John tells us that “in God is no darkness at all.” Yet, God’s account of man’s creation begins with ^“the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” These two statements really seem contradictory. In my last post I reasoned that Satan’s rebellion and fall must have occurred between the accounts in Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. I believe that this understanding reconciles the apparent contradiction. I recommend that you read “Earth’s Earliest Ages” by George H. Pember for more information concerning this idea.

Whether Satan fell or not between the Bible’s first two verses does not change the fact, however, that God’s account of mankind’s creation begins with the statement that “darkness was over the face of the deep.” The Bible proclaims over and over that God (Jesus) always teaches in parables and that without a parable he does not teach. Thus we must assume that his story of man’s creation is also a parable. Remember that a parable is simply a story with spiritual, or prophetic, meaning. This does not mean that the story itself did not actually occur in history. Paul told the Corinthians that the historical trials of Israel in the exodus from Egypt were parables (types) which become fulfilled (antitypes) in the outworking of the Christian life. See 1 Corinthians 10.

Considering Scripture this way I believe that the assertion that “darkness was over the face of the deep” speaks about every man’s condition at the beginning of his sojourn through life. “The face of the deep” speaks of the soul of man and “darkness” describes the condition of man’s soul when he begins that sojourn. But, God does not leave us alone in this darkness. In fact, the message of the Bible revolves around the idea of recognizing the darkness (sin) of our own souls and willingly choosing the light (truth) in order to dispel that darkness.

Thus we see accounts like the following throughout the Bible which speak of this theme:

Then Solomon said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.” (1 Kings 8:12 ESV)

He uncovers the deeps out of darkness and brings deep darkness to light. (Job 12:22)

when his lamp shone upon my head, and by his light I walked through darkness, (Job 29:3)

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness. (Psalm 18:28)

Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. (Psalm 97:2)

 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. (Psalm 107:14)

Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous. (Psalm 112:4)

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Isaiah 9:2)

And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. (Isaiah 42:16)

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God. (Isaiah 50:10)

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. (Isaiah 60:2)

the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned. (Matthew 4:16)

to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (John 3:19)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” (John 12:35-36)

I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. (John 12:46)

to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. (Acts 26:18)

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)

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8)

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (Colossians 1:16)

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. (1 Peter 2:9)

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

All of these verses tell us of the God who is light, Jesus, who consents to dwell among darkness (men) in order to bring them into his glorious light. This is one of the secrets of “being born again.” To be born again speaks of the very seed of Christ birthing himself anew within the soul of man, each individual man who believes upon him and consents to follow and obey him. This is the meaning of Christ “coming in the flesh” John mentions later in both his first and second epistles.  This is also what Solomon meant when he said, “The Lord has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.” (1 Kings 8:12 ESV) You and I are that “thick darkness.” Are we willing to come out of that darkness “into his marvelous light?”