Question: On the first day of creation, God created light—“And God said ‘Let there be light…’” (Genesis 1:3). However, on the fourth day (ibid, verses 14-19), God made the two great lights. Isn’t this contradictory? If light comes from the sun, then how could light be created on the first day, and the sun, only on the fourth day?

Answer: There are many answers to this question, some of which are among the deepest secrets of the Kabbalah. However, Jews traditionally always look first to the famed commentator, Rashi, for answers to questions on the Bible. In his comments on Genesis 1:14, Rashi says the following: “On the first day, they [the luminaries] were created; on the fourth day, He commanded them to hang (in their set place or rotation) in the heaven (source: Babylonian Talmud Hagigah 12a). So too, all of the ingredients of heaven and earth were created (ex nihilo) on the first day, and each was set into form, or given its role, on the day it is mentioned (source: Medrash Tanhuma 1-2; Bereshith Rabba 1:14).”

Another explanation (or insight into the above mentioned commentary) is that light (as a force or concept in nature) was created on the first day, and the celestial bodies were either formed or set into place on the fourth day.

Finally, Rashi, commenting on Genesis 1:4, mentions that the light created on the first day was not intended for the wicked, and was, therefore, reserved for the righteous in the future (source: Babylonian Talmud Hagigah 12a). The light referred to in this comment is probably a spiritual type of light that we cannot see with our physical eyes. However, most probably, both “normal light” and “hidden spiritual light” were created simultaneously on the first day; however, the spiritual light was then hidden for the Messianic era.

May you be blessed to be among those who receive that hidden light, which the Masters of Kabbalah have taught is presently accessible through devout Torah study, both now and in the future!

J. Kolakowski