Genesis Day 3, Opening Land

Jo Helen Cox

Earth develops dry land in the creation’s third season. The structured circular poetry conveys an outline of this time viewed by science. By removing the overburden of unbiblical “perfectionism,” the ancient text matches the evidence beautifully.

Genesis 1

9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good (NIV).

No matter what the poet’s concept, inspiration lets this passage match science. Geologically, dry land did grow out of the ocean, if we give it enough time and call that land an island or a continent. Plate tectonics recycles the surface. Volcanism releases the pressure at the edges of the oceanic plates. The mounds grew taller until they towered above the ocean surface.

But that is not all.

As the plates crash into each other, they build volcanic mountain ranges. Silt forms as air and water eroded the rock, widening the base of the mountains. Chemistry grows new kinds of stone from the old as it mixes minerals with water and gas. These stones, which are lighter than oceanic bedrock, became Earth’s continents. In plate collisions, they always ride above the ocean plates.

11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day (NIV).

Grains and fruit trees were some of the first domesticated plants. They were essential for the survival of communities larger than a couple of families. However, this passage does not actually mention grass or deciduous fruit tree. The Hebrew words are generalizations; one describes soft young plants, and the other designates mature plants producing seeds.

Generalization lets the poem match the science of evolution theory.

Paleontologists have determined that multicellular plants colonize dry land first. Once established, evolution diversified their “kinds,” and they filled the Earth quickly. Long after that happened, grains and fruit trees developed. Our species grew up with these later forms, and translators used them as examples, but the text writer did not.

Generalization gives the Genesis poem something that no other creation story has ever done. It accepts all plants, each one that ever existed and will exist. None are left out.

Like days 1 and 2, this day follows the poetic structure. The season of building the Earth’s dry land opens spaces that the animals of day 6 fill. The details produce a poetic circle of relationships.

To be continued:

Read More In This Series.

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