First Breath When God Spoke Light (Creation)

Published on January 1, 2026 at 8:00 AM

Welcome to the First Breath of the New Year

   All Scripture Is In Black and Italicized for easy spotting. (looks like this)


    Welcome, friends. Thank you for being here and taking interest in my writing. HopeScribed will grow and change in beautiful ways this year, and I am grateful you are part of it.

Before I talk too much Let me say the scripture is just below in a drop down. I took liberties to include some of the key words as well. My suggestion if you want more after reading the text I copied or from your own Bible so you can mark it up. A clean Bible just screams love me. Then come back here I have really flooded this post with enough to keep most busy for a month at least. Please don't do it all in a single day and expect it to actually stick. BUT..... ALSO please lets discuss. I am not above any person. I value engaging conversations about Scripture. But there is so much to say about creation. Like it is only how everything started. So, I think we need to take a good close look and see what scripture say. or doesn't in some cases. 

    The past three years have turned my life upside down. God has moved mountains I did not expect, and loss has shaped me more than I ever imagined. The passing of my mother to cancer was the moment everything shifted, and it opened the path that brings me here with you today.

    For many years, I ran from God’s calling. Earlier in my life we would have been talking about recovery and raising children, and both of those seasons shaped me deeply. That was where surrender first began in my life. What a journey it has been so far. 

    So, take out your Bible, pull up a chair, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and maybe a blanket on this cold January day with a ready heart. We are stepping into a RELATIONSHIP this year and that RELATIONSHIP will change you if you slow down enough to listen.

    Unlike last year where I made a post daily, I have decided to simplify and provide a single weekly (Thursday is goal) post that as the week goes on you can come back to for more details. So, I hope to see you here throughout the week and next week. Participate please it makes this a lot more engaging for both of us. Please share with 1 person you feel should hear this word. But most of all pray, read and connect with God. He has all the knowledge. I am simply sharing what I see when I am studying. 

If you truly hear what God is saying this year, you will not be the same by the time this season of learning closes

Breathe 1 Scripture

TS2009 Style • Continuous Narrative • Genesis 1:1–2:3

“The One who spoke is the One who sustains.”

Basil the Great

I Am the Word That Cuts the Dark- A song of creation from the view of Abba. As He looked down at the deep dark void and with a single word creation was beginning.  

Genesis 1 moves from Chaos ➡️Order➡️Fullness➡️Function

Text in drop box below is from an online free use version

If you would like to follow along as you read with the "Breathe" Study format CLICK LINK to download. 

Scripture

In the beginning Day One

    In the beginning Elohim brought the heavens and the earth into being. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while the Ruach of Elohim moved over the surface of the waters. Elohim said, “Let there be light,” and light came to be. Elohim saw the light, that it was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. Evening came, and morning came, the first day.

 Elohim said, “Let there be a space in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” Elohim made the space and separated the waters under the space from the waters above the space, and it came to be so. Elohim called the space the heavens. Evening came, and morning came, the second day.

 Elohim said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let dry land appear,” and it came to be so. Elohim called the dry land Earth, and the gatherings of the waters He called Seas. Elohim saw that it was good.

     Elohim said, “Let the earth sprout grass, plants producing seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to their kind, whose seed is in them on the earth,” and it came to be so. The earth brought forth grass, plants producing seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit whose seed was in them according to their kind. Elohim saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning came, the third day.

    Elohim said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs for appointed times, days, and years. Let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,” and it came to be so. Elohim made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night, and He made the stars. Elohim set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. Elohim saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning came, the fourth day.

    Elohim said, “Let the waters swarm with living beings, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the expanse of the heavens.” Elohim created the great sea creatures and every living being that moves, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. Elohim saw that it was good, and Elohim blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and increase, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” Evening came, and morning came, the fifth day.

God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth according to their kinds,” and it was so. God made the animals 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. God saw that it was good. God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.To every animal of the earth, to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food,” and it was so.Adonai saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

 Elohim said, “Let there be a space in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” Elohim made the space and separated the waters under the space from the waters above the space, and it came to be so. Elohim called the space the heavens. Evening came, and morning came, the second day.

 Elohim said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let dry land appear,” and it came to be so. Elohim called the dry land Earth, and the gatherings of the waters He called Seas. Elohim saw that it was good.

