In this article, I will discuss the works of creation of God on the first day of creation as indicated in the Bible. “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light,” marks the point in time when the universe began and light was created.
Such an event was crucial in establishing a baseline for the existence of time, the order of everything in the universe, and creation in the subsequent days.
Overview
Genesis one introduces the fascinating narrative of how everything God created came into being over the course of the seven days. Each of the seven days have specific highlights, and God completes a specific act of creation in the course of each day.
Of all the days, the first day is particularly special since it lays the groundwork for everything that follows. The world literally begins to take shape on this day. What does God do on the first day?
In the Beginning: Creation of Everything
The opening lines of the bible state: In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1, NIV) This verse signifies the inception of everything we understand – time, existence, space, and matter. Everything that is, came into being after this moment.
There was no planet, no stars, no light, and no darkness. Just God. Genesis 1:1 is more than just a summary; It is a proclamation that God is the absolute creator and has full dominion of the universe.
Earth Lacked Structure and Substance
Genesis 1:2 moves on to explain the condition of the earth: Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”
In this moment, the earth does exist but has yet to take shape. It is formless, empty, dark, and void of life. The term “formless and empty” (Hebrew: tohu wa-bohu) gives the imagery of chaos of an unstructured lifeless vacuum. God indeed had brought matter into existence, but it had neither been ordered nor filled.
Let There Be Light
The first particular step of creation takes place in Genesis 1:3: And God said, ‘Let there be light’, and there was light.’’ God’s words marked a major accomplishment because light is crucial for any form of life. It aids vision, brings warmth, and helps in understanding things. Moreover, within most cultures and religions, light is a sign of the truth and presence of God.
It is also important to bear in mind that this light was not the sun or the moon. They were created on the fourth day. This light was divine illumination, which marks the first separation made by God, which is the division of light from darkness
God Separated the Light from the Darkness
In the Bible, after light is created, it says in Genesis 1:4:
“God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.”
This separation is crucial. God gave structure to the world by creating boundaries between day and night. This division marked the initial semblance of order within the created world. Up until this moment, there was no concept of time or cycles—only a boundless emptiness. With the introduction of light and darkness, God marked the cadence of days.
Naming Day and Night
God assigns names to the segments of light and darkness in verse 5 God called the light ‘day,’ and the darkness he called ‘night.’ And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.”
This further exemplifies God’s dominion and purpose. By defining day and night, He was not just organizing creation but was also establishing a blueprint for the measurement of time, seasons, and the biological clock of life. The phrase “there was evening, and there was morning—the first day” signifies the accomplishment of the creation of the first 24-hour day according to the scripture.
Theological Importance of the First Day
The initial day of creation is more than the introduction of physical light; it demonstrates God bringing order from chaos, light from darkness, and purpose from emptiness. Moreover, it reflects the power of God’s order; He speaks and creation responds. His voice delivers life and change.
Christian theology interprets this light as a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, “the Light of the world” (John 8:12) . Thus, the first day of creation emphasizes God’s redemptive plan from the very start.
What was the purpose of the first day?
On the initial day of creation, god uttered: ”Let there be light.” And so, light was created. This wasn’t the sun, which was created afterward. Instead, this was a divine light that separated darkness. God called the light ‘day,’ balancing it by calling the darkness ‘night,’ making the 1st cycle of time.
This event marked the start of the created world and prepared things for the coming days. Shapping the worlds order by separating light from darkness was god’s way of introducing structure into the formless , void world. The first day is best remembered as the start of creation, bringing time, structure and purpose into existence.
Final Thoughts
God commenced the first day by creating the heavens and the earth along with introducing light, separating it from darkness and naming them day and night.
This marked the start not only of the physic universe, but also the advent of order, time, and divine intent. Following that, creation began to unfold in beauty and purpose, glory and will—all through God’s command.
FAQ
What did God create on the first day of creation?
On the first day, God created light, separating it from darkness. He called the light “day” and the darkness “night.”
What does “Let there be light” mean?
It means God brought light into existence, marking the beginning of time and creation.
Did God create the sun on the first day?
No, the sun, moon, and stars were created on the fourth day. The light on the first day was a divine illumination.
