This is the second study of the light of Yahuah in the Bible. In Part 1, we saw the connection between Yah’s light and His commandments. We concluded that Yah’s Word is light and is connected to His Covenant with those who have been redeemed by the blood of Yahusha. In Part 2, we will examine Genesis 1:1. Ultimately, we want to be able to practically apply what we learn from our Bible study.
The First Verse: Genesis 1:1
And God said, Let there be light. Genesis 1:3
Genesis 1:3
First things first and are important. Day 1 of creation, Yahuah first spoke forth light. This is not because He needed light to work. He, Himself, is light (1 Jn. 1:5). Genesis 1:3 reveals a key aspect of Yahuah’s Ways.
The verse before tells us that darkness covered the earth (the face of the deep).
And the earth was without form, and void; and darknessH2822 was upon the face of the deep. And the Ruach of Elohim moved upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 1:2
The darkness present at creation has more than the literal meaning of darkness which comes when it is night. The word “night” in verse five is a different Hebrew word, H3915.
Darkness in this verse is also associated with wickedness. It is the Strong’s Concordance number H2822, pronounced “kho-shek.” Here is the Strong’s definition:
From H2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness: – dark (-ness), night, obscurity.
H2822 comes from H2821 which is pronounce, “khaw-shak’” and means:
H2821; A primitive root; to be dark (as withholding light); transitively to darken: – be black, be (make) dark, darken, cause darkness, be dim, hide.
This word for darkness is found 79 times in the Old Testament. In the other verses, it seldom refers to nighttime. So we see that when Yahuah said, “Let there be light,” He spoke to light in the midst of something that was not good. In fact, He called light, “good.” No such pronouncement was made for darkness.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:4
Yah’s light remains with us today. So does darkness. Yet, Yah established a perpetual blueprint for dealing with darkness.
Notice that He did not spend the first moments of creation rebuking the darkness. He didn’t say, “Darkness cease to be.” Instead, His attention was upon light. He said, “Let there be light.” And light came forth.
David Turns to Yah’s Light
Right now, I’m recalling a scene in the Bible that illustrates this point. I’ll be brief in its description. It involves David, his oldest brother, and Goliath.
When David asked about the reward for killing Goliath, his oldest brother jumped on his case in front of the men of Israel. He accused David of pride and negligence. According to him, David should have been at home taking care of the sheep. He belittled David and embarrassed him.
Clearly, there was some ongoing darkness in their family/sibling relationship. But look at what David did. He didn’t have an extended dialogue with darkness. Instead, he turned from the darkness that was spewing out of his brother and kept pressing toward his destiny. He chose to speak and show forth Yah’s light and not dirty himself with darkness (cp. Prov. 26:4).
And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.
1 Samuel 17:30
Darkness takes on many forms within us, in the world around us and even in those with whom we closely interact. The question becomes, “Will we be like David and focus on the light of Yah?” It is up to us to choose Yah’s way or the way of darkness. And you and I know who is behind darkness.
As Torah-pursuant Believers walking in covenant with the Almighty, we have to actively press into living, moving and having our entire being in Yah’s light. We don’t spend our days preoccupied with darkness.
Such preoccupation takes on many forms and is ultimately detrimental to us spiritually, mentally and even physically. Here are some areas that we can watch out for:
- Speaking darkness (Psa. 15:1-3)
- Thinking darkness (Prov. 12:5; Isa. 55:7)
- Doing dark deeds (Jn. 3:21)
- Retaliating with darkness (Jam.1:19; Rom.12:19)
- Walking in darkness (Prov. 2:11-13; 1 Jn. 1:6)
- Looking at darkness (Psa. 101:3)
- Intending darkness. (Prov. 3:29-30)
- Listening to darkness (Prov. 7:21; Acts 28:26-27)
Fill the Void with Yahuah’s Light
We are naturally created to occupy ourselves with something. If it is not light, then darkness will fill the void within us. I like the way Paul succinctly lists what we should occupy our thoughts with. Each item on this list points us in the direction of abiding in the light of Yahuah.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
It’s a challenge for sure. But with Yah’s Ruach Qodesh, we can abide in the light of Yahuah. Otherwise, we will get sucked into darkness if we try to overcome it by any other means than Yahuah’s light. We learn from His example on the first day of creation. He showed us that we should focus on light first rather than darkness.
Yahuah’s light is like the light of sunshine in daytime. When the sun is up, darkness is not around. When we try to manifest light apart from obeying Yahuah and His laws, it is like turning on the brightest of bright stadium lights on a dark night.
Sure, light is present. But it is artificial. It is temporary. It’s not lasting and it’s not truly powerful to cause darkness to flee. The stadium lights may look as if light has won out over darkness, but when they are turned off, we see the darkness that was there all along. But the minute that the sun rises and shines, darkness is nowhere to be found.
Darkness is not afraid of manmade inventions, policies, governances, and schemes. The true light that is of the Almighty, has the power to overcome darkness within us and around us. His light is His living Word (cp. Heb. 4:12).
When to Address Darkness
Don’t misunderstand. Sometimes it is necessary to address darkness. When Yah called the darkness, “night” He had to speak to darkness to put it in its place and function. However, that occurred two verses after He first and foremost spoke light into existence on the earth. Light comes first. I am reminded of Paul and Silas in Philippi in Acts 16. They were focused on their mission to bring the light of Yahuah to that region. But darkness followed them. A young girl who was demon possessed followed them around saying:
These men are the servants of the most high Elohim, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
Acts 16:17
This went on for several days. Yet, Paul did not first address the darkness in her. He refused to be distracted from his mission of bringing the light of Yahuah, His Word, to a dark region. Eventually, though, he turned to her and cast the spirit of divination out of her.
Looking at Genesis 1:1 again, we see that Yahuah’s words to darkness were spiritual that manifested into creation (cp. John 6:63).
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Remember that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (2 Cor. 10:4). And that we wrestle not with flesh and blood. Therefore, we overcome darkness not by any natural efforts.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Ephesians 6:12
Yahuah’s Way manifests in our natural lives, but His way is first spiritual (cp. Matt. 6:10).
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth (natural), as it is in heaven (spiritual). Emphasis Added
Conclusion
In Conclusion, what does this study of Genesis 1:1 teach us? Mainly, that we walk circumspectly in the light of Yahuah, His light. He has instructed us how to do this in His commandments. We need His light to overcome darkness and all that darkness represents. Yah is the Elohim of light,
As His redeemed people, we always first seek to abide in Yah’s light. The degree that His light bears fruit in us, is the degree that darkness flees. On the first day of creation, The Almighty Elohim showed us to pattern to follow in overcoming darkness.
