What does "Let there be light" reveal about God's power and purpose? The Setting “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3, Berean Standard Bible) God’s Power on Display • Creative authority: He speaks, matter and energy spring into existence from nothing. • Effortless execution: No struggle, no process—just an immediate result. • Sovereign control: Only God’s voice is needed; no other force contributes. • Unchallengeable finality: What He decrees becomes reality, permanently establishing His rule over creation. God’s Purpose Revealed in Making Light First • Order from chaos: Light dispels the “formless and void” darkness, setting the stage for a structured universe. • Foundation for life: Every later act of creation depends on this first provision; God plans with life in mind from the outset. • Moral clarity: Light symbolizes truth and holiness; God signals that His world will be governed by righteousness, not darkness. • Self-revelation: By creating light before sun, moon, or stars, He shows that illumination comes from His own being, not from created objects. Threads Woven Through Scripture • Exodus 10:23—light for God’s people in Goshen while Egypt sits in darkness, reinforcing His power to distinguish and protect. • Psalm 27:1—“The LORD is my light,” echoing Genesis by linking divine presence with guidance and safety. • John 1:4-5—Jesus as the Light brings creation’s first word into redemption’s first promise. • Revelation 22:5—eternal light from God Himself closes the biblical narrative exactly where it began: God illuminating His people. Living in the Light • Confidence: The God who commanded the first photon still sustains every detail of life. • Clarity: His Word cuts through confusion today just as surely as it cut through primordial darkness. • Mission: Believers reflect His light, carrying creation’s original purpose—displaying His glory—into every corner of a darkened world. |