And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Genesis 1:3
On the first day of creation, God said, “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3), and light appeared like a thing separate from darkness. The phrase let there be light could be confusing to some modern English speakers who are used to using the word let in the context of permission, as in “Let me out of this box” or “Let me have the last cookie.”
Some might wonder who is God speaking to. Was there some cosmic jailer who was keeping the light under lock and key? The phrase let there be light is a translation of the Hebrew phrase yehi ˈor, which was translated as “fiat lux” in Latin. A literal translation would be a command, something like “Light, exist.” God is speaking into the void and commanding light to come into being.
The Bible tells us that God created the heavens and the earth and everything else that exists by simply speaking them into existence. His personality, power, creativity, and beauty were expressed in creation the same way an artist’s personality and personal attributes are expressed through art or music.
Gabriel T. Selorm
www.gabrielselorm.com