Creation Revisited Chapter 2

Heaven and Earth

After Elohim announces His intent to create a heaven and an earth, in Genesis 1:1, the earth’s extant condition is described.   Since the heaven will only be “made” [literal rendering] on the second day and the physical earth’s creation will occur on the third, at this point, both of them (heaven and earth) have to be viewed from the unseen spiritual perspective.  Second Corinthians 4:18 sheds light on the fact that the unseen realm is more real than the physical one.  Romans 4:17 announces that YHVH calls “the things that be not as though they were."  The earth’s stated condition, as described in Genesis 1:2, is “tohu” and “bohu,” that is, not having, as of yet, physical substance.  That, however, does not preclude a pre-existing form or condition in the unseen or ethereal sphere.

With this in mind, let us break down the above-cited Hebrew terms, tohu and bohu (in English “void and without form”).  “And the Earth was formless “תוהו" tohu and void” “בוהו” bohu” (roots of wonderment and perplexity, chaos, unreality, and emptiness). 

 Admittedly, this is a strange choice of terms to use for what will ultimately end up as a beautiful ‘pearl’ floating around a sun, in a universe of celestial bodies.  Taking a closer look at this created ‘gem,’ destined to teem with abundant life with highly organized forces that will hold it in place, with anatomical particles that will be moving around in magnetic fields in perfect unison (in order not to fly apart into oblivion), causes us to exclaim:  How has it evolved from formlessness, emptiness, and a void spiritual condition into such a complex and magnificent entity!?

 As we examine the entire second verse of Genesis 1, another term shows up that points to the unseen spiritual realms and holds the secret, not only to  earth’s pre-existing form, but also to what it will eventually become.  Thus, continuing in verse 2, we read: “and the Spirit of Elohim was moving over the surface of the waters.”  Here we are introduced to the “waters.”  What kind of water is this referring to? Since we are looking at a strictly spiritual reality at this season of pre-creation, the water would have to be Spiritual, Eternal Waters. Waters that have a propensity to become “Living” Waters.  If the unformed earth consists of water, or is part of it, the spiritual water would also be in a state of tohu va’vohu.  It is clear, therefore, that the physical waters (H2O) will not appear as seas until the third day, when these Spiritual Waters will be turned into both earth and seas (see verses 9-10).  Confirming this, the apostle Peter states: “…by the word of Elohim the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water” (2 Peter 3:5).

 Water in Hebrew is mayim. If we place the letter “sheen” in front of it, shama’yim - “heaven”- is formed. The literal meaning of shama’yim is: “over there, there is water.”  Throughout Scripture, “water” is used metaphorically to convey certain spiritual realities. Here are several examples (which shed some light on the future splendor of the physical earth):

 Imagine, waters of salvation, which are to be drawn joyfully from the wells that contain them (ref. Isaiah 12:3)!  Having access to these waters, there is a promise that one would become like “a watered garden, and like a spring whose water never fail” (ref. Isaiah 58:11b). On the other hand, YHVH chides the people of Israel: “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of Living Waters” (Jeremiah 17:13).  “… a well of Water springing up to eternal life” is what Yeshua promises His followers, in John 4:14.  Moreover, it says of Him that as the Lamb, He will shepherd His flock and, “will lead them to springs of Living Water,” (ref. Revelation 7:17).  Is this a reference to the “waters” mentioned in Genesis 1:2 (once Light permeates and transforms them)? 

Back to our text. In verse 2, the Spirit of Elohim is seen hovering over the waters that YHVH will be addressing in verse 3 with: “Let there be Light.” But before we go there, there is still a question that has to be answered:  How did those spiritual waters end up in this condition?  Going back to verse 2, we read: “and darkness was on the face of the deep/abyss.”  Did this darkness have anything to do with the condition of the waters?