QUESTION # 5: Why
would God need to create the sun, moon, and stars to give light as a means of
separating the day from the night on the fourth day in Genesis 1:14-19, since
He had already created light on the first day, and separated the light from the
darkness as seen in Genesis 1:3-5?
ANSWER: Well, as
one can see, this seeming contradiction between Genesis 1:3-5 and 1:14-19 has
proven to be a hindrance to many a soul in coming to not only trust the message
of the Bible as God’s divine inspired Word; it has also prevented many a soul
from coming to trust the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. Because
of this, I hereby seek to answer this difficult and troubling Question with the
Lord’s help.
To begin
with, there is a difference between God’s first recorded words “Let there be light” (Gen. 1:3) with His
words “Let there be lights” (Gen.
1:14). For the word “light” in Genesis 1:3 is in the singular; whereas, the
same word is in the plural “lights” in Genesis 1:14. So what is the
significance between Genesis 1:3 and 1:14 ?
The late Dr. Henry M. Morris explains well the contrast between the term
“light” and “lights” in Genesis 1:3, 14.
“On the first day, God had said: “Let there be light” (Hebrew or). Now He says: “Let there be lights” (ma-or). Light energy was activated First, but now great masses of material (part of the “earth” elements created on the first day) were gathered together in one of the firmaments, or spaces, of the Cosmos – the space beyond the waters above the space adjacent to the earth. These great bodies were set burning in complex chemical and nuclear reactions, to serve henceforth as light-givers for the earth.”[1]
The
assumption that God created light on
the first day in verse 3 goes against the very nature of God, for true light
comes only from God, since “God is light”
(1 John 1:5). Not only is God light, He dwells in the light, and is also light
that no man can approach unto (1 Tim. 6:16 ).
Moses, the Old Testament prophet is an example of a person who asked God to
show him the “unapproachable light” of His glory. In which God answered, “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall
no man see me, and live.” However,
God did permit him to see His back parts. The Lord would not allow his servant
Moses to see the full “unapproachable light” of His glory, lest he die. (Exodus
33:18-23). God is also the Father of lights where no
shadow from darkness taints its great brilliance (James 1:17 ). Concerning this verse, James 1:17 , Dr. Henry M. Morris has this
interesting insight:
“God’s
first recorded words were “let there be
light” (Genesis 1:3). He is
the “Father of lights,” but he did not
create light, for “God is light” (1
John
1:5) and is
“dwelling in the light” (1 Timothy 6:16 ). In fact, He had to “create
darkness” but only had to “form the light” (Isaiah 45:7). Scientifically
speaking,
as far as the physical creation is concerned, all matter is essentially
energy in
motion, and light is the most basic form of energy.”[2]
It is
interesting to note that in the future New Jerusalem there will be no need for
the sun to give its light by day, nor will there be any need for the moon to
give its light by night. For the glory of the Lamb shall be its light. (See
Isaiah 60:19-20; Revelations 21:23-25).
It is
important to note that darkness of night can be a time of blessing through rest
and sleep. However it soon came to symbolize spiritual darkness. Most sinful
and wicked deeds are done at night, and Christians are warned to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11 ).
The Lord has called us “out of darkness
into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Dr. Spiros
Zodhiates defines the difference between light and darkness in these negative
and positive terms.
“Generally
speaking, darkness is associated with death, failure suffering,
folly, and
sin. Light is associated with life, salvation, prosperity, wisdom,
and
justice.”[3]
Now some
will argue that the “Two Great Lights” mentioned in Genesis 1:16 is wrong. For
the sun is light, whereas the moon is not a source of light; therefore there is
really only one “great light,” not two. To begin with, the sun emits light,
whereas the moon reflects light. Thus, it is true that the moon does not emit
light; however, as mentioned, the moon does reflect light. Therefore it
automatically becomes a source of light that many people enjoy and depend upon
at night. Anyone can appreciate this truth on a clear crisp night when the moon
is full. For you see, when a person looks at the full moon at night, they do
not argue whether it is a “great light” or not, no, they appreciate the moon as
a source of light, even though it just reflects the sun’s light. Hence, it is
one of the “Two Great Lights” that Genesis 1:16 mentions. Like the moon, other planets that are visible
at night also reflect light. In fact,
like the sun, there are many objects in the cosmos that also emit light. Some
of which are larger than our sun! What are these lights? Simple, the stars we
see at night.
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