     Elohim said, “Let the earth sprout grass, plants producing seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit according to their kind, whose seed is in them on the earth,” and it came to be so. The earth brought forth grass, plants producing seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit whose seed was in them according to their kind. Elohim saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning came, the third day.

    Elohim said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs for appointed times, days, and years. Let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth,” and it came to be so. Elohim made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night, and He made the stars. Elohim set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. Elohim saw that it was good. Evening came, and morning came, the fourth day.

    Elohim said, “Let the waters swarm with living beings, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the expanse of the heavens.” Elohim created the great sea creatures and every living being that moves, with which the waters swarmed, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. Elohim saw that it was good, and Elohim blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful, and increase, and fill the waters in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” Evening came, and morning came, the fifth day.

God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth according to their kinds,” and it was so. God made the animals 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. God saw that it was good. God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”God said, “Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.To every animal of the earth, to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food,” and it was so.Adonai saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

  Thus, the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their array. And in the seventh day Elohim completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.

And Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made

  Thus, the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their array. And in the seventh day Elohim completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.

And Elohim blessed the seventh day and set it apart, because on it He rested from all His work which Elohim in creating had made

KEY WORDS

let them be gathered

קָוָה — qavah (verb form in the text: יִקָּווּ — yikkāwû, “

Core meaning:

  • To collect

  • To bind

  • To draw into order

Result:

  • Dry land appears

  • Habitable space emerges

Order appears when chaos is gathered, not erased.

Signs, Seasons, Days, Years

Hebrew words:

  • Signs: oth

  • Seasons: moed (appointed times)

  • Days: yom

  • Years: shanah

Important note:
Moed later refers to feast times.


God embeds worship rhythms into the cosmos.

Appear / Be Seen

Hebrew: ra’ah (רָאָה)

Meaning:

  • To become visible

  • To be revealed

Insight:

  • God does not create land from nothing here

  • He reveals what was already there

God often reveals before He adds.

According to Its Kind

Hebrew: min (מִין)

Meaning:

  • Boundaries in reproduction

  • Order in diversity

Not modern biology
It is about stability, not taxonomy.

Be Fruitful

Hebrew: parah (פָּרָה)

Meaning:

  • To bear fruit

  • To expand life outward

Applies to:

  • Animals

  • Humans

 

Fruitfulness is expected, but it follows order.

Multiply

 

Hebrew: rabah (רָבָה)

Meaning:

  • Increase

  • Become many

  • Expand influence

Important:

  • Multiplication comes after separation and structure

 

God never multiplies chaos.

Bless

Hebrew: barak (בָּרַךְ)

First appears Day 5.

Meaning:

  • To empower for success

  • To enable increase

Key distinction:

  • Blessing is not approval

  • Blessing is capacity

 

Blessing is God’s permission to grow.

Fill

Hebrew: male (מָלֵא)

Meaning:

  • To occupy fully

  • To complete a space

Pattern:

  • Domains are formed first

  • Then filled

God fills what He first prepares.

Subdue

Hebrew: kabash (כָּבַשׁ)

Often misunderstood.

Meaning here:

  • Bring under order

  • Cultivate

  • Harness potential

Not violent in context
This is pre Fall.

Subduing is cultivation, not domination.

Rule

 

Hebrew: radah (רָדָה)

Meaning:

  • Govern

  • Guide

  • Represent authority

Context matters:

  • Rule flows from being made in God’s image

 

Humanity rules by reflecting God’s character.

Image

Hebrew: tselem (צֶלֶם)

Meaning:

  • Representation

  • Visible reflection

Ancient meaning:

  • Kings were images of gods

  • Genesis gives that role to all humans

 

Authority flows from identity, not power.

Very Good

Hebrew: tov meod (טוֹב מְאֹד)

Meaning:

  • Complete

  • Harmonious

  • Functioning as intended

    This Breath traces the unfolding of Creation, moving as the story moves. Light breaks into the dark and the waters are drawn together. Land emerges, and seeds rest, holding life within. Sun, moon, and stars mark the dawn of time while birds take to the skies, and animals roam the land. Humanity rises from dust, filled with the Breath of God. Everything flows in order; steady, intentional, day and night, until all stands good and complete.

    Many have been taught to see this story as revolving around debates or timelines, yet the text itself doesn’t argue instead it reveals. It doesn’t hurry to explain every detail about God but instead lets us witness His movement, hear His voice, and notice His order. In this telling, creation isn’t a chaotic clash but a deliberate act, infused with peace, steady rhythm, and deep purpose.   

