Specifically, we're looking at Bereshit Rabbah 12.

Rabbi Nehemya of Kefar Sihon starts us off by referencing Exodus 20:11: "For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, [the sea]…" He focuses on three essential elements: the Earth, the Heavens (or firmament), and Water. According to Rabbi Nehemya, each of these waited three days and then produced its key creations.

Think of it like this: the Earth was created on day one (according to Beit Hillel, as we learn in Bereshit Rabbah 1:15). It then "waited" through days one, two, and three, and on the third day, it brought forth three things: trees, vegetation, and the Garden of Eden.

The Firmament, created on day two, went through a similar process. After its "waiting" period, it produced the sun, the moon, and the constellations on day four.

And Water, created on day three, "waited" and then, on day five, brought forth birds, fish, and the mythical Leviathan, that gigantic sea monster we sometimes hear about in Jewish lore.

Now, Rabbi Azarya offers a slightly different perspective. He points out that the verse states, "on the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens." According to him, only these two – Earth and Heavens – are the foundational elements. Each, again, "waited" three days, completing their work on the fourth and sixth days, respectively.

According to this view, the Heavens were created on the first day (this time following the opinion of Beit Shammai, as also mentioned in Bereshit Rabbah 1:15). They "waited" and their work was completed on the fourth day with the creation of the celestial lights.

The Earth, created on the third day – remember, "The earth brought forth vegetation, etc." (Genesis 1:12), which is seen as its essential act of creation – "waited" until the sixth day. And what was the culmination of its labor? Humankind! As it says in Isaiah 45:12: "I made the earth and created man upon it."

So, what does all this mean? Why this emphasis on the three-day "waiting" period?

Perhaps it's about emphasizing that creation wasn't instantaneous, but a process. A process of gestation, of development. Maybe it’s about showing us that everything has a proper time, a designated moment for its fullest expression. Or perhaps it’s a way of illustrating the inherent order and structure within the seemingly chaotic act of bringing the universe into being.

Whatever the reason, this passage from Bereshit Rabbah invites us to look beyond the surface of the creation story and contemplate the deeper rhythms and patterns that underlie all of existence. It's a reminder that even in the grandest of cosmic events, there is a sense of timing, of patience, and of purposeful unfolding. And maybe, just maybe, we can apply that same understanding to our own lives, recognizing that even our own creations and endeavors require time, patience, and a little bit of "waiting" before they can fully come to fruition.