A. The First Order of Business: Separating Light From Darkness

Written scriptures obtained from https://www.sefaria.org

Genesis 1: 1-6 (JPS)

Genesis 1:14-19

Introduction:

The goal of today’s lesson is to discover what Hashem's first order of business was in creation. Specifically we will study what it meant for Him to separate the light from the darkness. In a later study we will examine the depths of this separation and how the first task for Hashem was actually to separate righteousness from unrighteousness.

Thus, we begin our study of Genesis questioning the stark dichotomy between good and evil: From where did these polar opposites come? Why do they exist?

These age-old questions weigh heavily on the minds and hearts of many and are also ones that pose the greatest challenge in opposition to the Jewish Faith. The darkened, fallen world gladly takes these questions and hurl them towards the Jewish people as an assault,

These questions undoubtedly stir the soul of the faithful Jewish servant of Hashem. In response, you might be tempted to say (like I am): those are good questions as your heart begins to ponder,

Human wisdom cannot answer these questions. Instead, we must seek out the answers to these questions in the scriptures, where Hashem has revealed plainly (for all who will seek diligently) the mysteries of puzzling questions such as these.

It is from the pages of Hashem's Holy Word that we will now seek to unfold an argument with one endpoint in view—the end-all and be-all of all of creation— the Holiness of Hashem alone.

Scripture tells us that Hashem is the creator of all things, including evil and bad circumstances.

To understand the existence of good and evil, we must begin at the beginning: Genesis—G-d's own account of how His creation came to be. From the pages of this first book of The Bible, we see that Hashem is the creator of all things.

His first task: divide light from darkness.

In Genesis 1:3-5, it is written,

On the surface, the meaning may seem obvious: to divide day from night. But let's take a closer look at the Genesis account. We see in Genesis 1:14-15 that on the fourth day G-d said,

We must pause here and deeply consider the two accounts.

What light did G-d divide from darkness on the first day of creation?

Looking to later accounts in Hashem's Word gives us a greater understanding that the light that separated the darkness on this first day was the Holy Light of Hashem being separated from the darkness of evil.

This darkness was not merely the night sky. Rather, given its ability for comprehension, this darkness would have to have a brain. From this understanding, we see that the darkness in G-d's creation pertains to creatures whom G-d would also bring into existence.

When we consider that at this point all heavenly beings were created by Hashem as well, we can comprehend the possibility that the “darkness” was reference to the angels who would fall with HaSatan, and thus bring all evil into the world. (This truth is most abundantly clear if you read the book of Enoch.)

How is this possible?

Being omniscient (able to see and know all things) and omnipotent (all-powerful), and omnipresent (present everywhere at all points in eternity past to eternity future), Hashem not only saw the end from the beginning, but He also wrote the beginning from the end.

As we will learn in other studies, one of Hashem's main end-goals was to choose a people (the Jewish people) to take as His own. Like a Husband chooses a bride, Hashem chose the Jewish people with whom He desired to dwell. Part of the marriage covenant that Hashem would make with this chosen group of people would be His Torah, or the set of marriage vows, that if kept by the Jewish people, would lead to a happy (and eternal) marriage.

So, it seems plausible that Torah only makes since in the context in a world that otherwise does not have nor know the laws of righteousness of Hashem. This type of world, thus necessitates darkness, evil, and the "fallen state" of existence.

Thus, as Hashem’s first order of business in His unfolding plan of creation,

Thus, Hashem's opening statement in His account of creation strongly indicates that from nothing, Hashem planned to bring to fruition His creation in which His goodness and holiness (seen in The Light of Hashem) would be separated from the darkness of evil. As declared by Hashem, this evil darkness is unable to comprehend the holy & good things of Hashem.

As we will learn in another study, this darkness was likely birthed from the "gods" which Hashem also formed at the very outset of His creation. These "gods" are referenced as "angels," "angelic beings," and "false gods" (those who exalted themselves above Hashem, such as HaSatan and the other angels who "fell" with him).

From this bedrock of truth, we can begin to understand the complexities of the conundrum: the presence of evil birthed from a Good and Holy G-d.

The second account of light creation (in Genesis 1:14-19) clearly states the creation of physical sources of light, but is there an eternally focused meaning?

Studying the Literal Translation of the Hebrew Bible, the word originally used for the stars in the Genesis 1:14-19 account was "luminaries."

• This truth brings to mind the passage in Zechariah 4, which discusses the seven-branched candle holder that contains the seven eyes of Hashem that roam throughout the entire earth.

