Parshat Bereshit begins with Genesis 1: ohvkt trc ,hJtrc rtv ,tu ohnJv ,t "In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth. The Earth being unformed and void with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water-God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night." (Genesis 1:1-4) The last verse of the parsha reads, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD."

It is followed by the Haftorah (prophets) portion beginning with, "Thus said God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what it brings forth, who gave breath to the people upon it and life to those who walk therein: I the LORD, in My grace (righteousness), have summoned you, and I have grasped you by the hand. I created you, and appointed you a covenant of the people, a light of the nations-opening eyes deprived of light, rescuing prisoners from confinement, from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. I am the LORD, that it My Name." (Isaiah 42:5-8)

Finally, the beginning text from the Brit Chadasha reads, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-3, 14)

In all three portions of scripture we make a remarkable journey from darkness to light, from the beginning of creation to grace and truth.

What significance does darkness and light hold in light of our Creator and Creation? Furthermore, what does darkness and light have to do with a journey that begins with creation and ends with grace? How does darkness and light relate in the role of the Messiah? And finally, what is the connection between Creation and Noah finding grace?

First of all, we note in the beginning of Genesis that God's Spirit hovered over the face of the waters. These waters apparently were covering the earth-which was unformed and void. Darkness was upon the face of the deep, and then God spoke. When He spoke light came out of the darkness-not the other way around. Evening came first, then morning. This teaches us an eternal truth-God creates in or through darkness. We learn that before something is manifest in the light, it must exist in the dark. Think about it-all creation begins in the dark. All conception takes place in the darkness of a womb. A child is conceived in a dark womb, a secret place, and then brought into the light. A seed is veiled in a shell, covered in darkness, planted in darkness, and watered in darkness, before it matures and is brought forth into the light. Even thoughts that birth inventions, create theories, speak forth the brilliance of divine and human contemplation, wrought magnificent architecture, usher in technology, and manifest truth have their beginnings in darkness, God being their author-"The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD." Mishlei (Proverbs) 16:1

When darkness was a plague to the Egyptians, God lighted the dwelling places of the Hebrew children (Exodus 10:23). The Ten Words (Commandments), which are the guide of conduct to all mankind, came forth out of the darkness covering Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:16). The book of Proverbs teaches us that truth is hidden and must be sought out and brought into the light (Proverbs 1:6. 2:1-5). The Veil of the Temple was rent in twain when the sun was darkened. (Luke 23:44-45) The resurrection of life from the dead was manifest from the darkness of a grave (Mark 16:6). The saints of God are called out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Yeshua himself spoke to men in parables and dark sayings, saying, "That which is told in darkness, speak in the light." (Matthew 10:27)

Furthermore, in the darkness of Satan light can be found. Not only does the scriptures teach us that Satan can transform himself into an Angel of light, but we also learn that the children of darkness are wiser than the children of light. Yet, if the children of light would allow themselves to learn from darkness, they would attain unto the light of truth necessary to subdue and conquer it.

Consider the following excerpt from an article entitled, "All Things Considered" written about Hitler's book, "Mein Kampf." Howard Vincent O'Brien wrote, "A FOOL, I; though no bigger one than the politicians who rule our world. None of them, apparently, was any prompter than I was in reading "Mein Kampf." I shied away from it because of its thousand pages and the belief that it was merely the ranting of a man possessed. Most of all, I thought it would be dull. I was wrong on all counts. I'm only a hundred pages or so into it, now; but I have gone far enough to know that this book-beyond doubt is one of the most important ever written-is anything but dull. Hitler took the world by surprise; but that was the world's fault. Hitler provided a detailed map of just where he was going."

Just think, World War II and the lives of Six-Million Jews, not mentioning the death tolls of countless others, could have been thwarted if men understood that God reveals the hearts of His enemies through their own words-that which is in darkness He brings to the light so that grace and truth have the opportunity to deliver the righteous from the snare of evil. Remarkable how much truth and light was revealed in Hitler's book, but not before it was first penned upon his heart.

Furthermore, we live in a day when Satan is again revealing his plan for Israel and America-through the words of his leaders: Bin Laden, Arafat, Peres, etc. Yet, we idly watch events progress and continue in our daily lives as if nothing is taking place. Surely God is bringing darkness to light so we can rise and confront evil before it is allowed to destroy us.

In a fascinating book entitled "The Eternal Revelation," Nathaniel Haney gives his account of Genesis 1:2, "and darkness was upon the face of the deep." He says, "This was not just natural darkness, but this was a spiritual darkness, caused by the fall of Satan. He lifted himself up and God cast him down. The darkness of sin, the darkness of unrighteousness, and the rejection of God covered the face of the earth. The earth was in a state of death. When His spirit began to move, the darkness began to dispel. As the spiritual darkness left, the natural light began to shine."

He begins his thought with 1 John 1:5, "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." Therefore, wherever God is, there is light. He dispels darkness. Just as His word causes things to appear from His creative dimension, His presence causes darkness to leave as though it had never been there. There is no night in the true spirit realm, for His spirit is continual light." (The Eternal Revelation, chapter one, page 26)

This could be why when God spoke, light and darkness were divided. God's Word always divides darkness and light-truth and error. Throughout the TaNaK (the Torah-first five books of the Bible, Neviim-the books of the Prophets, and the Ketuvim-the historical and poetic writings), we see God's Spirit and Word working together to continually dispel the darkness of idolatry and heathen influence upon the righteous seed of Avraham-the Nation of Israel. In the Brit Chadasha, we see Yeshua and His Apostles continually speaking forth the Words of Eternal Life to dispel the darkness hidden within the confines of man's heart.

In our Haftorah portion, God creates the nation of Israel in the midst of darkness and calls it out of darkness to be a covenant of light to the nations. He formed them by His Grace [His favor (loving kindness and mercy)-'Righteousness that delivers from death.'] In other words, Israel's purpose was to diffuse God's light, through the speaking forth of and the obedience to His Word. This is how they were to deliver humanity from the darkness of evil.

Our New Covenant portion further reveals that "In the beginning" the Word of God created all things. Within His Word was life and that life was the light (or righteousness) of men. The scripture further tells us "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." Thus we learn that God's Word and His Spirit are inseparable-just as mans are. Messiah came during a time of utter spiritual darkness not only upon the earth, but also among the nation of Israel itself. Both the religious and political governments of the Land were corrupt. Yet, in the midst of such political and spiritual darkness-again mankind found grace. The Grace of God-the light of Messiah-lifted the fallen, opened the blinded eyes, caused the lame to walk, the poor to hear the Good News, and rent the veil before the Mercy Seat. And Shaul (Paul) was called to manifest the same- "Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me." - This is the gospel of grace. Acts 26:17-18

In closing, let's summarize the connection between Creation and Noah finding grace? The connection lies in the dark condition (wickedness) of mankind during the days of Noach. Just as in the beginning the earth was void and in darkness, so it was during the days of Noah-a spiritual darkness covered the earth. Men and their thoughts were continually evil. Yet, initially man was created in God's Image, a speaking spirit created to diffuse God's light (his grace and truth; righteousness) into the world. Unfortunately, man's choices led him down a path that allowed darkness (sin and death) to rule over him. As God's grace reigns through righteousness, and righteousness is manifest in the light of God's presence, God had to find a righteous man that would embrace His light and truth -thus in the midst of darkness he found Noach.