An Exegesis of Light
Chapter One
(Genesis 1:3,14-18)
“And God said,
Let there be light: and there was light”
Genesis 1:3
In the scope, wonder, and mystery of all that God is, there is a continual unveiling of Himself to His own. He calls these varying degrees of revelation LIGHT. Through His works, we see countless expressions of light; the spectrum of Himself as it were. In the natural light of this world, there are bands, hues, and diversities of what we call light. The natural order of things is a mere representation of the true and eternal things of God. As light gives illumination to this world, so His light is given to illuminate His World.
In Genesis, God brought forth light in the midst of darkness (first day). This light was given before the creation of the sun and moon (fourth day); it was light (illumination) of a different and higher order than the natural light of the sun. In all that God does, He begins from Himself and His purposes. The first light given was the light of Himself before the creation of life on earth. God’s purpose was to fill the whole earth with the Glory of Himself (Numbers 14:21, Habakkuk 2:14). God’s work is always “prophetic”. He created food and all the essentials of life before He created the human race; the answer existed before the need. The Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world. This light spoken of on the “first day” contained within it the revelation of sacrificial, redemptive, and predetermined Glory of God.
The material world is a distinct creation into which God has purposed to speak a new revelation of His Light and Glory. It is a revelation of Himself that even the angelic order “looks into” with great curiosity.
“And it was made clear to those prophets that they were God’s servants not for themselves but for you, to give you word of the things which have now come to your ears from the preachers of the good news through the Holy Spirit sent down from heaven; things which even angels have a desire to see”
1 Peter 1:12
This Light included the purpose of redemption and sacrifice predetermined before the creation of the world:
“And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
Revelation 13:8
This light was spoken into this realm and God is bringing to pass His predetermined purpose in Christ! How glorious and mighty is our God!
“And God said,
Let there be light: and there was light”
Genesis 1:3
This same light, by God’s design, would come into this world (once again formless and void by reason of the fall) in the face of the God-man from whom would shine the very radiance of God the Father. This same light which shined out of the darkness in creation came to us in the face of Jesus Christ to shine into our hearts the brightness of God’s glory.
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6
The Eternal Word, wrapped in human flesh, would walk among us, dwell among us, and reveal unto us the nature and heart of God the Father. This Word is the very incarnation of God Himself, by Whom He was pleased to unveil Himself to fallen man. God making known to man that light is not merely for the purpose of revelation and illumination; it is in His Life entering into us, in the person of Jesus Christ, whereby it becomes “the light of men”.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men”
John 1:4
It is in the receiving of Him into our hearts where His very Life becomes our light to live, walk and grow into His likeness.
“The entering of Your Word gives light…”
Psalm 119:130 (LITV)
BT
