Command 4: Let Your Light Shine
Study Question
Q: Since “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5), how does God use darkness to accomplish His purposes?
A: Darkness was one of the first elements identified in Creation, and it was not until God created light that He separated darkness. “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4).
Throughout Scripture, God creates and uses both darkness and light for His purposes. He is a powerful, awesome God, and therefore He can use anyone and anything to display His might. Here are a few examples of His use of darkness to gain greater glory:
-
Darkness inspires awe.
“And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was” (Exodus 20:21).
-
Darkness reveals God’s power to create it.
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt. And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days” (Exodus 10:21–22).
-
Darkness is a form of God’s protection.
“And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night” (Exodus 14:19–20).
-
Darkness is a motivation to seek the hidden things of God.
“He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death” (Job 12:22).
“And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel” (Isaiah 45:3).
-
Darkness confounds the wicked.
“The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Proverbs 4:19).
-
Darkness is used for punishment of wrongdoing.
“Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness” (Proverbs 20:20).
Your Thoughts
Have you thought of another study question and answer related to this command? Share it with us.
This study question and answer is adapted from the Commands of Christ, Series 1, book. For further study, this book may be purchased from our Online Store.