Genesis 1:6-8 Bible Study: Exploring the Sky with Slow, Thoughtful Engagement
STEP Program Application to Genesis 1:6-8
Genesis 1:6-8 (NIV): "And God said, 'Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.' So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. God called the vault 'sky.' And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day."
Bible Study
Approach:
No Rush: Take time to understand the significance of God's second creative act - the formation of the sky.
Small Segments:
Example: These verses detail the creation of the sky or firmament, separating the waters.
Method: Break it down:
Verse 6: The command to create division within the waters.
Verse 7: The execution of the command, with waters above and below the vault.
Verse 8: Naming the vault 'sky' and the conclusion of the second day.
Slow Reading:
Technique: Read slowly, contemplating the concept of the sky as a barrier or division. What does this separation signify in terms of order and structure in creation?
Mental Imagery: Picture the waters below and above, and visualize the creation of the sky, imagining the vast expanse it forms.
Meditation
Focused Meditation:
Verse Repetition: Choose "Let there be a vault between the waters." Meditate on the idea of separation and structure in God's creation.
Process: In solitude, repeat this command, allowing thoughts of order, boundaries, and divine organization to deepen your understanding.
Scene Visualization:
Imagination: Imagine the scene where the sky is formed. See the water spreading out below and the water held above by the vault, creating the atmosphere.
Application: Reflect on how God's creation of boundaries in the physical world might apply to your spiritual life. How do you maintain or need boundaries for spiritual health?
Prayer
Application to Life:
Lesson Activation: Pray that God helps you appreciate the structure He brings to life, both physically and spiritually, seeking clarity and order in your own life.
Confession and Request:
Struggles: If you struggle with chaos or lack of boundaries in your life, confess this, asking for divine help to establish order.
Past Mistakes: Think about times when you've blurred necessary boundaries, seeking forgiveness and wisdom to set them right.
Future Guidance: Ask for guidance to live with proper boundaries, to respect the limits God sets, whether personal, relational, or moral.
Bold Requests:
Testing Faith: Pray for opportunities where you can learn and embody the lesson of the sky - to be a person who brings order, peace, and separation where it's needed, in your life or community.
With the STEP approach, Genesis 1:6-8 transforms from a mere account of the creation of the sky into a profound lesson on divine order, the necessity of boundaries, and the beauty of structure in God's creation and in our lives.
