Ordinary readers might not make that connection (about God "making" the dry land by causing it to appear as He "made" the sun and stars by causing them to appear) and might conclude that the text plainly reads that God "made" the stars on day four by which he thinks "created out of nothing." They are not expected to notice this indirect reasoning, however compelling it may be.
Hence a better translation for "made" on day four is needed, which does not mislead casual readers (Gen. 1:16). "God brought forth, or prepared, or did, or put into execution, or established, or produced, or performed, or brought about, or put, or arranged, or provided, or set in order two great lights and the stars" on day four--take your pick. Or make up a word which is a blend of all those choices and
suitable to the day four context. It will probably be close to "did." "Made" is okay if accompanied and understood with the Jonah caveat. The verb is commonly translated over six dozen ways including those cited above. "Do" or "did" is, by far, the most common translation.
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I think it's a mistake to split the first sentence of v. 16 in two, as if the first half were the whole thing. God made those lights DO something. He gave them a role to play. He made them govern the day and night. As Ps. 104:19 puts it, he appointed (asah) the moon for seasons. The word (asah) is used in a similar way in 1 Kings 12:31.
It should be noted that "asah" is NEVER translated "create". That is not what it means.
So, just as God made (caused) Jesus to be a Prince and a Saviour, so he made (caused) the lights to rule the day and night.
How?
The gradual lessening of the atmosphere that started on day one progressed through day two and continued until day four, when the atmosphere finally became transparent. And there were the lights, in the firmament of heaven, controlling such things as seasons, days, months and years - just as God planned for them to do.
I think your blog is a good idea, Gorman. I hope more people get into the discussion. You are very stubborn, but you allow other people to be just as stubborn. I approve of that.
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