CRITICAL NOTES.—
Genesis 1:20. Creature] Here, and in Genesis 1:21; Genesis 1:24, “creature” stands for Heb. nephesh (Sept. psychê), and in Genesis 1:30 “wherein is life” is, more exactly, “wherein is a nephesh of life.” If our Eng. “soul” cannot be expanded so as to cover the biblical usage of nephesh and psyche, the next best thing might be to adopt “psyche,” “psychical,” at least in private and expository discourse. According to 1 Corinthians 15, Adam was a “psychical” man, and this death-doomed body is a “psychical” body. Cf. C. N. on ch. Genesis 2:7.
Genesis 1:21. Whales] Heb. tannin: prop. a long creature (Ges. Dav.) wh. winds or twists itself, or stretches itself along (Fürst). The use of this word in O.T. is remarkable: only in Job 7:12 is it elsewhere in C. V. rendered “whale:” in Exodus 7:9-10; Exodus 7:12, it is “serpent;” in Deuteronomy 32:33; Nehemiah 2:13; Psalms 74:13; Psalms 91:13; Psalms 148:7; Isaiah 27:1; Isaiah 51:9; Jeremiah 51:34, “dragon;” and in Lamentations 4:3, “sea-monster.” These are all its occurrences.
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.— Genesis 1:20-23
FISH AND FOWL
I. That life is the immediate creation of God. “And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creatures that hath life.” &c. Here we get sublime teaching in reference to the origin of life.
1. It was not an education. It was not evoked from anything that had previously existed. It was not an emanation from some elementary principle or form of matter. It was not an unconscious development. Life bounded into existence at the call of God, and kindled its lights in the lower realms of nature, that ultimately it might shine resplendent, and find its highest perfection and beauty in the being and soul of man. Life as an education is the foolish conceit of a sceptical philosophy.
2. It was not the result of combination. Prior to the existence of fish and fowl; there had been created the land, the light, the water, and the heavenly bodies had received their commission to illumine the universe. But life was not awakened by the combined agency of any of these. They were without life. The light might fall upon the great world uninhabited, but its ray could not evoke one note of life, or give impulse to the smallest object on which it fell. Matter is capable of many pleasing and useful combinations, but has inherently no life-producing property.
3. It was a miraculous gift. “And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life.” There are two words in this sentence that should be remembered, and joined together most closely, they are “God” and “life.” This should be so in the external universe, for if God were to withdraw from it, its whole frame would crumble into dust. This should be so in the soul of man, as God is the source of its true and higher life. If the church were to remember the connexion of these two great words, she would be much more powerful in her toil. Life was at first the miraculous gift of God. Its continuance is His gift. It is the product of His voice. This is true of all in whom the spark of life is kindled, whether seraph or brute.
II. That life is varied in its manifestation and capability.
1. Life is varied in its manifestations. There were created on this day both fish and fowl. “God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind.” Thus life is not a monotony. It assumes different forms. It gives varied impulses. It grows in different directions. It has several kingdoms. It has numerous conditions of growth.
2. Life is varied in its capability. As life is varied in its kind and growth, so is it in its capability. The fish swim in the water. The fowls fly in the air; the abilities and endowments of each are distinct and varied. They answer different purposes. Each takes a part in the great ministry of the universe. The whole in harmony is the joy of man. Envy is unknown in the lower region of life.
3. Life is abundant and rich in its source. The waters brought forth abundantly. There was no lack of life-giving energy on the part of God. Its source was smitten, and life streamed forth in rich abundance. The world is crowded with life. It will not soon become extinct. Its supplies will not soon be exhausted. The universe will not soon become a grave, for even in death there is life, hidden but effective to a new harvest.
4. Life is good in its design. God saw that it was good. All life is good in its original intention. It was good as the gift of God, and as the glory of its possessor.
III. That the lower spheres of life are richly endowed with the Divine Blessing. The blessing is from God. The truest source of benediction. The highest hope of man. The richest heritage of nature. It had its earnest in the life then commenced. The fish and fowl then created were prophetic of future blessing.
1. It was the blessing of increasing Numbers
2. It was the blessing of an extended occupation of the land and sea.
3. Let us always remember that the blessing of God rests upon the lower spheres of life.
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Genesis 1:20. The decree.
