When we first read verses 9 and 10 of this passage it sounds as though it is contradicting verse 1, which says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. If God created the heavens and the earth back in verse 1, how can the earth be created again in verses 9 and 10 by dividing of the waters? Verse 1 of Genesis is the introductory heading to what has become known as the creation narrative by theologians and the early church Fathers. Many theologians throughout Christian history have believed that the Genesis creation narrative was written by Moses as a direct challenge to other widely-held religious beliefs of groups in the area at the time. It was a challenge to the divinity, power, and ability of their gods. Some of the religious groups in the area believed in multiple gods; they had a god for everything. Others believed that different aspects of creation came about through battles and the work of said gods. For the Israelites, their creation story states that they only have one God (Yahweh). The God of the Israelites was so powerful and so divine that He created the entire heavens and all the earth. There was no battle, there was no physical labour on their God’s behalf. All He needed to do was speak and all creation came to be. Chapter 1 of Genesis outlines not only how God created the heavens and the earth, but more importantly, especially for this study, why God created the heavens and the earth. The direct translation of the word “Earth” in the Hebrew means “Dry Land”. So, if we take the Genesis creation narrative literally, which has been the Church’s historical stance, verses 9 and 10 would lead us to believe that, prior to the waters being gathered and exposing the land masses that would come to be known as earth, there was nothing except water. There was no “Earth” or “Dry land”. This new 32
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