Creation study guide - Day 1

Read: Ge 1:3 - 5

Remember: Ge 1:1

Observe: Six elements of day one.

By formation, Light aur אור is the holy, or separated א distinctly ו revealed ר. It is a symbol of holiness. Before creation, God was not separated from anything. God is one yaweh echad יהוה אחד. But the nature of his holiness was hidden in his name. Elohim אלהים has a pun אלחום meaning not dark. The light was hidden in his name. As soon as he created the heavens and the earth, he declared that he was separate; he was different; he was holy: "Let there be light". ^{[q 1] [a 1]}

The purpose of the light was to teach man about God's holiness. God saw that אhe light was good towb טןב meaning 'the teaching ט clarified ו the revelation to man ב'.

God separated the light from the dark. Separated badal [[ב(ד)ל] means 'the object of affection בל is the commandment ד'. The holy (light) was separated from those presuming upon grace (dark). The holy was the one who loved God's command. Jesus said that he is the Light. ^{[a] [b] [c]}

The Light is personified in the verse as God called 'to ל the Light אור'. He shouts to the Light and calls him (the light) 'Day'. yom יום, meaning God's creation י distinctly or particularly ו finished by the son ם. The day, each day, is a picture of creation being finished by the Son.

This idea of separating holiness from grace is foundational to understanding the rest of scripture. God is both Holy and Love. These would appear to be opposites to us. Holiness is expressed as separateness, law, justice, etc. Love is expresses as peace, long suffering, forgiveness, grace, etc.

If we try to join the two we always miscommunicate. If we see a criminal go free, we don't say, What wonderful mercy!"; we cry "There is no justice!". But if we have been found guilty and don't get set free, we don't say "What wonderful justice!"; we cry, "There is no mercy!". All of the commands against mixing things: seed in the vineyard ^[d], animals pulling the plow ^[e], wool and linen ^[f] prohibit us from mixing Holiness and Love, since we will be confused about the nature of the invisible God.

He taught of of these two attributes individually, until the cross where he expressed them together perfectly.

Questions

1. ↑ Before there was light, what was there?

References

Scripture

1. ↑ Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
2. ↑ Joh 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
3. ↑ Joh 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
4. ↑ De 22:9 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.
5. ↑ De 22:10 Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.
6. ↑ De 22:11 Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, [as] of woollen and linen together.

Vocabulary

Answers

1. ↑ God dwelt in Love, expressed as darkness. the Trinity was one. There was nothing to be separate from.