Days 4, 5, and 6: The Creation of living things before Humans

Then God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals [or for the appointed times] and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth." And it was so. God made the two great lights -- the greater light to have dominion over the day and the lesser light to have dominion over the night -- as well as the stars. God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, to dominate the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.  Then God said, "Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky." So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So God blessed them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth." Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.  Then God said, "Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.   [Gen 1:14-25 HCSB]

God said:

• "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for festivals [or for the appointed times] and for days and years. They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth."
•  "Let the water swarm with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky."
•  "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth."
• "Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds."

There is so much to be learned about God's character here! There are so many small treasures! Here are some of my treasures:

• "They will serve as signs for festivals..." so God is planning parties already (lol)! Makes me want to listen to: God's Great Dance Floor or Wherever We Go. I love that God celebrates things, especially seasons. 
• An alternative translation for "festivals" here is "appointed times," and if you read throughout the rest of the Old Testament, God sets up festivals for the Israelites in every different season. He loves celebrations. He loves seasons. Read Ecclesiastes 3 Now!
• "Let the water swarm with living creatures..." Ok, I know this is going to sound weird and dorky and teachery, but bear with me. This statement reminds me of my IB rubrics. The rubrics bold different terms for different levels of student accomplishment, with the lower levels bolding words like "minimally" or "partially," and the higher levels on the rubrics bold words like "thoroughly" and "in detail." I feel like if there was an IB rubric for creation, God was shooting for the higher levels... the levels that I put students on who "Excel." In God's creation work, He is an overachiever (Yes, I did just call God an overachiever, and no, I don't feel that it's blasphemous). He doesn't just want a few fish in the sea. He doesn't just create one or two types of whales or seaweed. He commands the waters to "swarm with living creatures." He is filling the waters to the brim with LIFE. He is making all of earth as VIBRANT as possible. Insert Vibrant Sea Life Pictures here :)

Please, let me know what are you thinking about our Celebratory, Over-Achieving, Vibrant God? ;)