You have probably experienced it: the electricity goes out at night and it gets very dark. You light an emergency candle, and you can see again. Or you are trying to darken your bedroom as much as possible for better sleep, but a tiny light is shining from the clock across the room. No matter how small, it only takes a bit of light to begin pushing out the darkness.
Light overcoming darkness is a powerful and consistent motif in Scripture. It symbolizes God’s victory over chaos, evil, ignorance, and sin. Let’s trace a few examples of light triumphing over the dark in Genesis to Revelation.
In the Beginning (Genesis)
The physical world man experienced began in darkness – formless, void, and chaotic. God’s first act of creation was bringing light into the darkness, seeing the light, and separating the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:2-3 (NLT): “The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
God brings light to dispel the primordial darkness, symbolizing the order and life that emerges from chaos.
Rescue from Egypt (Exodus)
When God chose to rescue the Israelites from Egypt, He sent ten plagues. The ninth plague was darkness—not just night. This darkness was dense, palpable, and dangerous. God purposefully sent darkness to challenge the spirit of the Egyptians, whose chief idol was Ra, the sun god. But while the Egyptians experienced the depth of physical and emotional darkness for at least three days, the Israelites enjoyed walking in the light. God demonstrated His sovereignty by allowing His people to dwell in light, overcoming the judgmental darkness that enveloped their enemies.
Exodus 10:21-23 (NLT): “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Lift your hand toward heaven, and the land of Egypt will be covered with a darkness so thick you can feel it.'” So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days. During all that time, the people could not see each other, and no one moved. But there was light as usual where the people of Israel lived.”
Israel’s History Books
We see in Israel’s history a pattern of sin, judgment, exile, and then a declaration of obedience and rescue. Beginning with the covenant with Abraham, the nation of Israel’s role was to lead others to God; they were to be a light to the nations. But because their behavior waffled between walking in the light of obedience or wallowing in darkness, their efforts were inconsistent. Even though the kings of Israel (and then Judah after the split) alternated between serving the one true God and worshiping idols, God reiterated his promise of a descendant that would shine like a lamp in Jerusalem.
1 Kings 11:36 (NLT): His son will have one tribe so that the descendants of David my servant will continue to reign, shining like a lamp in Jerusalem, the city I have chosen to be the place for my name.
The pagan world was dark with idolatry. God promised that His light would shine among the nations.
Poetic Illustrations in the Wisdom Literature
God lights our way; He lights the darkness around us so we can follow Him.
- Ps 18:28 (NLT): You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.
- Ps 112:4 (NLT): Light shines in the darkness for the godly. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
God illuminates our lives with His God’s justice, grace, and everlasting love (hesed).
The Prophets
The prophets foretell the coming of the Messiah, who will dispel the world’s spiritual darkness, bringing hope and salvation. He will come to release all those trapped in spiritual darkness, overcoming it with light. God’s light will prevail!
- Isaiah 9:2 (NIV): “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness, a light has dawned.”
- Isaiah 42:6-7 (NIV): “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
- Micah 7:7-8 (NIV): “As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.”
The Gospels
Of course, one of the most explicit passages on light triumphing over darkness is in John.
- John 1:4-5 (NIV): “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
- John 3:19-21: “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
- John 12:46: “I have come into the world as a light so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”
John introduces Jesus as the eternal light that shines in the darkness of the world—sin, evil, ignorance—and that darkness cannot overcome Him. He exposes sin, inviting us to come to the light! He offers light and salvation to all who believe He is the Son of God who takes away the world’s sin.
The Epistles (Clarification of Salvation)
The Apostle Paul describes our lives before God as lost in the dark, and now we live in God’s light.
- Ephesians 5:8-10 (MSG) “You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
In 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (NLT), Paul explains the effects of salvation – we have the glory of God shining in our hearts!
- “For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
He also explains how we should live in light of our being “in” Christ, made a new creation when we believed.
- Romans 13:12-13 (CSB): The night is nearly over, and the day is near; so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daytime: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.
Revelation – The New City
In the New Jerusalem, there will be no darkness. God’s eternal light will fill the city, symbolizing the final triumph of light over all forms of sin, death, and evil. God will reign forever, and darkness will be no more!
Revelation 21:23-25 (NIV) “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.”
Summary of Light Overcoming Darkness
- Creation: God’s first act dispels physical darkness and brings order.
- Exodus: God’s light protects His people while darkness befalls their enemies.
- Personal Deliverance: God turns personal trials and spiritual darkness into light for the righteous.
- Messianic Prophecy: The coming Messiah is the light that will overcome the world’s spiritual darkness.
- Christ as the Light: Jesus, the Messiah, the Light of the World, enters the darkness of human sin and death but is not overcome.
- Believers as Light: Christians are called to live as light, overcoming darkness in their actions and lives.
- Eternal Triumph: In the new heaven and new earth, darkness is forever defeated, and God’s light shines eternally.
Throughout the Bible, light consistently symbolizes God’s triumph over physical, moral, or spiritual darkness. This symbol peaks in Revelation, signifying the complete eradication of darkness and God’s ultimate victory over sin and death.
Prayer
Father, we ask you to fill us with the knowledge of your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives so that we may live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way. This means bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might, having great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father. We thank you, God, for rescuing us from the dominion of darkness and bringing us into the kingdom of the Son you love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Rejoice! He has qualified us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light after having rescued us from the dominion of darkness!! May we declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light.
