The first chapter of the Bible is difficult to understand knowing what we do about what scientist say is the age of the earth. Many christians today would say that we should not take the story of creation literally and that God did not make the earth in 7 literal days. One of the issues that I see in this is what constitutes a day when there is no form, structure or even light in existence? How would time even be measured? I don't think however that it would be difficult to create the earth in 7 days. God is all powerful and He can do whatever He wants.
Many people hold to what is called the "gap" theory. In other words, we do not know how long of a period of time verse 1 and 2 represent. How long was the earth there before God said, "Let there be light." verse 3. One thing that I clear to me is that the earth was present in verse 2 and that it was covered in water. For when we look at verse 2 we see the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. Which makes sense when you wonder how else would something like the Grand Canyon be formed. Why would sea shells be found on mountain tops otherwise. These things seem to prove the truth of verse 2 rather than deny it.
The other question is what does it mean when it says "formless and void". You may say, "Well, I think it means what the other planets of the solar system look like." Maybe something like Mars which means pretty desolate to me from what I have seen of pictures. But, I think a scientist would argue that point saying that Mars and even Jupiter and some other the other planets are pretty consistent with what they show over the years. They may play by different rules, but they are rules there none the less
I've come to the conclusion that what it means that there was no boundaries of nature like there is now. Even though we see those boundaries crossed many times with natural disasters like hurricanes or other disasters of nature. It meant that the seas were not held back by coastlines. That the heat and cool of the earth was not held back to temps that were liveable. Literally, that there was no laws that governed creation.
And then God spoke and created order where there was none before. I think that also holds a lesson for us because many people try to live their lives without order and without following God's laws and then make a mess out of things. But, when God shows us and speaks to our hearts, he gives us laws, not to hurt us, but to bring order out of chaos.
Related Links
Three views of creation http://www.asa3.org/ASA/education/origins/views.htm
