Without Words III: Genesisናሙና

GENESIS: LIGHT

Before the world existed you were God’s dream, a desire in His heart. The God of Genesis who established every star in its place and caused the earth to spin knows your name. This series highlights three themes from the first days of creation: light, mankind, and rest. Just as mankind was created in the secret place of a garden, alone with the Creator, we hope this devotional series provides a still space for you to experience God's love and hear His thoughts about you.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2

In the beginning, the world was formless, dark and empty. There was nothing to be seen—it was a black, bottomless pit. There was nothing to be heard; it was a vacuum of thin silence. Like an untouched canvas, it could not create anything on its own or take on shape. It had no identity, no characteristics,  no name.

There was One who held all time and space, with a dream in His heart of all that could come from this empty void. Like a warm blanket of life, His Spirit came and hovered over the darkness. The Spirit of God waited there for a command from the Word Himself that would break the silence.  

The voice came like a crack of thunder and a roar of many waters. God said, “Let there be light.” At the sound of His voice, the darkness was invaded with a brilliance that shone from the face of God. The first names were given: Day and Night. This was the first day of the beginning of the world.

Light is a power we can see—radiant energy made up of molecules. Light is a deliverer of information, and most of what we know about the universe is carried to us by light, as it reflects off of an object and into our eyes. No piece of information can travel faster than the speed of light. Darkness, on the other hand, does not transfer information to us but conceals it. 

Jesus is The Light of the World, and He promises that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. (John 8:12). 

In Matthew chapter 17, Jesus took three of His disciples to a mountain where He transfigured before them into His heavenly appearance. The disciples described the sight: His clothes shone white as light and His face was bright like the sun. In Revelation, John is taken up into heaven where he sees Jesus and describes His face as “the sun shining in all of its brilliance.”

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’  has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:6

Just as light sends us information about the universe, the Light of the World shines His light into our hearts and reveals His nature and character to us.

In the book of Exodus, Moses went up to Mount Sinai for 40 days where God met him in all of His glory, and it was there that he was given the 10 commandments. When Moses came down from the mountain, his face was visibly shining, and the Israelites were afraid to come near him. After that Moses wore a veil over his face.

What the Israelites saw on Moses was the result of meeting with God face to face. He was physically transformed by the glory of God. 

Psalm 67 says that God is always shining the light of His face upon us. Just like Moses, we are invited to turn our faces toward Him and meet His gaze, allowing the light of His face to shine into our hearts. Jesus is so full of light that shadows don’t exist with Him (James 1:17). As we behold His face, again and again, His light will fill every shadow as we are transformed into His image and filled with His glory. 

We will become what we behold, and reflect what we see. 

Just like your Creator, you are meant to shine in dark places and bring sight to those who are blind. God hasn’t called you to hide behind a veil but allow the world to see what it looks like to be transformed. The light that shines from your life will carry the knowledge of God’s character to everyone around you. 

Prompt:

Picture yourself sitting face to face with Jesus. 

• What do you notice about Him? 
• What is He saying to you about who you are? 
• What shadows and dark places in your life is He filling with His light, hope, and life?
• If we become what we behold, what things do you feel God is asking you to turn your gaze away from?