B.R.E.A.T.H.E. Bible Study Map

Genesis 1:1–31 & 2:1–3 

B.R.E.A.T.H.E Questions

Anchor Question — BREATHE 1

What kind of world is being established here, and how is order brought to completion?

B — Background / Historical Context

(Locate this Breath in time, space, and story)

  1. Where does this passage fall in the overall biblical timeline?

  2. What exists at the opening of Genesis 1?

  3. What kind of world is being described before any action takes place?

  4. What cultural or literary environment would the original audience bring to a creation account?

  5. How does this account differ in tone and structure from other ancient creation stories?

  6. What has not happened yet in the biblical story at this point?

  7. Why does the narrative begin with order rather than conflict?

R — Role / Literary Function

(Identify what kind of text this is and why it exists)

  1. What literary type is Genesis 1:1–31 & 2:1–3?

  2. Is this passage advancing a story, establishing a framework, or preserving an origin account?

  3. Is this a macro unit or a collection of smaller scenes?

  4. How does repetition function in this chapter?

  5. Why might the narrative slow down as it approaches Day Six?

  6. How does Day Seven differ structurally from the previous days?

  7. What role does this passage play for everything that follows in Scripture?

E — Entities / Speakers & Listeners

(Track voices, relationships, and order)

  1. Who is the sole speaker throughout this passage?

  2. Who, if anyone, is being addressed directly?

  3. Who is the implied audience of this account?

  4. What entities are introduced over the course of the narrative?

  5. In what order do these entities appear?

  6. How is humanity positioned in relation to the rest of creation?

  7. How is authority portrayed, and to whom is it given?

A — Action / Sequence

(Follow what happens, in order)

  1. What is the first action taken in the narrative?

  2. How does God bring about change in each stage of creation?

  3. What pattern repeats across the days?

  4. How are forming and filling distinguished across the sequence?

  5. What actions take place on Day Six?

  6. What actions take place on Day Seven?

  7. How does the narrative signal completion?

  8. What changes when God ceases from work?

T — Themes / Motifs (Literary Only)

(Observe patterns without interpreting them)

  1. What words or phrases repeat throughout the passage?

  2. How often are boundaries or separations mentioned?

  3. How is time structured in the narrative?

  4. What role does speech play in creating order?

  5. How are domains paired with their inhabitants?

  6. What does the repeated evaluation (“good”) contribute to the story?

  7. How is rest presented compared to work?

H — Holistic Arc / Narrative Connection

(Place this Breath within the Bible’s larger story)

  1. How does this passage function as the starting point of Scripture?

  2. What assumptions does this passage establish for later narratives?

  3. How does it frame humanity’s role before any conflict appears?

  4. What narrative threads introduced here continue throughout the Bible?

  5. How does the conclusion of this passage prepare for the shift in Genesis 2?

  6. What kind of transition occurs between creation and rest?

E — Examine / Notes for Memory

(Capture what should not be overlooked)

  1. What details are emphasized by repetition or placement?

  2. What is unique about the creation of humanity in this passage?

  3. What is unique about the seventh day?

  4. What is absent from this account that appears later in Scripture?

  5. What phrases or ideas recur throughout the Bible after this point?

  6. What should be remembered when reading later creation-related texts?

B — Background / Historical Context

B — Background / Historical Context

Where / When

  • Primeval creation narrative

  • Pre-history, pre-Israel, pre-covenant

  • Before temple, priesthood, kingship, or law

  • Concerns the origin of ordered reality itself

Cultural / Literary Setting

  • Ancient Near Eastern creation context

  • Distinct from surrounding myths:

    • Creation by speech, not violence

    • No cosmic conflict or rival deities

    • No divine genealogy or succession struggle

What just happened (within the Breath)

  • Light and time ordered (Day 1)

  • Sky and waters structured (Day 2)

  • Land and vegetation established (Day 3)

  • Time-governing lights appointed (Day 4)

  • Sea and sky domains filled and blessed (Day 5)

Why this Breath ends at Days 6–7

  • Creation reaches completion, not continuation

  • Humanity and rest are the intended culmination, not add-ons

R — Role / Literary Function

R — Role / Literary Function

Literary Type

  • Narrative (cosmic creation account)

