The Gemoro in Brachos 60b writes that it used to be the practise that as a person woke up, at each stage of him getting ready for the day, he said the relevant bracho.
Upon hearing the sound of the rooster, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לַשֶּׂכְוִי בִּינָה לְהַבְחִין בֵּין יוֹם וּבֵין לָיְלָה״ - Blessed…Who gave the heart understanding to distinguish between day and night. Upon opening his eyes, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…פּוֹקֵחַ עִוְּרִים״ - Blessed…Who gives sight to the blind. Upon sitting up straight, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים״ - Blessed…Who sets captives free. Upon dressing, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…מַלְבִּישׁ עֲרוּמִּים״ - Blessed…Who clothes the naked, as they would sleep unclothed. Upon standing up straight, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…זוֹקֵף כְּפוּפִים״ - Blessed…Who raises those bowed down. Upon descending from one’s bed to the ground, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…רוֹקַע הָאָרֶץ עַל הַמָּיִם״ - Blessed…Who spreads the earth above the waters. Upon walking, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…הַמֵּכִין מִצְעֲדֵי גָבֶר״ - Blessed…Who makes firm the steps of man. Upon putting on his shoes, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…הַמֵּכִין מִצְעֲדֵי גָבֶר״ - Blessed…Who has provided me with all I need. Upon putting on his belt, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…אוֹזֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּגְבוּרָה״ - Blessed…Who girds Israel with strength. Upon spreading a shawl upon his head, one should recite: ״בָּרוּךְ…עוֹטֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתִפְאָרָה״ - Blessed…Who crowns Israel with glory.
Nowadays the custom has changed and we say them consecutively in shul (shulchan aruch 46:2)
All these brachos seem to make sense sequentially as far as the order of the day, but how are we to understand the bracho of רוֹקַע הָאָרֶץ עַל הַמָּיִם - Who spreads the earth above the waters? This is said upon descending from one's bed and placing one's feet on the ground.
Are there any seforim / sources that speak about this choice of expression. The other brachos are pretty straightforward - why the poetic license here? How are we to understand it?
And why do we need a standalone bracho just for putting our feet on the ground why wouldn't the next bracho ״בָּרוּךְ…הַמֵּכִין מִצְעֲדֵי גָבֶר״ - Blessed…Who makes firm the steps of man suffice for this stage of the process?