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Answer
On the third day of creation, God created the dry ground, seas, plants, and trees (Genesis 1:9-13). Using the foundation He created on the first day of creation, the Lord began to form the earth into a place suitable for life. From days three to six, the Lord filled the earth, which had been “formless and empty” on day one «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. », (Genesis 1:2).
Dry Ground: “Then God said, ‘Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.’ And it was so” «And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. », (Genesis 1:9, CSB). By instructing the waters to move to one place, the Lord made the dry ground appear, and He referred to this as “land” (NLT) or “earth” (verses 9–10, ESV). By creating land first on day three, God was preparing for the creation of various vegetation. The Lord was intricately involved in creating the earth; “His hands formed the dry land” «The sea is his, and he made it: And his hands formed the dry land. », (Psalm 95:5).
The Seas: “The gathered waters he called ‘seas’” «And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. », (Genesis 1:10). He separated the waters that were created on day one from the dry ground, and He referred to these waters as “theSeas.” By creating the ocean and seas, God was preparing for the aquatic animals He would make on day five «And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. », (Genesis 1:21). God separated the ocean from the dry ground and set boundaries for the waters not to cross «When he gave to the sea his decree, That the waters should not pass his commandment: When he appointed the foundations of the earth: », (Proverbs 8:29). Some commentators hold that the sea originally surrounded one large continent because the Bible says the waters were drawn to one place «And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. », (Genesis 1:9). According to this view, not until the flood or shortly thereafter did the seven continents break away and spread apart as we see them today.
Plants: “Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed” «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, NASB). The Lord spoke vegetation into being upon the dry land, bringing forth seed-bearing plants of “various kinds”—grass, bushes, vines, flowers, vegetables, etc. These abundant plants would fill the land with food for the animals created on days five and six (Genesis 1:20-24), as well as for mankind, also created on day six «And God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. », (Genesis 1:27).
God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26,29) “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” (Genesis 1:26,29).
Trees: “Trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” “And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after its kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after its kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:12). All types of trees were created on the third day of creation. The Lord spoke trees into being, including fruit trees, nut trees, conifers, and ornamentals. All trees testify to God’s power of creation, from the smallest to the largest “Mountains, and all hills; Fruitful trees, and all cedars.” (Psalm 148:9,13) “Let them praise the name of the LORD: For his name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.” (Psalm 148:9,13).
Beginning on day three, God began preparing the earth for the future creation of animals and humans on days five and six. In His divine creative power, God spoke the land, seas, plants, and trees into existence. People today can see evidence of God’s design in a delicate flower or in a majestic tree, as all vegetation displays the truth of God as the Creator of all things “For the inv…Visible aspects of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and divine nature; so that they are without excuse: », (Romans 1:20).