Function

  • Establishes ordered reality as intentional and structured

  • Defines time, space, life, authority, and rest before any conflict exists

Macro or Micro

  • Macro Breath: foundational arc for all Scripture

  • Genesis 1 functions as a complete literary unit

Key Literary Features

  • Structured repetition (“And God said… and it was so… and God saw…”)

  • Symmetry between Days 1–3 (forming) and Days 4–6 (filling)

  • Narrative slows and intensifies at Day 6

  • Day 7 stands apart structurally (no “evening and morning”)

E — Entities / Speakers & Listeners

E — Entities / Speakers & Listeners

Speaker

  • God (Elohim) — sole speaking and acting agent

Listeners

  • No in-text human audience

  • Implied audience: later Israel receiving identity and worldview

Entities Introduced

  • Light and darkness

  • Sky, seas, land

  • Vegetation

  • Sun, moon, stars

  • Sea creatures and birds

  • Land animals

  • Humanity (male and female)

Relational Order

  • Humanity is within creation, not outside it

  • Authority is delegated, not inherent

  • Creation is ordered before humanity acts

A — Action / Sequence

A — Action / Sequence

Narrative Flow (Condensed)

  1. God creates and orders light and time

  2. God structures sky, sea, and land

  3. God establishes habitable space

  4. God appoints time-governing lights

  5. God fills sea and sky with life and blessing

  6. God creates land animals

  7. God deliberates and creates humanity (male and female)

  8. Humanity is blessed and commissioned

  9. Provision is given to all living creatures

  10. God evaluates creation as “very good”

  11. God ceases from work

  12. The seventh day is blessed and set apart

Key Movement

  • From forming → filling → completion → rest

  • From command to deliberate creation (Day 6)

  • From activity to cessation (Day 7)

T — Themes / Motifs (Literary Only)

  • T — Themes / Motifs (Literary Only)

    • Order emerging from formlessness

    • Separation and boundary-setting

    • Speech producing reality

    • Time as structured rhythm

    • Domains and inhabitants

    • Blessing preceding labor

    • Authority as stewardship

    • Completion and satisfaction

    • Rest as culmination, not absence

    (Observation only — no theological development)

H — Holistic Arc / Narrative Connection

Backward Links

  • Builds on Day 3 (land) and Day 5 (creatures)

  • Fulfills the “habitable space” prepared earlier

Forward Links

  • Transitions into Day Seven (rest)

  • Sets groundwork for Genesis 2 (focus shifts from cosmos to human space)

  • Establishes narrative tension later explored in Genesis 3 (authority, obedience, boundaries)

Macro Transition

  • Creation moves from structure → life → stewardship

E — Examine / Notes for Memory

E — Examine / Notes for Memory

Notable Observations

  • Humanity appears only after the world is fully prepared

  • Male and female are created together in this chapter

  • No conflict, resistance, or violence appears

  • Provision is universal and sufficient

  • “Very good” is spoken only after humanity exists

  • Day 7 has no ending marker, unlike Days 1–6

Cross-Breath Anchors

  • Creation by speech recurs throughout Scripture

  • Blessing language becomes foundational

  • Rest becomes a recurring narrative and structural motif

Memory Cue

Genesis 1 is not about how chaos is fought,
but how order is spoken, filled, and finally rested in.

B.R.E.A.T.H.E. 1 — ANSWERS

Genesis 1:1–31 & 2:1–3

B — Background / Historical Context

Where / When

  • Primeval creation narrative

  • Pre-history, pre-Israel, pre-covenant

  • Before temple, priesthood, kingship, or law

  • Addresses the origin of ordered reality itself

Cultural / Literary Setting

  • Ancient Near Eastern creation context

  • Intentionally distinct from surrounding myths:

    • Creation occurs by speech, not violence

    • No cosmic conflict, rival deities, or divine succession

    • No struggle for power or survival

What Has Occurred Within This Breath

  • Light and time are ordered (Day 1)

  • Sky and waters are structured (Day 2)

  • Land and vegetation are established (Day 3)

  • Time-governing lights are appointed (Day 4)

  • Sea and sky domains are filled and blessed (Day 5)

Why This Breath Ends at Days 6–7

  • Creation reaches completion, not continuation

  • Humanity and rest function as the intended climax, not appendages

  • Nothing new is added after rest; the work is finished

R — Role / Literary Function

Literary Type

  • Narrative (cosmic creation account)

