Genesis 1:9-13
Divine Life and The Third Day
And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. (Genesis 1:11)
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. (Genesis 1:12)
And the evening and the morning were the third day. (Genesis 1:13)
Divine Life and the Third Day
Seeds, fruit, grass, all springing up in freshness of life, the newness of vibrant colors and the sweet odors of springtime; and not just freshness of springtime, but new life as never before revealed to man. A creation that we, as natural man, cannot understand. We can comprehend these images (seeds, fruit, grass); yet, we cannot fully understand these types of earth life forms living in their newness. In many previous articles I have stated that Chapter 1 of the Book of Genesis was not given to man so that we should understand how the universe and the earth was created, but that we should know the Creator. It never hurts to repeat some of the basic principles within Genesis: God exists, God communicates, God is Creator, God is light, God is good, God divides, and God is divine life. It is about Him, the entire Bible is all about the Godhead bodily. It all points to God manifested to man in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The importance of this particular section of Chapter 1 of Genesis is to unfold God’s program for mankind in His divine power. Sadly, many read over the very message of this section of verses 9-13. The message is life, divine life. It is God, the Creator, who gives life, a divine life in His way and on His terms. Out of the ground of death, God brings forth life; Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24) This is what the new birth is, being born again, not a re-make of life, or even reformation, but it is a new man and a new creation brought forth by the Spirit of God.
Symbolically all the forms of plant life given in Genesis 1:11 and 12 unveils mankind in the natural and spiritual sense; grass, seed, and tree yielding fruit. Scripture describes mankind as grass. Natural man (man under sin and death) is but a fading shadow, he lives every day knowing that he will soon fade away.
As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. (Psalm 103:15)
Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (Job 14:1)
He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. (Job 14:2)
Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. (Psalm 90:5)
In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. (Psalm 90:6)
But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. (James 1:10)
For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. (James 1:11)
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: (1 Peter 1:24)
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: (Isaiah 40:6)
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. (Isaiah 40:7)
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. (Isaiah 40:8)
Man is also compared to seed, good seed and the seed of evil doers. (Matthew 13:24, 27, 37, 38; Psalm 37:28; Isaiah 1:4; Psalm 37:28) The tree that yields fruit also is a compared to mankind: by their fruits men reveal themselves.
Jesus said, Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? (Matthew 7:16)
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. (Matthew 7:17)
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Matthew 7:18)
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 7:19)
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:20)
God in Life Giving Power
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)
Another basic principle in Genesis, Chapter 1 goes beyond the principle that God is life, and that God is divine life, but God is also life supernaturally because He has promised eternal life. (Just think — life eternal!)
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:26)
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)
And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:40)
Literal Life, Symbolic Life, Spiritual Life, Supernatural Life
Some of the questions that I ask myself when reading the Bible is: What does this particular section or verse reveal about God? What does God the Holy Spirit want us to see about the Godhead bodily? What is His Holy Spirit revealing about His purpose and plan? I never question: there is never an ‘if,” or a ‘maybe,” there is usually a “why.” Jesus said, Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (John 5:39)
The power of God to create life cannot be fathomed, but nevertheless, God desires all to understand that He is The Power of Life, and He alone gives life. Man wants life, he desires to live forever, but only on his own terms and conditions. God presents His power so that even a simple child can understand through Genesis 1:11-13 that Life springs only from the goodness of God.
God (the Perfect Teacher) illuminates the literal with symbolism, and spiritually teaches and communicates His supernatural realm through the miracle of words and sounds (speech) to make visible the world of the supernatural to the prisoners of the natural.
Supernatural Life in the Third Day
There is a connection (as a bridge) in Genesis 1:11-13 from life to the third day. But what does this bridge cross over, what lies under this bridge? The ‘third day’ speaks of resurrection and life: literally, symbolically, spiritually and supernaturally. Death is what this bridge of life crosses over, death is what lies under this bridge, this connection between life and the third day is death. In order to have resurrection there must first be death. In order for new life, there first must be a putting away of the old life. But in this section of Genesis God does not make death an issue, because He is revealing Himself as the Life Force of the eternity, and the Life Force of creation.
