Dry Land, Seas, and Vegetation Part 2 of 2 (Genesis Series)

by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)

The products of this upstart earth were now ready for man and beast, but they would not appear on the scene until the sixth day. The Lord also provided for the needs of man during the countless years ahead by creating and perpetuating numerous kinds of vegetables and every one “having its seed in itself after its kind,” so that, as long as man continues upon the earth, food might be taken out of the earth for his use and benefit.

When he says, “Let the earth bring forth the herb which may produce seed, the tree whose seed is in itself,” he signifies not only that herbs and trees were created, but that, at the same time, both were endued with the power of propagation, in order that their several species might be perpetuated. They were created as mature plants, having the “appearance” of age. The chicken really did come before the egg.

“And God saw that it was good.” God knows what is “good.” He is not some vague, moral, creative, entity. He knows what is good and He organizes His creation to result in something good. Notice, God does not call the earth good until it has become habitable.

12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

This sentence is a repeat of the previous one, to signify that God made all his creatures to work for his glory and for the benefit of man: but because of sin they were cursed, yet the elect of God are restored through faith in Christ.

We must believe that “grass, herbs, and trees” emerged in absolute maturity and perfection, by the immediate effects of the Divine Power: nor can we fail to be in awe of the grand ideas of the Supreme Mind, when we reflect on the infinite variety, beauty, and regularity of this part of the creation; every individual herb and flower that we know of have been planned and formed by His wisdom, before it was brought to being and perfection.

Whose seed is in itself—since no plants can be produced without seed, we are again reminded of God's wisdom, because the origin of all the plants upon the earth; which have existed from the beginning have continued through the ages, by means of this original provision of seed. It should be noted that the production of plants, in the beginning, differed from their production ever since, in these two things: First, that they have sprung ever since, out of their seed, either sown by us, or falling from them: but, in the beginning, they were brought out of the earth, with their seed in them, to propagate them until the end of time. Second, that they need now, as they have ever since the first creation, the influence of the sun to make them germinate. But in the beginning, they sprung forth, in perfection, by the immediate power of God, before there was any sun. For this reason, God must have the glory for all the benefit we receive from the products of the earth.

Some have said that thorns and thistles, brambles and briers were around before the fall, though not in the same abundance as now. Others disagree, and they say that until sin came into the world, the rose was without prickles. There is no way for us to know, but since the fall, all creatures are fortified against man. I wonder, if Adam had not sinned and sin never entered our world, would those grasses, herbs, and trees first created continue to flourish today?

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

We would not recognize our planet at the end of the third day; there is no sun or moon in the sky, and the sky does not have any life in it, there are no fish in the oceans, no animals or insects, no man to enjoy God’s beautiful creation. The third day has come to an end, and for the second time today God “saw that it was good.”