? (cf. Col. 1:16b and Heb. 1:1-3).
- Discuss this statement: "In the context of Genesis 1, God speaking is God making." (cf. Ps. 33:6; 148:4-5; Heb. 11:3)
- What is the expanse? What are the waters below? What are the waters above?
- Would there be any reason that God would stop holding back the waters? (6:5-8, 9-14a)
- What would happen if God did release the waters? (see Gen. 6:17-22; 7:1, 4-5, 11-12, 20-24; 8:1-2; 20-22; 9:1, 8-17)
- What should the release and holding back of these waters teach us in our day (see 2 Pet. 3:1-15)
Application Questions:
- What would be a fitting, worshipful response to the fact that I was saved before God's coming judgment (fire) all because God is actively, mercifully and patiently holding back the waters?
- How should God's patience in temporarily holding back his judgement on unbelievers shape the way that I live the Christian life and interact with unbelievers?
- Praise God for his patience which accounts for how you and others were able to be saved
- Praise God that you are not destined for wrath, but to obtain salvation through Jesus Christ
- Ask God to help us, his people, live holy and godly lives as we await the return of Christ