The Book of Genesis is divided into 2 main parts: The Creator is revealed in the first part of Genesis in the 1st and 2nd Chapters. The first two chapters of Genesis deals with His creatorial powers and the perfection of His work. The second division begins with Chapter 3 and continues to the last chapter, Chapter 50. The bulk of this second part of Genesis unveils the beginning of sin in man, and then the focal point of 48 chapters revolves around the lives of seven individual men and their relationship with a holy and righteous God. It is in the 2nd part of Genesis that death becomes a curse upon mankind, and death can now be visibly manifested to man. The very first and only mention of ‘coffin’ is found in the very last verse of the very last chapter of Genesis. (Genesis 50:26). Creation did not taint man, it was man who tainted creation.*
In the first 2 chapters of Genesis, God will not allow anything to come in to draw attention away from His message; for His message is divine life. He is the Creator and all that He made He called ‘good,’ and God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12) And the evening and the morning were the third day. (Genesis 1:13) The ‘third day’ is the bridge that crosses over the unseen waters of death. (Genesis 1:2) Before we go on to ‘the third day’ it is necessary that we must first face what comes before resurrection: death.
SIDE BAR: We Are Prisoners of the Earth – Prisoners of Death
Even though man has ventured into the beyond, he cannot escape the bonds of time -space, or space-time. Scripture refers to mankind as prisoners, and truly we are. We are prisoners in a very large prison yard. We made ourselves prisoners, we willingly went into our prison yard of our own volition. As descendants and recipients of Adam’s nature we are forever linked with his character and nature by inheritance. Read Genesis Chapter 2 and 3 for the fine print in the details of the document of our prison sentence. The following verses tell (very briefly) the story of willful rebellion, the result of that rebellion, and the only means to forgiveness and the opportunity to begin again in newness.
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Timothy 2:14)
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14)
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit. (1 Corinthians 15:45)
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.(1 Corinthians 15:22)
The Way Out of Our Prison
For the Lord will not cast off for ever:(Lamentations 3:31)
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.(Lamentations 3:32)
For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men. (Lamentations 3:33)
To crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth, (Lamentations 3:34)
To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the most High,(Lamentations 3:35)
To subvert a man in his cause, the Lord approveth not.(Lamentations 3:36)
God Hears the Prisoners
To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; (Psalm 102:20)
God Plans to Set the Prisoners Free
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:7)
God is Longsuffering Towards the Prisoners
And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, (Exodus 34:6)
But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15)
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? (Romans 2:4)
[What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: (Romans 9:22)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
God’s Plan for the Prisoners Disclosed in the Old Testament
To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (Isaiah 42:7)
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (Isaiah 61:1)
God’s Plan for the Prisoners Fulfilled in the New Testament
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, (Luke 4:17)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18)
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:19)
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Luke 4:20)
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. (Luke 4:21)
Approximately 700 years after the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke the words that revealed that He was the one who would set the prisoners free.
The Plan
All plans have goals, they also have a step by step program to achieve those goals. God, before the foundation of the earth, prepared His Divine plan for all mankind: rebellious mankind, and repentant mankind. It was the Godhead not only preparing but meticulously providing all that mankind would need to fulfill God’s program. God left nothing to chance. God prepared a perfect plan: a perfect sacrifice in God the Son coming to earth as the Son of man at the perfect time for the perfecting of those who would be called His children and the sons of God. The perfect plan was that it would be God Himself who would be the sacrifice. The perfect plan by the perfect God of a perfect sacrifice had to be God Himself.
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. (Genesis 22:3)
Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. (Genesis 22:4)
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. (Genesis 22:5)
And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:6)
And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? (Genesis 22:7)
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. (Genesis 22:8)
God had a plan to give eternal life to mankind, but His plan was not unconditional. In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2) Life would be given as a gift by God to mankind on one condition: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:. (John 11:25) For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17)
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:18)
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)
Three
The number three is a very profound numerical symbol. It is the first geometrical number that forms a solid: the number that creates a plane figure; a contained space with boundaries. Merely three lines can create a plane figure, a solid, and three dimensions; and the simplest form of a solid is a cube. Within this cube, we not only have a solid, but we have the measure of content: width, breadth, and depth. We now not only have a solid, but the reality and the substance of the fullness and depth of the content. Just three lines and look where it takes you.
