While preparing for the Bible Class held last night, I was astonished with how much work I needed to put in for the 90 mins session. Chapter 1 of Genesis presents many interpretive possibilities. Is the day literal 24 hours day or is it symbolic such as one day is like a 1,000 years which could be million of years. There are many clues in the text. The first is that it is not called “first day” but day one instead. In Hebrew it is echad (one) and not rishon (first).
I prefer the symbolic view, not that God could not create the world in literal six days but that if we look closely, day one is the creation of light, then day four is the creation of the Sun and the moon. If the Sun is to give light, it should be the Sun first in order to give light. That’s another clue that the 6 days of creation are not set in chronological order, but in a symmetrical or chiastic pattern where the fourth is the central item. As the Sun gives light and warm and life on earth depends on the Sun, it is clear that the creation of the heavens and the earth centers on the Sun. It is also determinative of times and seasons which orders the agricultural cycles of sowing and harvesting of the land. Altogether 22 log-ins but quite a number of leaders mentioned that their whole families followed the class. I suppose if there is unifi or internet it is cheaper to share one account. It meant that 30plus people participated in the Bible Study with two outsiders who asked for the link which I duly sent to them before the Class. Personally I was overjoyed how it went with my delivery and speaking in Malay which is not really my first language but it is second nature now to teach and preach in Malay, all by God’s grace.
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