2. The order.
3. The manner.
4. The kinds.
5. The places.
6. The blessing.
God leaves nothing empty that he hath made, but furnisheth all with His store and riches. Thus when He had created the heavens, He furnished them with stars, the air with birds, the water with fishes, and the earth with herbs, and plants, and afterwards with beasts and men; so that the earth is full of His riches, and so is the wide sea.
1. Then will God leave His children empty, the vessels which He hath formed for Himself?
2. Let men be ashamed that delight in empty houses, or lands unpeopled, that they may dwell alone.
3. We cannot but admire the affluent power of God.
God disposeth all creatures, in such places, as are most convenient unto them. He fixes the stars in the heavens, carries the clouds in the air, appoints the waters for the fishes.
1. Let us seek places suited to our disposition and temper.
2. Let us comfort ourselves in reference to our heavenly home, in that it will be suited to our condition.
Life is the gift of God alone.
1. Because God only hath life.
2. That it may be at His disposal.
3. That He may be praised for it.
1. Let every man be careful to preserve in any creature so precious a gift
2. Let every man glorify God in whose hand his breath is.
3. Let it teach us to abase all man’s work in comparison with God’s. Men can make pictures and statutes, but cannot give them breath.
The variety and diversity of God’s works is infinite.
The motion as well as the being of every creature is ordered and limited by the will and decree of God.
All these creatures were at first produced in full strength for motion.
The water for fish, and the expanse over the earth for fowl, are places of sustentation.
Genesis 1:21. The eminency of any creature ought especially to be observed for magnifying the work of the Creator.
1. The great lights.
2. The great whales.
3. After God’s image.
God furnisheth every creature with parts and abilities, needful for the nature of it, and use, to which He hath assigned it.
God respects and takes special notice of all, even the meanest of the works that He hath made.
1. Let the poorest and most neglected of men trust the providence of God.
2. Let the richest stoop to the poor.
Even the meanest of the creatures that God hath made are good.
(1.) As the effects of His power.
(2.) As they serve His glory.
(3.) As they are useful to man.
(4.) Let us do nothing but that which we can approve.
Genesis 1:22-23. Fruitfulness is a blessing bestowed only by God Himself.
1. Seek it by prayer.
2. Expect it by faith.
3. Wait for it in obedience.
4. Receive it with praise.
There is nothing so vast or wide but God can easily furnish and fill it at His pleasure.
God’s blessing in creation makes these creatures abundant now.
Every fish and bird is a demonstration of God’s wisdom, and power and goodness.
SUGGESTIVE ILLUSTRATIONS
Animal Life! Genesis 1:20. There is a meaning in these words which is seldom noticed: for innumerable millions of animalculæ are found in water. Eminent naturalists have discovered no less than 30,000 in a single drop. How inconceivably small, remarks Professor Green, must each be; and yet each a perfect animal—furnished with the whole apparatus of bones, muscles, nerves, lungs, etc. What a proof is this of the manifold wisdom of God! If we pluck a flower from the garden on which rests the glistening dewdrop; if we sink our finger in a pond, and then examine with a microscope, we shall find worlds living and moving in its drops; if we sail on the ocean at midnight, our vessel may be enveloped in a flame of bright phosphorescent light, and gleaming with a greenish lustre—attributable to the presence of innumerable multitudes of animals floating on the waves:—
“Flash’d the dipt oars, and, sparkling with the stroke,
Around the waves phosphoric brightness broke.”—Byron.
Mr. Charles Darwin paints in vivid colours the magnificent spectacle presented by the sea, while sailing in the latitudes of Cape Horn on a dark night. It is now no longer a matter of doubt that many of the inferior marine animals possess the faculty of secreting a luminous matter. And when we consider their countless numbers, we need not wonder at the magnificent effects produced by such tiny creatures, whose
“Vivid light
To the dark billows of the night,
A blooming splendour give.”—Scott.
Birds! Genesis 1:21. A little bird alighted at sunset on the bough of a pear tree that grew in Luther’s garden. Luther looked upon it, and said, “That little bird covers its head with its wings, and will sleep there, so still and fearless, though over it are the infinite starry spaces, and the great blue depths of immensity; yet it fears not; it is at home; the God that made it, too, is there.”
“There sitteth a dove so white and fair,
All on the lily spray,
And she listeneth when to our Saviour dear
The little children pray.”—Bremer.