What did God do to the sun, moon, and stars after the catastrophe between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?
God removed whatever He had placed over the earth during that catastrophe—the darkness, water, and blotting out of the sun, moon, and stars—so they were again in view. He made them operational, setting them in the firmament to give light, rule day and night, and divide light from darkness.
Les explains that between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2 there was a catastrophe in which darkness covered the earth, water covered it, and the sun, moon, and stars were blotted out. Whatever it was that God had placed over the earth, He simply removed it, so now all these things are in view and able to do what they are supposed to do. In verse 16, God made two great lights. Les points out that the word "made" here is not the same as creation or barah in verse 1; it does not mean God brought them out of nothing, but rather that He made them operational. The greater light rules the day, the lesser light or moon rules the night, and He made the stars also, bringing them into operation. Verse 17 says God set them in the firmament of heaven—the second heaven, referring to the objects out in space—to give light upon the earth, to rule over the day and night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. Les reminds us that God was getting everything ready for the appearance of the human race, because the earth was created to be inhabited.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
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.
And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.