What God did on Earth's first fourth day.

Follow the reasoning here for a bit... (I know it's long...)

WHEN IS A COMPUTER A COMPUTER?

Is it simply a collection of its components?
Is it only the hard frame? or does it include the screen?
Does it become a computer when it is put in the box at the manufacturer?
Does it become a computer after the main components are assembled?
Does it only become a computer after it is plugged in?
Or is it a computer only after one hits the "START" button?
Or does it become a computer only after the owner sits down and gives it an assigned task? ...when it's actually computing?
​

The Hebrew phrase "tōhû wa bohu" has been translated a number of different ways.
The only other time they occur closely together is in Isaiah 34:11, where the Authorized Version translates them as "confusion" and "emptiness".

Genesis 1;2
AV: formless and void
NASB: formless and void
NKJV: without form and void
ESV: without form and void
NIV: formless and empty
NLT: formless and empty
NRSV: a formless void
NJPS: Unformed and void
NET: Without shape and empty
NCV: Empty and had no form
Young's: waste and void

Isaiah 34:11
AV: confusion, emptiness
NASB: desolation, emptiness
NKJV: confusion, emptiness
ESV: confusion, emptiness
NIV: chaos, desolation
NLT: chaos, destruction
NRSV: confusion, chaos
NJPS: chaos, emptiness
NET: ruin, destruction
NCV: empty, nothing left
Young's: vacancy, emptiness​

The emphasis in Western culture is on material objects:

What was made and how was it done?​

But Genesis 1 is more concerned with function:

the heaven and earth were unproductive and nonfunctional.​

In Genesis 1 God assigned the components of heaven and earth a purpose and started his plan.
Before then the heaven and earth was without purpose and function
In Genesis 1 the H&E became functional.

Any time before that was uncounted.

Rob

 

1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.


Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Why was there darkness on the earth, on the face of the deep?

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[fn] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Eph 6:11,12

in whom the god of this age did blind the minds of the unbelieving, that there doth not shine forth to them the enlightening of the good news of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God; for not ourselves do we preach, but Christ Jesus -- Lord, and ourselves your servants because of Jesus; because it is God who said, Out of darkness light to shine, who did shine in our hearts, for the enlightening of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Gen 1:2 ???

Is God about to put into motion the means for the Son of God to be manifested as flesh and blood to destroy the god of this age and his works? 1 John 3:8 Rom 5:13 Heb 2:14

What was the beginning of the darkness of this age and the god of this age?

 

And yet darkness existed prior to light.

"Let there be light." (Ge 1.3)

...there was evening and there was morning...
​

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So days four through six parallel days one through three: each function was filled by the corresponding days work.

This can be illustrated by lining them up in parallel:

Day One: Darkness and Light (FUNCTION-TIME) - Day Four: Sun, Moon and stars

Day Two: Separation of the Land and Waters (FUNCTION-WEATHER) - Day Five: Living Creatures

Day Three: Vegetation: Seed and Fruit (FUNCTION-SUSTENANCE) - Day Six: Mankind

Day Seven: Divine Enthronement​

And to finally answer the opening posts question,

on Day Four the sun, moon and stars were provided to give us the basis for time.​

Rob

 

I've always understood the "Light" of Day 1 to be the founding of God's plan. Was it not?