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■ Creation, Divine Action, and the Laws of Nature 48 phrase to mean something else : when the hovering wind dried the earth slightly, God declared that the earth should receive a measure of light, consistent with the natural effects of that drying process . Indeed, Radak adds, the text fittingly uses the root ’mr ( “say” ) instead of br’ ( “create” ) to introduce the emergence of light, because this suggests, if only metaphorically, that God instructed the created earthly matter to receive light in keeping with its nature . In other words, light appeared on earth because of the laws of physics, which are themselves an expression of God’s will . As for the emergence of other entities, Radak argues, only human beings and the creations of the fifth day required more active divine input . It is only in those cases, therefore, where the text again uses the verb “created” instead of “said” ( 1 : 21, 27 ) . 28 Further, when on the second day God declares “Let there be ( yehi ) a firmament” Ge...
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