Function

  • Establishes reality as intentional, ordered, and structured

  • Defines time, space, life, authority, provision, and rest

  • Does so before the introduction of conflict or rupture

Scope

  • Macro Breath — foundational arc for all Scripture

  • Genesis 1 operates as a complete, self-contained literary unit

Key Literary Features

  • Repetitive structure (“And God said… and it was so… and God saw…”)

  • Symmetry:

    • Days 1–3 = forming

    • Days 4–6 = filling

  • Narrative slows and intensifies at Day 6

  • Day 7 stands apart structurally (no “evening and morning”

E — Entities / Speakers & Listeners

Speaker

  • God (Elohim) — sole speaking and acting agent

Listeners

  • No in-text human audience

  • Implied audience: later Israel receiving worldview and identity

Entities Introduced

  • Light and darkness

  • Sky, seas, and land

  • Vegetation

  • Sun, moon, and stars

  • Sea creatures and birds

  • Land animals

  • Humanity (male and female)

Relational Order

  • Humanity exists within creation, not outside it

  • Authority is delegated, not inherent

  • Creation is fully ordered before humanity acts

A — Action / Sequence

Narrative Flow

  1. Light and time are ordered

  2. Sky, sea, and land are structured

  3. Habitable space is established

  4. Lights are appointed to govern time

  5. Sea and sky are filled with life and blessing

  6. Land animals are created

  7. Humanity is deliberated and created (male and female)

  8. Humanity is blessed and commissioned

  9. Provision is given to all living creatures

  10. Creation is evaluated as “very good”

  11. God ceases from work

  12. The seventh day is blessed and set apart

Key Movement

  • From forming → filling → completion → rest

  • From command to deliberate creation (Day 6)

  • From activity to cessation (Day 7)

T — Themes / Motifs (Literary Only)

  • Order emerging from formlessness

  • Separation and boundary-setting

  • Speech producing reality

  • Time as structured rhythm

  • Domains paired with inhabitants

  • Blessing preceding labor

  • Authority framed as stewardship

  • Completion and satisfaction

  • Rest as culmination, not absence

(Pure observation — no theological extrapolation)

H — Holistic Arc / Narrative Connection

Backward

  • This is the starting point of the biblical narrative

  • No prior story is assumed

Forward

  • Establishes:

    • Humanity’s place within creation

    • Rest as sacred time

    • Authority bound by structure

  • Provides the framework Genesis 2–3 will zoom into, not revise or contradict

Macro Transition

  • Creation moves from
    non-existence → order → life → rest

E — Examine / Notes for Memory

Notable Observations

  • Humanity appears only after the world is fully prepared

  • Male and female are created together

  • No conflict, resistance, or violence is present

  • Provision is universal and sufficient

  • “Very good” appears only after humanity exists

  • Day 7 has no closing formula, unlike Days 1–6

Cross-Breath Anchors

  • Creation by speech recurs throughout Scripture

  • Blessing language becomes foundational

  • Rest becomes a recurring narrative and structural motif

Memory Cue

Genesis 1 is not about chaos being defeated,
but about order being spoken, filled, and finally rested in.

So lets start with a very basic question What is the point of Genesis? Is it a Science Lesson?

Genesis 1 is not teaching chem or physics. It answers

  • Who orders reality?

  • Why does the world make sense? 

  • Why does life reproduce?

  • Why does time have rhythm? 

  • Why do humans have responsibility? 

It's cosmic wisdom literature structured as ordered creation. What we see is:

  • Creation as ordered intelligibility

  • Reality as governable, knowable, bless-able

  • Humanity placed inside a system that already WORKS

Genesis 1 says that the universe is not random, not hostile and not divine. It says it is structured for Life UNDER God. 

  In a world buzzing with noise, confusion, and constant motion, we’re reminded that God doesn’t wait for the chaos to fade before He acts. He speaks right into it, bringing order where there’s disorder and light where darkness has settled. For those who’ve walked through trauma, feel scattered, or sense life has lost its shape, this truth remains: God works slowly, steadily, and with intention. You weren’t an accident of a night of passion misplaced. You were created on purpose and when life feels shapeless again, He still speaks light.

Light didn’t fight for its place; it appeared simply because God spoke. Darkness had no choice but to yield. Each sunrise is a quiet reminder that His voice still cuts through places where shadows linger—within the world, and within you. Even now. Even here.

