I’ll answer your question by mentioning the verses first and how I understand it and also based on my readings of discussions and writings both philosophical and scientific point of view. Yes! We believers do USE critical thinking, logic, intellect also! Having said that, I could also be mistaken…this only my honest and humble opinion!
“ In the beginning God created the Heavens and Earth, and the earth was without form, void and darkness was on the face of the deep, God’s spirit was moving upon the face of the waters. And God said: Let there be light and there was light”.
First let’s put things in context (that’s right we do this too). The bible was written for people on earth and how the creation relates to them. Now if we were placed on say Mars, Jupiter or planet Vulcan (star trek). Then the first passage would have read “God created the Heavens and ________( insert name of planet here). Next is to think of creation as a process, a continue process. It is not instantaneous, well except for the light!
Next was earth created first and older than the sun? of course not! are you insane? Look at the passage and understand “earth was WITHOUT form” in other words at the start of creation it was not yet! It was in it’s formation or initial stage and not at it’s present state as we see it today! This would be supported in the next verses the gradual formation of the earth. Same goes for the Sun and entire universe. Please remember that Earth was not created in a vacuum (well it is in the vacuum of space) or laboratory separate from it’s environment and then later on placed in it’s supposed location. When God created the Universe He placed the laws of gravity, math, chemistry etc that will govern the formation of the universe. It follows therefore, that ALL celestial bodies would follow these laws in their formation as planets, stars, galaxies…..including EARTH!
Next what was the Light in Genesis 1:3, your guess is as good as mine! However let me take a jab at it. At that point in creation everything was dark, chaotic and formless…then He willed Light to exist! Wow what a God! What a concept!
This is the only thing that was made instantaneously in Day 1! What was the source of this light……most probably from God Himself (we have to ask Him that when we see Him)! Surely this could not have been the sun because it has yet to form at the start of creation. Suffice it to say this light just like” turning on” a light bulb or detonating an atomic bomb… yup! just like that….And there was light! Also, during this (day) period the universe begun to expand rapidly and stars, solar systems, galaxies were also being formed in other parts of the expanding universe! Why was it not mentioned? What for? It’s for us to discover, and discover we did. That there are billions upon millions of stars (both being born and dying), systems, galaxies! Awesome right!?
Next the formation of the Earth: The earth I could definitely say formed gradually as it started out as formless, dark and water was part of that mix. Some say the “water” could be hydrogen as there was no word for it in ancient times. Hydrogen is the most abundant and basic element in the universe from which all other elements came in existence. From that early form, it gradually formed land and separated the waters (at present we know this process of building land as tectonic plate movement).
Next how come the bible says that the sun and moon was created only in Day 4! Again not necessarily, remember the context and the developing earth, solar system, milky way, universe! Everything was developing at it’s own pace. I read an explanation for this, the earth at this point in it’s formation was still surrounded by a think atmosphere that was beginning to gradually thinned out. This could be due to the plants that were oxygenating the atmosphere which made it more translucent. Thus in this context the sun, moon and stars was only now visible from the earth (remember that the point of view is earth).
Next life forms appeared on earth and became more complex in the following periods. Before that were seed bearing plants and trees. Then came the water animals and reptiles. Next birds appeared during the fifth creation period. The mammals multiplied in the 6th period of creation, this culminated in the creation (in His own image and likeness) of Humans!
That to me is how I understand the biblical account of creation as it relates to our present day knowledge of the universe and the laws that govern them. And I must say that science is just gradually confirming what was written long ago….again just my opinion!
