It is written in Hebraic poetic form. Literary scholars can tell for example that the prose 2:4+ is very different from what is previous due to this. The stylistic form used for Genesis 1 is different, that is, the writer likely intended it to be sung as a hymnic chant (great for passing on orally, given printing press wasn't then had and most people couldn't read, such would lend itself well to an important oral tradition). Notice how
waw (and) starts each verse? Days end with "evening n morning" refrain and "x day".
That said, one can and ought to still take it as literal history. BUT, pay attention to the literary structure, the way in which the author structured the writing. Many writers orchestrate their writings into "frames" or in a certain way to serve their desired purposes, and given the form of writing used in Genesis 1 we can identify the central message up until Genesis 2:3 is about establishing Israel's God as the one true God of all creation. That's the objective Moses wants to achieve in whatever literary framework, style and form he adopts.
For this message, it has been noted use of "parallelism" is employed. For example, between Day 1 where God separates the light from darkness, and Day 4 which contains this too as well as more information on how God separated the light from darkness, the Sun in the sky, stars for seasons etc. If true, then Genesis likely shouldn't be read simply from top to bottom, the the parallel days cross into/are related to each other. If parallelism is indeed a true structure adopted, then we ought to see this trend continue for the following days. So lets look at Day 2 and Day 5, notice anything in common?
- Day 2: 6 Then God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 God made the expanse, and separated the waters which were below the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse; and it was so. 8 God called the expanse heaven.
Day 5: Then God said, “Let the waters teem with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of the heavens.”
Next, look at Day 3 and Day 6:
Day 3: Then God said, “Let the waters below the heavens be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear”... Then God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their kind with seed in them”; and it was so.
Day 6: Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind: cattle and creeping things and beasts of the earth after their kind”
The parallelism here is impossible to miss once pointed out. The question one might then perhaps ask is whether the passage is literal? I see no reason to say just because some sort of Hebraic poetic form is being used, that such means there is nothing literally true or there is no historical truth. Rather, one should simply pay attention to the literary styles being use to convey the truths.
And, it is true that God created the heaven and the Earth (not "Ra" or some pagan gods). He created all the kingdoms and everything within them. Chronologically, it seems in the order of heavens, sea/sky and land.
Then on Day 7 we have God resting and blessing the seventh day (the Sabbath which Israel were to keep). Keeping the Sabbath symbolised Israel's God as Lord of all creation, and so keeping it was a way for Israel to remember and honour their God as the One true God of all creation.
Furthermore, Scripture details further symbolism of the seventh day of rest, which isn't closed. In Hebrews 4 we are encouraged to enter into "that rest" (God's), the Sabbath day of rest. So, a 7-day framework is very important theologically to Israel (and us today as Christians who enter into God's rest via Christ), and so structure was most effective to adopt by Moses and God (given we accept divine authorship also). It's like the finishing touch, polish, divine seal of the whole creation story as that of Israel's God over all creation.
Now I expect in response to all this, that I will basically get a "
no its not you're wrong." I don't really care, because the above is in plain sight for all to see and read even if one continues believing in the Emperor's New Clothes. I understand everyone seems to have their own interpretation they're comfortable with on the Genesis Creation, and like I said earlier, such doesn't make one Christian. Christ is what matters, and yes, Christ created everything which we find out in John 1 (not in Genesis).