Yes, this all happened on the “first day” of creation. God showing and teaching us the light of the gospel that shined out of the darkness and into our hearts is truly of “first importance.” The very first chapter of the Bible shows the work of the cross where God makes us “new creations” purchased with the blood of Christ. His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. The cross makes the uninhabitable habitable (the Holy Spirit comes to live in us), separates light from darkness, raises us out of the deepest darkness, forms us into the image of Christ and fills our empty lives completely to the brim!
“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)
"And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.” Genesis 1:9-13 (ESV)
We first noticed that in the beginning, the earth was without form, void and in darkness, which characterizes our lives living in the darkness, or as the Bible describes us as being “dead in sin and trespass” (Ephesians 2:1) prior to knowing Christ and experiencing the power of the cross.
Now we’re going to look further into God’s incredible Word to see how creation continues to reveal the gospel and the growth of the believer’s life through Jesus’ death and resurrection.
“And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so.” Genesis 1:9 (ESV)
Question 7: What significant event took place here in Genesis 1:9?
Friend, here we have the rising of the dry ground coming up from the deep dark place where it was once void and without form. This is very much like our lives when the light shone into the darkness of our lives with the “good news” of Jesus’ death and resurrection. The Light shone into our dark hearts and lifted us up and out of the darkness. It didn’t just lift us up out of the darkness but set our feet firmly on solid “dry ground” just like it did with the Israelites when they “saw” the “salvation of the Lord” and walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, out of the land of slavery, and where their enemy was defeated (Exodus 14:16-29).
“God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so.” Genesis 1:10-11 (ESV)
Question 8: What happened to the dry ground once it was raised from the deep?