25. 'Spreading out the earth and stretching out the heavens' is a common expression in the Prophets when the subject is man's regeneration, as in Isaiah,

Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer, He who formed you from the womb, I am Jehovah who makes all things, who stretches out the heavens Alone, and who spreads out the earth by Myself. Isaiah 44:24.

Also, when it is speaking of the Lord's Coming,

A bruised reed He does not break off and a smoking wick He does not quench; He brings forth judgement towards truth; that is, He neither shatters man's illusions nor stifles his desires. Instead He bends them towards truth and good. This verse in Isaiah continues,

The God Jehovah creates the heavens and stretches them out: He spreads out the earth and what comes from it: He gives breath ¹ to the people upon it, and spirit to those who walk on it. Isaiah 42:3-5.

Such phrases recur several times elsewhere.

Footnotes:

Finding, or being found, can have different meanings in the Word, depending on the context. Here are two examples:

From Arcana Coelestia 5756, 'Behold, the silver which we found in the mouth of our pouches' means when truth freely given.

In Revelation 18:21, we find this: "And one strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be cast down, and shall not be found any more." Here, "to not to be found any more," signifies not to rise again, according to Apocalypse Explained 1183.