let there be light

I’ve long been intrigued by God’s declaration, “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3), when day and night came into existence and separated light from darkness – before the creation of the sun and moon (vs 14-15).  Clearly, this light is more than the ‘physical’ or literal light we might expect.

Light figures throughout Scripture, and since Scripture teaches us about Scripture, it’s interesting to consider some of the (many) mentions of it in the Bible:

· It brings order to chaos (Gen 1:3-5)

· God and light seem to be inseparable – He “wraps Himself in light” (Ps 104:2) and even becomes light for His people (Ex 13:21)

· His Word is described as light, enlightening and guiding us (Ps 19:8, 119:105)

· Prophecies refer to the coming of Christ as light entering our darkness (Isa 9:2, 49:6)

· Jesus Himself tells us that He is “the light of the world” and whoever follows Him “will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (Jn 8:12).

How fitting that our first recorded words of God are those in which He commands light to appear. 

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”   (2 Cor 4:6). 

Sue McPherson