Within the Old Testament, God had to speak of Himself as monotheistic – in other words, that there was no God besides Him – because of people worshipping multiple gods at the time of writing. Yet, we know that God is one God derived in three distinct persons (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit ) who are coequal, sharing one essence
Again, this is reaffirmed when God’s name throughout creation is Elohim – which, although plural in form, refers to a single deity (Elohim means “Creator”). Therefore, there is this beautiful image in Genesis 1, where God reveals all three distinctive parts of Himself at different times
The phrase “let there be light” is a translation of the Hebrew phrase yehi ˈor. A literal translation would be more like God saying “Light, exist” because God was speaking into the void and commanding light to come into being
Therefore, when God said, “let there be light”, He showed that the light (Jesus) was more than a physical substance…the light also has a supernatural aspect. This is because Genesis tells us that light, day, and night each existed before the sun and the moon were created (fourth day)
So, how does the light mean Jesus?
In 1 John 1:5, it says that “God is light.” Note that we are not told that God is a light but that He is light. Jesus reveals later in Scripture that He is the light of the world (John 8:12) but also through him all things were made (John 1:3)
When God said, “Let there be light,” and light appeared, it showed God’s creative power and absolute control. The physical light that God made on the first day is a picture of what He does in every heart that trusts in Christ – the true light – because where there is darkness, light prevails
Father, I thank you that we can not run away from you because all things were created through Jesus, and therefore, His light touches every part of this earth. Father, thank you, that when you said “light, exist” it shows me that even when we think that there is no hope, that even in our darkest times, Your supernatural, redemptive power wins
Categories: Genesis
