Your Daily Slice

KISLEV 25

Hanukkah 2^nd Night

“And Elohim said, “Let light come to be,” and light came to be.” (Gen 1:3 ISR)

We can speculate until the cows come home concerning the work of creation; one thing that stands immutable is that Elohim said it, spoke it, and it happened.  Another point that is obvious is that darkness was already present before there ever was any type or form of light (Gen 1:2).  The light that is made manifest on this, the first day of creation is something totally apart from the solar light that was created on day four – what then, is this light?

And that is the question that has echoed through the ages.  Some scholars and sages believe that it is a reflection of the Shekinah glory of our Creator, radiating through the heavens.  Others believe that it is an illumination pulled out of the darkness, such as the dim and subdued light we find on an extremely cloudy day.  Whichever it is, our Elohim made a separation of the light and the darkness and called it GOOD.

Without the calling forth of light, without it being separated from the darkness, neither would we have a concept of time.  Our Elohim called the light ‘day’, as opposed to the darkness, which He called ‘night’.  And from the two combined, we have our first measurement of time, a full ‘day’.  The importance of this first day’s creation can never be underestimated – without light, where would we be?

The ‘pulling of light out of darkness’ also applies to us, those of us who are committed to an intimate relationship with the Creator.  Focus, if you would, on the darkness that is advancing within our nation, the United States of America.  We, HIS people, are called to be a “city set upon a hill, the light of the world” (Mat 5:14-16), pulled out of the darkness that we may BE that light to all of those around us, millions of lights in an ocean of black.  Truthfully, are we fulfilling that call?

Light illuminates.  When someone, or something, is illuminated, there is the sense of clear and unfiltered sight, as in seeing without hindrance.  I am unable to see the metal arbor than stands in the middle of my flower bed in the dark of midnight; however, even before the sun is fully visible, I can clearly see where the arbor is in my yard.  When I acknowledge my dependence on ‘light’, I also acknowledge the source and beginning of that light – our Creator, our Father, the ‘Or Goyim, the LIGHT of the Nations.  I am sure we can all imagine how difficult our lives would be if we lived in a world without the benefit of daylight – how thankful I am for this, the first work of creation!

“For with You is the fountain of life; In YOUR light we see light.” (Ps 36:9, emphasis mine)

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