“God also said; Let the waters that are under the heaven, be gathered together into one place: and let the dry land appear. And it was so done.”
“Dixit vero Deus : Congregentur aquæ, quæ sub cælo sunt, in locum unum : et appareat arida. Et factum est ita.”
“And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.”
“And God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one place, so that the dry land may appear.” And it was so.”
“God said, “Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear”; and it was so.”
“And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.”
Ps. 33:7 ; Ps. 89:11 ; Ps. 136:6 ; Job 38:4
Ps. 33:7 ; Ps. 89:11 ; Ps. 136:6 ; Job 38:4
(3.) The manner in which this work was effected: God created it, that is, made it out of nothing. There was not any pre-existent matter out of which the world was produced. The fish and fowl were indeed produced out of the waters and the beasts and man out of the earth; but that earth and those waters were made out of nothing. By the ordinary power of nature, it is impossible that any thing should be made out of nothing; no artificer can work, unless he has something to work on. But by the almighty power of God it is not only possible that something should be made of nothing (the God of nature is not subject to the laws of nature), but in the creation it is impossible it should be otherwise, for nothing is more injurious to the honour of the Eternal Mind than the supposition of eternal matter. Thus the excellency of the power is of God and all the glory is to him.
We have here the second part of the sixth day's work, the creation of man, which we are, in a special manner, concerned to take notice of, that we may know ourselves. Observe,
both the great abyss, or deep of water which is shut up in the bowels of the earth, Gen 7:11 Psa 24:2 Psa 33:7 Psa 136:6; as also the sea and rivers, all which are here said to be gathered together into one place, because of their communication and mixture one with another. for hitherto it was covered with water, Gen 1:2 2Pe 3:5.
Verses 6-13 The earth was emptiness, but by a word spoken, it became full of God's riches, and his they are still. Though the use of them is allowed to man, they are from God, and to his service and honour they must be used. The earth, at his command, brings forth grass, herbs, and fruits. God must have the glory of all the benefit we receive from the produce of the earth. If we have, through grace, an interest in Him who is the Fountain, we may rejoice in him when the streams of temporal mercies are dried up.