Gênesis 1

Gênesis 1

William MacDonald says "In spiritual matters faith precedes understanding." THOUGHT - Notice the first two words in Hebrews 11:3 are "by faith" -- does that describe your approach to Genesis 1? Would you agree with the statement that God said it, that settles it, whether I fully understand it or not? And remember the only One present at these opening events in Genesis 1 was God. We either believe it or not. There is absolutely no middle ground. Henry Morris argues that "Light was not created, since God Himself dwells in light." In his first letter John affirms this writing This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5) Jewish writer Cassuto on let there be light - ‘It is like the case of a king who wishes to build a palace, but the site was in darkness. What did he do? He kindled lamps and torches to see where to lay the foundations’ (Bereshith Rabba iii 1; for the variant readings consult Theodor’s edition). Adapting the parable to our interpretation of v. 2, we might say: It is like the case of a man who came to arrange various articles that were lying in confusion in a dark room, What does he do first of all? He kindles lamps in the room and so illumines the chamber and everything in it." (A Commentary on the Book of Genesis) As noted this is the first of 10 uses of the phrase God said in Genesis 1 out of a total of 46 uses in the entire Bible. Clearly the emphasis in Genesis 1 is on the spoken Word of God! The phrase "God said" (42x in the OT, 4x in the NT) - NOTE 10 DIVINE DECREES IN GENESIS 1 REPEATEDLY EMPHASIZE THE POWER OF THE SPOKEN WORD TO EFFECT CREATION (NOT ONE WORD SUGGESTS EVOLUTION! BELIEVE IT OR NOT!) Genesis 1 - Gen. 1:3; Gen. 1:6; Gen. 1:9; Gen. 1:11; Gen. 1:14; Gen. 1:20; Gen. 1:24; Gen. 1:26; Gen. 1:28; Gen. 1:29; Other occurrences of the phrase "God said" - Gen. 2:18; Gen. 3:1; Gen. 3:13; Gen. 3:14; Gen. 3:22; Gen. 6:13; Gen. 9:12; Gen. 9:17; Gen. 15:13; Gen. 17:9; Gen. 17:15; Gen. 17:19; Gen. 20:6; Gen. 21:12; Gen. 31:11; Gen. 35:1; Gen. 35:10; Exod. 3:14; Exod. 13:17; Exod. 34:10; Num. 22:12; Jdg. 6:20; 1 Ki. 3:5; 1 Ki. 3:11; 1 Ki. 13:8; 2 Ki. 4:27; 2 Ki. 6:6; 1 Chr. 11:2; 1 Chr. 14:14; 1 Chr. 28:3; 2 Chr. 1:11; Jon. 4:9; Matt. 15:4; Lk. 11:49; Lk. 12:20; 2 Co. 6:16 NET NOTE has an interesting comment that "The ten decrees of God in this chapter anticipate the ten words in the Decalogue (Exod 20:2–17)." Let there be light (or) - Latin Vulgate has ‘Fiat lux’ expressing ‘creation by fiat’. Let there be is in the jussive signifying a command. This is visible light since it contrasts with darkness, but undoubtedly included the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Based on His attribute of Omnipotence God said let it be (like the old Beatles' song "Let it Be") which in the Septuagint is a divine command in the aorist imperative calling for immediate obedience! In short, God commanded and light "obeyed" and was created! You can either believe it or not! God did not say let light evolve but let it be! A simple, natural, literal reading of this declaration leaves no doubt about this event. Jesus the living Word of God (cf Col 1:16+) called forth light! In John 1:5+ Jesus is referred to as "The Light (Who) shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." Psalm 104:2 describes God as "Covering Yourself with light as with a cloak, Stretching out heaven like a tent curtain." (cf Christ at His Second Coming in Hab 3:3-4+). Paul alludes to this verse in the context of redemption (2Cor 4:6 see above), in which God brings about a new creation in believing soul (2Cor 5:17+). Note that some commentaries "believe that God’s work on the fourth day was not to create the luminaries but to assign them their tasks. However, the description in Genesis 1:14–19 parallels that of the other five days and gives every evidence of explaining the creative act of God." (Wiersbe) In other words God created light before He created the luminaries that would display light.