Genesis 1 - A Spiritual Understanding
The early church recognised the technical difficulties that Genesis 1 gives rise to, with there being light and an evening and morning before the sun is created. However this in no way prevented them from using Genesis 1 in their teaching. Surely this is something that we need to emulate today. Instead of Christians disparaging other Christians over when the world was created,. Should we not learn from the Scriptures how we should apply this account.
The story of the whole Bible is a record about how man naturally behaves in a selfish, ungodly way and how God has stepped in to save a people for himself. People are in darkness but light has appeared. It would be strange if the opening chapter of the Bible did not allude to this theme. Could it be that merged with the story of the creation of our world is this same spiritual message?
“There was ‘darkness over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” Genesis 1:2-3
This idea of the gospel being God’s light in a dark world is taken up through the rest of the Bible so isn’t it likely that this is what is also meant in Genesis 1.
The opening of John’s gospel, which copies the structure of the beginning of Genesis 1, picks up on this theme,
“In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that was made. In him was life, and that life was the life of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:1-5
The last chapter of the Bible also stresses this theme of God’s light shining in the darkness.
“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord will give them light.” Revelation 22:5
Could this be part of the meaning where Genesis 1 continues,
“God saw the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light ‘day’ and the darkness he called ‘night’.” Genesis 1:4-5
At the end of his life King David picks up this same theme,
“You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.’ 2 Samuel 22:29
Isaiah saw the spiritual significance of this light,
“Come O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD.” Isaiah 2:5
Later Isaiah recognises that the coming Lord is that light,
“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rests upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” Isaiah 60:1-3
Jesus often uses the theme of darkness to represent the world of sin and rejection of himself. Jesus publicly described himself as being this light.
“When Jesus spoke again to the people he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
At his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus said to the chief Priests and officers of the temple guard,
“Every day I was with you in the temple courts, snd you did not lay hand on me. But this is your hour – when darkness reigns.” Luke 22:53
After the last supper, Judas Iscariot left the group of Jesus’ disciples. John describes this event in visual terms,
“As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.” John 13:30
Isn’t this the reason why, as Jesus was dying on that cross, darkness covered the land?
“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining.” Luke 23:44-45
John sums up this analogy of darkness and light, again by alluding to Genesis 1,
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deed were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” John 3:19
Paul also applies the teaching of Genesis 1 in a Christ-centred way.
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 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 the glory of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:5-6
Much more could be said on this subject but it is clear that the rest of the Bible does pick up on the spiritual significance of the message of Genesis 1 which is about light entering the world by the Word of God, Jesus Christ.
BVP
