[genesis 1-2:3]
In the beginning, before time itself ticked its first beat, there was nothing—no sky, no land, no sea. Only a vast, formless emptiness. Darkness stretched endlessly, and silence reigned. But in that silence, the Spirit of God moved like a breath over the waters of the void.
Then God spoke: "Let there be light."
And light broke forth, piercing the darkness. It was the first morning, the first glow of existence. God saw the light, and it was good. He separated the light from the darkness, naming one Day and the other Night. That was the first day.
On the second day, God spoke again. He stretched out the sky like a vast dome, dividing the waters below from the waters above. The heavens were born, a great expanse arching over the world.
On the third day, the waters beneath the sky were gathered, and dry ground rose up from their midst. God called the dry land Earth, and the gathered waters Seas. Then life stirred on the land for the first time: grass, seed-bearing plants, and trees heavy with fruit. Each grew according to its own kind, filling the earth with green.
On the fourth day, God set great lights in the heavens to govern the rhythm of time. The greater light—the sun—ruled the day, while the lesser light—the moon—watched over the night. Scattered stars filled the dark canopy, twinkling as signs for seasons, days, and years.
On the fifth day, the waters came alive. God filled the seas with creatures great and small—schools of fish darting like silver arrows, mighty beasts gliding through the depths. Birds took to the skies, their wings beating the air with color and song. And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters and the sky."
On the sixth day, life spread across the land. Wild animals roamed the fields, livestock walked upon the earth, and every creeping thing found its place. And then God said something different, something profound:
"Let us make humanity in our image, after our likeness. They will rule over the fish, the birds, the livestock, and all the earth."
So God formed mankind in His image. Male and female He created them. He blessed them and gave them a charge: "Be fruitful. Multiply. Fill the earth and care for it. Rule over the living things." To humanity He gave every seed-bearing plant and fruit-bearing tree for food. To the animals and birds, He gave the green plants.
At the end of the sixth day, God looked over everything He had made—the heavens, the earth, the waters, the life that moved and breathed, and humanity standing in His likeness. And He saw that it was very good.
On the seventh day, creation was complete. God rested, not from weariness, but to sanctify the rhythm of work and rest. He blessed the seventh day and made it holy—a day of completion and peace.