    As the first breath fades, creation stands whole, balanced, and beautiful. Light settles into its place, and darkness keeps to its edge. Seeds lie in quiet anticipation while the waters find their calm. Dust holds the very breath of God and the world, well it stands poised, ready for the unfolding of what comes next.

Days 1-7 Ordering the Domains

These days create spaces. 

Day 1- Light/Darkness
  • Separation: light from darkness
  • Result; time (evening and morning)
  • This is not sun-based time yet

 

It's ordered rhythm


Think binary distinction- yes/no, on/off, day/night
Not to be confused with creation of the sun, moon or stars. 

 

 

Day 2- Sky/Water
  • Separation of waters above and below
  • Creation of space
  • The dome (raqia) is a boundary, not an object

 

THIS ESTABLISHES: 

  • Vertical order
  • Habitable space

Day 3- Land/Sea+Vegetation

This day has two acts:

  • Waters gathered
    ➡️dry land appears
  • Vegetation introduced ➡️reproduction begins

Here we see:

  • Grouping
  • boundaries
  • Self-propagation

Day 4 — Light Bearers (Sun / Moon / Stars)

Focus:
Appointment of light bearers

Separation:
Day from night (governance, not creation of light itself)

Result:
Measured time — seasons, days, years

Clarification:
This is not the creation of light, but the assignment of rulers over the rhythm already established on Day 1

Narrative Function:
Light becomes regulated and observable

Think:
Clock, calendar, signs, appointed times
Function, not origin

Day 5 — Sky & Sea Creatures

Focus:
Filling the domains created earlier

Separation:
Sea creatures remain within waters
Birds remain within the heavens

Result:
Movement and abundance within ordered space

New Element Introduced:
Blessing (“Be fruitful and multiply”)

Narrative Function:
Life begins to flourish, not merely exist

Think:
Motion, multiplication, blessing
Life filling prepared space

Day 6 — Land Creatures & Humanity

Focus:
Culmination of creation

Separation:
Animals according to kinds
Humanity distinguished within creation

Result:
Stewardship and relational authority

Key Shift:
From “Let there be…” → “Let Us make…”

Narrative Function:
Creation receives caretakers, not conquerors

Think:
Image-bearing, responsibility, provision
Order + relationship

Day 7 — Rest / Sanctified Time

Focus:
Completion, not creation

Separation:
The seventh day set apart from all others

Result:
Sacred time

Unique Feature:
No “evening and morning” recorded

Narrative Function:
The rhythm established on Day 1 reaches its goal

Think:
Pause, dwelling, holiness
Time itself becomes sacred space

What the Sabbath is

(before law, before Israel)

Sabbath is not first a command. It is first a pattern.

“By the seventh day God completed His work… and He rested (shavat)… and He blessed the seventh day and made it holy.”
— Genesis 2:2–3

Shabbat (שָׁבַת)
→ to cease, stop, desist
Not “relax from exhaustion,” but intentional stopping

Qadash (קָדַשׁ)
→ to set apart for a distinct purpose

God did not rest because He was tired. He rested because creation was complete, and stopping declared that completion.

How Gentile believers should observe Sabbath

This is where balance matters.

Sabbath is:

  • Not legalistic

  • Not optional

  • Not uniform in expression

Core principles:

  • Intentional cessation

  • Trust based stopping

  • God centered reorientation

  • Restoration of soul and body

Whether that is:

  • Saturday

  • Sunday

  • or a consciously set apart rhythm

The heart posture matters more than the clock. but the clock still matters.

Jesus did not abolish Sabbath — He redefined it

Jesus’ words: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” — Mark 2:27

That is not abolition. That is restoration of intent. He confronts:

  • Pharisaic control

  • Performance based righteousness

Jesus repeatedly heals on Sabbath to show:

Sabbath restores life — it does not suspend mercy.

“Lord of the Sabbath” matters

“The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

If Sabbath were ending, that title would be meaningless. Instead, Jesus claims authority over it, not dismissal of it.

 

“But Paul says…”  clarification without distortion

People often cite:

  • Colossians 2:16

  • Romans 14

These passages address:

  • Judgment

  • Legal enforcement

  • Festival hierarchy

They do not say Sabbath is abolished. 
Paul argues:

  • Sabbath is not a salvation requirement

  • Sabbath is not a tool for spiritual ranking

 Sabbath is not how you earn righteousness It is how you live from righteousness

Personal Note: A Word About Sabbath Rest

As Christians in today’s corporate church culture...especially here in the States...we often treat “church” as something reserved for Sunday. But a simple look at the languages of Scripture shows clearly which day God set apart as the Sabbath.

