Creation Days: The Fifth Day

 

Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.

Genesis 1:20

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The fifth day introduces a new kind of creation, unique from that which has come before, living beings distinct from the spiritual. Creatures of many kind that move wholly detached from land by the simple beating of wings against air; creatures that bear the immense weight of the rolling waters and yet remain unharmed. Creatures of flesh, of sky and sea, the divided waters bring forth life, filling on the fifth day what was formed on the second.

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The descriptive phrases used of these creatures reveals its place in the creation day pattern: let the waters "swarm with swarms" and "birds fly across the expanse." The peculiar movement of these animals is emphasized; they drift on the wind in swarms and float along the waters in schools, clouds of creatures with near ethereal motion; the movement of spirit if spirit were made flesh. 

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The appearance of clouds always corresponds with spirits. Angels and saints surrounding the throne of God are called a cloud of witnesses; bowls of incense are the prayers of the saints that arise to the heavens; the fragrant smoke of burnt offering lift to God, spirit ascending from scorched flesh. Finally, the archetype of this image is from God Himself, His glory cloud that descends to earth.

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It is therefore the flowering of first life that reveals its final fulfillment in glory; the birds of the air and fish of the sea appear as glory clouds of their domain. The nature of birds singing as the sun rises, of fish reflecting iridescent rainbows when struck by light, of life being drawn out of the waters, each echo the movement of the Spirit on earth. Before the creation of man, the fifth day stirs and flutters with a mystery that wouldn't find clarity until Pentecost when the Spirit descended upon the Apostles; that the earth will be glorified by spiritual movement, by prayers like incense and ministers of flaming fire, all spurred by the activity of the Spirit, all bringing heaven to earth. And there was evening, and there was morning, the fifth day.

Part 7 of 12 of the Creation Days series