The number three symbolically, spiritually and supernaturally has such depth in meaning that it cannot be simply said that, The number 3 stands for just this or for just that. Since the Godhead is represented to man in many ways and through many numbers, it is best to say that the number three is the divine fullness of the Godhead. Notice, that I use ‘Godhead’ instead of the word ‘trinity.’ I prefer Godhead because man has a tendency to categorize God into three separate compartments, and the word ‘trinity’ aids the mind in dividing God into an orderly system. And since the Holy Spirit used the word ‘Godhead’ I prefer to do the same. Note: ‘Godhead’ is only mentioned 3 times in Scripture. (Acts 17:29, Romans 1:20, Colossians 2:9) Yes, God the Holy Spirit, God the Son, and God the Father are One. God in all His fullness is manifested through the symbol of the number three. This number can be viewed as God unfolding or manifesting His Godhead to man through His perfectness in all that He does. Even though the number 7 marks God’s spiritual perfection, the number 3 for the most part is stamped with the totality of God’s divine perfection working through the manifestation of Himself as the Godhead bodily to accomplish His purposes. (Have I confused you enough?) Three is seen in both life and resurrection because it is, and it was, the manifestation of the totality of the Godhead working in life and in resurrection. Let us look at the Godhead in the work of resurrection.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19) (John 6:40, 44)
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9) (Acts 2:30) (1 Corinthians 6:14) (2 Corinthians 4:14)
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)
The Number Three at the Cross of Calvary.
Let us look very carefully at the numbers presented to us by the Holy Spirit of God at the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. (Matthew 27:45)
And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)
And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.(Mark 15:25)
And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. (Mark 15:33)
And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Mark 15:34)
And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (Luke 23:44)
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.(Luke 23:45)
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46)
We will not be going into the depth of the agony of Christ as He bore our sin on the cross of Calvary. This article is a very feeble attempt to draw the power of God through the numbers that the Holy Spirit has given to us to reveal more about Himself in the totality of the Godhead bodily in relationship to the third day.
It was at the third hour that Christ was nailed to the cross, He hung there in unfathomable rejection, humiliation and pain for the total time period of six hours: three hours in light and three hours in darkness. Then at the 6th hour (six the number of man) darkness shrouded the entire world for three hours. (How fitting that the number six is associated with darkness as men has always been in darkness.) Three hours in which the fullness of God in all His totality endured the judgment of sin upon Himself. Can I comprehend this? Of course, I cannot! How can any one enter into the heart and passion of the Almighty and righteous God as the judgment of sin was placed on His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. How fitting, however, that the Holy Spirit of God gives us these numbers 3 • 3 at this scene of death. Can you not see the manifestation of the Godhead revealed plainly through this sequence of numbers? Christ hung there on the cross 3 hours in light and 3 hours in the darkness, and at the ninth hour (nine, the number of finality) He gave up the ghost. His life was not taken away from Him, He GAVE it up and cried “it is finished.” Summarizing: crucified at the 3rd hour, on the cross for 3 hours in light, and 3 hours in darkness for a total of six hours He bore it all for me and for you.
Suffering, agony, rejection, humiliation, and judgment for the sin of man within a time span of 6 hours. Was this not the manifestation of the divine fullness of the Godhead shown to us not only through words, but also shown through the number three. There were many other 3’s in during this time period, one example was the inscription over His head on the cross was in three languages showing us the universal rejection of the Savior of man. The number 3 in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ gives way to the number 3 in His resurrection for He arose from the dead on the third day.
The Third Day
The ‘third day’ is the day of resurrection and life, literally, symbolically, spiritually and supernaturally. Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?(Acts 26:8) The phrase ‘the third day’ in the New Testament is mentioned 16 times. Fourteen (14) of these references (7+7, 2×7) are in direct relationship to the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew:
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. (Matthew 16:21)
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry. (Matthew 17:23)
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again. (Matthew 20:19)
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (Matthew 27:64)
Mark:
For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. (Mark 9:31)
And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. (Mark 10:34)
Luke:
Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.(Luke 9:22)
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third [day] I shall be perfected.(Luke 13:32)
And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. (Luke 18:33)
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. (Luke 24:7)
But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. (Luke 24:21)
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (Luke 24:46)
Acts:
Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; (Acts 10:40)
1 Corinthians:
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:4)
©Copyright 2016, Mary Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)