How could there be “light” on the first day if the sun wasn't created until the fourth day?
The Devotional Answer
The devotional answer is that the light on Day 1 is a profound declaration of God’s sovereign independence. God does not need the sun, the stars, or any created object to exist or to illuminate His creation (Question 90). He is the eternal, ultimate source of light itself, as the Bible says, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5, NIV).
The Creation account is structured this way to show us that the Creator is greater than the creation. The temporary light source on Day 1 proves that God can illuminate the world directly, without a secondary instrument. This underscores a powerful spiritual truth: God is the foundation of all reality, not dependent on any part of it.
The Simple Answer
The text of Genesis 1 distinguishes between the initial light source created on Day 1 and the specific light bearers (the sun, moon, and stars) established on Day 4.
Day 1: Light Existed: God commanded, "Let there be light," and there was light (Genesis 1:3). This original light source was likely God's own glory or a temporary, localized source of energy that established the cycle of day and night.
Day 4: Light Bearers Appointed: On Day 4, God placed the Sun, Moon, and Stars (the great lights) in the heavens to govern the day and the night, serve as signs for seasons, and provide a permanent, ordered structure for the light (Genesis 1:14-19).
The core takeaway is that the existence of light is prior to, and independent of, the existence of the sun.
The Deeper Dive: Sovereignty and Function
The ordering of the creation account has significant theological and literary purpose.
1. The Theological Statement
In the ancient Near East, the sun, moon, and stars were often worshiped as gods. By delaying the creation of the light bearers until Day 4, the Genesis account makes a crucial theological statement: these objects are not deities; they are merely functional tools created by the one true God. They are creatures, not the Creator.
2. The Hebrew Terms
The Hebrew language reinforces this distinction:
On Day 1, the text simply uses the general word for light, ‘ôr (אוֹר).
On Day 4, the text uses the word for the sun, mā’ôr (מָאוֹר), which means a "light bearer" or "luminary," emphasizing its function as a container or dispenser of the light.
3. Parallels in Revelation
The Bible ends with a final picture that mirrors the beginning, confirming God's independence from the sun. In the new heaven and new earth, there will be no need for the sun or moon:
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” — Revelation 21:23 (NIV)
This shows that the ultimate light source is always the direct presence and glory of God (Question 109). The Day 1 light was a temporary preview of the eternal light to come.
God's Assurance
God assures you that His Word is reliable, and that His power is utterly sufficient to accomplish whatever He wills, in whatever order He chooses.
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” — Psalm 33:6 (NIV)
You are assured that the God who created light with a word is the same God who illuminates your own understanding through Christ.
Your Takeaway Thought
Do not let these seemingly scientific questions overshadow the spiritual message. The sequence of creation is designed to teach you about God's sovereignty and purpose. Every time you see the sun, remember that God is greater than the greatest star and that He alone is the source of all spiritual and physical illumination.
Tags Genesis Creation, Day One Light, Day Four Sun, Divine Sovereignty, Origin of Light, Biblical Interpretation, New Christians, Christian Doctrine