And here is the part that matters... God established the Sabbath before there were nations, races, denominations, or religious divisions. It was created for all humanity, not a single group.

So what is the true heart of Sabbath honor in light of Christ?  To put it simple.

The Sabbath is an invitation to rest in the peace, love, joy, and presence of God. It calls us to step away from tasks, lists, schedules, chores, and especially the screens and devices that drain our attention and rob us of connection—connection with God, with our families, and with the strength we need for the week ahead.

I want to challenge you this week...Try adding this piece of God’s love back into your routine and see what happens. It does not require changing denominations or joining another church. Honestly, if you have children, you already know that Sunday mornings can be some of the most exhausting hours of the week. That does not feel like Sabbath rest.

But from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, you have the freedom to create a holy space in your home. Evening and morning make the first day...that is the biblical rhythm.
During that time, you can choose to honor God in ways that bless your family:

  • studying the Bible with your kids

  • visiting elders or neighbors

  • putting on worship music and dancing together

  • sharing stories of God’s goodness

  • cooking meals that nourish your bodies

  • letting your home breathe in the presence of God

You can make it joyful.
You can make it simple.
You can make it sacred.

As we continue through Scripture this year, you will begin to see the personality of God more clearly. His humor. His tenderness. His wisdom. We often imagine Him as rigid or demanding, but so much of that is human tradition wrapped in the language of reverence. The Sabbath reveals something else entirely: a God who delights in giving rest to His people.

 

I hope you enjoy the music below. I am struggling with finding a way to share it all easily. I am open to suggestions. 

I hope you enjoyed those songs. I know I did when I was making them. In the next section we are going to pull out some other aspects that is often overlooked in our reading patterns. If we plan to break the chains we have to start over and become like children ready, eager, hungry for God. 

 Darkness is always mentioned first

This is not accidental. In Hebrew narrative, what is named first often frames the reality, not what is valued more.

Genesis 1:2 sets the tone

“Darkness was over the face of the deep…”

Darkness is not called evil.
It simply is — unordered, unfilled, unnamed.

Throughout the days:

  • Evening (erev) → morning (boqer)

  • Darkness → light

  • Potential → fulfillment

Creation does not start with perfection.
It starts with formlessness that is about to be ordered.

 

God works from darkness, not around it.

 Darkness is a womb, not a threat

In Hebrew thought, darkness often functions as:

  • Hiddenness

  • Waiting

  • Gestation

Think:

  • A seed in the soil

  • A child in the womb

  • Israel in Egypt

  • Jesus in the tomb

None of those are endpoints. They are preparatory spaces.

So, when Genesis says, “evening and morning,” it’s saying:

Life moves from hiddenness into revelation.

Light follows — it is given, not seized

Light is never produced by creation itself.
It is spoken into being. That matters.

Light is:

  • Gift

  • Direction

  • Meaning

Which means:

Illumination is God’s initiative, not humanity’s achievement.

Now — blessing

This connects directly to barak.

Hebrew barak ≠ approval

In English, we hear “bless” and think:

  • “God likes this”

  • “God endorses this morally”

That is not how Genesis uses it.

Barak means:

  • To endow with capacity

  • To empower toward a function

  • To enable increase

God blesses before moral testing even exists.

 Proof from the text

God blesses:

  • Sea creatures (Day 5)

  • Humans (Day 6)

Animals are not moral agents.
They cannot be “approved” or “disapproved.”

So, blessing cannot mean:

  • Moral endorsement

  • Spiritual favor based on behavior

It means:

God equips life to do what it was designed to do.

 Blessing without approval elsewhere in Scripture

This pattern continues.

  • God blesses Israel → Israel still rebels

  • God blesses kings → some become corrupt

  • God blesses land → people misuse it

Blessing = capacity
Approval = alignment

They are related, but not identical.

Darkness first, blessing later

Notice the order:

  1. Darkness exists

  2. Order is spoken

  3. Life emerges

  4. Blessing empowers expansion

Blessing is not given to perfection.
Blessing is given to potential.

This is huge.

God does not wait for flawlessness to empower life.

This is powerful. It is life changing. Why?

