In the surrounding pagan cultures, people worshiped the sun and moon as gods. But in Genesis, they serve God and humanity (see Psalm 136:7–9; Jeremiah 31:35).
Here, this verse does not name the sun and moon. They are simply called the greater light and the lesser light. Not naming them may have reminded Israel that they were not gods.
rule: Compare 1:26, 28; Psalm 136:9.
the stars: The stars bear witness to God's power to create, and they declare his glory (Psalms 19:1; 148:3). They do not predict the future, as Israel’s neighbors believed (see Jeremiah 10:2).