• Too, in Daniel 12:3, Hashem refers to those who have and teach righteousness will shine like stars in the night sky.

• Perhaps most notable, is the promise which Hashem made to Abraham in Genesis 15, in which Hashem promised to make the descendants of Abram more numerous than the stars in heaven.

Since Hashem is not a man, Hashem cannot lie (Numbers 23:19). Thus, in the painting of the sky with stars, and setting the moon as a witness of the eternal kingdom of David (Psalm 89:34-37), we can be certain that from before the foundations of the earth, Hashem placed His love upon His chosen Jewish Israelite children whom He would later bring forth from the seed of Isaac, Abram’s son of promise (as is discussed in other lessons).

Is it too much to consider then, that before Hashem created anything on the physical earth, He set the stars (His Jewish Israelites) in the heavens to represent or foreshadow the Jewish Israelite people that He would later bring to earth?

Speaking of His Divine Wisdom in Proverbs 8:22-31 (WEB), it is declared through Solomon:

And Who is The Word and All Wisdom?

Hashem.

So, from the passage in Proverbs 8, we learn that before anything was created, Hashem's wisdom, majesty, and all surpassing sovereign providence was present in His creation design. The culmination of the Grand Design, where wisdom was present, is Wisdom's (i.e. Hashem's) delight in men, namely His elected Jewish Israelites!

So, STOP AND THINK:

Hashem, being utterly Holy can only have delight in those who are holy like Himself, right? How many times does Hashem command to the Jewish people, "Be holy for I am holy"?

In later accounts of Genesis, we learn that Hashem creates humans in His image, but not His likeness. Yet, it will be His chosen Jewish people whom He will transform into His holy likeness through the giving of Torah and our keeping of His mitzvot, found in His Torah, which is the source of all wisdom regarding Hashem’s expectations for human holiness.

As is stated above, the Torah also is the marriage contract between Hashem and His Jewish people. If we keep our part of the marriage contract, Hashem promises to come be our Ishi—our husband—eternally (Hosea 2).

So, then, here we see Hashem's omniscience: His ability to see the end from the beginning:

• Salvation before sin: this salvation is the salvation which Hashem promises to His Jewish people later in Torah and Tanakh. This salvation is the promised rescue of His people out of the dark, sinful world and the eternal peace and rest we will find in His holy presence forever (eg: Isaiah 46:4; Ezekiel 34).

• Glorification before the fall: this glorification is the promised perfect transformation of His Jewish people into His holy likeness. This transformation is promised to occur when moshiach arrives, at which time the Jewish people will not have to learn Torah anymore, we will simply be able to do and keep the mitzvot of our marriage covenant without fail or fault (eg: Isaiah 54:13; Jeremiah 31:33–34; Ezekiel 36:27).

  
  

Thus,

(Genesis 1:14-15)

And it was so.

Thus, simply stated, on the forth day, G-d placed the stars in heaven to give light in the darkness as a foreshadow of the light that the Jewish Israelite people would bring to the darkened earth by way of the internal spark of Hashem and the Truth of Torah working in tandem to glorify Hashem. The profundity of Hashem's marriage vow with His elect Jewish Israelites is painted in the full of creation, which we will learn more about in another lesson.

Life Application:

First, we want to be clear that when we mention the Jewish Israelite people, we are talking about the complete body of Hashem’s elect people born from the seed of Isaac, not the misconstrued notions that are oft heard today where there is some group of people of a different religion (or religions) who have (or will) replace the Jewish people in Hashem's divine order and plan.

Thus, as we stand on this bedrock of truth, gazing off at the ever-darkening shorelines of life, we, as proud Jews, can be certain that our good and great G-d is in control. Though we may not understand the ebbs and flows of the trials and tribulations that often come our way, nor do we know when Hashem will turn these trials to glory, we must peer hopefully into the face of the deep and believe that from the darkness, Hashem will bring forth His light. He will fulfill His promise of Isaiah 60:1-3:

Beloved Jewish Israelite, no, standing strong will not be easy, nor will it come by the strength in your own marrow. Rather, your strength to withstand the fire of evil must be that of Hashem, through the power of His neshumah. Just as Hashem moved on the face of the deep at the outset of creation to birth G-d’s light from nothing, He will continue to move in the deep waters of your heart to birth the likeness of His own glory light n your life through faithful observance of His mitzvot and Torah teachings.

Thus, no matter the dichotomy of good versus evil that G-d has currently allowed in your life, may you arise from the valley of the shadow without fear. May the good Hashem intercede and give you steadfastness of faith. In the words of Moshe and Aaron: