Topical Bible: Water: God Originally: Collected Into One Place

◄ Water: God Originally: Collected Into One Place ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

In the biblical narrative, water holds significant theological and symbolic importance, beginning with the account of creation. According to the Book of Genesis, God is the ultimate source and organizer of water, demonstrating His sovereign power over the natural world.

Creation and Separation of Waters

The creation account in Genesis describes the initial state of the earth as being formless and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2). This depiction emphasizes the primordial presence of water as a fundamental element of the earth's original condition.

On the second day of creation, God commands the separation of waters, establishing an expanse to divide the waters above from the waters below. "And God said, 'Let there be an expanse between the waters, to separate the waters from the waters.' So God made the expanse and separated the waters beneath it from the waters above. And it was so" (Genesis 1:6-7). This act of separation not only organizes the physical world but also sets the stage for the creation of the sky and the atmosphere.

Gathering of Waters and Formation of Dry Land

The third day of creation marks a pivotal moment when God gathers the waters into one place, allowing dry land to appear. "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 called the dry land 'earth,' and the gathering of waters He called 'seas.' And God saw that it was good" (Genesis 1:9-10). This gathering of waters into seas signifies the establishment of order and the preparation of the earth for habitation by living creatures.

Symbolism and Theological Implications

The act of gathering waters into one place is rich with symbolism and theological implications. It reflects God's authority over chaos and His ability to bring order and purpose to creation. The separation and gathering of waters also prefigure the themes of judgment and salvation found throughout Scripture, such as in the accounts of Noah's flood and the parting of the Red Sea.

In the broader biblical context, water often symbolizes life, purification, and divine provision. It is a recurring motif in the narratives of the Israelites, from the provision of water in the desert to the ritual cleansings prescribed in the Law. Water's role in baptism further underscores its significance as a symbol of spiritual renewal and the cleansing power of God's grace.

Conclusion

The gathering of waters into one place during the creation account is a foundational event that underscores God's creative power and His ability to bring order out of chaos. It sets the stage for the flourishing of life on earth and serves as a profound symbol of God's ongoing work in the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 1:9
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Upon the Gathering Together of the Waters.
... which have since received the sea were originally full ... But, all of a sudden, God
created this vast space, and ... does not mean any chance massing of water, but the ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/homily iv upon the gathering.htm

Philo of Alexandria, the Rabbis, and the Gospels - the Final ...
... created the three elements of water, air or ... the Talmud expressly teaches, [234] that
God originally created man ... in the widest sense, or God's manifestation in ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter iv philo of alexandria.htm

Oration on the Holy Lights.
... Jews, for it was not only in water, but also ... Had human nature gone through its
originally intended educational ... but might have known it, as God does, without ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xxxix oration on the.htm

The Royal Marriage Feast.
... the servants to the class who were originally invited, may ... of a valve that shuts
the water out of ... the man's goodness that recommends him to God's favour: the ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xii the royal marriage feast.htm

Coornhert and the Collegiants --A Movement for Spiritual Religion ...
... like a flood Into my soul, and water my dry ... of The Light on the Candlestick"written
originally in Dutch ... how he is to carry himself toward God, his Neighbour ...
/.../chapter vii coornhert and the.htm

The Council of Jerusalem.
... abstinence from blood, or that it was originally enjoined in ... blood is not more sacred
than water, and may ... say, every creature, "except such as God has reserved ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xvi the council of.htm

The Blossoming Desert.
... the Lord Jesus Christ; for we at Peh-chui-ia originally dwelt in ... "By the will of
God, the English ... Our place is distant from Amoy by water, several tens of 'lis ...
/.../fagg/forty years in south china/vii the blossoming desert.htm

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ...
... language about the twelve hours on which God's sun shone to ... period, also with hyssop,
rose-oil, and rose-water. ... in the worn cloths in which originally a Roll ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the death and.htm

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.
... and pitying, shall receive you in faith and water.". ... of heaven touching the Lamb
of God and the ... work has been sadly mutilated, and originally contained much ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the testaments of the twelve.htm

From the Beginning of 1785 to the End of 1786
... The water part forms one of the most beautiful ... particular place.2. The classes, which
originally consisted of ... to administer all the ordinances of God's house. ...
/.../chapter 1 from the beginning.htm