The answer is: Light

Gen 1:3 - God first created light, but this wasn't light from the sun as this wasn't created until later.

The creation account in Genesis unfolds in such an intriguing way that it captivated thinkers and readers throughout history! When God creates light first in Genesis 1:3, this light symbolizes not only physical illumination but also wisdom and clarity—virtues that can brighten dark paths in our lives. What’s fascinating is that this heavenly light initiated creation, setting the stage for everything else that followed, like the Earth and vegetation.

Imagine the cosmos before this moment was nothing but a deep expanse of emptiness and chaos. When God commanded, “Let there be light,” a fundamental change took place. Scholars often delight in pointing out how this introduction to light happens before the sun, moon, and stars even emerge. Writing from a poetically rich tradition, this suggests that the divine light might represent a spiritual essence, transcendent and wholly other than what we experience as natural sunlight. It allows us to reflect on our own journeys of enlightenment away from confusion or ignorance.

Interestingly, light resonates throughout Scripture. For example, the Gospel of John beautifully opens with a proclamation of the Word being the light of all people (John 1:4-5). This echoes with the Genesis creation, showing how deeply awe-inspiring and interconnected these biblical texts can be. So next time you think of creation, remember that the journey begins not with chaos but with the illuminating, divine word!