Because when we first come to Jesus... truly come... our experience often mirrors the opening moments of creation.

Genesis does not begin with light. It begins with darkness.

When we come to Christ, we do not arrive polished, ordered, or complete. Our lives are often unformed, undefined, and chaotic. That is not failure. That is Genesis.

Western thinking tells us darkness means the end:
“I’m finished.”
“I can’t come back from this.”
“I can’t change.”
“I can’t live this Scripture shaped life.”
“I can’t be holy.”

So, we soften the call with excuses:
“After all, I have grace.”
“God will take it away when He’s ready.”

I’ve used those excuses more times than I care to admit.

But Scripture tells a very different story.

Darkness is not the conclusion.
Darkness is the starting point.

It is the place where God does His greatest work. And this... not comfort, not compromise... is true freedom.

When the scales fall from our eyes, we begin to see how many of our assumptions were shaped not by Scripture, but by the enemy and by culture.

Light Is Given, Not Earned

When we give our lives to God, we often feel like we are still standing in darkness. Our minds tell us nothing will really change.

Then we hear promises:
“Life will be better now.”

And it will be — but not in the way we expect.

The moment you leave the enemy’s side; you become a threat. And a threat does not always face chaos immediately. Sometimes distraction is far more effective.

The whisper comes quietly:
“You don’t really have the ability to change.”
“You’re still early in your walk.”
“It will happen eventually.”
“You’ll drop it later.”

The church often labels this grace.

But this is not the grace the early church preached.

Grace in Scripture is not permission to remain bound. Grace is power to move forward.

My Confession and the Lie I Believed

It has been several years, and I am ashamed to admit that I still struggle with vaping.

Not because others don’t know. Not because I hid it from God’s people. But because I finally recognized the lie.

I believed God would take it away when He was ready, instead of recognizing that He had already given me the ability to walk free.

Genesis shows us that darkness is not the end.... it is the beginning.
But instead of stepping into blessing, we often step into chains dressed up as grace.

Manmade grace excuses bondage.
God’s grace breaks it.

Blessing Does Not Mean Approval

When we see the word blessing in Scripture, we often think gift or reward. But in Hebrew, barak does not mean approval.

It means:

  • to endow with capacity

  • to empower for function

  • to enable growth and increase

In other words, when we come to God, He gives us the full ability to serve Him... not later, not eventually, but now.

Society says:
“It’s okay, you’ll get there someday.”

God says:
“I already made you able.”

This requires a shift in our hearts — from
“God will take this away when He’s ready”
to
“I am ready to surrender this fully to God.”

That distinction matters.

Blessing vs Approval

We search for purpose. We search for peace. But Scripture tells us something radical... 


The moment God steps into our lives, the trajectory changes.

God does not wait for us to know everything.
He blesses before moral testing even begins. 
Blessing is capacity.
Approval is alignment.

 

 

Blessings come regardless of where we stand. Approval comes when we honor God, obey His Word, and tear down the compromises the world taught us to tolerate. That is why Scripture says:


“Every good gift comes from God.”

Satan also offers gifts... but his are fleshly:
Money.
Power.
Titles.
Possessions.
Idols.

God’s gifts look different:
Strength.
Endurance.
Peace.
Growth that cannot be explained away.

So, the prayer shifts from...

“Bless me”
to
“Approve me.”

The Final Truth

This is fire for anyone who is struggling.

Our minds say:
“I’m bad.”
“I don’t deserve this.”
“I’ve failed too much.”

God says:
“I empower you anyway.”

God’s blessings move us toward Him.
Satan’s gifts keep us comfortable, distracted, and focused on self.

God is not waiting for us to get it together.
He is waiting for our yes.

Darkness is not the end of your story.
It is the place where God begins to speak.

Abba,

Thank You for every heart You have brought into this journey.
Thank You for letting us breathe the same breath that hovered over the waters in the beginning.

Open our minds as we step into Your Word.
Soften the places in us that have hardened from grief, fear, or exhaustion.
Make us diligent seekers, not of doctrines or opinions, but of You.

For anyone standing in a season that feels empty, formless, or overshadowed by deep waters, wrap them in the hope of Your Son.
Remind them that even though life on this earth carries struggles, a perfect day is coming, one that will never fade, one that will outshine every sorrow, one that lasts for eternity.

Hover over us again as You did in the beginning.
Prepare our hearts for light.
Amen.

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