Thank you for standing firmly on the word of God, trusting the only witness of creation, and not being swayed by the so-called experts and scientists who are so focused on disproving God (so they can live how they want) that they refuse to go where the evidence leads.
Pastor, I enjoy the way you write. There's no fluff, only clarity.
I have an observation and from that comes a question. Before I ask, let me say it is not coming from a place of doubt. I love that Genesis introduces God without explanation. God spoke. It was done. Period. I understand that we cannot possibly understand all of who God is, His ways, and His works. They are too far beyond our capacity to understand. Maybe one day the Lord will explain it all, but at this point, in some things, we can only offer speculation.
So the question:
Gen 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
As you said, "Not sunlight. That comes later. This is light without a bulb. Light without a sun. Radiance that comes from God Himself. The kind of light that doesn’t cast shadows."
If the light came from God, is His radiance, why was it not visible until He spoke it into existence?
Wendy, thank you. Your encouragement and the way you framed your question is a gift.
Genesis introduces God with no explanation. He simply is. And that’s one of the glories of the opening chapter. He doesn’t explain Himself. He reveals Himself.
Now to your question: If the light is His own radiance, why wasn’t it visible until He spoke?
Here’s how I see it: God is eternally light (1 John 1:5), but in Genesis 1, He’s not just being light...He’s creating light. There’s a difference between who He is and what He chooses to manifest. He speaks light into the created order, not because He lacked it before, but because the world He was forming needed it to exist, to be shaped, to be separated from darkness.
In other words, it’s not that God suddenly “became” radiant, it’s that He willed light to shine into the void. That act marked the beginning of time, space, and the rhythm of days. Before that, all was formless. Then, with a word, the Light stepped into creation.
He’s the source. The voice. The Word. And even the light itself.
Hope that helps. I love how seriously you take the text and I think you’re asking the kind of question that leads to worship.
I should add also that yes, I do take the Scriptures seriously. I was into new age and channeling when I heard a voice speak to me. "If you don't change your ways, you will spend eternity in hell." I changed my ways immediately, Pastor. I didn't know before that moment if God was real but I knew then that I had heard the voice of God, the Holy Spirit. I had been easily deceived by the enemy and will never allow that to happen again. I cling to Christ and His Word. Reading His Word is vital.
He spoke and it is done! It reminds me of Revelation when the Lord speaks to the armies in rebellion against Him. He speaks and it is over. It is sad that Satan has fooled so many but outside of that, I love the power of our God. The great I AM. I think that might be my favorite name for Him, I AM. It says it all.
I don't recall if I mentioned this before, but since you put out the post about how to read the Bible and I stopped where I was and went back to Genesis 1, I have been getting so much more from my study. I have used other questions but these just get to the core of what God is revealing. Thank you for those suggestions. I am also breaking down the chapters so some will take more than one day. Again, thank you.
I was thinking further about God speaking everything into existence and again about Christ speaking to those who think to war against Him. I thought about Jesus speaking to the raging waters and they stilled, and the men were afraid. But then I broke down into tears of worship because although He could have, He did not speak a word against me.
Thank you for standing firmly on the word of God, trusting the only witness of creation, and not being swayed by the so-called experts and scientists who are so focused on disproving God (so they can live how they want) that they refuse to go where the evidence leads.
Christy, I’d rather build my life on the Word that never changes than on theories that always do. Grateful we’re standing on the same foundation!
Pastor, I enjoy the way you write. There's no fluff, only clarity.
I have an observation and from that comes a question. Before I ask, let me say it is not coming from a place of doubt. I love that Genesis introduces God without explanation. God spoke. It was done. Period. I understand that we cannot possibly understand all of who God is, His ways, and His works. They are too far beyond our capacity to understand. Maybe one day the Lord will explain it all, but at this point, in some things, we can only offer speculation.
So the question:
Gen 1:3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
Gen 1:4 And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
As you said, "Not sunlight. That comes later. This is light without a bulb. Light without a sun. Radiance that comes from God Himself. The kind of light that doesn’t cast shadows."
If the light came from God, is His radiance, why was it not visible until He spoke it into existence?
Wendy, thank you. Your encouragement and the way you framed your question is a gift.
Genesis introduces God with no explanation. He simply is. And that’s one of the glories of the opening chapter. He doesn’t explain Himself. He reveals Himself.
Now to your question: If the light is His own radiance, why wasn’t it visible until He spoke?
Here’s how I see it: God is eternally light (1 John 1:5), but in Genesis 1, He’s not just being light...He’s creating light. There’s a difference between who He is and what He chooses to manifest. He speaks light into the created order, not because He lacked it before, but because the world He was forming needed it to exist, to be shaped, to be separated from darkness.
In other words, it’s not that God suddenly “became” radiant, it’s that He willed light to shine into the void. That act marked the beginning of time, space, and the rhythm of days. Before that, all was formless. Then, with a word, the Light stepped into creation.
He’s the source. The voice. The Word. And even the light itself.
Hope that helps. I love how seriously you take the text and I think you’re asking the kind of question that leads to worship.
I should add also that yes, I do take the Scriptures seriously. I was into new age and channeling when I heard a voice speak to me. "If you don't change your ways, you will spend eternity in hell." I changed my ways immediately, Pastor. I didn't know before that moment if God was real but I knew then that I had heard the voice of God, the Holy Spirit. I had been easily deceived by the enemy and will never allow that to happen again. I cling to Christ and His Word. Reading His Word is vital.
Revealed. Yes. There it is. Thank you, Pastor.
He spoke and it is done! It reminds me of Revelation when the Lord speaks to the armies in rebellion against Him. He speaks and it is over. It is sad that Satan has fooled so many but outside of that, I love the power of our God. The great I AM. I think that might be my favorite name for Him, I AM. It says it all.
I don't recall if I mentioned this before, but since you put out the post about how to read the Bible and I stopped where I was and went back to Genesis 1, I have been getting so much more from my study. I have used other questions but these just get to the core of what God is revealing. Thank you for those suggestions. I am also breaking down the chapters so some will take more than one day. Again, thank you.
This is breathtaking and lovely!🥰
Yes it was. That book written by the Sproul person, could be a relative. We have Sprouls on mother's side.
I was thinking further about God speaking everything into existence and again about Christ speaking to those who think to war against Him. I thought about Jesus speaking to the raging waters and they stilled, and the men were afraid. But then I broke down into tears of worship because although He could have, He did not speak a word against me.
His grace IS more than I deserve.